Love, Your Pixie

We usually look at Valentine's two ways. The first is the romantic holiday. The second is the kids holiday. But really it is more than just a time for kids to give out Valentine's and a special night for the one you love. It is an opportunity to love others, especially the elderly and widowed.

When I was a child every Christmas, my parents did the 12 Days of Christmas, but we called it Pixing. We always chose an old person or a widower. We gave thoughtful gifts like bread, soup, an ornament, fruit, etc. We always left it on the porch and then would go home and call them and tell them, "Your Pixie has been there" It really made their day! I find it is hard to do this at Christmas time though, because life is so busy.

So because it has been busy, we have been inventive so we can still do it. One year we did this to a family in July, One year we wrapped Christmas books and put dates on them of when they should be opened and gave them to families.

Last year my Mom was recovering from sickness and was really down and that gave us an idea to do the Pixie thing before Valentines. We did this for both sets of parents. We got a big basket, tied a Valentine's balloon to it, and filled it with 12 gifts we thought they would enjoy and made a little note that went with each one. We told them to open one each night on the night it was given. I watched my Mom through the whole thing, having no idea who had done this. My kids loved watching her get excited and speculate about who it was. It was so fun! They were so excited to finally tell her that they had done it.

For Mother's Day (but it would be a great idea for Valentine's Day). We took breakfast to each of our Mothers. We told them the tray was their gift as well as the food and the cup. Walmart had really dang cute trays in their Valentine section that I bought then and saved for Mother's Day. They loved it. We have also taken Breakfast trays like this to people having a baby. Cartons of Orange Juice, Milk, Fruit, Pasteries, etc. is fun for the kids and makes them feel special too.

Another idea to do for older people is to give them a Heart Attack. On their front door, rest home door, bedroom door, car, etc. place hearts that have messages from everyone in your family. Things you love about them, or just an I love you. This is a great gift, for someone that has everything and just needs to be loved.

We connect with people all the time on the internet, phones, or facebook like stuff. But that kind of technology doesn't hit with most older people. So help your child send notes and stuff in the mail for your older loved ones. This will be a fun new experience for you child, but will mean something also to the ones you send stuff too. My sister in law lives out of state and she does this all the time with her kids. My Mom's fridge is covered in little notes from them.

One story that has been told to me over the years, is my Two sisters one Valentine's Day calling all the neighbors and singing them a Valentine's Song and saying it was from someone who loved them (pre-caller id). They had fun doing it, and the women all loved it and thought it was from their husbands.

This year I was thinking it might be fun to put a fruit or treat in a Valentine's bag and deliver these little gifts to a retirement community in our area, with a note telling them Happy Valentine's Day. I think my kids would love ringing all those door bells and spreading love around.

And lastly invite them over. For about 6 months now we have been taking my Mom at least once a week to our house for dinner. She gets a good healthy meal, she gets out of the house, she gets companionship, and we get HER. My kids love when she comes for dinner, and they beg for her to come all the time. Today I burned beans and my Mom was over. She of course could have cared less, because she was just glad to be out of her quiet house and have some fun.

And remember that no matter what you do, sign it with.... Love, Your Pixie

Father's Day Gift Idea

I am always looking for a good Father's Day present. This year I thought I would buy a pre-done basket full of fun things to eat. Not only are they so expensive, most of the stuff is not things my husband would want to eat. So... I went to Walmart and bought my own stuff to fill the basket. Then I bought a plastic basket. My husband's was 5 dollars and Grandpa's was 1.50 on clearance. Then I came home and used my cricut and made vinyl lettering to personalize the basket. The superman dad label I found on-line. I stuffed the baskets full of nuts, candy, chocolates, popcorn, jerky, crackers, 1 soda, trail mix, chex mix, Oreos, and wheat thins. Now the Oreos and wheat thins I only gave to my husband. This is because my Dad passed away about 7 years ago. Every Father's Day since I was a little kid, I gave him Wheat thins, and my brother gave him Oreos. My husband doesn't even like Oreos, but they get bought and given as a remembrance to my Father. Anyway this was really fun to do and very simple.

Front View Back view Inside Grandpa's Front Grandpa's Inside

Ornaments for the Grandparents

Yesterday I made 30 paper ornaments in about 30 minutes with my cricut. I also printed pictures of all my nieces and nephews and my brothers and sisters. I placed one picture on each ornament and today I will give them to my grandma, updating something we did in the past.

A few years ago we bought her a Christmas tree that was pre-lit, and was pretty small. You see my grandma is too old to really do the whole big Christmas thing. But this tree we keep the ornaments on year round and she puts a garbage bag over it until Christmas and then she has someone grab it out of the basement for her. The only ornaments she puts on are of her grandchildren and the greats. She loves it so much!

I try every once in awhile to give my mom a ornament for her tree with my kids on it. Not only does she enjoy looking at them, but her grand kids love to see how they have grown up. Remember to write the date on the back with the child's name.

This activity is also perfect for an out of town grandparents. They mail really easy and will give them joy when they open it up!

