This is a sponsored post from BlogHer and Smuckers.
Ahhh lunch. I remember those days as a kid, looking forward to lunch to see what Mom packed for me in my brown paper bag. Usually it was a peanut butter and honey sandwich (still my favorite), chips, a homemade cookie, a piece of fruit and a drink. Sometimes my mom would write me little notes on my napkin that she would put in my lunch bag. I loved that! Some days it was a joke or a riddle and other days it was a quick, "I'm thinking about you. Love you, Mom".
That meant a lot to me. Obviously, because I still remember it. And now that I am a mom, it brings tears to my eyes to realize how it is the little things, the simple notes, hugs and "I love yous" that make the biggest impression in the mind of a child.
I, like many of you out there, am a working mom. I miss eating lunch with my kids all week. I am amazed at how the kids all rush to me when I get home! They miss me and need my attention. I try to give each of them some of my time, but it's so hard when I am exhausted and have work to do around the house.My husband and I used to go on "dates" with the kids for one on one time. My husband would take one and I would take the other. We pretty much stopped that when our third child came around. Life got too hectic. Can anyone relate?
I'd love to get back to giving that individualized attention to the kids. A weekend lunch date would be so fun. And as my kids are getting older (2, 7, and 9) I think they need that one on one time even more. They need to feel special. They need to be able to speak freely. I have been amazed at the questions I get asked when I am alone with my 9 year old daughter! But I am thankful that she feels she can ask me anything.
So what do you think? Would you be up to trying a little experiment with me?Let's set a lunch date with our kids or grand kids and see if relationships can be strengthened, confidence can be built and special memories can be made. Lunch can be as simple as a good old peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Think of the child's interests and plan an activity that you can do together.
Now to plan it!
The good people at Smucker's have come up with the cutest idea. You can go to the Smucker's website and custom create an invitation for a lunch date and activity for the special child in your life. It is called a "kidvitation". You can choose the invite's background and font and fill in the blanks with the date, time and what activity you want to do together. Just create and print! It's as simple as that.There are also some simple and delicious recipes on the Smucker's website as well as ideas for fun activities.
One of my daughter's favorite activities is baking. She loves to create something delicious and let the whole family sample her treats. She also loves music. I've got a ton of old CD's down in the basement. We could listen to some of my favorite songs and she could pick out some CD's to add to her collection. I gave her my Michael Jackson "Thriller" CD and it changed her world! It's been fun to see her grow up and find new interests and talents.
My 7 year old son loves to play basketball. He actually saved up $77 dollars to pay for half (we paid for the other half) of a basketball standard to put up in our front yard. I think he would love to play a few games of H-O-R-S-E and maybe I can teach him some of my moves. :)
The 2 year old boy would love to just wrestle on the floor, play with a big balloon or go for a walk. He is easy. He just wants to play!None of these activities cost any money, but the value of the time you spend together with those kids is priceless!
Just as that little napkin tucked in my lunch sack at school, it's the small things that mean so much and that are remembered.So what are you waiting for? Go to the Smucker's website to make a kidvitation and spend some quality time with the kids!
Leave a comment on this post and you will be entered to win a $200 Visa Gift Card. So tell me: What fun activity will you plan for the special child in your life?
Go to the BlogHer/Smucker's round-up page for 9 other chances to win. While you are there, you can also enter to win a $400 Visa gift card!
For official rules, click here.
281 comments:
1 – 200 of 281 Newer› Newest»I have four daughters, ages 7-15, and they love to have one-on-one time with Mom. We've tried to set aside Friday nights as mommy/daughter date night. Saturday morning/afternoon works better for some activities. I typically budget $10 per date, but free things are great. Doing activities at home works, but it's harder to get one-on-one time that way.
Ideas:
painting fingernails
going out to eat
baking something
sewing something
painting
going to a museum or some other place you have an annual pass for
swimming
bike ride
playing board/card games
gardening
play at Chuck-E-Cheese (though this one is not one of my favorites; way too loud)
I remember my mom use to leave cute little written notes on my love note napkins in my lunches, usually a "I love you" written with pen, this always made my day! Even up into high school I would get notes from her, I loved it too. My 5yr old daughter will start K this year so I will definitely continue that tradition, love notes on napkins!
