Family Table Cloth

I'm seriously thinking about taking up the art of needle pointing once again after seeing this Family Table cloth over on She Wears Many Hats blog. 

What a fun tradition to begin at your annual Christmas dinner or other holiday event.  Allowing each person to create their own art or write a note to create a keepsake for years to come.

12 Days Of Thankfulness

Today begins Day one of the 12 day countdown to Thanksgiving ( Day 12 being Thanksgiving).

I have hung our Thanksgiving countdown calendar and am filling it with daily questions and/or activities to once again teach my kids about thankfulness and how blessed our family is.

Join the Novotny family and begin today asking your family members what they are thankful for - Write them down daily and place them in a Gratitude jar, place on a Thankful Tree or create a Thankful chain.  On Thanksgiving you can go around the table and read off all the notes or paper chain slips written about what you are thankful for.

Another idea is to choose a daily activity to teach your kids Thankfulness - below is a list of ideas  you can also click here to read more about Thankful activities here at 24/7 MOMS


Leave a comment and tell us about your Thankful activities in your home


COUNTDOWN WITH THANKFUL  ACTIVITIES 


We are Thankful for our Grandparents

Call or send them an email saying how much you are thankful for them.


We are Thankful For our Missionaries

Send them a letter, email or care package to let them know you are praying for them.


We are Thankful for our Teachers

Make a thank you card or bake a treat to give to them


We are Thankful for our Fire fighters. Policemen, Doctors etc.

Deliver a basket of treats to them.


We are Thankful for our toys.

Clean out your toys and donate to a local shelter.



We are thankful for Daddy.

Do something nice or a chore for Daddy - Wash his car, take out the trash.



We are Thankful for Mommy

Do one extra chore today for her.


We are Thankful for our Clothes.

Clean out our clothes and donate clothing to a local shelter.


We are Thankful for our Sister (s).

Write a Thankful note or do a chore or something nice for her.



We are Thankful for our Brothers (s).

Write a Thankful note or do a chore or something nice for him.


We are Thankful for our friends.

Write a note, send an email, bake a special treat for them.


We are Thankful for our family.

Have a family game night.


We are Thankful for our food.

Collect food for your local shelter.



We are Thankful for our Eyes.

Watch a Movie together as a family.


We are Thankful For a Church to go to.

Volunteer to help at church this week or sign-up for a project.


We are Thankful for books.

Start a new book to read together as a family.


We are Thankful for our Neighbors.

Deliver a treat and  note of thanks to their porch -  play door bell ditch.



We are Thankful we are able to pray.

During dinner time prayer have each person pray one thing they are Thankful to God for.


We are Thankful for our Country.

Decide as a family another way yo will become ECO friendly.



We are Thankful we can write.

Write three things we are thankful for.



We are Thankful helpers.

Draw names of family members and do a secret chore for that person by tomorrow.


We are Thankful for our classmates.

Make blessing mix or another treat and give to your classmates.


We are Thankful for shoes.

Fill empty shoe boxes with items and donate to Operation Christmas Child.


We are Thankful for our pet.

Take them on a walk, clean their cage, play with them.



We are Thankful for our Military.

Make a care package to send to them or write a letter.


We are  Thankful to be Thankful.

Make a Thankful box  - all year the entire family can write what they are thankful for and then read them next Thanksgiving.



We are Thankful for our Car,

Go for a fall drive, visit a relative or friend.


We are Thankful for family memories.

Start a Thankful journal or scrapbook.



We are Thankful we can spell.

Spell out the word T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L. go around the table and ask each person to say one thing they're thankful for. The first person's answer must begin with "T." The second person's answer must begin with "H," and so on.



We are Thankful for our City.

Volunteer for a city clean-up project or other way you can serve your city.


We are Thankful for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Provide Thanksgiving dinner for a family in need or invite a family to join you.