Remembering Pioneers

This activity is a cooking activity that the pioneers did all the time. But for me it has an even better memory. My grandpa made this with us on a regular basis growing up. It was always a big event. We always LOVED it. It is one of my fondest memories about my grandpa. He died when I was 14 but I have memories at 13 of him making this taffy for me and all my church group. So I thought that I might do a little Pioneer activity with my kids and then tell them all about their Grandpa Great that they never met. I don't know if this is the exact recipe, but it is close.

Old Fashioned Honey Candy
In a heavy saucepan boil 2 C honey to the hard ball stage, 225°
(when tested in cold water). Pour onto a buttered surface. When cool enough to handle, butter hands and start pulling as you do for taffy.
When honey holds its shape and is a golden color, twist into ropes
and place back on the counter top or baking sheet and cut into pieces with scissors. Wrap individually with wax paper.

For Grandma on Mother's Day!

Grandma,

You are like the icing on a cupcake,

You make my life sweeter!

So you make a card that says this. Then you could either give a cupcake with it, you could let them make a cupcake on their card, or I guess both, or you could give them a cake mix, frosting, and muffin tin if you have no time! I thought it would look really cute to use real muffin cup holders on your card. I like the silver (really pretty) ones. You can find them at any store. You would cut it in half and only use one side. Then cut out the top of the muffin and let your child color, paint, or decorate it any way they want. Then I would glue that over the top of the muffin. Anyway Grandma would love this!

Fun Things To Do For Mother's Day!

I really liked this list I found on Yahoo of other people's cheap ideas for Mother's Day. They had some really fun ideas. So go here:


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070509121408AAdWvT3

Homemade Flowers For Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is coming up and I know you all aren't going to have your kids make you crafts from this blog. But you could have dad look at this blog, and you could make these for Grandma for Mother's Day. Anyway these are really cute.

What you'll need:

• Basket coffee filters
• Water color paints
• Green Chenile Stems (1 per flower)
  

How to make it:

1. Flatten coffee filter onto work surface (place some scratch paper or newspaper underneath).
2. Paint coffee filter with watercolor paint. Let the filters dry.
3. Cut about 2” off the end of a chenille stem and set both pieces aside.
4. There are several different ways to make your flowers. You can fringe the ends in thin strips (leaving the center whole) to make the flower that resembles a pom pom. You can cut thicker strips, about 1” wide each, to make the petaled flower or don’t cut the filter at all to make the rose.
5. Insert the large piece of green chenille into the center of the coffee filter about 1.5” in. Hold onto the small end and turn the flower upside down so that the long end of the chenille is sticking up.
6. Grasp the center of the coffee filter and gather it around the small end of the chenille.
7. Twist the smaller piece of chenille around the gathered filter to secure the flower in place. Turn the flower back over and fluff the petals as needed.

Super Easy Valentine Fortune Cookies

Years ago I thought it would be really fun to make homemade fortune cookies for Valentine's Day! It was harder than I thought. But I found this on Family fun this year and it looks really easy. I think because no real mixing is involved. You use Pie Crust for your dough! Anyway I think this is a fun way to announce a baby, or a fun gift for a dad, or a fun gift for grandparents! The trick is letting the kids think of the messages. And letting them be a big part of it, so they know that the gift was from them!
Super Easy Valentine Fortune Cookies
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
Chilled 9-inch pie crust
Cornstarch
3-inch-wide round cookie cutter or drinking glass
Rolling pin or glass.
Nontoxic marker
Slips of paper
Water
Colored sugar
Cookie sheet

1. Lay a chilled 9-inch pie crust on a cornstarch-dusted surface. Cut out 3-inch-wide circles with a round cookie cutter or drinking glass. To use all the dough, roll out the scraps with a pin or a cornstarch-dusted glass. 2. Use a nontoxic marker to write fortunes on slips of paper and place one in the center of each dough circle. Fold the circle in half, then pinch and fold the ends together, as shown. 3. Brush the top of each cookie with water, then sprinkle on colored sugar. Place the cookies on an un greased cookie sheet about an inch apart, sugar side up. Bake them until lightly browned, about 20 minutes, and let them cool before removing them from the pan. Makes about 16 cookies.

Four New Websites!

I found a website for Grandparents to go to with ideas. I'm not a grandparent and I liked it so you might also.

another one is a family member that is selling Tu'Tu's. If you would like one go to: Want a Tu'Tu'?

The Third is called organized Christmas.

The Last is Amazing Moms.

You can find all of these in "My Favorites" section.

Mark it on the Calendar!

So my daughter came running upstairs when I woke up today to inform me that it is Grandparents Day. A T.V. station was telling all about Grandparents and making a big deal about it. I kept telling her it wasn't, but she insisted. So what could I do but get on Hallmark.com and see if it was a real holiday. It was listed! So we made cards for all our grandparents and we will deliver them tonight with a little paper made flower. I realize that it might have to be done late, but I do think it is a great way to honor our grandparents. So send them a special note this week from your kids, or even let them call their grandparents.

Unfortunately Grandparents don't stick around forever. Not only did I lose one of my grandmas five years ago, I also lost my dad that same year. There are a million things I wish I could have said and done with my dad. I wish I would have taken more pictures of my kids with him. Don't forget how lucky you are and do it.

Anyway Happy Grandparents Day Today!