I will take my daughter on a K picnic after her first day of K.
thanks M.
My (almost) 4 yr old also loves to bake! I think she would love to make some cookies to tuck into our lunch and then head to a park. Since her baby sisters aren't quite big enough, she loves when Dad or I play with her on the slides.
My daughter loves to cook and bake. I love to ride bikes and run. So I think we will go on a bike ride and then have a picnic that she had fun making.
My daughter would love a princess lunch. We could dress up and have everything pink: pink lemonade, pink cupcakes, strawberry jelly sandwiches.
My son would love to make a fort and eat outside. Afterward we could go on an adventure walk.
Thanks for the chance to win!
My sons love to paint so I sit down and paint ceramic figurines with them.
mami2jcn at gmail dot com
I am inviting my kid to a lunch date at their favorite place to eat-Olive Garden. Even though this is a pricey place...I wanted her to know that she is special and this is our special date!
She is so excited. She was telling all of her friends about it too!
My little girl is only 19 months, but she loves to swing. I would take her on a picnic to the park. We would enjoy her favorite foods & let her play for a while. She also loves animals, so a picnic at the zoo would be fun too!
I have 2 boys, 6 & 8, and 2 girls, 1 & 3. My husband and I love taking our kids on "dates". When it is me and my 6 yr old's turn, he always wants to go out to eat. (just like his momma (: ) He loves to help me out in the kitchen too, when making something. I recently heard about a kid's cooking class that a local kitchen supply store is starting up. It's not too expensive and sounds like a great activity for me and my little cooking buddy!
I can't wait until I can start cooking and baking with my child! She's only 23 months old right now...maybe next year she can be my little helper when I make my MANY christmas cookies :)
Well,I do plan little activities for me and my son every day. He likes it when I had him bread and different foods so he can build a weird sandwich to try or when I spray the trees with water so he can run under it an pretend it is raining.I plan Play doh dates with him and racecar games. We have big fun and he is only two!
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com
Such a sweet post! My parents went out of my way to make us feel special, and I can't wait to do the same for my kids. In the meantime, I live next door to my two goddaughters, and down the street from my nephews, and we love to just get things to play outside. Chalk, sprinklers, bubbles..you name it! I could play with them for hours :) I'd love to take them all to an amusement park..they'd get such a kick out of that!
Love the pictures, Melody! And this is a great idea. I've got all sorts of time with my kids, but it'd be nice to step it up a notch and make it more memorable for them. I know they'd love it. Thanks for the ideas!
I would love to take my kids to Build-a-Bear Workshop! They have wanted to do that for so long. It would nice to do that for them.
Absolutely love the apple with the heart cut-out!
I'm going to take me youngin to play with our horses. Just me and her and some horsie time.
I sent a kidvitation to my youngest for a breakfast date at Waffle House!
Our family loves to sleep in....so this sweet kid and I sneak out and go to breakfast without them!
We giggle a lot too!
A play play date is what me and my 3 year old are up to. I just had a baby a couple of weeks ago, so the one on one time has been a little low for him. I think we will play with blocks, play in the garden, do some activities in his workbooks, all things he loves to do.
My son and I would have a movie and game night.
My daughter will be 9 soon and has a pretty busy social life - lots of sleepovers, so I get a fair amount of alone-time with my son. But, I do try to schedule time with just my daughter ... taking her to a movie, painting her fingernails, etc.
I have two little girls and both love to make crafts. I just got a Cricut machine, and they are as fascinated by it as I am! Everyday, they ask me to cut out something for them, just to play with. So I have decided that it would be fun to do a little project with each of them, using the Cricut. Here are some ideas:
*Make a scrapbook page with photos of their choice.
*Let them choose a quote or phrase to put on a sign for their room.
