Back to School Tradition

It is back to school time. While I leave it to the parents to prepare their children for back to school I am preparing for the back to school party that I throw for my school age grandchildren each year. The party is a tradition and it is for "Kids Only".

The theme and activities always change a bit but we do have a few fun traditions that are always looked forward to. The first being a game of abc bingo, another being that we all do the hokey pokey together, and the third is that the party favor is always a gift of back to school supplies for each of the grands.

Please check out my past posts on previous year Back to School parties. It is a tradition that the kids looks forward to every year!


http://www.grandmaslittlepearls.com/2009/08/grandkid-back-to-school-party-2009.html

http://www.grandmaslittlepearls.com/2009/08/grandkid-back-to-school-party-favors.html

http://www.grandmaslittlepearls.com/2009/08/outing-to-mcdonald-with-grandma-and.html

http://www.grandmaslittlepearls.com/2008/09/only.html

Do you have any back to school traditions?

Balloon Powered Nanorover

My nine year old grandson and I worked together to create this balloon powered Nanorover.

My grandson who is really into building things went onto one of the internet Nasa sites to find something to do on a recent visit. While on the site he saw this project and he asked if he could make it. I was very skeptical and thinking that the project may be a bit out of my skill level. I read the instructions and there were rotors, struts, and axles that all needed to be cut out and put together. Secretly, I was almost hoping that I didn't have all of the supplies I needed so that I could save the project until Papa got home.

Well, I had everything that the project required right down to the gumdrops that were needed to hold the struts, rotors, wheels, and axles into place on the wooden skewers that were threaded through a drinking straw. 

It ended up being a great project. I was a bit out of my comfort zone but I was very proud of myself when my grandson and I pulled it off together. The balloon powered Nanorover even worked!

Check out the link below for instructions to this and many other Nasa projects.

http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/muses1.shtml

Have you ever caught yourself secretly not wanting to do something with your grandchildren?

The Love Language of a Five Year Old

Last evening my three granddaughters who are 10, 7, and 5 came down to play. It was no surprise that they wanted to get out all of our play food and play restaurant with Papa and I. They also brought out a couple of phones for phone orders and any other phones calls that the 'Three Girl's Cafe" might receive.

During dinner at their cafe I had to take a phone call from my uncle. I pretended to get some awful news from my uncle. "Oh, that is just horrible news" I said. When I got off the phone my five year old server asked me what was wrong. With a broken voice and the threat of tears I said that my uncle had called to tell me that my cat was not feeling well. The server touched my arm and told me how sorry she was to hear the bad news.

The server took the phone into the cafe kitchen (the other side of the coffee table) and I overheard her calling someone to go check on my cat for me. "Hello, is this the cat take care'er'er? Okay, yes I would like you to please go check on my customers cat." Great customer service don't ya' think?

She came back to the table to tell me (with her hand soothing my arm) that the "Cat take care'er'er" was going to take care of my cat and to please not worry and she brought me a big plate of desserts before dinner to make me feel better.

I then pretended to cry out loud when she returned to the kitchen. She came running back put both of her hands on my shoulders and asked what was wrong. I told her that I was just so worried about my kitty. She again touched my arm and told me that everything was going to be okay.

To make things better she told me that my daddy had just called and left a message for me. He was going to come and take me to the pet store and that I could pet all of the animals for as long as I wanted at the pet store. I was also going to get a new puppy while I was there. As my sniffles continued so did her love language to try to make things better for me. It turns out that my mommy had called too and she was going to buy me one of each kind of pet from the pet store!

She excused herself to go answer the phone. She came back with great news and more desserts. It was the cat take care'er'er calling to tell me that my cat was all better!

It is said that we generally shower others with the love language we ourselves would like to receive. This little granddaughter seems to be developing a few love languages, one of touch,  one for the sweet tooth, and one of showering others with needing to be fed and needing to be walked four legged gifts.

Do you tend to shower others with your own love language?

