12-25-09 Eliana with her pile of presents

Friends:

This past Christmas was wonderful! It was spent surrounded by family and friends. My nieces, Camrynn, Ashlynn, and Jasmynn spent 2 nights with us: December 22 and December 23. On December 23, we took Eliana and her cousins to Miracle on Fulton Street in New Orleans.

12-23-09 Miracle on Fulton Street

There, they got to play in the “snow” (tiny masses of bubbles), see Santa, and mail letters to Good Ole St. Nick from the Rudolph mailbox provided. So cute!

12-23-09 Mailing Santa a letter at Miracle on Fulton Street

On December 24, Christmas Eve, we prepared for Santa’s visit. First, we delivered gifts to our wonderful neighbors. This is what we saw in the sky!

12-24-09 Christmas Eve Double Rainbow

After spending some time at my mom’s exchanging gifts, drinking hot cocoa, and eating cookies, we headed home. Santa was coming and we had to prepare! Eliana left a card for Papa Noel, cookies, and milk.

12-24-09 Cookies and milk for Santa

Then Eliana went off to bed. In the morning… surprise! Santa had visited!

12-25-09 Eliana discovers her Santa gifts! Woo hoo!

Eliana read her letter from Santa. It was a nice, long letter. He said he was a big fan of Eliana Cooks!

12-25-09 Eliana reads her letter from Santa

He left cool presents for Eliana. Soleil received her fair share too!

12-25-09 Santa's Gifts to Eliana & Soleil

Soleil received a wireless all-in-one printer, copier, scanner & fax machine, a lighted makeup mirror, and Harajuku Lovers perfume “G” by Gwen Stefani. Eliana got a new recipe binder, an apron and chef hat set, a teddy bear, and what she asked for from Santa: an iPod touch. It even came loaded with the “Cooking Mama” game!

12-25-09 Eliana with her iPod Touch and other gifts from Santa, including a new apron & hat set!

Then, it was time for all of us to open our presents. There were piles everywhere! We all had great Christmas presents. Antonio got a new flat screen TV for the bedroom and all kinds of new clothes. My big gift was a Flip HD video camcorder. Soleil got all kinds of new clothes and shoes. Eliana received cookbooks including Julia Child’s The Art of French Cooking and Memories from a Cuban Kitchen.

12-25-09 Eliana gets Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child

Then Abuela (my husband’s mom, Jennie) came over to give us her gifts. Abuela gave Eliana a new 19 inch flat screen TV for her bedroom!

12-25-09 Eliana gets a new flat screen from Abuela!

Then it was off to my mom’s house. First, Eliana and Soleil had find out what Santa left for them at Nana’s house. Eliana received a Nintendo DSi and Soleil got a new 160gb iPod Classic. Both girls were ecstatic!

12-25-09 Soleil LOVES her new 160gb iPod Classic! from Santa at Nana's house

After that, it was time for posed family pictures. We do this every year in front of my mom’s Christmas tree. It’s become a family tradition. Here I am with my husband, Antonio.

12-25-09 Dianne and Antonio

Here is a picture of Soleil and Eliana.

12-25-09 Family Portrait: Eliana, Dianne, Soleil & Antonio

Finally, there is the grand family photo!

12-25-09 The Whole Family

After that, the kids were dying to open all their Christmas presents. It was mad chaos. We were opening presents while guests came to the door. My mom was hosting a Christmas party too.

12-25-09 The kids are ready to open presents

Mom prepared a feast! There was a turducken (duck inside a chicken inside a turkey layered with sausage stuffing), brisket, roast beef, macaroni and cheese, green bean artichoke casserole, cornbread stuff, gumbo, pineapple meatballs, lumpia, stuffed mushrooms, bacon greenbeans, and more! Then you should have seen the dessert table!!

12-25-09 The Feast

My best friend, Lisa, and her fiancee, Lonnie came over to visit. I don’t get to see Lisa often and I always look forward to the holidays when I can reconnect with her.

12-25-09 My best friend, Lisa, and her fiance, Lonnie

She just got engaged over the holidays and the ring is absolutely breathtaking. They had it made and my mom had to examine it!