Fall Family Fun Ideas

I believe in the saying children spell love T.I.M.E. – Time playing with them, time creating memories, time listening to them, time talking with them and even time serving in volunteer opportunities all  create T.I.M.E. with our kids.   

Here are some simple and fun ideas for spending T.I.M.E. with your kids both playing and serving together this fall.

Ideas for Family Fun – Playing Together

Movie night

Game night
Roller skating / Ice skating
Bowling
Indoor putt putt golf
Indoor rock climbing
Indoor play parks
Museums / Science centers
Pumpkin patch farms
Family book clubs/library visits/ book store visits
Coffee shop or bakery visits
Fall hikes
Walks in the rain
Indoor swimming
Cooking together – pizza, theme it
Attend local theaters and playhouses.
Baking cookies – start your holiday baking.

Ideas for Family Fun – Serving Together

Local soup kitchens
Habitat for humanity projects

Operation Christmas child

Meals in a bag for the homeless
Retirement centers
Yard-work or housework for Elderly
Help for Military families that are deployed
Volunteer to help at Fundraisers
Neighborhood cleanup /  School cleanup
Church projects / Missions Projects 
Toy drive
Book drive
School supply collection

How do you spend T.I.M.E. with your kids in the Fall?

Fall Fun List For Family Fun

The chilly air has arrived and you might begin to wonder what Family Fun activities can you do this Fall?  Over The Moon created a FREE fun printable  that is perfect to use and create a fall activity check list - You can frame it and have fun checking off the activities you do this fall.  The printable is  available in five  color options to match your home decor. 

Click here to get your FREE printable and how to instructions.

Here is a list of the things Over the Moon put on their Fall Fun list:

Make Pumpkin Rolls

Go to Staheli Farm (local farm)

Collect Fall leaves

Go on a family bike ride

Watch Charlie Brown Halloween

Go to a Corn Maze

Make Homemade Donuts (Hard version / Easy version)

Carve a Pumpkin

Bake and eat pumpkin seeds

Go on a hike

Get new family pictures

Make Pepper Jelly

Have a Halloween Party

Do a Fall craft

Make Candy Corn waffles

Do the Halloween Pre-K Pack, Tot Kit, and Halloween Set! 

Go to the Fall Carnival at the local elementary

Play in the backyard leaves and then rake them up

Do a Halloween Craft

Paint Pumpkins

Make Pumpkin Cheesecake

Decorate for Fall/Halloween

Make friend treat bags and deliver

Read 10 Halloween books

Read 10 Fall/Thanksgiving books

Make a "Thankful for" tree

Pick Halloween Costumes

Go Trick-or-Treating

Make Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Bake a Pie
Fly a Kite

Have Fun!!!

Family Book Club - Family Fun

Create family fun this weekend by starting your own family book club.  You will create wonderful memories while you inspire your children to read.  Begin this weekend reading a book aloud together that your entire family will enjoy.

Once you begin a book continue to take time to read aloud to your kids on the weekends, bed time or while waiting at appointments. 

Here are some of our families recent favorite books to read together

Wally McDoogle Series – by Bill Meyers

The Elijah Project Series – by Bill Myers

The Chronicles of Narnia Series – by C.S. Lewis

The Adventures in Odyssey Series – by Paul McCusker

The Kidsboro Series – by Marshal Younger

What are your family favorite books to read together?

Blackberry Picking and Recipes - Family Fun

It is Friday which means time to think about this weeks  Family Fun Day.

Family Fun Days is the opportunity to  create one simple yet family bonding experience each weekend such as movie night, attending a local event. having a pic-nic in the park or making a new recipe and enjoying it together as a family. Keeping it simple while having fun.

This weeks Family fun not only gets you outdoors but it also gets you cooking together as a family:

The blackberry bushes are full and ready for picking.  Discover where there are blackberry bushes in your area that you are allowed to pick.  Take you family our blackberry picking and don't forget lots of containers to place your berries in.