*Let them design something in vinyl for their bedroom wall.
*Make a shadow box with some of their favorite things, or with their blessing dresses.
The possibilities are endless! And I know they are going to love making something with mommy's new machine!
I'm thinking of taking my little lady to her first trip to the park. I'm a little nervous but excited because I know she'll love this activity!
stephanierosenhahn at yahoo dot com
We are planning a family picnic near my daughter's birthday with lots of games, crafts and potluck dishes. It's great to get outside so we are really excited about it.
asmithonline at yahoo dot ca
planning on taking the boys to go see monster trucks during the county fair
I'm planning to take her to the County Fair to see all the animals. She is just like me and loves every kind of animal so she'll love to see them up close.
couponboss at gmail dot com
Well I had seven children, 60 yrs. old, and still raising my last young lady, Aspen...She is 16yrs old, and we always have fun with food, fam and friends. We want to have a cupcake bake-off for charity, and the winners get to throw their winning cupcakes at the losers, softly, and carefully, and then our observers will donate monies to our cause. Aspen attends a very unique high school, arts, and intelligence, go figure, so we have fund raisers all the time, this one sounds the funnest, and of course we put Smuckers' in our cupcakes to make them tantalize our taste buds..and ready for charity...blessings.
I like taking him to movies and out for lunch.
amandarwest at gmaildotcom
i have to start planning a zoo trip, we went a few weeks ago, and he wants to go back...with the same people..probably the same zoo knowing him, and i have to call my folks about another visit..
nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net
I am planning to take my little ones to the new aquarium in our area. I am so excited because my boys LOVE fish and water!
jabradshaw07@gmail.com
I'd like to plan a day with my 11-year-old daughter to get our hair cut and then have lunch together.
kt1969 at comcast dot net
I would plan to take our son-to-be on pony rides like how my mom used to take me.
hsuperparents[at]gmail[dot]com
My 6 year old daughter and I spend a lot of time cooking together, so our special activity this fall (once the heat dissipates) will be to spend time outside - on our bikes or me walking while she rides her scooter.
susan (at) cravingthesavings (dot) com
I think I would like to plan a good ole fashioned picnic at the park :)
pittsy82@hotmail.com
My little boy LOVES being outside - so packing a lunch to take to a playground would be perfect for him.
frankandkatie at gmail dot com
Something we are doing this weekend is decorating cakes. I have bought tons of candy, sprinkles, icings of every color and I am making raindow cakes. We are getting the rest of the family together to have an insane decorating contest! Their ages are from 2-10 so it will be so fun to see how everyones turns out!
Megan
mommyminded.blogspot.com
mommyminded@gmail.com
Win a $25 Target GC!
We are planning on getting a new puppy and the boys don't even know it yet! They're going to be so excited and feel super special. :)
jennyjoz24 (at) hotmail.com
A picnic lunch in the park.
I don't have children yet, but one special activity my parents did with me when I was little was making arts & crafts! Thank you for the giveaway!
~Beeb
supercoupongirl AT gmail.com
My daughter and I enjoy back-to-school shopping as well as cooking and baking together! We always have a great time together!
Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
What a great giveaway! I really want to get a membership to Thanksgiving Point so that I can take my kids to all the different venues! Thanksgiving Point is full of fun, learning experiences, and memories waiting to happen!
Daddy and daughter just left for Sturgis Motorcycle Rally six days on the back of a motorcycle Now that's special time together
bepoia(at)hotmail(dot)com
I'd LOVE to build a bird feeder with my son - when he is a lot older, though! ;)
my sons and i will plan a special day together and just go do what we want to do, either take our lunch but most of the time they like to eat out.
lmurley2000@yahoo.com
I love setting aside one on one time with my kids, who are now adult teens and now I still make sure they give me time with them, but I am also getting to start new fun times with my brand new granddaughter and 2 step grandchildren! itscindisworld at yahoo dot com
When I have kids, I just want to tell them every day how much I love them and want to give them some great memories!
