crafting with grandma - Life-Sized Drawings!

Yesterday when my sweet grandsons were here, we took some large paper and had Josiah lay on the paper, on the floor while I traced around him. He then got to work turning the drawing of him into, Super Robot Josiah!!!! Of course Caleb had to have me draw around him, too, so we took another large sheet of paper and drew Caleb. He had great fun coloring it!

Blessings!

The past couple days have been filled with so much fun, laughter, hugs, kisses and memories I'll cherish - yes, my two sweet grandsons were here for a sleepover! The boys were playing outside with their Poppa when Caleb - he is almost two - got a big grin on his face, he took the garden hose he was playing with and began chasing his Poppa around the yard with it! I personally found this to be tremendously hilarious!

Science Project - Popsicle Stick Chain Reaction!

The other day I shared a fun popsicle stick science project on my other blog, About the Children's Department - I teach a Sunday School class of first graders - almost all boys, so whenever I can add in a science project the boys not only LOVE it, but the listen and really do get the point because I tie the project in with the lesson. 

So, I'm going to the store today to get the popsicle sticks so my grandsons can help me figure out how to do this fun experiment which I found on-line. This project uses popsicle sticks - LOTS of popsicle sticks. Josiah LOVES science projects, so I'm pretty sure he will have fun helping me learn how to do this!

grandma's cookbook - Fun, Patriotic Strawberries!

I was browsing on Pinterest yesterday looking for fun ideas for celebrating the Fourth of July with my grandchildren when I came across an idea which made me stop and smile - so of course I had to share it with you - Red, White & Blue Strawberries! Aren't they adorable???!!! :-)

grandma's cookbook - Chocolate-Dipped Sparkly Pretzels for the 4th!

The Fourth of July is just six days away, so if you are looking for a really simple activity which yields a fun and celebratory snack, take a look at this idea I found on Pinterest for Chocolate-dipped, sparkly pretzels!

Still Time to Enter the Grandma Contest and a Contest for Moms!

I've been inviting you to share your favorite thing to do with your grandchildren in my new "grandma contest" . . . you still have two days to share if you would like to be in this contest! Next week I'll begin posting "entries" and open voting - of course any time we spend time with our grandchildren we, and they, are winners!

I realize many of you who read grandma's cookie jar are moms, not grandmas, so I thought it would be fun to have a contest for moms to see what their favorite things are to do with their children . . . just comment below to let me know what your favorite things are to do with your children and you will be entered in my "mom contest"! I'll take entries until July 15th and then everyone will be able to vote for the idea they like the best - of course I'll put together a prize package for the winner!

grandma's cookbook - Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches!!!

Okay, as soon as I post this I am heading for my pantry and will be pulling out my ice cream maker . . . what other response could I possibly have to this recipe? Particularly since my two sweet grandsons will be coming to my house tomorrow for a sleep-over (WooHoo!!!!!) and making our own ice cream is sure to be an activity they will enjoy!!!

I was browsing on Pinterest yesterday when I found the recipe for Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches and as soon as I saw it I knew I had to share it with all of you and make it with my grandsons! Yes, you could simplify this recipe by buying already-made ice-cream . . . which of course, would not be as fun, but if you have an ice cream maker, or are willing to make your own ice cream maker with a can and ice (see this link for the "how-tos" for doing this) plan to make the time to make your own for a treat which is sure to be amazing!!!!

DIY Ice Cream Makers!

Summer days and ice cream go together! Add in grandchildren and this is an absolute classic combination which is sure to provide warm memories for years to come! While there are certainly enjoyable ice creams available for you to buy in your nearest grocery store, making your own is not only a way to know what all the ingredients are, but a way to create fun memories with your grandchildren!

But, what if you do not have an ice cream maker? The answer to this question is simple . . . make your own! I went searching on the internet for inexpensive ways to make your own ice cream maker . . . I'm happy to say I found a site with DIY plans for doing exactly this! Check these out . . . 

