Search Results for: blog easter fun for the whole family

Alternatives to Plastic Easter Eggs – Part 1

Easter is almost here and that means celebrations, including chocolate, Easter baskets, and plastic Easter eggs. Or does it? Plastic eggs aren’t very green, but they have become a staple of Easter egg hunts. They are cheap and convenient, but we may forget about what they could be doing to the environment. Here are some plastic Easter eggs alternatives that you might want to consider this year: Hard Boiled Eggs It’s like Easter the old fashioned way – pre-plastic eggs! Hard boiled eggs may be a bit more messy and if one is lost in the hunt, it can be … Continue reading →

Easter Fun for the Whole Family

Kids are wired on Easter even when they haven’t devoured a basket full of chocolate, so make sure you are prepared with a variety of activities to keep them entertained. Here are some Easter games and projects to keep the fun going on Easter Sunday: EASTER EGG GAMES If the weather is nice, head outdoors to play Easter egg games. Use several colored eggs (hard boiled) and one white one. Roll the white egg in the center of the yard (or large living room). Next, take turns to see who can roll their colored egg closest to the white egg. … Continue reading →

St. Patrick’s Day Fun for the Whole Family

If you think this blog is rushing things a bit, then you haven’t strolled through Wal-Mart or Target recently. Both stores are already hawking Easter items. Meanwhile, the St. Patrick’s Day loot is tucked away in an obscure corner near the pet items. I’m only an eighth Irish, but you don’t have to have an ounce of green blood running through your veins to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Just gather the family, whip up some Corned Beef and Cabbage, potatoes, soda bread, and some shamrock shakes and you’ll be in business. Then, gather the kids, clear off the table and … Continue reading →

Easter Fun in Cold Weather

Today, in Colorado, the temperatures are just below freezing. Icicles are forming everywhere from the melting snow. And we have up to three inches of snow scheduled for tonight. Not exactly ideal Easter weather. I still think of green grass, flowers, new spring dresses, and flowered hats as being Easter. But I know all the little girls in their pretty spring dresses will be covered up by their winter coats for church tomorrow. It’s not the first Easter we’ve had snow. In our sixteen years here we’ve made more than one snow bunny instead of snowman. We discovered that the … Continue reading →

Eating Healthy On A Frugal Budget

Too many people tell me that the reason they eat such unhealthy meals is because healthy food is expensive. I tend to disagree with them, but converting these spendthrifts isn’t all that difficult when I tell them that our family of four eats pretty healthy and my food budget is half of the national average (according to my online research). I’m not a health nut by any means, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that junk food makes you feel terrible and it doesn’t cost less than healthier foods. Not to mention you’ll have fewer trips to … Continue reading →

St. Patrick’s Day Crafts for Preschoolers

St. Patrick’s Day is less than two weeks away, and while the occasion is not surrounded by as much pomp and pageantry as Easter or Valentine’s Day, it’s still a great reason to gather the kids for a day of craft making. The following green-themed crafts are ideal for younger children, who are eager to craft on their own, but don’t mind getting a helping hand from mom or dad once in a while: DECORATIVE SHAMROCKS Materials: Safety scissors Glue Green construction paper Fruit Loops (you can substitute with colored macaroni) Markers or crayons Glitter glue Glitter Sequins Directions: Draw … Continue reading →

Cheap “Cheep” Crafts for Kids

Birds don’t chirp or peep in our house, they “cheep.” Just ask my 4-year-old, who recently came home from a friend’s house with birds she made from plastic Easter eggs. Her BFF’s crafty mom helped the girls create the cutest “cheep-cheeps” for cheap. The instructions for the Plastic Baby Birds follow, as well as a recipe for Chocolate Bird’s Nests: PLASTIC BABY BIRDS Materials: Plastic Easter egg (one half for each bird) Construction paper (orange and brown) Paper plate Brown paint Paintbrush Scissors Glue Black Sharpie Directions: Paint the paper plate brown, making sure you cover the entire plate thoroughly … Continue reading →

More Cool Places to Visit Santa

I took my preschooler to see Santa at the mall yesterday. It went about as well as our visit with the Easter Bunny. Needless to say our family Christmas card will not be featuring a smiling tot perched on Santa’s lap… again. It makes me wonder if I would have more success if we switched venues and caught up with the rotund red-suited gift giver at one of the following locales: NEW HAMPSHIRE Santa’s Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire is a must-visit destination if you are in New England during the holiday season. The outdoor theme park is a virtual … Continue reading →

Scrapbooking Week in Review for March 10-16, 2008

Springtime is near and more than likely you are already getting the mixed up spring time weather in your neck of the woods. I adore being outside on the warmer days and enjoying the fresh air. On the colder days, I use them to get caught up on scrapbooking. What layouts have you been creating lately? I am getting ready to begin working on last years Easter pictures so I can get in the mood for the upcoming holiday, which is just around the corner. Hope you all have a wonderful week. Check out what has been happening in the … Continue reading →

Visiting Great Wolf Lodge

This past weekend my entire family, which includes not only our seven, but all of the cousins, aunts, uncles and grandma and papa, all went to Great Wolf Lodge for a family retreat. I can’t say it was relaxing in the traditional ‘retreat’ sense, but it was great fun! In case you’re not familiar, Great Wolf Lodge is a new brand of resort: the indoor water park. There are Great Wolf Lodges popping up all over the Eastern United States. We were visiting the one in the Poconos although I’m told that they are all basically the same. The Price … Continue reading →