Family Fun: July 4th

July 4th can be a lot more than just a cookout and fireworks, below are a few fun activities for the family to celebrate the 4th! Organize a neighborhood parade.  Help the children decorate bikes, wagons and outfits in red, white and blue. Have a picnic before the fireworks start.  Usually there is music and fun activities for the children. Host a side-walk chalk contest. … Continue reading Family Fun: July 4th

Kids Korner: Bird Feeders

Make Bird Feeders for Spring time Spread large pine cones with peanut butter and sprinkle with birdseed.  Tie a pipe cleaner at the top and hang on tree Slice oranges or grapefruit in half, take out the inside fruit, fill with peanut butter, birdseed, cranberry or blueberry mixture.  Make holes on opposite sides of fruit and tie with year to tree. Continue reading Kids Korner: Bird Feeders

4th of July Crafts and Activities!

Wow, I can’t believe how fast the year is going.  Can you believe that it is going to be July next week?  Man does the time fly fast!  It isn’t too late to get some 4th of July crafts and activities for next week. Craft: Take a large piece of blue construction paper.Cut red and white streamers (or tissue paper) into long strips (@ 12″).Have … Continue reading 4th of July Crafts and Activities!

Family Fun: First Day of Summer

The first day of Summer is June 21, here are some fun ideas to celebrate the first day of Summer Have a sponge war with buckets and sponges Make a slippery water slide by using a piece of heavy plastic a little soap and water hose Make frozen fruit pops with fruit juice Have a picnic in the park Have a special dinner outside, this … Continue reading Family Fun: First Day of Summer

Kids Korner: Easter Egg Ideas

Puffy eggs from construction paper: Cut two sheets of paper in oval shapes.  Design with crayons, pain or sparkles, staple together leaving small area open.  Fill with tissue or cotton balls and staple closed. Decorating dyed eggs: using stickers allows little ones to be involved with eater preparations. Place rubber bands around the eggs and then dip them in the dye.  Keep the rubber band in … Continue reading Kids Korner: Easter Egg Ideas

Feast of the Seven Fishes

If you know my family, then you know that every Christmas Eve, for as long as I can remember, we have celebrated the Feast of the Seven Fishes.  Growing up we never really got to all seven fishes, but now with my brother (the chef) we always have seven fishes! Bacala, anchovies and smelts are what my mom grew up with.  Now we may have … Continue reading Feast of the Seven Fishes

The Progression of Santa Clause

St Nicholas (Father Christmas) is the historical Santa Clause.  He was Bishop of Myra, Asia Minor (near modern Finke, Turkey) around the year 325 AD.  HIs traditional feast day is December 6.  There are several legends about him which are summarized below.  All have the same basic theme: he was the ultimate anonymous gift giver.  He also did not expect a return for his good … Continue reading The Progression of Santa Clause

Kid’s Korner: Thanksgiving Crafts

Thanksgiving Crafts: Indian headband: Have children trace their hand five times on different colored construction paper.  Staple onto headband strip of paper, overlapping “feathers”.  They can use this Indian headband in a Thanksgiving play. Turkey Hand: Have children trace hand on colored construction paper.  Cut it out.  Color the hand in where the thumb is the head of the turkey and the hand is the … Continue reading Kid’s Korner: Thanksgiving Crafts