I’m going to have my 6th graders make this. You can print it out colored but I’m going to print it out black and white and have them color it with markers.
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Eveyone can join in making this tasty dessert.
You’ll need:
2 cups diced fresh strawberries, plus more for garnish
1 tsp sugar
2 Twinkies
2 biscotti, any flavor
1 cup Cool Whip, thawed
Directions:
1. Place diced strawberries in a glass bowl and sprinkle with sugar. Mix gently with a spoon and set aside.
2. Crumble Twinkies into a small bowl; set aside.
3. Place biscotti in a resealable plastic bag; using the back of a large spoon, crush into coarse crumbs. Pour into a bowl.
4. Using eight glasses fill with half Twinkies then half strawberries. Repeat. Top with Cool Whip and crumbled biscotti.
5. Refrigerate for at least and hour.
Makes eight individual servings.

My good friend’s daughter had this fun party for her daughter. It looked like so much fun I wanted to share it with you. These are the invitations.

They had a photo shoot and each girl had her picture taken. They decorated frames for displaying their picture. They also made a pipe cleaner ring. The favor bags had pink M & M’s, Reese’s hearts, lip gloss, and fashion stickers.

Isn’t this cake fantastic. It helps that your father owns a bakery and you aunt and mother are decorators!

Audrey Hepburn, look out!

For each placemat you‘ll need:
Paper that measures 34 inches long & 13 inches wide (butcher paper, newsprint, large paper sacks, wrapping paper, wall paper).
Scissors & glue.
Items to decorate the envelope: stickers, crayons, markers, paper, glitter, etc.

Directions:
1. Measure 13 inches from the bottom and fold the paper up. This will form the opening of the envelope.
2. Fold down from the top 8 inches to form the flap.
3. Make the flap pointed by folding each side into the center, cut the extra paper off.
4. Glue the sides of the envelope along the edges.

When your child is not looking, put an object in a bag. Have her listen carefully while you give five clues about the item. She will try to guess what is in the bag. When she does let her pick an object and you listen for clues.
From Home & School Connection December 2010

This treat can is easy to make. All you need is a metal can, wire, paint, and embelishments.

Clean your can and remove label. You’ll need to take off the bottom of the can too. Be sure to use a can opener that doesn’t leave sharp edges.
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Using an awl or a nail, hammer two holes on each side of the top of the can.

Using the hammer pound the bottom of the can flat together.

The top remains open.
Now paint, decorate, add a wire for the handle, and fill with a special treat.

Grandparents can help their grandchildren learn to read or become better readers by:
1. Having books available when they come to visit and encouraging them to explore books.
2. Reading together and talking about what you’re reading.
3. Make reading a pleasure and show enthusiasm as you read together.
These ideas came from the Michigan Department of Education.

Download Accordion Fold Card & Book
There are so many great Valentine books to read to your grandchildren. Some that my grandchildren have enjoyed are The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting, Little Bear’s Valentine by Maurice Sendak, and Max’s Valentine by Rosemary Wells.
When you’re finished reading together you can make an accordion folded Valentine card.
Directions:
1. Print out the pattern on white or colored paper.
2. Cut out the strips only along the outside edges.
3. Tape or glue the 2 strips together and fold along the vertical lines accordion style.
4. Write a special Valentine message or story to give to someone.
5. Put it in an envelope or tie together with a ribbon.

You will need:
4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
3 cups miniature marshmallows
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups finely chopped, peeled tart apples
1/2 cup halved green grapes
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup low-fat whipped topping

Directions:
Place cranberries in a food processor; cover and process until finely chopped. Pour into a bowl and add marshmallows and sugar. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Just before serving, stir in the apples, grapes, and salt. Fold in whipped topping. You can also add nuts.

This is great for all ages. You just need a deck of card with numbers. If you’re using playing card remove the aces and face cards. You can use UNO or Racko cards. Put the cards face down in a pile. Take turns drawing 2 cards from the pile. Determine ahead of time if you will add, subtract or multiply the numbers on the 2 cards. The person to get the correct answer first, keeps the cards. The person with the most cards is the winner. You can also play where each person has a pile. Together each of you turn over one card. The first person to add, subtract or multiply the numbers correctly gets to keep the cards.

Two of my grandsons stayed overnight with me last week. They had great fun creating things from pipe cleaners. It was fun and inexpensive!