No Pool? No Problem.

Somehow I had forgotten that I had tossed last years kiddie pool when I told my four year old grandson to bring his swimsuit over for a swim.

When he and I went to look for the pool it was no where to be found. I offered a couple of Rubbermaid tubs for water play and he was just as happy.

I did one for him and one for his toys!

It was a hot afternoon and I sat close by as a lifeguard and welcomed all of the splashes I could get to help keep me cool.

When I asked him if I could get in too he said; "Sure, go get on your suit!"

No pool? No problem. It seems kids love any body of water.

What do you do to stay cool in the heat of the summer?

Aloha, Birthday Guests

Aloha!

My now seven year old grandson has been talking about wanting to have a family Luau to celebrate his seventh birthday for months. I had told him from the very beginning that I had many items to help him decorate for his special occasion. The grandkids all know about the treasures that I keep in my Rubbermaid Trunks (tubs) in my garage. There just happens to be two of the trunks that are labeled "Luau".

I arrived about an hour early with my two "Luau" tubs and the handmade pinata that I had helped to put the finishing touches on. The four year old brother saw my car rolling up and started screaming "grandma is here, grandma is here, and she's got lots of fun stuff!" He came running out to help me carry things in.

All of the boys were anxious to see what treasures I had packed away in my Luau trunks.  The trunks are usually kept high on a shelf. The boys helped Papa and I decorate the house.

The little guests were greeted by the birthday boy at the front door with an "Aloha" and he presented them each with a lei.  We used the pineapple pinata for a decoration in the entryway until we needed it for the game.

The Parrot sitting in the chandelier was a gift from a 

dear ninety year old friend from El Salvador.

The Parrot shares his time between my Luau and my Fiesta trunks!

Hula skirts were hung on the window 

that opened to the serving area.

Papa hung Tiki lights in the kids eating area.

She's the only one that actually did the hula.

This is the birthday boy 

and his seven year old cousin.

"Just chillin Hawaiian style"

Almost time to eat.

A CD player was playing Hawaiian music. 

The music really set the mood.

Vinyl Hawaiian tablecloths were scrunched up to 

cover the granite counters in the serving area.

On the menu were kid sized Hawaiian hamburgers. 

The umbrella skewer made them Hawaiian. 

With sides of chips, fresh fruit, and baked beans.

After dinner all of the kids changed into their swim suits and they 

played together on the outdoor water slide.

After the water play, which many did not want to 

come to an end, they kids came indoors to watch the 

birthday boy open the birthday gifts.

It was then time for the candy filled pinata.

The birthday boy's daddy had a tradition in his family that

they always made their own pinata's.

So starting this year they have decided

to start that tradition in their own family.

A pineapple was a great beginning pinata

and a perfect pinata for a Luau.

Daddy used a balloon to create the shape.

There are many sites on line where you

can learn to make a pinata.

They are a very inexpensive project.

Crumpled up crepe paper covered the 

outside to give it it's color and texture.

Green construction paper was used to make the leaves.

The leaves were hot glued into place.

Every guest got to have a lot of 

good swings. The handmade pinata withstood 

many more hard hits than

any store bought pinata ever has.

After everyone got their turns from youngest to oldest

the birthday boy got to finish it off.

Daddy really got a work out as did the birthday boy!

This is always a familiar site

once the candy comes flying out.

Nine little cousins scrambling to get their share.

This little guy was very happy with his share of the loot!

The birthday treat was ice cream bars.

We sang Happy Birthday over lit candles in

an ice cream sandwich!

Once the party was over. I happened upon this little spill.

This is what can very quickly happen to an

ice cream sandwich in Arizona!

It was a great Luau

and the birthday boy was a great host!

Tips: Summer is a great time to pick up Hawaiian decorations in the dollar stores. The end of summer clearance tables in department stores, craft stores, and party stores are all good places to find deeply cut prices. Why not pay pennies on the dollar for your invitations, paper goods, decorations, serving pieces, lighting, music, and more by shopping out of season.

