Today is World Octopus Day!

Octopuses are clearly one of the most odd and interesting creatures living on Earth, so a day to celebrate them makes sense! I will share some fun facts about these unique animals - please be sure to share with the children you love - and then some ideas you might use to help the children you love make their own eight-legged friends. Did you know . . .

Today is National Stop Bullying Day

I'm sure we all agree we do not want the children we love to be bullies or to bully others, so a day focused on stopping bullying is a positive thing. Bullying is a nationally-recognized issue, and there are many resources for parents, teachers, victims of bullying, and bystanders to help stomp out the problem. Help the children you love know the following ways to stop bullying . . .

Fall Book Review - I'm Longer Than You!

For the past few days I've been sharing new books from Kids Can Press and today I'm happy to let you know about another one - I'm Longer Than You! by Carolyn Fisher.

grandma's chuckles - I Still Have My Grandma Super Power

Today during Cookie Month I am remembering how one day when my grands were younger and they were at my house I made cookies for them -  they decided my "grandma super power" was making cookies! They decided I have this "grandma super power" and if they had to choose between a grandma with the super power of running fast or making cookies, they would definitely choose making cookies! Plus, my youngest grandson said he wished he could live on just eating my cookies!

October is National Chili Month!

Fall is upon us and it is time for chili - chili cook-offs, chili dinners, chili get-togethers - anything and everything chili! Plus, it is National Chili Month, so gather your supplies, invite the ones you love, and get ready for a tasty bowl of chili to add to the wonderfulness of spending time with the people you love!

Now, if you are like me, and you are not able to eat very spicy foods, this does not mean you are not able to enjoy a tasty, warm bowl of chili - just try my favorite recipe . . .

Fall Book Review - The Night Giant

Kids Can Press sent me a wonderful book which the young children you love are sure to enjoy - and I am very happy to share with you today - The Night Giant by Lorenzo Coltellacci and illustrated by Lorenzo Sangio.

It is Cookie Month - So Make No-Bakes!

  

My family enjoys no-bake cookies - and I make them from time to time because the way I make them they are a healthy and tasty way to increase fiber, protein, and flavonoids! Today - on International Chocolate Day - I am very happy to share with you my recipe for no-bakes - especially since today is also National Peanut Butter Lovers Day. You will need . . . 

Today is National Indigenous Peoples' Day

Today is National Indigenous Peoples' Day! This is a day to appreciate and pay respect to the people who first came to this land - the Native Americans.

Don't Miss Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park this Fall!

Nearly every Tuesday my husband and I visit Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, so today I want to let you know about some of their new exhibits and special events which are starting so if you live in, or are planning to visit, the Grand Rapids, Michigan area, you will be able to plan to visit this amazing place - and bring your grands with you if you are able to do so!

It is Family History Month

October is Family History Month, so it is a great time to gather your family stories and share them with your grandchildren. If you - like my children and grandchildren - have an ancestor who was a famous author, came to the USA on the Mayflower, was a Native American, knighted in England, or a member of royalty, or the Swiss Guard - tell your grandchildren. If you - like my children and grandchildren - have an ancestor who was struck by lightening, survived a tornado, or who took you fishing and sang funny songs - tell your grandchildren.

Fall Book Review - Hockey In The Wild

A few months ago I reviewed, Camping In The Wild, which I said was a, "book which would capture the attention of the children you love - and one you will enjoy reading as well", so today I'm very happy to share another book in this series - Hockey In The Wild by Nocholas Oldland from Kids Can Press - and yes, it will also capture the attention of the children you love and you will enjoy reading this one, too.

grandma's cookbook - Orange Butter Cookies!

When it comes to cookies my family tends to favor the "classics" . . .  chocolate chip-peanut-butter-oatmeal, plain chocolate chip or plain peanut-butter cookies. But every once in a while I like to try something different and this recipe, which I found on  Pinterest, is certainly one I'd like to try! After all, what could be more "yummie" sounding than orange butter cookies?!!!! And what could be a better time to try them than National Cookie Month?

Tomorrow is National Do Something Nice Day!

Daysoftheyear (dot) com says; "Sure, every day is a great day to do something nice! But this day, the practice of kindness is particularly relevant as it’s time for Do Something Nice Day!" I agree, but I also agree a day to focus upon doing nice things for others is a fantastic idea for sure!

On their site (at this link) they tell about some big and small ways people have been kind through the ages - such as - 

Fall Book Review - Strange Creatures

I'm very happy to share with you another wonderful book for Fall reading from Kids Can Press - Strange Creatures by Cristina Sitja Rubio and Cristobal Leon. I very much enjoyed the message of this story - and believe the children you love will as well!