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 2^nd mixture into 1^st 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????