Check the clearance racks in the outdoor, garden, party supplies, pool supplies, paper goods, and in stationary for the best fines. Check out the clothing clearance racks too at the end of summer if you would like to add a tropical shirt, skirt, or muumuu to your party wear!

What has been your best clearance finds?

Choosing of the Birthday Treat

In our family everyone chooses their own birthday treat. We have had donuts, ice cream cakes, ice cream sundaes, pie, spazookies, ice cream bars, ice cream balls, cheesecake, pudding pie, and a variety of birthday cakes.

This was something brand new to our family when my seven year old grandson made his birthday treat request this year.

The birthday boy  wanted a GIANT chocolate chip cookie.

This was to celebrate his actual birthday at home with his family.

His family birthday party is going to be a Luau tomorrow night.

Here is a link to the recipe my daughter used 

to make this yummy 11" cookie.

http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2010/05/giant-cookie.html

What is your favorite birthday treat?

Turn an Inexpensive Folder Into Something Special

This folder is for an upcoming 

Talent Show 

for a children's organization.

The event has a "STAR" theme.

With the use of scrapbook paper and a computer you can start things off right by kicking off the theme of your event from the very beginning. I like to make planning folders for my committee members that fit the event to be planned. 

To make a folder like this one pick out a few coordinating scrapbook papers that fit your events theme. Purchase enough paper so that you have enough for other promotional items too.

Cut a piece of scrapbook paper to fit the cover of the folder. Use a glue stick to glue in place.

Make sure any overlays are balanced and appealing to the eye. Use coordinating ink colors on any computer print outs.

Use coordinating papers on the inside and include any needed information. The sign up pages in this folder have a strip of coordinating paper down the left side. The pages are stapled to the front of the back cover.

To finish the top edge cut a piece of scrapbook paper to fit the width of the back cover and tall enough to be folded over equally to cover the staples on the front and back of the back cover. Fold the strip over the back cover and use a glue stick to glue it into place.

You can make a matching stick pen using a 1"strip of matching scrapbook paper cut to the length of the pen. Glue one edge of the paper to the pen using a hot glue gun. Lay and hot glue 1" of the string or  yarn (18" long or so) down the top glued edge and roll the paper around the pen to overlap the first glued edge and the string and hot glue it into place by running a long thin line of hot glue along the edge of paper. Press, roll, and hold in place until hot glue is set.

Attach the string to the inside of the front pocket using a square of scrapbook paper. Put a good amount of hot glue on the square of scrapbook paper (2x2 inches)  then place 1-2 inches of the string in the hot glue. Place the paper, string, and hot glue to the inside of the folder pocket (closer to the center fold) and hold until set. Be careful not to glue the pocket down.

There you have it an inexpensive folder transformed into something special and filled with important information using paper, string, and glue.

This folder coordinates with the promotional posters, the promotional flyers, the talent show stage decorations, and the participation certificates that the children will receive.

Little things can make a big difference in the participation and success of an event. I will post pictures of the promotional posters soon. When a child signs up to participate their name is printed on a "Star" on the posters. The kids love seeing their names listed as a  "Star of the Show"!

Birthday's for the Grown Ups

I have four children, three are married children who have made me a very happy grandma to ten so far. As much as we love our children and grandchildren we also love having nights out without this little ones. My husband and I have treated all of our grown children and their spouses to a night out every year in December for several years now. It is part of our HO...HO...HO...liday calendar. We always have a great time.

We recently started a new tradition for the adult birthdays in our family. Instead of the siblings and in- law kids purchasing gifts for one another we each pay our own way and we go out to dinner together. The birthday gift is now a gift of our time to share an evening together as a family. The person with the birthday gets to choose the restaurant.

With our family unit growing to nine adults we prefer getting a large round table so that we can visit with everyone over dinner. I recently found the perfect restaurant for my adult family birthday celebration.

