Cousin Connection

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun

by Mary May Larmoyeux

One of the things that I love about writing The Grand Connection is that it makes me look for new, creative ways to connect with my own grandkids!

I was just reading the "Cousin Fun" page in the new issue of FamilyFun magazine. One of the ideas was to make a deck of cousin-themed old maid cards. The woman who submitted this idea said that she used a card template and typed in fun names for the cousins. I thought that was a great idea.

After searching the Internet for card templates that I could order, I decided to make my own. Using the computer, I just made a text box, inserted a photo, and typed a fun Word Art name for the child pictured. I wasn't able to paste a sample card in this post, but there's a similar one on my homepage .

My plan is to make sets set of "Cousin Cards," print them in color on card stock, and have them laminated at a local teacher supply store. The cousins will get a set and so will Pops and I.

Here's a tip for those who do not know how to make text boxes on the computer or how to use Word Art: Print pictures of the "cousins" on card stock, write a fun description on the back, and have the cards laminated.

What ideas do you have for helping the cousins stay in touch?

Have a great weekend,
Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

© 2010 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Dawnbal1 / Dreamstime.com

Is it time for an indoor picnic?

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

The grands are coming over on Saturday and it's too hot to go outside. Way too hot! We've been having temperatures where Pops and I live in the 100s!

Well, I think it's time to take out the old plastic tablecloth and have an indoor picnic. I'll fill a picnic basket with the kids' dinner, and Pops and I can help them pretend that they are sitting at a picnic table in the great outdoors.

And it might be fun to have the kids cut some picnic "landscape" out of construction paper: the sun, some clouds, flowers, etc. (Doing that should occupy them for a while.)

Here are some more ideas about indoor picnics:

Make a big sun out of yellow construction paper and hang it from the ceiling or on the wall. Hang a few white, puffy paper clouds from the ceiling, too. ... Cut some ants out of black construction paper and scatter them around the edges of the blanket. ... Lie on the blanket on your backs and watch your clouds and dream about real sunny days. (www.ehow.com)

To make the indoor picnic seem more authentic, put up a toy tent and let the children sit in there. If the weather is wet, get the children to wear their rubber boots. When the sun comes out, they can all go outside and splash in the puddles. (www. picnic-basket.com)

Start the fun by setting the scene. Will the setting be a picnic on the beach or a family picnic in the park? The choice is yours. ... At the beach you have sand and umbrellas and bathing suits. Since you are indoors, participants may want to opt for shorts instead of swimsuits, but you can still have the rest more or less. Spread plastic seashells, buckets, and shovels around the room. Attach big colorful sun pictures to the walls on a rainy day to liven up the picnic. (www.mommyland.com)

Indoor picnics can be a lot of fun!

Do you have any picnic tips?

Have a great weekend,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux

The Grand Connection

© by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.