12-25-09 My mom, Josie, looking at Lisa's new ROCK

We had a ton of fun. We ate, drank, sang Karaoke, and even played games like Catchphrase. In our family, Christmas is all about being together. It was a fabulous day full of love.

12-25-09 Nana's grandchildren

So from our family to yours, Happy Holidays! May 2010 bring you much happiness and together time!

12-25-09 Happy Holidays from Dianne

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

11-26-09 The Main Spread with Fried Turkey and Ham

Friends:

Thanksgiving was wonderful! We had a great turnout of about 50 people altogether for our Thanksgiving Feast. It has always been our tradition to host military singles and young military families to our family gathering and this year was no exception. Eliana and my nieces (Camrynn, Ashlynn & Jasmynn) began cooking on Tuesday. We started with all the desserts that could be refrigerated – Pineapple Pumpkin Pie, Sweet Potato Eggnog Pie, Pumpkin Butterscotch Bundt Cake, and Sopapilla Cheesecake Bites.

11-24-09 Chef Eliana and her cousin, Camrynn, making the Sweet Potato Eggnog Pie

The desserts turned out delicious. Here is a picture of the Pumpkin Butterscotch Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Drizzle. Yum! So moist!

11-25-09 Pumpkin Butterscotch Bundt Cake

The girls worked tirelessly, cooking and keeping the kitchen clean. They were like Santa’s Elves!

11-24-09 Little kitchen helpers taking a pizza break

When guests came in, they wrote their blessings on a leaf for the “Giving Thanks Tree.” Before we ate, we said grace and read the blessings out loud. It was a wonderful beginning to a perfect party.

11-26-09 Giving Thanks Tree

Then they ate and drank to their heart’s content. We had five tables set up with food and one for drinks. The menu included thirty items! The cooking was done by me and the girls, my mom, my 19 year old daughter, Soleil, my mother-in-law, and some of our party guests also brought dishes. The main course included 2 Fried Turkeys, 2 Smoked Turkeys, a Honey Ham, and Mojo Roasted Pork. Appetizers included Lumpia (Filipino egg rolls), Asiago Parmesan Mushroom Purses, Mini Crab Cakes & Remoulade, Ornamental Turkey with Ham, and Cheese & Fruit Skewers. The sides were Cornbread, Bacon Cheddar Cornbread, Cornbread Stuffing, Cranberry Dressing, Roasted Garlic Gouda Smashed Potatoes, Green Bean & Artichoke Casserole, Homemade Macaroni & Cheese, Rice & Broccoli, Roasted Cauliflower, Carrots & Mushrooms, Sweet Potato Casserole, Smothered Greens, Black Beans, Shepherd’s Pie, Stuffed Mushrooms and Steamed Rice. We had 2 soups: Crawfish & Corn Bisque and Chicken & Sausage Gumbo. To complete the feast, we ended with these fabulous desserts: Sopapilla Cheesecake Bites, Pumpkin Bundt Cake w Cream Cheese Drizzle, Sweet Potato Eggnog Pie, Pineapple Pumpkin Pie, Leche Flan & Casava Flan. It was a spread to remember!

11-26-09 Yummy Side Dishes

Look at our beautiful drink fountain!

11-26-09 Sparkling Pomegranate Punch Fountain

We had a full house and it was wonderful seeing so many happy faces.

11-26-09 Thanksgiving Party People

The girls put on a show for us, we danced, and played games. Most of all, we had a blast!

11-26-09 Sisters dance

Happy Thanksgiving and thank you to all of our family and friends for making it a special day!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

11-15-09 Giving Thanks Tree

TOGETHER TIME ACTIVITY: THE “GIVING THANKS” TREE
This year, I am creating a “Giving Thanks” tree. As thanksgiving guests walk in, they will be asked to write down, on a maple leaf, one thing they are thankful for. These leaves will be affixed to a large tree. When the tree is completed, everyone will be able to read all the blessings on the tree. It is a beautiful way to give thanks for our bounty.