I like to try and make every moment special. Just try to enjoy every part of every day!
thedealscoop @ yahoo . com
I don't have kids yet but have twin nephews (4 years old). My special times with them when I visit would be going on a nature walk and hunt. They like discovering things and naming insects they see. It's a lot of fun and educational too :)
mandalarctic at gmail dot com
doing crafts together.
I love the read stories to children! It's always fun, and educational, and they always like to "go on adventures"! And I enjoy the stories as well, it's a win-win situation :)
qwaszx024 at gmail dot com
We are planning a day at the beach and a special meal out before school starts again!
jedoggett@embarqmail.com
I like to take my boys out for mom and son time once in a while. They love spending time at the go-kart track or playing miniature golf.
My son is grown now so activities have changed. We still enjoy going out to eat together and love to watch UFC together, too.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I'm glad I found your site!
I'm looking forward to back-to-school. My son enjoys my love notes I put in his backpack, on his behavior card, and on his reading log. If I forget he will remind me so I know that's his way of telling me he like it.
~Michele
refundgirl at gmail dot com
We always look forward to doing "special projects" together. Sometimes we make a special treat or craft and sometimes they are in charge of lunch!
I love to leave little cute notes in their lunchboxes....so fun!
Soon, going to the Iowa State Fair! Lots of fun. scg00387 at yahoo dot com
I'm going to take my 5-year-old on a very picnic to the apple orchard near our house. Bringing all her favorite foods and supplies to paint on canvases after lunch. I'm going to surprise her right before her first day of kindergarten! Soooo excited...and I never would have even thought of this if I hadn't read your post! Thank you!!!
I would have a book reading date, kinda cheap I know but oh so fun!
disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com
i take my niece for a lunch in a park
ann.altima at gmail dot com
I am planning a fun trip to the science center for my daughter, she hasn't been since last year and is dying to go again!
Carmen
nemesis_33012 at yahoo dot com
If I had a child, I would take him to the yearly carnival around here! =) kytah00@yahoo.com
I'd like to make Sock Puppets with my daughter.
My daughter loves to swim so I would take her to the beach or pool!
My grandsons love to take a picnic lunch then go on a nature walk collecting stick, rocks, and leaves then while we picnic in the woods create an art project from the things we have collected to decorate the woods with.
Great idea! Including the Kidvitation!! I will take my 9yr old son for a bike ride on along the beach!!
Love this idea! The kidvitation is great too!
My 9yr old son and I will be bike riding at the beach this Sat.
Thanks for the idea!!
We take monthly dates with our kids. I have all boys and I let them choose the activity. It always has to be a no cost date but we usually get froyo after.
Boys pick awesome (hear my sarcasm) things like play video game, hunt for bugs, make messes in general....love it when I can take a break from being girly!
We'll have a poetry reading day. My son will love this.
charisscharity at yahoo dot com
Arts and crafts is big in my family so we will have a painting date.
saulpaugh.chelsea(at)gmail(dot)com
Going to the zoo
karinaroselee(at)gmail.com
I will help my grandsons make clay paperweights for their desks!
LWons@HotMail.com
What a wonderful and loving post. I have so many wonderful memories of my Mom and Grandma making lunchtime so wonderful for us. We'd get the greatest small sandwiches and always a bowl of homemade soup. (My Grandma's specialty).
For my kids, I'll sneak notes into their lunches every once in awhile. They really love this. My older son will get embarrased with notes, so instead I'll put in candy kisses to symbolize I'm thinking of him & love him. He loves it when I do this.
At times, my kids have also surprised me by sneaking into my lunch a little homemade card or note.
Thanks so much.
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
We will take a hike and have a picnic by a brook.
My girls and I enjoy doing crafts together.
I like the nature hunt idea on the smukers site.I will be doing that for sure.
My son and I just went on a movie day date. We pick a movie to go see and go out for lunch. He loves it
My daughter and I have diva day where we get dressed up and paint the town
souldolphindream@aol.com
Spend some time doing what they want to do and doing it whole heartedly.
