Monday, June 6, 2011

GRANDMOTHER TIME

It’s been awhile since my last post…I hope my blogging friends haven’t forgotten me!  BLOGGER has been giving me issues plus there just hasn’t been much going on.  Now that school is out and summer is here, my GRANDMOTHER
duties have taken over.  Trying to keep two young ones occupied all day is no small feat!  I thought I would use this post to share some of my
FUN WITH GRANDMOTHER
ideas in case I might give some of you other grandmothers (and mothers) some ideas you can use…and hopefully some of you might share more ideas with me.  I can use all the help I can get!
                        ( I consider myself a hip grandmother!)


SCAVENGER  HUNT
This is one of our favorite activities.  I type up a list (with pictures) of various things that can easily be found outdoors in and around our neighborhood:  a green leaf, big rock, old bird’s nest, piece of paper, something red, etc.  Then we set out on the golf cart to explore and find all our treasures which are checked off on the list (grandson’s favorite part) and placed into our Treasure Box.    You can also have a Magazine Scavenger Hunt or An ABC Scavenger Hunt….especially good for rainy days.



SCIENCE  FUN
Last summer we made SLIME & FUNNY PUTTY  (see my post HERE ) and other such icky stuff….definitely fun and worth the trouble.  You can find many recipes for Slime as well as FLUBBER, FEELY GOOP, & FUNNY PUTTY.  Here is one recipe for SLIME (from Martha Stewart):

         Mix together:  1/3 cup warm water
                                            ½ cup Elmer's glue
                                4-8 drops food coloring
         Stir thoroughly & set aside.
         In separate bowl mix together:
                                ¾ cup warm water
                                2 teaspoons Borax
         Stir thoroughly.
            Pour 2nd mixture into 1st mixture, stirring continuously.
        Remove glob from bowl and work with your hands 2-3 min.
        Store in resealable plastic bag or air-tight container. 


COOKING
Cooking with kids is great fun, plus you can throw in some reading and math skills and they never even suspect itJ  Cookies are an easy (and delicious) treat…and you can eat the cookie dough too!


Another fun recipe for kids is PUDDING  POPS.  Here’s one recipe from www.kraftfoods.com.

         1 small pkg. chocolate instant pudding mix
         2 cups cold milk
            6 Oreo cookies
         ½ cup thawed Cool Whip or other whipped topping
         Beat pudding mix & milk in large bowl with wire whisk 2 min.
         Place cookies in resealable plastic bag; seal bag.  Use rolling
         pin to crush cookies.  Add cookies & Cool Whip to pudding; stir
         just until blended.  Spoon into 9 small paper or plastic cups
        (bathroom size is great).  Insert a wooden pop stick or plastic
        spoon into each for a handle.  Freeze 5 hours or until firm.
        Tip:  to remove from cup, place bottom of cup in bowl of
        warm water for 15 seconds.  Press up on bottom of cup.


Some other easy, but fun, things to do include: 
      visit the library for great books
      play board and card games
      go on a picnic and/or nature walk
         paint seashells & rocks
      blow bubbles
         play in the sprinkler
         wash the car (they think it’s fun & you get a clean car!)
          have an un-Easter Egg Hunt (just like a regular hunt, just not
                   at Easter)
      build a fort




I have a warm feeling after playing with my grandchildren. It's the liniment working. ~Author Unknown
That should be enough to keep you busy for awhile.  Have fun and let me know how things go.  Any ideas to share????

20 comments:

  1. Oh dear Cheri, you are a hip Grandma! You should run a CAMP! Great fun at your house, I know the Grandkids look forward to the Summer!

    Enjoy your evening, HUGS!

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  2. Great ideas! What I love about them is how easy and affordable...the best part is having the time together. Those are memories! We have many resources here that are free and fun..the Kroc center has an outdoor water park area, the city park playgrounds, baseball games, outdoor musical events...it's a great time of year for being a Grandma!

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  3. Cheri, you are one awesome grandma!

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  4. Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!
    Cheri, you're an inspiration!