Materials:
Science Display Board
Large paper bag or brown butcher block paper
Paper in autumn colors: red, orange, yellow, green, brown
Maple leaf pattern http://familyfun.go.com/printables/turkey-maple-leaf-pattern-for-thanksgiving-703422/
Cardstock or poster board
Glue stick or school glue
Double stick tape

Instructions:
Freehand draw a large tree on a large paper bag or on butcher block paper. Glue it to the middle of the display board. Create a maple leaf traceable pattern on cardstock or poster board. Fold a sheet of “autumn” paper into four, trace the maple leaf. Cut it out. This will yield four maple leaves. You can also trace a small child’s hand and use that as a “leaf” pattern. Create leaves in various Autumn colors. Write the words “Giving Thanks” on each side of the display board or print them out and glue them to the board.

As guests come in, have them write one blessing on a leaf. Use double stick tape to affix the leaf to the tree. Soon, the tree will be full of blessings, things they are thankful for. May those leaves “fall,” fly away, and become someone else’s blessing.

To make the Giving Thanks Tree even more special, consider donating money in the amount of the leaves on the tree to a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, a battered women’s shelter, the Red Cross, or your favorite charitable organization.

10-24-09 Dianne, Eliana & Fan

Friends:

I had the pleasure of being the storyteller at Terror on the Teche at the Shadows on the Teche Plantation in New Iberia, Louisiana. The event was sponsored by the Iberia Parish Library. Shadows on the Teche is an old plantation with its own graveyard! The spooky tales were on the grounds of the plantation. Too cool!

10-24-09 The audience at Terror on the Teche

I had a blast telling funny, spooky and creepy ghost stories. I was so excited to see my friend, Cheryl Robichaux and her little princess, Savannah. I met Cheryl’s husband and his children too. What a beautiful family! Savannah and Caroline came on stage to help me with some magic… “Bloop! I’m awesome!” (Those were the magic words that Caroline and the audience came up with. Too funny!)

10-24-09 Dianne on stage doing magic with Savannah and Caroline

Eliana, my 9 year old daughter, ran around, taking pictures. It was so dark and difficult to get really good pictures with my digital camera but here’s one of me telling a spooky story. Thank you so much, Eliana! You are wonderful and Mommy loves you!

10-24-09 Telling a spooky story

It was such a fun event and I can’t wait to do it again! Here is a picture of me and Eliana with Kristy Rose and Gail Garcia with the Iberia Parish Library. Gail is the director of the library system. They are such a marvelous team and afterwards, we ate at Duffy’s, a 50s diner in New Iberia with delicious diner dishes!

10-24-09 Kristy Rose, Dianne de Las Casas, Gail Garcia & Eliana

Before we left the grounds, Eliana said I had to take a picture of the graveyard. And what is that spooky orb in the picture? A ghost? Who knows…

10-24-09 The Graveyard at Shadows on the Teche Plantation

Eliana and I loved our brief but fun visit to New Iberia. Afterwards, I had to head back to New Orleans to catch a 6:15am flight to Chicago. Thank you to Gail, Kristy, Cheryl, Acadiana Lifestyles magazine, and everyone who came to Terror on the Teche. Have a spooktacular Halloween!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

10-23-09 Diva Witch Dianne & Judy Boyce as Max from Where the Wild Things Are

Friends:

Tonight, I had a spooktacular time at the West Baton Rouge Parish Library. Eliana, my 9 year old daughter accompanied me. She’s such an adorable little witch!

10-23-09 Eliana the Adorable Witch

The Monster Mash is an annual tradition at the West Baton Rouge Parish Library. Judy Boyce, the Youth Services Coordinator, asked me to participate this year. The Halloween festivities start at the West Baton Rouge Museum with a trick or treat. Then the trick or treaters, following the fire truck, parade to the library a few blocks away.

10-23-09 The Grand Monster Mash Parade

Eliana and I rode in the library van. Originally, we were supposed to ride in a convertible but the weather was too chilly. One of the firemen took a picture with me. I only knew him as “Big Daddy” because that’s what was on his t-shirt. LOL

10-23-09 Dianne & Big Daddy Fireman

After the parade, everyone went into the library for a cozy spooky storytelling session. It was so much fun.

10-23-09 Telling a spooky story

I even had the children participate with me, dancing and shaking dem bones! A special thank you to Eliana, who took all the performance pictures.