I Have a Winner!

I'm happy to announce Pat is the winner in my Bubblegum, Maps, and Missing Patience book give-away! (You'll find the review at this link) Thank you Pat for reading grandma's cookie jar (please message me your address by July 4, 2014 so I can have it sent to you) and thank you Zonderkidz for sending one for me to review and for making another available for me to give away!

crafting with grandma - Stick Flag!

As I browsed on Pinterest today looking for Patriotic craft ideas, I found one which will be fun to make with my grandsons when they are a little older . . . a stick flag! I have lots of trees in my yard, which, of course, means I have lots of sticks, so this is a craft which they can not only make - maybe next year - but one which they will be able to have extra fun with as they find the sticks to use for their flags!

crafting with grandma - Tie-Dye Shirts!

The Fourth of July is just eight days away, so if you are looking for some fun patriotic ideas you can do with your grandchildren, look at this idea I found on Pinterest which tells you how to make tie-dye shirts! I think it will be great fun - and certainly a great mess, too - to help my grandsons make their own red, white and blue tie-dye shirts . . . I'll let you know if this was as much "fun" as I like to think it will be since they are almost five and almost two!!!

More Summer Fun . . . Water Balloon Pinatas!!!

Okay, on a hot summer day, what could possibly sound more fun than making - and breaking - water balloon pinatas???!!! Just think of all the fun you could have with your grandchildren and a bag of balloons!!! I found this idea on Pinterest and a bag of balloons is definitely on my shopping list because as much as my grandsons love to play in and with water, this is something they are sure to LOVE!

Grandma Contest . . . Still Time to Enter!

There are still five days to enter the "Favorite Things to Do With My Grandchildren Idea Contest" . . . just comment below to let me know what your favorite things are to do with your grandchildren. So far the following ladies have shared their favorite things ideas . . . 

Summer Fun - Make Your Own Sprinkler!

I just posted about all the fun my grandson had making mud with our garden hose this past Saturday when he was at my house, so when I was browsing on Pinterest and saw this idea for making your own sprinkler, I had to share it with you!

Weekends with Sweet Grandsons - Squirt Guns, Playgrounds and Making Mud!

How was your weekend? I hope it was filled with family and love! I was blessed to enjoy part of the past two weekends with my sweet grandsons! They spent the last two Friday nights and most of the days on Saturday . . . what could be a better way to spend Friday nights and Saturdays than with sweet grandsons? :-)

Birthdays and Chocolate Lasagna!

My dad's birthday is tomorrow, so yesterday my family got together and celebrated with him . . . I was responsible for the dessert, so I brought Chocolate Lasagna - which happens to be one of the best desserts EVER!!! Particularly on a hot, summer day as there is no cooking or baking involved!

So, I thought just in case you might have missed when I posted this recipe last month, I'd share it once again with you because you are most likely to want to make one for yourself as well!

Chances are you are wondering about this post . . . what kind of recipe could possibly be called, "chocolate lasagna"? Is it good? It does have "chocolate" in the name, so doesn't this mean it must be tasty? But, chocolate "lasagna"???? 

Well . . . have no fear!!!! This is a dessert which will leave you heading for the store to get the ingredients, for sure!!! My daughter, Tiffany, posted this recipe on her facebook and when I saw it, I knew I had to share it with you! 

Full Disclosure

If you read grandma's cookie jar, you have likely noticed I tend to review toys, books, Bibles, resources, music, DVDs, games, and other things for families at least twice a month. In the interest of full disclosure I want to share the following information with you - The FTC requires people, such as myself, who write blogs and review product to disclose where the product came from and if it was given to them for review purposes. All toys, books, etc, items for my "grandma's pick" and items I review for specific posts/articles are given to me by their publisher and/or manufacturer for free for review and/or give-away purposes. I do not work for any publishers - or other companies - and will do my best to give an un-biased review of the items I review. After my review, I have drawings among the people who have "liked" my blog with the tab in the "find us on facebook" box ON THE BLOG for the "grandma's pick" items. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255; "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising" 

crafting with grandma - Bubble Dough - Summer Fun!!!

