Winter Fun with a Waterballoon Igloo!

Last year I saw a post on facebook about a waterballoon igloo, so today I had to share this idea with you! You will find photos of it and information about it at this link, but I think it looks like you take your waterballoons, let them freeze, then layer the balloons by putting snow around them as you build.

A Family of Her Own for Candy - Great Story to Encourage Reading in the New Year

A couple summers ago my husband, grandsons, and I went to the Humane Society to get a kitten. I wanted my grands to go with us because, first of all, they love all animals, and secondly I wanted to be sure whatever cat we got was one which was able to be around my grands without being aggressive. We spent some time at the Humane Society and finally settled on a very sweet calico - which we named Candy, because she is sweet (and my middle grand said she reminded him of candy corn.) 

crafting with grandma - LOVE with Handprints!

When you have little ones at your home, chances are you will also have little handprints . . . on the windows, on the doors, on the furniture . . . in lots of places! Well, one day when I was browsing on Pinterest, I found the best idea ever for using those little hands . . . and feet, to make a gift which will be absolutely treasured by anyone who receives it!

All you need is paint, something to put the prints on; could be paper, canvas, wood, t-shirts, glass . . . whatever you choose and, of course, little hands and feet!

crafting with grandma - Valentines Day Bird Feeder!

Valentine's Day is just a little over a month away, so if you are looking for a simple craft which your grandchildren could do . . . and one which has a purpose, then look at this great idea I found  on  Pinterest  for a Valentine's Day Bird Feeder! You'll find the simple directions at this link . . . my grands made this when they were younger. 

grandma's cookbook - Ham & Cheese Pretzel Bites!

My sweet grands are typically at my house every Saturday for a sleepover, so when I was browsing on  Pinterest and saw this recipe, I thought it sounded like a fun recipe to try with them! After all, what could be more fun than making home made ham and cheese pretzel bites? 

Just for Fun . . . New Year's Fun Facts!

We are beginning the New Year - 2025, and the children we love are back in school - unless they have another snow day - so I thought it would be fun to look on-line and see if I could find any interesting, surprising, and fun New Year's facts to share with you . . . look what I  found . . . 

The Little Ginormous, Humongous, Hairy, One-Eyed Monster Boys Adventures!

 

With the weather the weekend brought, many people in our country are experiencing snow days - my grands are not, but there are certainly children who are. But with snow days, or any days when children are home, there is always the challenge of finding things for them to do. If you have young children ages three to eight in your home, consider giving them a fun book with two stories in it which will brighten their day and make bedtime - or any time - funtime! 

Cooking = Family Memories to Treasure!

What do you remember from when you were a child? Which family memories stand out to you when you remember being young? For me, I remember times when my family got together . . . there were always amazing things to eat as my family had excellent cooks as my grandmas and my mom could all cook! There are few things in life as wonderful as time spent with family . . . when you can add in tasty things to eat . . . well, it is the "cherry on top"!

crafting with grandma - Valentines Day Salt-Dough Hand-Print Hearts!

If you have been reading grandma's cookie jar for long, you know I love crafts which involve  making hand and/or footprints of my grands . . . they grow up so very fast, so being able to save a "moment in time" when they are "little" (even when they assure me they are no longer "little", but are "big"!) is something I cherish!

So, when I was browsing on Pinterest and saw a salt-dough hand-print heart, I knew I had to do two things . . . make some with my sweet grands and share the recipe with you! 

crafting with grandma - I Love You in Sign Language!

Valentine's Day is just a month and a few days away, so if you are looking for some craft ideas which you could try with your grandchildren, look at this fun idea I found on Pinterest which works for any age of grandchild!

Family Fun Idea - Photo Scavenger Hunt!

If you are looking for fun ideas to use with the children you love this year, then I have a fun idea for you . . . 

Go on a photo scavenger hunt! Just give them a list of things to find and a camera and send them out to search around your yard or in a park, or any place you choose. They can look for items and when they find them, take a picture to show you when they get back!

Yes! illustrate my own Books ARE for You & the Children You Love

  

The New Year has begun, so if you are looking for something fun you could give the children you love as a gift, consider getting some of the books from the illustrate my own series along with crayons, markers, and/or colored pencils. All of them are fun books which will uniquely engage the children you love in ways they have never engaged before with the accounts of Bible heroes. As they (and you) illustrate their books, they will think about what is happening, the things the Bible people said and did, and how God showed His love and grace to the Bible people . . . which will help the children you love better understand how God shows His love and grace to them as well! 

Winter Fun - Amaze Your Grandchildren with Frozen Bubbles!

As I've mentioned a time or two, I live in Michigan - otherwise known as the "Frozen North"! I've never been a person who enjoyed the cold; being warm is so very much more pleasant! But, the other day when I was browsing on Pinterest I found an idea for something really cool which you could do with your grandchildren in the cold . . . make frozen bubbles!

just for fun - January is Brainteaser's Month!

Typically, I'm not great at brainteasers . . . my husband is great at them, but I don't tend to "get them"! However, as we start January, since it is Brainteaser's Month, I thought I'd browse a bit on Pinterest and look for some Brainteasers, even I could "get" and then share them with you!

I found a few . . . if I can "get" them, they are likely ones your grandchildren will enjoy, so . . . here they are . . .