On my daughter's first day of college this fall I will plan on taking her out to breakfast before her first class.
nancymn2003@yahoo.com
we go do mini golf- go carts
We like going out to lunch together once in awhile. They think its a real treat!
lazybones344 at gmail dot com
Hikes in the woods. he really enjoys a creek to find different fish and stuff.
My child an I will have a special day where I take her to the park an have the time fun playing with each other
shopgurl101@gmail.com
http://twitter.com/shopgurl/status/20833356137
tweet
shopgurl101@gmail.com
blogged: http://sweetqt.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/blogher-smuckers-giveaways/
shopgurl101@gmail.com
Since I don't usuakly play video games, a day playing video games with the boys and having a picnic lunch of PB & J, on the side corn chips and dill pickles. They would love it and so would I because I would get to spend the day with them doing something they love.
BrendaLea
prpldy (at) comcast dot net
We are planning a veg day. We will eat naughty food and watch movies while piled up in my bed. I am queenesperfect at yahoo.com
a Zingo! date - my little boy's favorite game
tvollowitz at aol dot com
we will go swimming
My son loves to make cookies with me and eat them so we will probably do that.
Thanks
surveys4lori@rocketmail.com
We've had lot's of chances to make memories this summer. I'd love to win and use the money to buy season passes to the zoo.
Christine
dazed1821@aol.com
Movie night outside under the stars on a projection screen.. we love it!
I'd plan a trip to the zoo and we'd ride public transit (light rail train) and then we could talk undistracted by my having to drive.
catmom1010 at gmail dot com
I am working on planning an outdoor adventure for my kids on our upcoming vacation.
We go to historic homes and tour them so we can see how people used to live. We like the ones where the ladies dress up in the big skirts and the original furniture is intact
I pack a lunch and take my grandkids out for short hikes and a picnic.
They love the outdoors.
Every year, on the first day of school, my mom would make a huge banner and cook an amazing breakfast. It was always so special. I want my children to look forward to school in the same way I did as a child!
Thanks
newmommyin08 AT yahoo DOT com
My daughter loves to bake. She could bake for hours!
we don't have children yet, but would love to finger paint, use shaving cream and mix in food coloring for fun colors, and camp in the backyard!
~eunice b
tigergal01 @gmail .com
I plan to take my nephew to the zoo.
hellrzr(at)juno(dot)com
My son is four and he loves trains, so I made him some trains to cut out of construction paper and then he gets to color them. He will then hang them on our fridge.
I would do a road trip and take my grandson to Gatorland--he has been begging to go. He loves thoes creepy things.
i loved it when my mom would surprise me with a avacado sandwich....they were expensive back then and we didn;t have much money
HORTON111@AOL.COM
I HAVE 6 GRANDCHILDREN AND A LOT OF BIRTHDAYS COMING UP..THIS GC WOULD COVER SOME PRESENTS
My son is 6 weeks away from his entry into this world! So right now I just talk to him and rub my belly! I think he likes it! :)
chelea at rootsandrings dot com
Id do pizza,popcorn and movie night!
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
My grandkids love crafts and making (and eating) food items. For the summer I laid in a supply of sand art bottles and plenty of colored art sand for the grandkids who come to visit;and there will be some left through the fall/winter as we are "sick bay" for two of our grandkids with both parents working. I found something new for the make it/cook it group. It is called Yummy Dough..it is colored and the child can model it like playdough and then bake it. I hope it turns out to taste as fun as it sounds to make!
I like to have a date with each of my 3 yr olds (they're quadruplets) and we could have a little one on one time:) We don't get enough of it!
Jenny B
jennyhasquads at yahoodotcom
Sitting next to each other and looking through old photos and me telling stories about my parents. They are no longer here, but their stories should be passed on.
We love to go to the beach
I am going to take my 5 year old to see Toy Story. I will also leave the two younger brothers at home. He will love the one on one time.
We love field trip to the park and zoo.