I was browsing on Pinterest this morning looking for something fun to do with my grandsons and found something cool to do with my grandsons . . . make bubble dough!!! What is bubble dough, you ask? I asked the same question and discovered it is simply a mix of cornstarch and dish soap . . . sounds pretty simple and like something with the potential to be great fun!!!

grandma's bookshelf - The Berenstain Bears - Do Not Fear, God is Near - Review & Give-Away!

If you are a grandma you can pretty well figure your grandchildren - and their parents - know who the Berenstain Bears are. You can also figure there are things your grandchildren are afraid of . . . even if they are like my sweet 4 1/2 year old grandson who bravely says he is, "not afraid of anything!" That is, except for shadows because they are "scary"!

Well, I have to say when Zonderkidz sent me the book The Berenstain Bears, Do Not Fear, God Is Near I was very happy to see not only does it talk about trusting God when we are afraid, but it specifically talks about being afraid of shadows!!! This is a book I'm definitely reading to Josiah! I'm also very happy to say, not only did Zonderkidz send me the book to review, but they are also making another available for me to give away!

Summertime Rainy Day Fun . . . Make Spoon Bugs!!!

While we might like to see our Summer days filled with sunshine and warm temperatures,  we all know there are days when it rains. So . . . what can we do with our grandchildren on rainy summer days? Well, as I browsed on Pinterest today I found a simple and fun craft which gives one answer to this question . . . make spoon bugs!!!

Summertime Fun - Outdoor Classic Games!

Do you remember the old classics when it comes to "board" games? Games like Ker-Plunk, Dominoes, Checkers, Jenga and Twister? Which of us didn't grow up playing these games? Well, I can not begin to tell you how happy I am to share with you a link I found on Pinterest for making outdoor versions of these games which you can have your grandchildren play outside all Summer long! What could possibly be more fun than to have a "Classics" gameland in Poppa and grandma's yard???

Summertime Fun - Build a Water Wall!!!

In keeping with my theme this week about Summertime Fun I am really happy to share a new idea I found on Pinterest - of course - with you today . . . Water Walls! What is a Water Wall, you ask? Well, it is a place where your grandchildren can, play, discover, have fun, oh and yes, get wet!!!! What could be better on a hot Summer day???

I Have Two Winners!

I'm happy to announce Christine Anderson and Heather W are the winners in my Black Light Message Board and Black Light Glow Book give-aways! (You will find the review at this link - each of you will win one of these - please let me know which you want; the first to message me gets their pick.) Thank you Christine and Heather for reading grandma's cookie jar (please message me your address by July 4, 2013 so I can have it sent to you) and thank you Creativity 4 Kids for sending these for me to review and for making additional sets available for me to give away!

grandma's cookbook - 50 Perfect Popsicles

Well, along with bubbles, what could possibly be more "summery" and fun than popsicles? Possibly making your own!!! When you involve your grandchildren in making them, you are sure to have a fun time everyone will remember! So, as I browsed Pinterest today, I knew I had to share this link with you for 50 Perfect Popsicles!!!

Summer Bubble Fun!!!

Yesterday I shared two ideas for Summer fun with your grandchildren, so today I want to share a couple more! What could be more "summery" than bubbles??? Kids of all ages enjoy bubbles - they are such inexpensive fun for sure! Just look at these ideas I found on Pinterest for Summer Bubble Fun . . . 

Make a Summer Memory Wall!!!

In my last post I shared a link for 30 Fun Summer Ideas which you could do with your grandchildren over the summer, so now I want to share another great idea I found on Pinterest which you could do to help your grandchildren document and remember all the fun things they do with you over the summer . . . their own Summer Memory Wall!!!