10-23-09 Dianne & kids shaking dem bones

It was a terror-ific time and I loved spooking in the stacks… Thank you to West Baton Rouge Parish Library — Beth, Judy and Jim. You guys rock! And thank you to all the trick or treaters who came to the event. It was monstrously marvelous!

10-23-09 Dianne the Diva Witch

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

An audience minding their manners

MINDING OUR MANNERS
By Dianne de Las Casas

A while back, I went to the movies. The movie had just started when a group of young adults noisily stampeded into the theater, whooping, hollering and laughing loudly. They continued their cacophony and when someone tried to “shush” them, they elevated their volume. They were obviously enjoying disrupting the theater. I finally became so frustrated that I found a manager and had them removed. When I returned to my seat, everyone in the theater clapped. It wasn’t the first or the last time I have encountered this type of behavior in a movie theater and I find it appalling. Simple displays of manners and etiquette aren’t simply overlooked, they are blatantly ignored. This is why I think it is important, no matter what the rules of etiquette are in your country, to teach and model them to children while they are young so that the qualities become imbedded and become part of our children’s character.

BACK TO THE BASICS
One of the first things children should learn when it comes to manners is how to address adults. In the south (U.S.), it is common to hear “Yes, Ma’am” and “Yes, Sir” as well as adults addressed by “Mr.” or “Miss” or “Mrs.” Today’s society is more informal than it was even thirty years ago so many adults allow children to address them by their first name. Whatever the cultural or geographical preference, children should always address adults with respect. Here are some basic rules I believe children should learn. These can be read out loud to children.

THE GOLDEN RULE
“Do unto others as you should have them do unto you.” In other words, treat people the way you want them to treat you. The best way to make a friend is to be a friend.

INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
The Magic Words… “Please and Thank You”
If you want or need something, say “please.” For example: “Please pass the salt.” When you are given something, whether a gift or an experience, say “thank you.” For example: “Thank you for taking me to the zoo.”

Offer Apologies and Accept Apologies
We all make mistakes. If you make a mistake, say that you are sorry and accept full responsibility. For example: “Mom, I’m sorry for spilling the cereal all over the floor. I’m going to clean it up now.”

If someone offers you an apology, accept it graciously. For example: In the heat of the baseball game, John calls you a name because you struck out. Afterwards, John apologizes and says, “I’m sorry for calling you a bonehead. I didn’t mean it. Sometimes I say things I don’t mean when I’m excited or angry.” You say, “No problem, John. I accept your apology. I hope I can improve my game. Maybe you can help me.”

Accept Compliments Graciously
When someone gives you a compliment, say “thank you.” For example: If someone says, “That is a pretty red sweater you are wearing.” Say, “Thank You.” Do not say, “It’s an old sweater my mom made me wear.” (Even if it is.)

Do Not Interrupt
Do not interrupt people when they are talking. Wait for them to finish their sentence or thought before speaking. If you accidentally interrupt someone, apologize and wait for them to finish.

Respect Differences
Respect differences. No two people are exactly alike. We are all different. But we all have one thing in common: we all share the same Planet Earth and breathe the same air. Our differences are what make each person unique and special.

BASIC TABLE MANNERS (U.S.)
Wait to Be Seated
When arriving at a restaurant, wait to be seated. When you get to your table, wait for an adult to tell you where to sit.

Place Your Napkin in Your Lap
When you sit down, place your napkin in your lap. If you are dining in a fine restaurant, the maitre’d or server may place the napkin in your lap. The napkin should stay in your lap the whole time you are eating. If you have to leave the table, place the napkin to the left of your plate.

When You Leave the Table
If you do have to leave the table before you are finished eating, say “May I please be excused from the table?” or “Excuse me.”

Do Not Talk with Your Mouth Full
It is never proper to speak with your mouth full. If someone asks you a question while you are chewing, wait to swallow before answering.

No Boarding House Reaches
A “boarding house reach” refers to someone stretching across the table to reach something that is far away. If you need something from across the table such as salt and pepper or butter, ask someone to pass it to you by saying, “Will you please pass the _________?”

No Elbows, Please
Hands should remain in your lap unless you are eating. It is not proper to prop your elbows on the table.

No Talking or Texting at the Table
It is very impolite to talk on the phone or text while at the table at home or especially in a restaurant. If you must take a call, do so outside.

GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP
Winners Never Quit and Quitters Never Win
Be a good sport at all times. If the game is not going your way, stick it out. Do not quit. It is unfair to the rest of your teammates.

Be a Good Loser
If you or your team loses a game, don’t fault the other team. Accept your loss and shake your opponent’s hand. There’s always another game.

Be a Great Winner
If you or your team wins, don’t flaunt it in front of the other team. Instead, walk over and thank them for playing. Shake their hand and say, “Good game.”

THEATER OR LIVE PERFORMANCE ETIQUETTE
Enter the Theater Quietly
Whether going to the movies or attending a live production, enter the theater quietly and quietly take your seat. If you have to pass in front of someone to take your seat, say, “Excuse me” as you pass by.

Do Not Talk, Text or Play During the Show
If you have a cell phone, handheld game, or music player, turn it off before the show begins. Do not talk to your neighbor, talk on the phone, text or email, play games, or listen to music during the show. All electronic devices should be put away during the show.

Audience Applause
If you are attending a live production (theater, opera, ballet, musical), it is proper to clap at the end of each scene and/or at the end of the show. Even if you did not care for the production, you should still clap politely in appreciation of the effort that went into the show.

LEAVE A PLACE BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT
In the Grand Canyon, there are many areas that are sacred to the Native Americans. They don’t mind visitors but they always ask that you leave the Canyon exactly as you found it… untouched by human hands (except for footprints). It is the same concept for the rest of our Planet Earth. Leave no mess behind. In fact, you can leave a place better than you found it by beautifying the land (pick up any trash you see, plant a tree where one is removed…). If you are having dinner at someone’s house, offer to clean up. If you are playing at a friend’s house, help that friend put away his toys and clean up before you leave.

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
Always say “thank you” when you are given a gift. Send a handwritten thank you note for special occasion gifts (birthdays and holidays) or for special acts of kindness (Grandpa took you on a fishing trip). Handwritten thank you notes are always special and can be given at any time.

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
Surprise someone with a random act of kindness. That means being kind to someone for no reason at all. Write your mom or dad a love note for no reason, clean your brother or sister’s room (that would be an EXTRAORDINARY random act of kindness!), or mow the neighbor’s lawn too. Random acts of kindness go into this world like a magnet and attract even greater things back to you.

Parents and teachers, manners and etiquette are an essential part of our children’s character development. Good manners will serve our children for the rest their lives because of the values underlying those manners. Proper etiquette will help them to become productive and compassionate members of society. So please, teach and model manners for your children. They will thank you by teaching and modeling manners to their children.

Until next time…

Warmly,
Dianne

Music Time at Eastside Elementary School, Lancaster, CA

TOGETHER TIME – MUSIC MADNESS
In New Orleans, music is such an integral thread in our cultural fabric. From blues to jazz to zydeco, music permeates the air like the scent of night-blooming jasmine. When you walk through the French Quarter, you will likely encounter street musicians singing, strumming, or drumming their own interpretation of the city’s heartbeat.

Music is an everyday language in our household. Eliana, my nine-year-old, likes to compose her own songs. You will find iPod earbuds glued to the ears of Soleil, my nineteen-year-old. You will find me bobbing to my favorite tunes down the highway. I love enhancing my storytelling with sing-along refrains and silly songs. When Eliana first began talking, I often used music to teach her various concepts, including spelling her name.

Children thrive in a music-rich environment. Perhaps it is because music follows the natural rhythms of nature and the inherent beat of the heart. From morning until night, nature serenades us with twittering birds, babbling brooks, whispering winds, and choruses of crickets. Even the sounds of the city have their own unique cadence: chattering schoolchildren, honking horns, singing sirens, and thundering trains. Here are some ways to explore the world of music in your home or classroom.

Kitchen Band
Pull out the spoons, pots, and pans and create a cool kitchen band. For inspiration, listen to the intro on my Jambalaya CD, Johnette Downing’s song “Kitchen Band” on her From the Gumbo Pot CD, or Pam Donkin’s “Kitchen Jam” on her A Hop, Skip, and a Jump CD.