We like scavenger hunts.
dolniaks[at]consolidated[dot]net
We love to take trips to the zoo.
teenytig@sbcglobal.net
My seven year old daughter Sydney and I love to cook and bake together. Our next big creation will be brownies for my boss. I loved cooking and baking with my mom, and wanted to pass that on to my daughter. She feels special because she gets to tell people that she knows how to cook and bake. She's really quite good now. The only thing I do now is put the pan in the oven.
Every few months I treat my two girls (9 and 7) to a day with Mom. We go and get pedis and get some lunch. Sometimes we will window shop at Target also.
I'll plan a trip to the beach with my niece.
chuckie cheese!
baking cookies together!
shoppingchic2 at gmail dot com
we like to make dinner together
seanm1999 (at) hotmail (dot) com
It's all about the grandson. He's going to be twelve and I would love to capture some special moments before he turns into a teenager.
We love to cook together! We don't worry about mess and we experiment like crazy!
Jennifer, jennem22 at yahoo dot com
I plan on going to/ taking my children to Detroit's hands on museum before the summer's up this year! gmissycat@yahoo.com
I plan on taking my two little grandsons skating around the local duck pond. They've been wanting to do it for a while. And we'll feed the ducks while we're there.
eswright18 at gmail.com
I don't have any kids, but when I was a kid I have great memories of craft time with mom. We belonged to a Craft of the Mnth club and it was exciting waiting to see what would arrive, then spending a whole afternoon with mom making our project :)
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com
A special day at the museum would be nice
bingomamanorma(at)gmail(dot)com
for my daughter, at-home spa treatments,
and for my son, playing cards
I would love to spend time with my 16 year old daughter, just talking and laughing. She is so busy with her life these days, that I need her to invite me to lunch!
mmk101(at)att(dot)net
a day at our local waterpark!
autumn398 @ yahoo.com
Well, what we've usually done is to have him basically have the freedom to choose what kinds of activities he feels like doing, or that he thinks the family should do :D He's come up with some mighty fine ideas :D
Probably let him decide, which means he'll want to pretend to be secret agents and run around the house looking for "clues" and shooting at imaginary people w/our finger guns....
I remember taking a moment to leave a note for my daughter on a piece of colorful gift wrap paper, folded into a little card, that often said "I love you!" or "Hope you enjoy your lunch today!" Once in a while, I'd accompany the note with a little five-and-dime gift (a special pen or pencil, some lip gloss, a keychain) that she told me would always make her day and make the other kids envious for having such a "cool" mom.
Flo
My son loves the natural History museum(at age 4)! So we'd probably go there and then go have a picnic at the playground, and then go swimming. That would probably be his perfect day!
Kelsey
micahandkelsey1(at)cox(dot)net
I'm taking my daughters snorkeling for their first time this weekend.
I will plan on painting on my daughter's toenails when I do mine the next time. She loves it and it helps us bond a bit.
Maggie at tethered mommy dot com
My daughters love when I paint their nails. Perhaps a spa evening for them. We also like to go to a duck pond to feed the fish. They would be so excited if I scheduled a afternoon there.
chipdip2010(at)hotmail(dot)com
I don't have my own child yet, but my best friend's daughter is 5 years old, and I spend a lot of time with her. Today I went with her mom to eat lunch with her Kinder class and had so much fun talking with the kids and everything. Her daughter is so much fun. My special lunch date would have to include a picnic in the park! She loves 'tea time'.
simple pleasures for my kids, washing the car together is so exciting for them.
We often take little road trips, or we work on fun art projects. We also love to bake together! The kids feel so important and fun while they help to measure out ingredients and lick the spoon afterward :)
shevilkenevil1 at aol dot com
We take my nephew out to pick blueberries. He loves it!
While I lack a craft gene, I do have an entire cupboard in my attic with craft supplies; a note in my daughter's lunch inviting her to a craft-a-thon would be a fun way to spend the afternoon connecting with my daughter.
shel704 at aol dot com
A favorite for us is going swimming, we could spend hours if we didn't get so wrinkly.
thepricklypinecone(at)hotmail.com
I loved the special things my mother did with my lunch. It's sad that so many kids don't have a lunch packed by Mom these days.