Click here to read A Thrifty Mrs. Blackberry picking tips.

Once you arrive back home with your containers filled with fresh blackberries it's time to create something yummy to eat as a family.  Pick Your Own has an entire collection of recipes including cobbler, puffs, ice cream and even a soup recipe.  Click here to see the entire list and use one of their delicious recipes.

Rainbow Rice Krispies - Famly Fun Days

The clouds have returned and our sunny days seem to be quickly disappearing and it is back indoors for Family fun here in my home with the need to create fun.  And fun it is added with a little sweetness when you create these Rainbow Rice Krisipe treats with your kids for a fun Family Fun Day activity.

Thirty Handmade Days gives a complete step by step how to create these yummy treats on her site. 
Click here to go there now.

Family Fun Days - Homemade Ice Cream in a bag.

It is Friday which means time to think about this weeks  Family Fun Day. 

Family Fun Days is the opportunity to  create one simple yet family bonding experience each weekend such as movie night, attending a local event. having a pic-nic in the park or making a new recipe and enjoying it together as a family. Keeping it simple while having fun.

This weeks Family fun day idea is fun to make and fun to eat and taken less then 10 minutes-
 

Homemade Ice Cream in a bag

Ingredients

1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon sugar
4 cups crushed ice
4 tablespoons salt
2 quart size Zip-loc bags

1 gallon size Zip-loc freezer bag
 gloves  or towel to keep fingers from freezing 

Instructions

Mix the milk, vanilla and sugar together in one of the quart size bags. Seal tightly, allowing as little air to remain in the bag as possible. Too much air left inside may force the bag open during shaking. Place this bag inside the other quart size bag, again leaving as little air inside as possible and sealing well. By double-bagging, the risk of salt and ice leaking into the ice cream is minimized. Put the two bags inside the gallon size bag and fill the bag with ice, then sprinkle salt on top. Again let all the air escape and seal the bag. Wrap the bag in the towel or put your gloves on, and shake and massage the bag, making sure the ice surrounds the cream mixture. Five to eight minutes is adequate time for the mixture to freeze into ice cream.

What fun things do you like to do together as a family?

Family Fun Days - It's A Celebration

Two Years ago we began a weekly tradition in our home called Friday Fun Day


Each Friday I created something " FUN" for my kids. My goal was to encourage them to keep up on their family responsibilities ( chores) , homework, daily reading etc. and on Friday we could celebrate with a treat. It could be as simple as placing a fruit by the foot in their lunches with an attached note saying "Happy Friday Fun Day" or more elaborate with a family outing or an home movie night.

Two years later I admit it went to the way side after about 6 months and life getting busy with spring sports - so this week I'm ready to bring back the weekly tradition as we begin a new school year but his time it's not only about celebrating a job well done of family responsibilities ( chores) and homework but also time to celebrate being a family and taking time each week to stop, breathe and enjoy hanging out and doing things together.  Once again nothing elaborate just simple fun as a family each weekend. So I am changing the name to Family Fun Days as I will try to accomplish one fun thing each weekend and not limit myself to Fridays only.

Tonight we kick back off our Family Fun Days by attending our local high school football game known as the Fish Bowl ( our 2 local high schools play each other).  Nate-no my 9 year old football crazed kid gets to play in the pre-game so I have one excited and nervous boy on my hands today.  It is also Savannah's Senior year of high school so it is is a big game for her classmates - who doesn't want to graduate holding the Fish Bowl title in Gig Harbor?

My goal this school year with Family Fun Days is to create one simple yet family bonding experience each weekend such as movie night, attending a local event. having a pic-nic in the park or making a new recipe and enjoying it together as a family. Keeping it simple while having fun.

Keep an eye out as we share our Family Fun Days over the course of the year to inspire you to begin your own weekly Family Fun Day.

What fun things do you like to do together as a family?