Name That Tune
Gather a group and play “Name That Tune.” Divide the group into two teams. Hum or “la-la-la” a popular tune and have team members guess it. If your team is unable to figure out the song, the other team earns the opportunity to provide an answer. Keep score on a dry-erase board, drawing music notes as points. The team with the most notes wins!

Adapt a Song
Teach daily activities and other lessons by adapting popular songs. For instance, the lyrics to the “The Mulberry Bush” can be changed to

“This is the way we brush our teeth
Brush our teeth
Brush our teeth
This is the way we brush our teeth
So early in the morning.”

Hot Potato
A children’s classic, “Hot Potato” is always a cool game. Select upbeat music and seat the children in a circle. Use a beanbag, a foam ball, or a sock filled with beans (tied, of course!) as the hot potato. Children pass the hot potato clockwise while the music is playing. When the music stops, the child with the hot potato is out. Continue the elimination until one child remains. The winner gets to be the music player for the next game.

Playing with Scarves
Using scarves is a great way to integrate movement and music. Children can express their creativity by waving their scarves to bubbly melodies. Adults can guide young children with coaching: “Scarves up, scarves down.” An excellent scarf activity CD is Johnette Downing’s The Second Line. The CD is filled with songs that children can move and groove to.

Loony Tunes
Share some favorite loony tunes with your kids. Some of our favorite silly songs include “Aba Daba Honeymoon,” “Purple People Eater” by Sheb Wooley, “Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini,” “Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba” sung by Perry Como, and, of course, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from the Mary Poppins soundtrack.

Jumping Jack Jive
Combining exercise and music is not a new concept. Look at the Jazzercise phenomenon. Create an exercise routine with your kids to their favorite song. Make up exercises such as the “Jumping Jack Jive” or the “Hippity Hop.”

Chez Cuisine
Set your dinner to a soundtrack. Explore cultures around the world through their food and music. Think “fancy French restaurant” with music playing in the background as you enjoy your escargot (or “French” fries). On Mexican night, play mariachi music while feasting on fajitas. For music from around the world, check out Putumayo CDs or CDs from Pier 1 Imports and Cost Plus World Market.

Junk Jam
Pull out the junk and jam to your favorite tunes.

Clink an old spoon on an oil pan
Rat-a-tat-tat on a garbage can
Grab a hubcap and make a big BAM!
Now that’s what you call a jumpin’ junk jam.

World Rhythms
Grab some rhythm instruments from around the world and shake, rattle and roll to your favorite stories. Check out Margaret Read MacDonald’s Shake-It-Up Tales! Stories to Sing, Dance, Drum and Act Out.

Soothing Me Sofly
While your children are studying, play soothing music such as soft jazz, sweet classical, or sounds of nature CDs.

Children need exposure to all types of music. Stock your music shelves with various genres of music: pop, country, folk, blues, classical, jazz, and world. Expose children early to the beauty and joy of a good song and they will grow up being “mad” about music.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Eliana and Antonio playing Fairytale Frenzy 9-14-09

TOGETHER TIME ACTIVITY: PLAYING GAMES!
Games are a great way to bring people together. Games are also a great way to teach teamwork, discipline, cooperation, initiative, strategy, and good sportsmanship. Here some ideas.

* Organize a monthly family game night.

* Pull out favorite board games you played as a child and teach them to your children. Classics like Monopoly, Scrabble, Checkers, Chess, Sorry, Yahtzee, Life, Battleship, Chinese Checkers, Clue, and Connect Four.

* For younger kids, play simpler games like Candyland, Chutes & Ladders, Mouse Trap, and Hungry Hungry Hippo.

* Engage in hilarious games that use the body like Twister and Charades.

* Group games are tons of fun. Try Catch Phrase, Pictionary, and Balderdash.

* Check out the book Great Games by Matthew Toone. http://storyconnection.net/blog/2009/09/14/book-review-great-games-by-matthew-toone/

* Card games are great for critical thinking, strategy and thinking on your feet. Try Go Fish, Slap Jack, Gin Rummy, Old Maid, Crazy Eights, PIG or DONKEY, Battle, and Cheat!

* Outdoor group games are perfect for picnics and family get-togethers. Try Duck Duck Goose, Red Rover, Red Light Green Light, Hide and Seek, Freeze Tag and Dodge Ball. Not only are they fun – they are great exercise too!