We love going to our local animal shelter and spending time with the animals and helping with the dog walks!
I have 2 sons ages 7 and 3. For my older son, we enjoy going to a movie, going to the Lego store, baking chocolate chip cookies, doing arts and crafts and going for walks down by the river. For my younger son, we enjoy walks, pretend play and lots of cuddling.
ShawnaMichelle@ymail.com
Make a little chore, like returning library books, into a fun afternoon with something - like a stop for ice cream or walk past a zoo. Then it's not only a chore you are doing
scoopster(nospam) at yahoo dot com
Tweeted the contest at:
http://twitter.com/LuigiFranco/status/21251168689
scoopster(nospam)at yahoo dot com
I think writing a note and putting in her lunchbox would surprise and please her!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I'm visiting my goddaughter next weekend, and we'll be baking her a belated birthday cake!
I can't wait to be able to take my kids to Disneyland. I remember my trip to Disneyland when I was a kid and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I want my kids to have that as well.
lynnx512 at gmail dot com
My nephew and I are going swimming!
Thanks for entering me! Great Contest!
Janna Johnson
janna@FeedYourPigBlog.com
jannajanna@hotmail.com
www.FeedYourPigBlog.com
My daughter loves roller coasters. I want to plan a cedar point trip for her and I. It would be so wonderful to spend the weekend together, just the girls...=)
Thank you for the great giveaway!!
JH33194(underscore)2002(at)yahoo.com
My daughter loves to play outside, and I usually say it's too hot and we stay inside.
I'll take her to the park and play around until SHE is tired and hot, not just because I'd rather be inside
jessadobbs@gmail.com
My kids are grown, but it is still important to spend time together and be a part of one another's life. Besides taking trips together, we try to tackle projects together. It's a good time for sharing!
We are going to Rome with our 2 year old in September and are trying to make it as kid friendly as possible. We plan on visiting parks daily and hitting the children's museum (to make up for all the others.)Thanks! thebubbledies(at)gmail(dot)com
I will take my 4 year old granddaughter to the store and let her pick out foods for our picnic lunch at the park.
smchester at gmail dot com
I think having her help me make dinner would be a special treat---perhaps even for both of us! :)
My daughter is in graduate school far away from home. We are already planning and looking forward to a trip to Orlando in December!
Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
My 4 year old loves board games. So I'm planning weekly night that jut he and I can play board games all evening after his 1 year old sister goes to bed - no laundry, dishes, or any other interruptions.
My 6 year old daughter and I spend a lot of time cooking together.
Every night we spend an hour or two just doing what they want to. It could be a game or an activity.
I want to do a lot of these while it's still SUMMER! i'm thinking tomorrow we'll do a picnic and something with WATER! thanks for the great ideas!
marylatu@gmail.com
The only child right now is my grandson, who is 18 months old and can have fun just running around the house. His special thing is going for a walk with his grandfather in the evening. Last time he was not in the stroller and his grandfather learned rapidly that TJ can run faster than he can--he saw a ball in someone's yard and dashed over to pick it up.
cgclynsg0 @ gmail dot com
I get to babysit my godson and we love reading together. We go to the park and have a picnic then read books to each other.
One of my favorite things to do is bake. So, when I have a kiddo I'll show him/her how to bake.
katyjv1988(@)yahoo(dot)com
We plan on going on a little day trip to a historical site connected to our family when the weather is cooler.
Love all the heart-shaped designs in your photos! My 12yo son likes to make heart-shaped sugar cookies. Probably the activities we enjoy together most are either in the kitchen or playing games. The 12yo is my youngest and I realize how important it is to spend time with your children--they grow up so fast. As they get older, they get busy with other activities (that don't always include family members).
Playing catch :D
Now that he's older the thing that he appreciates the most is going out to eat. He always loves to find new places to go.