Forts Made From PVC Pipe

Kids love forts and their own space.  These PVC pipe forts are easy to build with the how to instructions from Angry Julie Monday.  Click here for instructions and create a fun space for your kids.

Add this to your Summer bucket list of fun ideas

Family Video Game NIght - Summer Bucket List of Fun

Do you have gaming kids? This Summer make add it to your Sumemr Bucket list of fun to learn to play your Children's video games and have a family video game night.  Your kids will love that you have joined in their video game world.

You might even create a few challenges to see who can win various games against each other.

Date Your Kids - Summer Bucket List Of Fun

Plan a date with your kids and take each of  your children out on a lunch or dinner date.
(this will take more then one day if you have several children ).  Look at your calendar now and schedule your dates.

Click here to read "Why Date Your Kids?" simple steps for creating date nights.

Free Summer Fun Kit - Summer Bucket List Fun

Are you beginning to hear  "I'm BORED" or "I have nothing to do"  then we have the answer for you.

Plucky Momo created a FREE printable that has over 70 fun Summer activities to do with your kids including instructions, charts and calenders all ready to download, print and begin your summer of fun.

Click here to print yours now and add this to your Bucket List of things to do with your kids this Summer.

Make Your Own Drumstick Clowns- Summer Bucket List Fun

There will be lots of "clowning around" when you serve these yummy, fun-to- make ice cream cone clowns! Add this fun yummy treat to your Summer bucket list of things to do with your kiddos this Summer.

Nestle gives us complete simple how to instructions - Click here for how to instructions.

Free and Almost Free Summer Movies - Summer Bucket List Fun

 Watching movies in theaters is always an added treat check out the Free and Almost Free Movie deals at your local theaters.


FREE Movies


Rave Motion Pictures is offering FREE movies every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 am.  Doors open at 9:30am movies are G and PG rated Click here for more information and to find a local theatre.




$1.00 Movies

 Regal's Summer Movie Express 2011. Moviegoers of all ages can climb aboard to enjoy a great selection of films. During this 9-week festival, select Regal Cinemas, United Artists and Edwards Theatres will offer selected G or PG rated movies for only a dollar on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00am. Click here to go to their website. Admission $1.00

Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse  is offering a movie deal of 10 shows from $5.00 ( if purchased in advance) or $1.00 per show if purchased at box office day of. Click here for local theatres and more details.



Beginning June 15th The Classic Cinemas will begin their $1.00 movies every Wednesday morning for 9 weeks  - doors open at 9:00am and movie begins at 10:00am.  Click here for more details.




Premiere Cinemas Summer Kids Fest is hosting $1.00 movies every Wednesday.  A 7 week movie Marathon beginning June 22, 2011. Click here for more details







$2.00 Movies

Marcus Theatres is offering $2.00 movies every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday beginning June 21 - August 11, 2011 at 10am.  Click here for more details.

Summer Fun For $1.00 Or Less

12 Things to do this summer for $1.00 or less

Make homemade snow cones- Click here for my yummy cheap recipe

$1.00 Movies  at Regal and AMC.  Be sure to check your  local movie theaters to see if they have summer special s going on.

Free Reading programs – Chuck e cheese, Barnes and Noble, Half Price books. 

Go to a fast food restaurant (Mc Donald’s, Burger King) for an Ice Cream or French Fries or other dollar menu treats.

Make your own playdoh

Factory tours - You can find local factory tours in your area by visiting http://www.factorytoursusa.com/

Home Depot offers a free kids workshop the 1^st  Saturday of every month.   Click here for more information.

 Lowes  offers monthly free grown and build workshops for kids.  Click here for more information 

Lakeshore Learning  Every Saturday free.  Click here for more information.

Target FREE Museum Days.  Click here for Museums near you.

Free Tours of local places like your Radio station, TV stations,  Newspaper  or Fire station.

Free Vacation Bible Schools.  Call your local church for dates and times.