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  5. What great ideas Cheri! Your grandkids are so adorable and your a wonderful grandma too!
    Sounds like your very busy my dear...
    Hugs,
    Cindy

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  6. O' Cheri, thanks for sharing some great ideas! I too try and come up with ideas to keep my grandsons busy. I have three and they like it when we get "crafty". I can relate to feeling frustrated with blogger...I'm still having issues.

    Have a wonderful day,
    Gail

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  7. Wonderful just wonderful ideas for summer! Educational but so fun! Your grands will always remember the special time spent with you!
    Blessings!!

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  8. Oh my goodness, it looks like y'all had so much fun!


    Kelly

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  9. You ARE a hip grandmother!! :)

    They have so much fun with you!!

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  10. How do you do it? I'm exhausted just reading your post. I passed your ideas along to my sister who has two granddaughters for the week. I love the scavanger hunt idea. I'll remember that when my little ones are here later in the summer.

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  11. That sounds like fun with mom too! Great ideas!

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  12. I meant to say that I'm having my nieces over one day a week this summer (my brother is a teacher too and we're trading days so we can work on being organized/planned/whatever for the start of next year) and these would be some fun things for the girls and I to do. Thanks!

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  13. Hoping to brighten your day!!

    I've left an award for you on my blog ~ be sure and stop by to pick it up!

    Thank you for all the smiles you've given me!!

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  14. These are all wonderful! The only idea coming to mind to share is playing restaurant. After we do some cooking the girls set up the table get takers take orders and serve. Then I always get a big bill! They make me laugh a lot as I'm sure your grands do and they are right, you are a cool granny!

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  15. Havin no childen or grandchildren, some of those projects still sound like fun like to popsickle recipe.

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  16. Great ideas. I too, am a gramma to a 3 1/2 year old boy. Such a fun time of life. You should run a camp for grammas. Such fun memories you are making. My grandson son and I love to play squirt guns and anything that we can do with water. Sidewalk chalk is a big hit. Mud pies... I put a tent in the spare bedroom and we campout.

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  17. Happy Birthday. Your list reminds me of a gift I received in the mail yesterday from a Handmade Swap. It was a tin that said Grandma's Boredom Buster. I plan on posting about it soon.

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  18. Hi, Cheri! This is actually a test to see which blogs I can or cannot leave a comment on and trying to figure out what the problem is. Also, love how you spend time with your grandkids! We only have a limited time with them, so best for all to make the best of it!

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  19. No sooner said than done! I hopped right on over for a visit!!
    Balisha from "Never Enough Time" helped me fix my blog as many were not able to comment...
    But...there really has not been much to comment on. I simply ran out of steam for table settings...etc. :)
    Your Grandbabies are adorable! Mine are all grown..the last one just graduated from high school and all but three have graduated from College. I know their parents are...DELIGHTED. Now the Greats are taking over my life and I love it. The youngest is just going to turn one year old...
    Life can be so wonderful.

    Now if my precious daughter Sandy comes through...I will be the happiest woman on earth.
    I believe there are just two more Chemo treatments. There is always one of us with her and her husband at all times.
    Thank you so much for stopping by.
    My followers are dropping off too and I cannot say as I blame them.
    I have been...lagging also ..so don't feel bad! :)
    Love and hugs,
    Mona

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  20. Greetings from north Ala. Cheri,
    I found your blog from the titel of your post Grandmother time! I too am a retired teacher as of Dec. 08 and I now call myself Grnadmother in Chief! I have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. MY passion is quilting, reading, collecting vintage linens, teacups, and spending time with the grandpeeps. I have met so many wonderful friends via blogging which surprise me since I was never a fan of meeting people "on-line" so to speak.
    I spent most of my career as speech therapist and special ed. teacher but the last 8 yrs as a Reading/literacy Coach. My daughter's son was born premature and now has Cerebral Palsy so I retired to help take care of him. However, that little stinker takes care of all of us!! Hope you will hop over to my blog, Grandmamas Stories, for a visit. http://grandmamasstoires.blogspot.com. Please become a follower so we can get to know one another. BTW, are you BAKING in this horrid heat like we are?? Fall can't come too soon!
    Blessings
    Gmama Jane

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