I love to write, so an idea which encourages children to document their fun summer activities - either by writing or drawing pictures - is an idea I'm absolutely going to LOVE!!! Just follow this link and you'll find a free printable for a "Summer Fun" sign and simple directions for making your "gallery"!

Summer Fun - 30 Great Ideas!!!

Summer is here .  . or nearly so . . . and the next three months should be full of Summertime fun . . . so if you are looking for some great, inexpensive and fun ideas which you could use with your grandchildren for summertime fun, then check these 30 ideas which I found on Pinterest!

crafting with grandma - Crocheted Raggedy Ann & Andy Dolls!

I have always been a "fan" of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls! In fact, the first doll I bought my daughter was a Raggedy Ann doll! After all  what isn't there to love about these sweet dolls which have been loved "friends" of children for decades??!!! Sweet, huggable and oh, so lovable, Raggedy Ann dolls are classics for a reason!

Glorify the Lord with me, and let us Praise His Name Together!

We all have ups and downs in our lives; happy and sad times, times when things are going along well and times when the going is more difficult, but in all these times I have found I can always depend on God! He never leaves me and with Him I can always have joy regardless of the current circumstances! 

This is a message I want my grandchildren to not only hear from me, but to see as it is lived out in my real life throughout their real lives. I want them to know just as their grandma depends on God and receives joy from Him, they can do the same!

Just look at Psalm 34 . . . 

grandma's chuckles - The Pilot is NECESSARY and Happy Father's Day!

I shared this story with you last year, but in honor of Father's Day, I thought I'd share it again! When Josiah was almost four, some friends of mine hosted an event for our Sunday school class which included plane rides. I ended up staying home with Caleb - we forgot to get his car seat, but Dave was able to go for awhile with Josiah. Being 3, Josiah wanted his poppa to go up in the airplane with him. When our friend (the pilot) was getting ready to start the plane he was joking around how he wasn't a pilot, but he was sure he could figure out how to fly the plane. Josiah gave this some thought then said, "Poppa, maybe it would be a good idea if you get out of the plane so the pilot can get in your spot!" (He didn't ask to get out himself - just thought a pilot would be a good idea). Of course his poppa told him our friend was really a pilot and was just joking around, so then Josiah was ready to fly! 

grandma's chuckles - Time Out!

When my sweet grandson, Josiah was one and a half he already knew his grandma was a “softie”! One day he was at our house when he tried to put a key into an outlet. His mother took the key away from him and put him into a time-out because he knew he was not allowed to play with outlets. He turned to me and said, “Granmmmmaaa! Granmmmaaa!”, thinking of course, I would come to his rescue. But, I told him he had to have a time-out because he couldn’t put things in the outlet.

grandma's cookbook - Strawberry Lemonade!

My grandsons . . . and pretty much my whole family . . . love lemonade! I "tweak" the recipe on the lemon juice bottle . . . 1 cup of sugar, 2 cups of lemon juice and 6 1/2 cups of water . . . for a do-it-yourself-so-you-know-what-is-in-it-lemonade which is not too tart and not too sweet!

Join in the Fun and Enter the "Favorite Things to do with My Grandchildren Contest"!

Last week I posted about my new "grandma contest" . . . I'm looking for ideas for your "Favorite Things to do with My Grandchildren"! I shared some of my favorite things to do with my grandsons and then asked; " What are your favorite things to do with your grandchildren? Is there an activity you love to do with them? Is there a special place you love to go to with them? Do you make special plans for the summer which involves creating memories with your grandchildren?"

Just for Fun!!! More Twin Trivia!

I always thought it would be fun to be a twin . . . when I was growing up there was just one set of twins in my grade in school, but now days, twins are much more common. Did you know . . . 

crafting with grandma - Why We Love Our Dad Father's Day Gift!!!

Father's Day is just two days away and if you are looking for something you could help your grandchildren make for their dad, take a look at this great idea I found on Pinterest! If your grandchildren are old enough to draw, this is a gift their dad is sure to treasure!

I Have Two Winners!