I'll probably plan for a lunch out when he has his next half day.
ewalsh40(at)gmail(dot)com
I am planning a pool party.
dawns_horizen@yahoo.com
I'm inviting my son to go bowling with me. It's one of his favorite things to do EVER, and we both have such a good time of it. I'm flattered that he wants to spend this time with me.
I'm taking my kids out for ice cream. They both work now and we don't get much family time together, and we all love ice cream, so it will be fun.
I cannot wait for Monday. My sweet 6 year old will start first grade and I will get to have lunch with her in the school lunchroom. We have been planning this date all summer. These precious moments are what keep me going.
Lunches on the beach are always special for all of us.
My kids love museums, so I would plan a day out at Balboa Park, exploring all the great museums and architecture.
email is through Google account. Thanks!
My son loves to go have a coffee with me. We have great chats. Anytime I can connect with my teen is great!
I would plan something musical that we could enjoy together since we both love to sing!
sksweeps (at) earthlink (dot) net
I want to take my daughter to lunch at a tea room! She would really enjoy dressing up and being fancy for a change!
A fun activity would be to take the kids berry-picking! Hopefully it'll bring more meaning to the "produce section" of the grocery store and be a great hands-on experience!
junkforcarmen at gmail dot com
My daughters caught my love of baking so I would plan an afternoon with each of them separately to bake their favorite goodie from scratch!
Our fun activities tend to center around being outside, going to the park to hike, bike or just play.
Special mommy "dates"- each son gets to go out to eat with mommy by himself :)
kerin0874 (at) yahoo (dot) com
we like to go for quiet bike rides
addictedtorodeo at gmail dot com
I think I'd take my nephew to a local science museum. He loves doing experiments with me.
It sounds really simple, but it ends up being special.... After school, sit and eat cookies and milk and most importantly, talk.
mayacarpenter at verizon dot net
I tweeted http://twitter.com/JanetandMaya/status/21832072427
mayacarpenter at verizon dot net
The first day of school, each year, we go out to a restaurant and have dessert.
My son is oler, and we have "cooking lessons" now, which he has a great interest in. We're going to tackle some light baking over Labor Day weekend - I'll start him off on the same thing my grandma started me off on, Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix :) I also want to bake some bread.
When my daughter was in grade school I would always take off the morning of the first day of school. It was nice to have extra time and seemed to get her year started off on the right foot
what a great idea, a lunch date with my kids. I'm going to have my kids help me make the lunch.
teechbiz at gmail dot com
I am going to spend the day on the float boat and swimming at the island in the lake we live by. marybug2@yahoo.com
Each month,each of my sons get a "date night' with mom where they get to pick a special activity like a movie or bowling or something and then they get to create the evening menu and helps me cook!
Making a trip into the mountains to visit the orchards and pick apples right off the tree. Yummy! Of course, will have some cider too.
I have two Grand daughters and two Grandsons, every Friday night they come spend the night, the girls and I do our nails and play dress up.
The boys get the firepit ready, then we make smores and look for stars.One of my Grand daughters likes strawberry jelly on her smores.I so look forward to the special times I spend with them.
jheavenly56@yahoo.com
Baking! I am a serious baker and my girls love to get in the kitchen and help....spending a whole afternoon creating recipes and baking them is definitely our idea of a special time!
elderberry44 AT yahoo.com
I would plan a day at the park to walk around the lake, play on the playground and have a picnic lunch!
I connect through books: reading them to the kids; giving them books; taking them to the library. Thanks for the contest.
http://twitter.com/slehan/status/21891222761
blogged: http://slehan.blogspot.com/2010/08/smuckers-kidvitations-for-chance-to-win.html
We are planning a "date" with Ian to picnic in the park with special bento lunchboxes and our kites.
An invitation to watch our favorite TV show together and play a related board game would get a good response.
My kids are in school and my days off are not weekends.
We do have a poker night (they are teens) once a week. Rules are simple: no phones, no tv, nothing but playing cards with the family.
WE've done it for about 4 years and it works really well.
Give us time to talk and since it's relaxing, the kids talk more instead of one word answers
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