Happy weekend, RISERS! I hope this week has been good to you. It’s hard to believe that in just two weeks, students will all be on Winter Break. Speaking of winter, who flipped the cold switch to below freezing? Be sure to dress warmly and drink all of the hot chocolate or coffee it takes to keep your insides warm.
Happy birthday to all of you who turned another year older this week, and happy anniversary to you and your loved ones for reaching another milestone!
Quote of the Week: “May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas eve.” –Anonymous
Recipe of the Week: Since it’s holiday time, I thought Homemade Trail Mix would be a great party/school lunch recipe.
What you’ll need:
Cheerios or Crispix cereal
Chocolate chips (I prefer semi-sweet)
Raisins or dried cranberries
Roasted and salted peanuts or small pretzels
In an airtight container, mix equal parts of your favorite cereal, chocolate chips, dried fruit, and peanuts (or, if you have a nut allergy, you can substitute pretzels). We use this in half-cup serving sizes as a sweet (and somewhat healthy) snack for either lunches or after school. This can be made with a variety of ingredients, so use your imagination and play around until you find just the right mix for you and your children. I like to eat the raisins and the chocolate chips together…especially after the salt from the peanuts has rubbed off on them!
Joke of the Week: What do gingerbread men use when they break their legs? Candy canes
Organizational Tip of the Week: We have successfully made it a little over a week since Thanksgiving, so now is the time to look into your refrigerator and clear out any hidden leftovers. You need to clean them out not only because they are past their prime, but also to get the containers. It’s also a great time to check expiration dates on condiments or containers of hummus and salsa.
Movie of the Week: In 1983, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was released. This movie tells the story of a group of children considered “undesirable” because of their life experiences. When they show up at church to be a part of the Christmas pageant, they quickly take over the main parts of the play. Since most of us have heard the Christmas story from childhood, we probably take for granted an understanding of how Jesus came to Bethlehem. But in this story, when the children start asking questions about “what happens at the beginning?” their lives are changed forever—and so are the preconceived notions of the adults! It is a good family movie and an annual tradition in our house. I hope you’ll like it.
Holiday Idea of the Week: When I worked in preschool, one of the things I enjoyed was making a Christmas ornament for all of the children’s families. I tried to make it as special as possible.
What you’ll need:
Clear plastic ornament balls
Small bag of faux snow
Assorted stickers to fit on ornaments and/or small toys or nature items that can fit inside them
Put enough shredded snow in each ornament to fill about one-eighth to one-quarter of the bottom. For an upscale look, try to find nature items (such as tiny pinecones or holly sprigs) or miniatures or even curly-ribbon spirals (or paper strips for book lovers) that are small enough to fit inside. For whimsical ornaments that will appeal to children, use seasonal stickers (snowflakes, snowmen, or whatever you find) to decorate the bulbs. No need to overdo it, since these are small. I have painted three fingers white and pressed them on the ornament to look like snow people. Once the paint dries, you can use colored sharpies to make a nose and eyes, etc.
Shout-Out of the Week: Today I want to give a shout-out to people who work in assisted living or skilled nursing facilities. It’s not an easy job to begin with, and the residents can get especially lonely or stressed at holiday time. Thank you for not only caring for their needs, but also for providing a friendly smile and helping hands. Remember, you are most awesome and YOU ROCK!
Marion Rhines is a foster-turned-adoptive parent. She lives in Knoxville, Tenn., with her husband and five children. She has written and published two children’s books as well as two foster-care-themed novels. She has a Facebook blog, Tips from the FLIP Side, and enjoys working with children of all ages.