Jj is for Just About Over January

Congratulations to Jack who made the best (and only) guess of how many snowballs I made during Winter Wonderland Week (I really made 32) . . . and congratulations to Eddy who made creative although incorrect guesses about Jack's favorites . . . and congratulations to Hayley (and Betsy) who guessed what the twelve photo collage represented. You are the lucky winners of snowmen treats! But wait . . . there's still time for more winners!

During January did you make snowy art on your calendar . . . eat a snowman pancake for breakfast . . . celebrate the year of the Dragon . . . find a white elephant . . . play Grandma's snowball guessing game . . . have any new happy holidays . . . play "I spy" on a winter walk . . . jump for joy on Jack's birthday . . . know that today is "Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day" . . . learn to make a different kind of snowman . . . wear mittens . . . make some noise on New Year's Eve . . . eat some oatmeal . . . read a poem . . . snuggle under a quilt and read some snowy stories . . . sip some soup . . . see a tumbleweed snowman . . . draw Utah and mark with an X the place you live . . . eat a vegetable . . . wear or eat something white . . . figure out what year of the Chinese Zodiac you were born? Write one letter of the alphabet on each square of your calendar for each alphabet adventure you had this month! And get ready to turn the page in one more day!

Happy just about over January!
Love, Grandma

Ss is for Soup

January is soup month
In January
it's so nice
while slipping
on the sliding ice
to sip hot chicken soup
with rice.
Sipping once
sipping twice
sipping chicken soup
with rice.
--Maurice Sendak

Try sipping some soup for supper tonight.
You could try chicken noodle soup, sausage potato soup,
chicken corn chowder, butternut squash soup,
or a Campbells can of anything you want.

Happy soup month!
Love, Grandma

Jj is for Jack

January 24 is Jack's birthday
When I was one I had just begun,
When I was two I was nearly new,
When I was three I was hardly me,
When I was four I was not much more,
When I was five I was barely alive.
But now I am six! As clever as clever!
And I think I'll stay six forever and ever!
--A.A. Milne

Jump for joy! Jack just turned six! Do you know six things about Jack?
Answer this quick quiz:
1. What is Jack's favorite book?
Richard Scarry's Best Story Book Ever
2. What is Jack's favorite color?
Blue
3. What is Jack's favorite food?
Chicken nuggets
4. What is Jack's favorite show?
Phineas and Ferb
5. What is one wish of Jack's?
Go to Disneyland
6. What does Jack want to be when he grows up?
Construction worker

Happy Birthday Jack!
Love, Grandma

Cc is for Chinese New Year

January 23 is the first day of the Year of the Dragon

Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday of the year in faraway countries like Hong Kong, China, Korea and Taiwan. It is sort of like New Years Day, Christmas and the Fourth of July all rolled into one holiday and it usually lasts at least 10 days! The ancient Chinese calendar is made up of 12-year cycles, and a name is given to each year in the cycle. Many Chinese believe that the year of a person's birth is a factor in determining that person's personality traits. So . . .

. . . if you were born in the year of the snake like Aunt Emily and Zach--you are strong-willed and very intense, wise and determined to achieve your goals. If you were born in the year of the horse like Aunt Shelly--you are hard working, independent and good with money! If you were born in the year of the sheep like me--you are gentle, sensitive, creative and have a well-balanced yin and yang (whatever that means!) Monkeys are clever, intelligent and able to influence people. If you were born in the year of the rooster like Brody--you are constantly seeking wisdom and truth, hate to fail and are almost always right! If you were born in the year of the dog like Aunt Betsy and Jack--you are loyal, honest, helpful and work really well with others.
If you were born in the year of the pig like Uncle Brandt, Coltin and Eddy--you love bacon! No not really . . . you are strong, possess much endurance and will sacrifice anything for the welfare of your family. If you were born in the year of the rat (mouse) like Uncle Tom and Ryan--you are polite, imaginative and persistent in overcoming obstacles.. If you were born in the year of the ox like Uncle Keoni, Uncle Brady, Luke and Wade--you are born leaders who inspire confidence in others, logical and patient.

