Cousin's Club(minus seven)
All twenty grandkids (plus their fourteen parents) are buzzing in and out of town this month, and that means a bunch of reunions. The fun is priceless, but can also get pricey.
I've discovered memories don't need to be expensive. Last Saturday's party-in-the-park (for 22 people) cost me under $20! Each family brought their own picnic, I furnished tablecloths, and the dollar store provided the entertainment:
Lars and Will
Jillian June (I think)
8. Soap on a rope: Carve ivory soap with plastic knives, and hang from a piece of string.
9. Flying High: Put together and fly wooden glider airplanes.
10. Glow-in-the-dark bracelet tag.
Family reunions don't have to be elaborate, painstaking or expensive. The preparation for this party was minimal—a group e-mail, thirty minutes in the dollar store, a bunch of cousins and a lifetime of memories.
I've discovered memories don't need to be expensive. Last Saturday's party-in-the-park (for 22 people) cost me under $20! Each family brought their own picnic, I furnished tablecloths, and the dollar store provided the entertainment:
Lars and Will1. Funky plastic teeth for skits.
2. Jump rope (even the adults were jumping!)
Eliza and Jill duet
3. Two plastic microphones for an impromptu talent show: sixty seconds to prepare. There were songs, jokes, skills—we called out states and Chloe named the capitals; we called out states and Jacque named the teams. Scott did math problems in his head; Will climbed a tree. No practices or instruments necessary, and nobody was left out.
4. Critter hunt. ($4 worth of plastic bugs playing hide and seek.)
5. Squirt guns: Fill 'em up at the drinking fountain. Rule: You can't shoot at anybody who doesn't have a squirt gun.
Chloe and Lucy
6. Straw Relay: The teams passed gummy lifesavers with straws.
7. Paper Relay: Use the same straws. Suck up a piece of paper, run the course without dropping the paper—no hands. Repeat until one team finishes.
2. Jump rope (even the adults were jumping!)
Eliza and Jill duet3. Two plastic microphones for an impromptu talent show: sixty seconds to prepare. There were songs, jokes, skills—we called out states and Chloe named the capitals; we called out states and Jacque named the teams. Scott did math problems in his head; Will climbed a tree. No practices or instruments necessary, and nobody was left out.
4. Critter hunt. ($4 worth of plastic bugs playing hide and seek.)
5. Squirt guns: Fill 'em up at the drinking fountain. Rule: You can't shoot at anybody who doesn't have a squirt gun.
Chloe and Lucy7. Paper Relay: Use the same straws. Suck up a piece of paper, run the course without dropping the paper—no hands. Repeat until one team finishes.
Jillian June (I think)9. Flying High: Put together and fly wooden glider airplanes.
10. Glow-in-the-dark bracelet tag.
Family reunions don't have to be elaborate, painstaking or expensive. The preparation for this party was minimal—a group e-mail, thirty minutes in the dollar store, a bunch of cousins and a lifetime of memories.
Do you have any cheap, fun suggestions?
(I'm repeating myself here. This was originally posted August, 2010.)
(I'm repeating myself here. This was originally posted August, 2010.)
2 comments:
My three middle grandsons (ages 7 through 9)all love math so I always take a few decks of cards ($ store as well)for a variety of games:
Addition War—Players turn up two to four cards and add them. The highest sum wins.
Mult War-Multiply two cards. Hightest product wins.
+/- Plack cards are negative,red positive. Greatest product wins.
Have about 15 math games we can play with cards.
I bought an old set of jacks on Ebay and will be teaching that game to the kids as well.
Funny,That is Jillian June!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love,LUCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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