Make nutrition fun and educational

My sister constantly inspires me. If I were to have kids, I think I'd be raising them the same way. My sister, a health nut, wants to instill that in my nieces too. So she is starting to let them choose there own cereal. Naturally, there is a catch. It must have 10 grams or less of sugar and 3 or more grams of fiber. They have to find the word, and then figure out is 12 more or less than 10. They are after all in preschool and first grade. If they select the cereal, they can't really complain much either. Hopefully, just learning they didn't like it all that much and to make another selection next week. There are lots of fun ways out on the Internet to help kids learn about nutrition too. Check it out http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/kids/activities-main.asp
Have fun. Chow. Chow.

Happy New Year...

Here I am just wrapping up Christmas with barely a chance to put away my holiday decorations and it is already January 7th. How does that happen?! Every year instead of just tossing all my holiday cards, I love to keep an album of all the photo cards. I feel like I get to watch my friends children grow over the years...and boy are they getting big. Teenagers even!! Talk about time moving fast... It has even come in handy during the year when I can't remember a newborns name etc, I just refer to my album. Have fun! Ciao. Ciao.

Christmas Countdown....

December has descended upon us so fast this year! But I know for kids it can never come fast enough! The countdown until Christmas morning. A couple of years ago I started an advent calendar for my nieces. I found one that had little boxes and I stuff those boxes with chocolates kisses, mini-ornaments, red & green hair scrunchies etc. My nieces love it. I know my sister uses it as a reward sometimes....clean you room, then you can open today's box. Advent calendars are easy to find....www.target.com or even on www.ebay.com just search for Advent calendar. If you don't have time to "stuff" your own, many come prestuffed. It is not too late to get one today....they still get 15 days to open goodies, or look for one on sale at the end of the month and save it until next year! Have fun. Ciao. Ciao.

Thanksgiving Enjoyment...

Thanksgiving at my sister's house is a wonderful time to see and dote on the nieces. I'm simply amazed at how fast they are growing. Kids love traditions. They not only have favorite foods at Thanksgiving but one of our family traditions is to make Christmas cookies the day after Thanksgiving as well as decorate a gingerbread house. Yes, the sugar is flying! But it only comes once a year, and we have even started to call it Thanks-mas weekend. Thanksgiving and Christmas in one weekend. Works for me, since I don't get to see my nieces on Christmas day, but I'm happy just to help them kick off the season. And you can't forget the advent calendar. Leaving them a little something to remind them Christmas is coming. My younger niece even asked my sister in July, when she got to the the calendar countdown again?! They remember. What are you favorite holiday traditions?? We can all learn from each other. Enjoy. Ciao. Ciao.

Back to School....

For most kids back to school is a fun time. They get to see there friends again, and have more things to do. Times do change, but that is how I remember it anyway. To make it even more fun for them, send them on a treasure hunt for their new school clothes or supplies. If you don't have the creative side or energy to do this yourself get a little help with giftventure. You hide the stuff and they mail the clues. Check it out. www.giftventure.com Plus it gets the kids some extra snail mail, and you know how kids love snail mail! Have fun. Ciao. Ciao.

Birthday Gift. idea....

Not for a child but for you! As a grandparent, aunt, uncle etc we all naturally cherish something handmade by a child. But every year? And then what? We'll as someone who likes to dabble in the garden, and I believe all gardens need to have a path, even if that path goes now place. So I have started the tradition of having my nieces make me a stepping stone every year for my birthday. Eventually, I'll have a full path. I just love how the stones change over the years. Not to mention, my sister likes the idea as it is low cost and she doesn't have to rack her brain every year as to what to get someone who can be impossible to shop for. Here is a link for you to pass on, and make gift giving easy. http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/steppingstones/a/040201a.htm I think it is something handmade that you'll really enjoy. Have fun. Ciao. Ciao.

Stay-cation

Don't you just love the new vocabulary words? Having all the vacation fun, and none of the airfare, or gas! So now what to do with the kids, especially when going to the pool can be pretty standard fare for the summer. Here's my idea and my nieces approve. We pretend for a week we are in Italy and what I love most about Italy is the food....gelato in particular. So everyday for a week, (remember you are in Italy) you have to try out a new place for gelato. Search the Internet http://www.google.com/ as I'm sure there is more than one in your area. At the end of the week, you can decide who has the best gelato. If for some reason, one does not like gelato, try searching for the best pizza or pretend you are in Texas and go for ribs. Get creative and have fun. Ciao. Ciao.