Search Results for: blog some twists on family movie night

Family Birthday Celebrations

With six people in our family, we manage to make our own party, even if no one else is present. So, this week one of my daughters is having a birthday and it happens to fall on a weekday, leaving us to have a family party on the actual date. She’s planning to have a friend or three over on the weekend, but we’ll make sure she feels special on her big day. Some of the things we like to do for family birthdays are listed below. I hope you’ll like some of these ideas, or maybe you’ll share some … Continue reading →

Family Traditions: Movie Nights

It’s funny how family traditions sometimes have a way of forming all on their own. Tyler and I have an unspoken tradition. Lately, Friday nights have become our unofficial movie night. Friday’s have become synonymous with pizza, popcorn and a movie. Sometimes I throw in some gummy worms, just to keep it interesting. It means getting down on the floor with the lights out and snuggling close together. I’m not exactly sure how it morphed into this tradition but I realized that I have started to really look forward to it. And so has Tyler. Family traditions don’t have to … Continue reading →

Family Project: Address Plaque

You can use craft wood or even scrap wood for this project. You might even want to use aluminum or Plexiglas since it’s going to be outside. You should be able to pick up a small piece of either, or have a piece cut down to size, at a hardware store or sign shop in your area. Actually, a coated aluminum license plate blank works perfectly. If your state is one that requires license plates on both front and back of vehicles, they might not be as easy to find locally, but you can order them online. They are 6” … Continue reading →

Family Key Rack Project

Working on projects as a family is not only fun, it is also a great way to teach kids how to work together. This is a neat project that you and your kids can put together and then hang up to show off. What you will need: Craft wood Sand paper Saw tooth picture hanger Mug hooks (any small, self-drilling hooks) Paint Paintbrush Decorative items or stencils (optional) What you will need to do: 1. When you’re looking for craft wood, check out the many shapes and styles. You can go with a plain, rectangular piece or find a cool … Continue reading →

Indoor Family Relays

If the weather outside if frightful, there’s no reason things inside can’t be delightful. Sure, kids get bored easily and we grown ups do sometimes as well. This is the perfect time to try out some indoor family relays. You can divide family members into teams or play one on one. Quick Trip Relay Give each person or team a suitcase or duffel at the start line. At the other end of the room, place a stack of clothes, socks, pajamas, etc. (an equal number of items in each stack). Each member will run to the stack, grab one item, … Continue reading →

A Family Calendar – A Year of Fun

My friends know that when I say “I put it on my calendar” that means I’m committed to be being at that event or activity unless someone gets sick. They laugh at me when I say “I do what my calendar tells me to.” I’m only half way joking, though. I can’t hold all the appointments, after school activities, and carpool schedules in my head. It’s time to pick out a calendar for next year. I spent some time online browsing calendars for 2007. I love beautiful calendars, pictures of mountains and impressionist paintings and photos of wonderful travel destinations. … Continue reading →

Some Twists on Family Movie Night

Maybe you already set aside an evening regularly to watch movies as a family. This can be a fun way to spend some extra time together. You can take turns selecting movies or have a movie marathon, allowing each family member to select a favorite. This time of year it might be fun to sit down together and watch classic holiday specials. You can rent movies, go pay per view, view movies you already have copies of, or choose from those available in your TV listings. You can make special treats or snacks or have “party food” instead of a … Continue reading →

Gracie (2007)

When I first picked up “Gracie,” I thought I was in for a feel-good family film about a girl who wanted to play soccer. What I ended up with was a deeply-involved drama about a family torn apart who struggled to pull things back together. I have to say, though, I wasn’t disappointed in the film, even though my expectations were so far off base. “Gracie” is loosely based on the lives of actors Andrew and Elisabeth Shue, who also have roles within the film. Gracie Bowen (Carly Schroeder) is the only daughter in a family of athletic boys, and … Continue reading →

Hamlet (1990)

I’ll start off this blog right off the bat by saying that “Hamlet” is not a family-friendly story, no matter which version you are watching. Shakespeare was fond of blood and gore, and his stories all have plenty of it. However, it is a fact that our teenagers are being asked to study Shakespeare in high school, and I always find it helpful to watch a well-done movie of the play to help me identify with the characters and to better understand what is happening in the plot. So, it is for that purpose that I am reviewing “Hamlet” today. … Continue reading →

Connect With Your Kids

As a single parent there is a lot that needs to be done in a day. Depending on you, your situation, and your choices, you need to get up, get your morning routine done, whatever that may be, get your children up, and possibly get them ready for school or day care, get them to school or daycare, go to work whether it be at a company or your own business, clean the house, go to school, homeschool or help with homework, make tasty healthy meals for you and your children, get them to and from extra curricular activities, pay … Continue reading →