Posts from — October 2008

Decorating Pumpkins

The annual Chili Fest and Halloween Party was great fun. The grandchildren’s costumes were so cute, even the ones that were suppose to be scarey. My mom and I dressed up as witches and we got some strange looks from the kids when they arrived. My daughter brought a graveyard cake that everyone enjoyed. It was loads of fun doing all Halloween activities.More Chili Fest ideas.

I found a great website for your grandkids. They can read a book and turn the pages with the click of the mouse.  http://www.lookybook.com/ For more fun sites that help kids learn click Websites At Grandma Lizzie’s House.

You and your grandchildren will have loads of fun making these Halloween puppets. It’s a quick and easy activity for all ages because you can’t make a mistake. All you need are paper and craft sticks. Add goggly eyes or draw eyes with a crayon or marker. Your grandchildren can let their imagination go wild. Together you can write a scary story and do a Halloween puppet show for other family members. I found this fun family activitiy on www.activityvillage.co.uk.
Directions for Origami Mummy Puppets

Learn about Diwali, a Hindu holiday, with your grandchildren and create unique decorations. This year, Diwali is celebrated October 28. During Diwali, Lakshmi (goddess of wealth and prosperity) is welcomed into the home. Tiny footprints are found around the house to show her arrival. With your grandchildren you can design Lakshmi’s colorful footprints. On while paper, trace and cutout several of your grandchild’s footprints. Decorate with crayons or markers and place around the house. You can play a game “Find Lakashmi’s Footprints”. One person hides the footprints and the others try to find them.

It is believed that Lakashmi cannot enter a house which is not lit up, so every household burns special Diwali clay lamps  to light the way for the goddess, which is why the holiday is also known as the Festival of Lights. With your grandchildren you can make a lamp from a terra-cotta dish. Use paint or markers to decorate then place a votive candle inside and light. This photo and activity came from a great website www.activityvillage.co.uk

This is an easy and fun game to play around Hal1oween. It’s a great way to help children learn and practice counting by fives, adding and subtracting. Just print the spider web patterns, cut them out and glue onto a paper plate. Set them on the floor an appropriate distance for your grandchild’s ability. For tossing use a black pompom or a rolled up sock. Create your own rules so everyone can be a winner. Download Spider Web Game 5 & 10 Download Spider Web Game 15 & 20

We have a family tradition that occurs each October – The Family Chili Fest. I have it close to Halloween so my grandchildren can wear their costumes. It’s usually the first time they get a chance to wear them so they are very excited. The adults even get into the act by dressing up. We begin with dinner which is, you guessed it, chili. I make many different kinds because some family members like traditional chili, some prefer vegetarian and others favor something in between. After dinner we clear the table and decorate cookies and pumpkins and then end with a spooky story. This year I have 2 new grandchildren so it will be fun to see how they come dressed.
I’m including a great chili recipe that I got from a friend many years ago. I can alter it to make everyone happy.
Surprise Chili
1 lb. sweet Italian sausage
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 lb. cooked bacon
1 chopped onion
1 chopped green pepper
Cook together in heavy kettle until meat is brown. Drain off fat.
1 Tbs. chili powder
2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. basil
2 tsp. oregano
¼ C. flour
¼ C. brown sugar
Mix together and stir in with meat. Cook for 1 min.
45 oz. Italian style tomatoes, untrained
30 oz. black-eyed peas, drained
30 oz. red kidney beans, drained
3 -15 oz. pineapple chunks, untrained
3 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
Add the remaining ingredient and break the tomatoes into smaller chunks. Simmer 3 hours. Add water if necessary.