A local mexican food restaurant had what they called the family tower with a round table that will seat 10. Perfect!

The name of the room was perfect as was the space for our special occasion. 

The murals painted on the walls were beautiful and the room was very private.

We felt like we were sitting in a Mexican Village.

To top it all off they came and sang Happy Birthday in Spanish along with a few more of our special requests.

We had a great time spending our adult time away and building bonds and memories as the growing older grown ups that we are!

Tip: Our Olive Garden also has a room called a "Family Room" The table is not round but the room is private. The service is always great too. They always assign two servers to the room. Red Robin also has a big booth that we can all squeeze into. The Outback has large round tables but they are in the middle of the main dining rooms and it is always too noisy to hear one another speak.

How do you celebrate adult birthdays in your family?

Birthday Outing to the Museum of Natural History

I am doing birthday outings as birthday gifts this year for my grandchildren. So far we have been to a play with my ten year old granddaughter, and on a trip to the movie theatre and out to eat at the Olive Garden with a granddaughter who turned seven. The kids get to choose their outings.

This grandson who turned nine chose a trip to the Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa, Arizona. 

It was a full afternoon of one on one birthday time with Papa and I. 

He had the entire back seat to himself on our forty-five minute drive to the museum and he took full advantage of it.

We stopped for lunch at a restaurant of HIS choice on the way to the museum!

Once we arrived at the museum we were greeted with three huge dinosaurs in the lobby.

He already knew that he had made a great choice for his birthday outing!

He is a very bright boy and he also has a very mechanical mind. Along with the information that was offered he also worked to figure out how all of the interactive displays functioned.

He and his Papa spent a long time panning for gold.

He was introduced to old fashion film making. 

UH .... OH !

Actual jail cells were on exhibit.

Comparing his own foot to that of a dinosaur.

We have a lot of Indian history in Arizona. He and his Papa worked together to complete the puzzle.

It was an awesome museum for children and Papa and I learned a lot too. They had a three story display of a flash flood that went off every hour. They also had tons of interactive displays that made learning fun. The museum has a wonderful theater with a really good and realistic film on dinosaurs. The theater was a great place to visit about half way through the museum so we could sit down and rest a bit.

Our grandson really enjoyed his visit to the museum. We had to return to several of the exhibits a second time before leaving. 

We ended out visit with a trip to the gift shop. Papa and I gave him a $10 budget. He did great picking some small souvenirs  out and in using his math skills to spend every last penny in the budget!

A stop for ice cream was a perfect ending to our very fun day together.

As we were walking out of the ice cream store he said:

"This has been a really fun day!"

Papa and I absolutely agreed.

What has been a favorite outing with a grandchild?

The Magic of Science

My nine year old grandson recently had a full on "Science Lab" birthday party http://www.grandmaslittlepearls.com/2010/04/science-lab-party.html for him and his friends. My daughter also hosted a family birthday celebration with the cousins.

One of the activities for the cousins was seeing what would happen to a bar of Ivory soap if you put it in the microwave.

They were all were very interested and listened intently as the experiment was presented.

You open up a bar of "Ivory" bath soap and let it briefly sit in a bowl of water.

Remove the bar of soap from the water and cut it into chunks and place on a plate that has been covered with a paper towel.

At this point she asked for all of the cousins ideas on what might happen if they placed it in the microwave. They all shared their ideas and they were very anxious to see if anyone had guessed the correct result of the experiment.

They placed the plate of cut up soap in the microwave on high. (Set for 5 minutes)

Does it look like they are interested to see what happens?  The other kids were yelling at these three to get back so they could see too!

The kids thought it was absolute magic! Once the bar of soap has done it's thing you remove it from the microwave. Careful, it will be hot.

As you can see it expands to probably 30 times it's original size. The kids were very fascinated with the change in it's texture too. Remind the children not to touch their eyes once they have touched the soap. Allow each of the kids to take a chunk of the poof...y Ivory soap and wash their hands to complete the activity.