If you were born in the year of the tiger like Lindsay Lu--you are competitive, optimistic, and cry at sad movies. If you were born in the year of the rabbit like Owen and Nash--you are affectionate, yet shy and seek peace and tranqulity. And if you were born in the year of the dragon like Grandpa, Uncle J.P. and Aunt Hayley--you are lucky, strong, courageous and have the potential for accomplishing great things. This year is the year of the dragon-- supposedly the best year of all to be born! ( just in case anybody is interested in giving me a 12th grandchild.)

Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Love, Grandma

Ww is for Winter Wonderland Week

January is a winter wonderland

Because there are so many wonderful things to do in the wintertime, I thought I would give you some simple suggestions . . . one-a-day . . . each day this week!

Last Day:
Go on a winter walk and "I spy with your little eye" looking for
something white . . . someone wearing mittens . . .
a bare branch tree . . . someone wearing a hat . . . a pine tree . . .
your breath . . . a snow (or tumbleweed) man!

Day Six:
Guess how many "snowballs" I made and win a cool prize!

Day Five:
Make a snowman.
You can make miniature snowmen with a little bit of snow . . . a silly snowman sack . . . a craft stick snowman . . . "Frosty Friends" . . . "Frosty the Bagel" . . . fruity snowmen on a stick . . . egg carton snowmen . . . toilet paper tube snowmen . . . or even a paper snowman!

Day Four:
Sip some snowman soup--which is hot chocolate sprinkled
with mini marshmallows and stirred with a candy cane.
(Snowman mug optional)

Day Three:
Snuggle under a quilt and read some snowy stories

Day Two:
Eat a snowman for breakfast!
Day One:
Sing a snowman song such as "Frosty the Snowman"
or "Once There Was a Snowman"
Happy Winter Wonderland Week!
Love, Grandma

Tt is for Twelve

January 12

On the 12th day of each month during 2012
I thought I would post a collage of 12 pictures.
Can you guess what these 12 pictures have to do
with each other before I give you the answer
in about 10 more days!
Happy 12 on the 12th!
Love, Grandma

Ww is for White

January is white

(sometimes)

It snowed Saturday!

It was so fun to wake up to white covering everything in sight,

I thought you might like to celebrate the color white by

having a white day sometime this month.

You could wear a white shirt, shoes and socks . . . you could be happy you don't have to wear a white shirt 6 out of 7 days a week like Grandpa . . . you could eat all kinds of white food like marshmallows, milk, mashed potatoes, popcorn, vanilla ice cream and powdered donette gems . . . you could fold a piece of plain white paper and cut it into a snowflake . . . you could create a "white" collage in Chapter Ww of your Alpha-Book . . . you could play in something white--either snow or bubble bath bubbles . . . or you could go on a "white elephant" hunt. A white elephant is a toy you no longer want or any other silly item. If you find one, wrap it up, and the next time all the cousins get together we could have a "white elephant" gift exchange.

Have a wonderful white day!

Love, Grandma

Oo is for Oatmeal

January is oatmeal month

Eating a bowl of oatmeal is a delicious and nutritious way to start the day. I like oatmeal with apple bits, walnuts, and brown sugar. I challenge you to eat some oatmeal this month . . . or if you prefer, ask your Mom to make oatmeal muffins. . . or how about some oatmeal cookies!

Happy oatmeal month!
Love, Grandma

Uu is for Utah

January 4th is Utah's birthday

Utah became the 45th state to join the United States of America on January 4, 1896. The early name of this state was "Deseret" which means honeybee. Hard-working pioneers were busy bees who settled here. So the nickname of the state where you were born is the "Beehive State". Celebrate Utah's 116th birthday by drawing or cutting from colored paper a "Utah" shape for your Alpha-Book or calendar. Make an "X" or stick a star sticker in the part of Utah where you live. And have some honey on toast for a snack!

Happy Birthday Utah!
Love, Grandma