September Tradition - Celebrating Grandparents

This month(September) we will celebrate a wonderful family holidy. National Grandparents Day. Celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day, the holiday was created to remind grandchildgren to tap into the wisdom and heritage their grandparents provide. There are many fun activites that your children can do with their grandparents to celebrate the holdiday. One is to complete a grandparent interview with a variey of questions. What were your parents like? Describe your childhood? What were your goals and aspirations? What advice do you want to pass onto your children and grandchildren? This will give your child a chance to see how the world has changed since their grandparents were young, plus give your parents an opportunity to share stories. Capture this on video and you will have a priceless family keepsake that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

The Leaf Story

Richard Eyre, co-Author of “The Happy Family,” tells the story about a birthday tradition he celebrates with his wife and children every year. “On my birthday in October, we had always raked huge piles of leaves with the kids and then jumped in them, stuffed them in our shirts, threw them in the air, and just generally had a wild time. We thought, as the kids got older, their interest in such frivolous activity would fade. On the contrary, the leaf piles just got bigger. Finally, one year, four of our children were away at school. On my birthday, four birthday cards arrived. As I opened the first, a leaf fell out and a note, “Dad, I honored your birthday tradition. Here’s a leaf from my jumping pile. I love you.” Through my tears I opened the other three – and a leaf fell from each.”

12 year Old's Birthday Album

Yesterday, my friend, KC brought 2 beautiful pink albums that were down for her twin's 12 Birthday to share with us at our Live, Laugh, Love club meeting. They are wonderful -- filled with pages that family members had done, letters written to them that will be cherished for a lifetime. KC used the pink special occasion album and placed a picutre of the birthday girl in the cut out in the front. She even left a page blank so that the sister's could do a page for each other. It was truly a surprise gift. What a way to celebrate being 12!

I can't wait to photograph some pages to share with everyone.

Back to School - When I grow up

Along with the arrival of fall, and the anticipation of a new school year comes the feeling of new beginnigs and limitless possibilities. Each year before your child's first day of school ask them what they want to be when they grow up. Write their answers on apple shaped cards made from red construcion paper. Past these cards with your child's goals and dreams in the "Back to School" book along with their annual photo. You and your children will love looking back at all of the different dreams they had when they were younger.

Back to School - The Family Reading Tree

Create a Family Reading Tree out of green and brown construction paper and glue it onto poster board. Cut out bright autumn colored paper leaves that will represent each new book your childgen read. Use the leaves as bookmarks, and as they finish a book, write their name and the book's title on the leaf and attach it to the tree. Watch as your family fills the tree with leaves throughout the year, and be proud of their accomplishments. You may even want to save the leaves and store them away with each child's schoolwork. Get your kids excited about school by constructing this tree on the weekend before school starts. Be sure to take a photo of your children holding the Family Reading tree at the end of the school year.

Back to School - New "School" Year Resolutions

The new school year is a source of anxiety for just about every child, no matter what their age. Start the year off right by creating a list of new school year resolutions. Your children can use this list as a foundation for making important and positive changes in their lives. Resolving to earn better grades, join a sports team or do household chores, without being reminded, will help your child define his/her goals for the next step in their life. Reinforce their commitment by laminating and posting the list someplace visible, and planning a special reward when they have succeeded.

Friendship Photo Collage

Second only to family, our relationship with friends is a powerful and special connection. Foster these connections by working with your children to creat a Friendship Photo Collage. Buy a piece of textured paper from an craft store, some acid free glue or photo corners, and 1 yard of ribbon that goes well with the color of paper you selected. Ivory paper and ivory ribbon work nicely. Cut the paper into 21" by 9" piece and and fold it into three equal sections 7" wide. Punch a hole 1/2" form the left and right edges (centered in the page 4 1/2" from top and bottom). Use the three sections to collage photos randomly or by themes (sporting events, school activites, dances, birthdy parties, etc.). Slip the ribbon in one hole and around the back and ot the other hole. Now you can set this meaningul keepsake up on a bedroom dresser to enjoy or tie it closed with a ribbon and keep it in a safe spot. You might make one for yourself at the same time. This is a great way to organize photos and pay tribute to our cherished friendships at the same time.

The Summer Memory Book

On the first day of school every year, children are always expects to recount what they did during the summer. This year help your child share their fun summer experiences with a Summer Memory book. It is a wonderful way to document places they have visited, books they read or fun activities they did with friends or family. Start by giving them a disposable camera to capture special moments that you might miss and direct them to collect in a box anything that you can use to tell a story about what they did. This can be things like ticket stubs for movies or concerts, sea shells from the beach or flowers they picked while out exploring. Each month sit down with them and create a new page in the book of different experiences. Past photos, collected items and write a brief synopsis of the summer.

Love by the Month Ideas

Blank Recipe Cards (to be filled out by Mother)
Recipe Cards with Recipe's on it
Greeting Cards (Birthday, etc) for Mom to use for friends and neighbors)
Handmade cards
Mini pack of highlighters (from the Dollar Spot Target)
Mini pack of gel pens (Dollar Spot Target)
"Believe" magnet (DollarSpot Target)
Sniff Tissues
Mini Journals
bookmarks
Tea Packets
Print out of Family blog
IZ CD

Labor Day the American Way

Labor Day is all about grand parades, big fun and time to spare with family and friends. Celebrate the historic holiday that commemorates the huge contributions the workers have made to the strength, prosperot and well-being of our nations with a cooperative family picinic. Enjoy the last little bit of summertime weather in the true spirit of the day, by enlisting your entire family to help with the fesitvites. Take turns at the grill, make it a potluck picnic and have everyone work together to clean-up.

As a fun keepsake have each person in your family sign into a guestbook with their name and description what they wanted to be when they grew up. This is a great way to show your kids that everyone, even adults, have big dreams.

Back to School - Bus Stop...Breakfast Bash

Organize a neighborhood breakfast bash on the first day of school. bring doughnuts, bagels, hot chocolate, juice and milk for the young students and their parents to enjoy as they wait for the bus. This is a perfect way for your children to get to know their classmates, and a great opportunity for you to meet their parents. This photo moment can be collaged into your 'Back to School' book.

Back to School Tradition - Fun From Beginning to End

Be sure to make a special breakfast to start the school year off right. Make an elaborate feast, maybe waffles with whipped cream and fresh strawberries, or eggs benedict -- anything but the usual scrambled eggs and toast. Let your kids select the menu and do the usual scrambles eggs and toast. Let your kids select the menu and do the gracy shopping together to prepare this special meal. Wake up early and set the table with your best dishes, turn on background music and really make this meal special. Do the same to celebrate the last day of school. Prepare a unique desert like German chocolate cake, strawberry cheesecake or something special to be repeated year after year. When you serve your children this ceremonial dessert, present them with a small gift. (this is a great time to introduce or contribute to a collection that your child may have, or want to start). This gift is not a reward for their performance, but a mark of accomplishment.

New "School" Year Resolutions

The new school year is a source of anxiety of just about every child, no matter what their age. Start the year off right by creating a list of new school year resolutions. Your children can use this list as a foundation for making important and positive changes in their lives. Resolving to earn better grades, join a sports team or do household chores, without being reminded, will help your child define his/her goals for the next step in their life. Reinforce their commitment by laminating and posting the list someplace visible, and planning a special reward when they have succeeded.