* Moms, try playing hand games with your kids. “Down by the Riverside,” “Welcome to McDonald’s,” “Numbers,” and “Apple on a Stick” are fun ways to pass the time at the doctor’s office or any time you have to wait with your kids.

* You can also try your hand at creating your own board game or card game. In my family, we love to play a game I created called Fairytale Frenzy. You can even play Creepy Crawly Card Games based on my children’s book, Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach. http://www.storyconnection.net/?content=madamePoulet Scroll to the bottom to print out instructions and the creepy crawly cards.

* Next year, my book, Stories on Board: Creating Board Games from Favorite Tales, will be published by Libraries Unlimited. It will provide parents and teachers with a technique to turn a favorite story into a fun board game!

Note: The above commercial board games are registered trademarks of their respective companies.

There are so many great games you can play with your kids. Together time is fun and games!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

9-14-09 Eliana with Great Games by Matthew Toone

Great Games: 175 Games & Activities for Families, Groups & Children
By Matthew Toone
All Ages
ISBN: 9780979834554

Great Games is a brand new book and an excellent resource for together time! Low-cost, easy-to-implement games are grouped into indoor and outdoor family and group games, and indoor and outdoor children’s games. Games like “Fo Shizzle My Nizzle,” “Grocery Store ABC Game,” and “I Have Never” keep group games fast-paced and full of raucous laughter. Simple, traditional games such as “Hide & Seek,” “Musical Chairs,” and “Red-Rover Red-Rover” remind grown-ups of the childhood games they need to play with their children. There are even modern updates of family favorites such as “Digital Scavenger Hunt” and “Modified Horseshoes.” Matthew Toone provides easy-to-understand instructions with simple spot illustrations. Great Games is perfect for promoting teamwork, health competition, and good sportsmanship. With the high cost of outside entertainment (movies, theme parks, and entertainment complexes), group game night is just the right prescription for recession blues. Fun doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. For a mere $16, you can entertain an entire group for days with the fun games inside Great Games.
http://www.greatgamesbook.com

Reviewed by: Dianne de Las Casas

Eliana with Love Coupons 8-31-09

TOGETHER TIME ACTIVITY: CREATING LOVE COUPONS
Have fun creating “Love Coupons” for your kids. Give them the coupons as rewards for a job well done or just because you love them. Using 3X5 index cards, create a series. Be sure to decorate with simple pictures, cut outs from magazines, or stickers. Here are some ideas:

This coupon is good for…

* Staying up an hour past your bedtime.
* Choosing the radio station or CD in the car the next time we’re on a trip.
* Your choice of a favorite meal (pizza, spaghetti, fried chicken, PB&J sandwiches, pancakes, whatever you like)
* You and I baking a batch of your favorite cookies together.
* A family slumber party. We’ll camp out on the floor in the living room watching your favorite movies.
* Your choice of the game on Family Game Night.
* A trip to the ice cream parlor for you and two of your friends.
* A trip to the bookstore for a new book or family game.
* An “Unbirthday” Cake, complete with candles… You can even make a wish!
* A night of stargazing with me. We’ll lay in the backyard and identify the constellations (on a clear night).
* Ooey, gooey, S’mores roasted over the barbecue pit.
* A $5 treat at the store (no candy or junk food).
* A homemade ice cream sundae with chocolate syrup, whipped cream AND sprinkles!
* A tea or cookie party with your favorite friends (stuffed animals or 2 real friends). I’ll bring the tea and/or cookies.
* A treasure or scavenger hunt with a cool prize. The whole family will join you.
* A picnic at the park. I’ll make the sandwiches.
* A day at the roller rink. I’ll even attempt to skate!
* A watercolor painting session. You and I will create marvelous masterpieces.
* A reading of an extra book at bedtime. I’ll even make all the character sounds. Roar!

I could go on and on. The list is as limitless as your imagination! Put the cards in a paper bag and let your child pick one randomly. Don’t wait for a special occasion either. Surprise your children just because you love them and want to spend “Together Time” with them!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Friend me!
http://www.facebook.com/diannedelascasas
Fan me!
http://www.facebook.com/fanofdianne
Follow me!
http://www.twitter.com/storyconnection