Celebrate July 4th in Style

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Grand Connection Fun

by Mary May Larmoyeux

What comes to your mind when you think of  "July 4th"?
Perhaps a parade ... watermelon ... going on a family picnic?

I found some ideas on the Internet that can help us celebrate Independence Day in style. Enjoy!

The History of Independence Day (July 4th)

National Independence Day Parade: The annual National Independence Day Parade will begin on July 4 at 11:45 a.m. in Washington, D.C. We might want to watch this parade on TV with nearby grandchildren. We could call or e-mail long-distance grands and ask them to tell us about their favorite float or marching band. Of course, if you live in Washington, you and the grands could go to the parade together!

Disney 4th of July Fun

Fourth of July Bike Parade

Thanking God for our freedom,
Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com
www.grandconnection.org


© by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo Credit: © Jim Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Grandmothers are Antique Little Girls

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Not too long ago, I was reading some wonderful quotes about grandparents. Here are a few of my favorites: 

Grandmothers are just antique little girls. (Author Unknown)

Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. (Welsh Proverb)

Grandparenting is a wonderful time of life. Finally we can have the ice cream without first eating the vegetables. (Lois Wyse)

Did you get a smile on your face as your read these quotes. I sure did.

Before our first grand was born, my friends warned me that there were no words to express the thrill of being a grandparent. Now I understand that it’s impossible to really describe the joy this antique little girl has when she plays tea party with her three-year old granddaughter.

Before I had grands I thought I knew how to love. Now I know that all of the mistakes that I made as a parent had a purpose—to mold me into a grandparent who can love more perfectly.

Before I had grands I believed children should eat their vegetables before dessert. But now I know that the grands can eat their ice cream at Grandma's house before the veggies. After all, it’s up to their parents to see that they eat right. (smile)

What has grandparenting taught you?

I love what Catherine Moran said in her poem Four Dimensional Love, "Somehow I feel the love for my grandchildren flows through them back to my own children once more."

Have a great week,

Mary 
Mary Larmoyeux

www.grandconnection.org
www.marymaywrites.com

© 2008 Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Jason Schulz / Dreamstime.com

Fun with Paper Dolls and Flannel Boards

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Friday's Grand Connection Funby Mary May Larmoyeux

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite things to do was play with paper dolls at my grandmother’s house. She would roll out big sheets of brown paper and encourage me to design a special house for the dolls.

My Nana would give me a Sears Catalog and a pair of scissors. I would cut out furniture and decorations for the paper house, and would glue the items in place on the brown paper. I remember this as being so much fun!

Today, you can buy paper dolls at specialty toy stores or print off online patterns. If you google “paper dolls” you’ll be amazed at all of the websites that have paperdoll patters. Here's just one:  http://familycrafts.about.com/od/paperdolls/tp/paperdolls.htm .

Even though they don’t print the huge Sears Catalog anymore, the Sunday papers are filled with furniture store inserts that could be transformed into a child’s imaginary house on large sheets of white or brown paper or cardboard.

You may want to make or purchase a felt kit for your grand. The variety of flannel kits today is endless: dollhouse flannel board scenes, flannel board dolls, and kits such as “Trucks, and Trains, and Planes." Mardel's has felt kits for Bible stories like "Jonah and the Whale":  http://www.mardel.com/Jonah-and-the-Whale-Precut-Felt-Set-778274.aspx .

If you have older grandchildren, help them show younger brothers and sisters (or younger neighbors, cousins, etc.) how to make a paper doll house or play with a felt kit.

Did you ever play with paper dolls or make them for your grandkids? Have you played with a grad using a flannel board kit?

He is able
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
www.marymaywrites.com
www.grandconnection.org


© Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

A Special Day with Grandpa

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

I read a neat article in an old issue of Family Fun (September 2008) by Shelley Abreu. Her father died when her oldest child was about three. Shelley grieved that her kids would never know this grandfather and decided to help them remember him.

The article tells how she created “A Day with Grampy Rick.” She wrote down favorite memories on cardstock (such as blank index cards) and pasted descriptive pictures on the cards. For example, she says: “I scrawled ‘Tickle Torture’ and pasted on a picture of my dad tickling me. He was famous for his tickle attacks …”

When she completed a stack of “memory” cards, she put them inside one of her father’s old suitcases and tied a card on the outside handle that said, “A Day with Grampy Rick.” Yes, she attached a favorite picture of her dad.

Shelly explains in her article that whenever she opens the suitcase with her children for a “Day with Grampy Rick,” she shows them the pictures and reads the accompanying memories—and then they do some of the activities. Example: After she reads “Tickle Torture” and the memories, she tickles the kids.

Isn't this a great idea!

Have fun!  And Happy Father's Day to all of the dads and granddads in your grandchild's life!

Have a great weekend,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
http://www.marymaywrites.com/

2010 © Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Make a blessing book for Dad

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

Years ago my dear friend Suzanne told me about making a blessing book for her husband. In it she jotted down why she was grateful for him and included some fun pictures.

At the time, our kids were growing up, and I made a blessing book for my hubby. He loved it! I used a small photo album and inserted note cards with written messages, pictures, etc.

If you are looking for a fun project to do with the grandkids for Father's Day, a blessing book might be just what you are looking for. You could help them make one for their dad or for Grandpa.

What ideas do you have for honoring a favorite fellow on Father's Day?

You have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.
Surely you have granted him unending blessings
and made him glad with the joy of your presence.  
For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love
 of the Most High he will not be shaken.  (Psalm 21:6-7)

Have a great week,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
http://www.marymaywrites.com/

© 2013 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Monkey Business Images / Dreamstime.com

My best birthday present

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

I just celebrated a birthday.  A "big" birthday. 

But lately, instead of thinking of all of the things that I want to do in my lifetime, I'm beginning to ask myself, "What does God want me to do in the years that I have left? What family stories do I need to write down ... so the grandchildren will know their heritage? And ... will I ever sort through all of those seemingly millions of family picture that are packed away in cardboard boxes?"

Can you identify?

But when my mom called this year, a brand new question came to my mind. "How many years will we have Mom?" I was aware that Mom's call was perhaps my best gift. To think, at my ripe old age, I can still hear my mother's voice. I am truly blessed!

How do you choose God's best for your life?  What helps you truly cherish older relatives and friends and express your love to them?

Have a great week,

Mary

www.marymaywrites.com

 

© 2011 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Jim Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.