I'm happy to announce Susan Harrod is the winner of the LeapReader 3D Book: Monsters University book and Maria Malaveci is the winner of LeapPad Explorer Monster's University Learning Game in my LeapFrog give-aways! (You'll find the reviews at this link and this link) Thank you Susan and Maria for reading grandma's cookie jar (please message me your address by June 19, 2013 so I can have your prize sent to you) and thank you LeapFrog for sending these to me to review and for making additional items available for me to give away!

grandma's bookshelf - Bubblegum, Maps and Missing Patience . . . and I'm Giving One Away!

A few days ago I announced a new "grandma contest" so today I want to let you know about one of the prizes in the prize package for the winner . . . a new VeggieTales book!

Two LeapFrog Monster University Give-Aways on the 13th!

I recently had the opportunity to review LeapPad Explorer Monster's University Learning Game and LeapReader 3D Book: Monsters University book . . . along with reviewing them I announced give-aways which will be on the 13th! You'll find the review and give-away info for the LeapPad Explorer Monster's University Learning Game at this link and the review and give-away info for the LeapReader 3D Book: Monsters University book at this link.

I Have a Winner!

I'm happy to announce Chelle is the winner in my the Confession DVD give-away! (You'll find the review at this link) Thank you Chelle for reading grandma's cookie jar (please message me your address by June 18, 2013 so I can send it to you) and thank you Sony Pictures for sending one for me to review and for making another available for me to give away!

crafting with grandma - DIY Photo Cube!

Father's Day is just a few days away, so if you are looking for a great gift idea which you could help your grandchildren make for their dad, take a look at this Photo Cube which I found on Pinterest!

Just for Fun!!! Did You Know . . . Twin Trivia!!

Since we just celebrated Children's Day, I thought it would be fun to share some Twin Trivia with you! Did you know . . .

Children's Day 2013 - What Great Fun!!!

Yesterday was Children's Day and it was a wonderful day of great fun! My son, daughter-in-law and grandsons came over for dinner - we had pizza, corn on the cob and chocolate cake with chocolate pudding and whipped cream on top . . . Josiah's choice of menu! Then the boys followed a "treasure" map I made around our yard finding some fun surprises (squirt guns), ending up at their playground where their poppa has started their backyard ball run! They played with it for awhile and then had fun with a water-gun battle in the yard!

Just for Fun!!! More "Sand" Facts!

Happy Children's Day!!! As you enjoy this day with your grandchildren, take a moment to share a few fun "sand" facts with them! Did you know . . . 

grandma's bookshelf - Victim of Grace

Life can certainly have it's ups and downs for all of us leaving us wondering what is happening and what we should do next. But as Robin Jones Gunn so wonderfully explains in her new book, Victim of Grace: When God's Goodness Prevails, we are not, "victims of circumstances. We are victims of grace." Robin says, "No matter what obstacles, heartaches, or difficulties are assailing you, you are not at the mercy of those circumstances. God still is pouring out His grace on your life and accomplishing His purposes for you in the midst of your shattered hopes." This absolutely is a book you will be so glad you took the time to read!

grandma's cookbook - Baked Doughnuts!!!

A couple days ago, in honor of National Doughnut Day, I posted my grandma's doughnut recipe. I love doughnuts! They have the power to absolutely be my "undoing" as I really, totally, completely LOVE doughnuts!!! But, since doughnuts are fried, I only eat them a couple times a year - and it does take considerable will-power for me to keep it to only a couple times a year! If you happen to be near me at the store when I walk near the doughnuts you'll hear me saying, "Doughnuts!!! Doughnuts!!! Doughnuts!!!" as I walk past the delicious, little pieces of joy!!! It is odd, but by saying this I am able to just keep walking and not stop and buy any!!!

Favorite Thing to Do . . . Grandma Contest!!!

I love to spend time with my grandsons . . . it doesn't really matter what we do, I just love to be with them! However; some of our current favorite things to do include the following . . .