NEARLY FREE FUN

Kids Bowl Free pay for shoes only - Sign up at www.kidsbowlfree.com

Kids Eat FREE - Find local restaurants where your kids can eat free when you purchase an adult meal. Theses two websites are a great resource. http://mykidseatfree.com/welcome.asp

and http://www.kidsmealdeals.com/

Ding Dong Ditch

We found this fun idea over at Poppies at play blog.  I believe that  part of growing up is learning how to Ding Dong Ditch.

Traditionally this is learned and practiced without parent participation.

Poppies at play thinks we need to change that. She says we need to teach our children the basics of knocking and running with this fun Ding Dong Ditch printable idea

Click here for your FREE printable.  Now think who you will Ding Dong Ditch

Camping Fun and Games For Families

by: Trisha Novotny
24/7 MOMS

Are you planning a family camping trip?  Plan ahead for some family fun with one or two of these Camping trip games or activities to create simple family memories.

Bubble Fun - Bring along the wands, bubble and buckets and allow your kids to spend hours blowing bubbles all ages enjoy this activity.  Get creative and have contest biggest bubble, smallest, most creative etc.

Domino's - Pick up an inexpensive set of Domino's and teach your family this good ole' fashion game.  There are a variety of games to play and are generally included inside your box of Domino's.  Click here for additional game instructions.

Exploring- Take a family day hike.  Ask the camp host or forest Rangers for hiking trail information.  Be sure to take a back pack wit water and snacks.

Game Of Cards - Card games are a well loved camping game and can become a family tradition for all ages.  Click here for fun Card game ideas and instructions.

Camp Fire Stories - Is someone in your family a great story teller?  Assign them the fun each night of telling an ongoing campfire story each night prior to bedtime.  Be sure it is suitable for all ages listening - unless you want little ones in your sleeping bag that night.  Another idea would be to read a book each night around the campfire.

Camp Fire Sing-along - Get out the guitar and start a campfire sing along.  Click here for lyrics to traditional campfire songs.

Where are we - Prior to leaving for your camping trip go a little research on the history and tourist attractions near your campsite.  Teach your kids something new about the area or terrain.

Cloud Watching -Remember when you were little and you would look into the sky and imagine the clouds were different animal or scenes? Grab a blanket place it out i an open area and lay down with your kids and imagine what the clouds could be.

Lawn Games - Camping is the perfect tie to teach your kids lawn games such as Bocce, Croquet, Frisbee, Croquet, Horse shoe, Ladder Golf, Capture the flag, Lawn darts.  Click here for ideas and instructions.  Also google Lawn Games for more ideas.

Outdoor Cooking- Camping is a great time to teach kids cooking.  So when making your camping meal plan think about a dish or two that you can have your children help you cook.  Try making Foil packet meals that all ages can participate in creating.

Skits - Have a skit night where everyone breaks in to groups and comes up with camp skits.  You could plan ahead with ideas and scripts for those that have never participated in camp skits.

Free 24/7 MOMS Summer Planning Organizers

Plan, Prepare and Play all summer long with these TWO free printable Summer planning organizers from 24/7 MOMS


The 24/7 MOMS Summer Family Planner Template

Click here to download and print your copy.




The 24/7 MOMS Plan. Prepare, Play Summer idea list  for Staycations and Backyardcations

Summer Planning as Easy as One, Two, Three

By Trisha

In a matter of weeks, the final school bell will ring for the year, and my children will be looking forward to a fun-filled summer.

Every summer, I think we will have a less hectic schedule, more sleeping, lots of lazy days and time to create family memories.

However, I will begin hearing those three words, “Mommy, I’m bored,” if I don’t have a summer fun plan. The memories I want to create with my kids won’t happen unless I begin preparing now.
I begin planning my fun-filled summer with three simple steps:

Click Here For my three simple steps I shared over at SC Johnson

Be sure to leave me a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly organization articles.