Pencils down!

The essays are in so stay tuned for the winners. They will be announced on June 14, make sure you check back in case you're one of them! Thanks to everyone who submitted their work, they are all so wonderful, I can't wait to announce the winners!

What will you do this summer?

IT'S

Now that school is out and you have ALL DAY to have fun, here are some great summer games that only use things easily found around the house!

Kick the Can
Required: pop can or coffee can
Players: 2 or more

Place coffee can in a large open area to be home base. It counts to 50 while the other kids hide. When It SEES a child, he calls her name. They both race to the can, and try to kick it first. If It kicks the can, the hider is caught and placed in "prison" on the porch. If the hider kicks the can, she and all players in prison are free, and It must count again.


Broom Hockey
Required: Brooms, rubber ball, and goals (boxes or buckets)
Players: 2 or more

This game can be played in any size room, make two goals opposite of each other. You start the game with a face-off in the center of the room. Opponents attempt to hit the puck into the opposite goal. The goalie is allowed to block shots in any way he desires. Penalties may be assessed for delaying the game, holding the puck with hands or feet, high sticking or other unnecessary roughness. The opposite team may receive a free shot (except for goalie) on goal when penalties occur. For large groups limit number of players and substitute once a score is made.

Car Make Scavenger Hunt
Required: List of cars, pencil and lots of time time
Players: Small to medium groups


What kind of summer plans do you have? Lots of fun outside? A vacation to a new place or to visit relatives? Will you be going to Orthodox summer camp or visiting an Orthodox Church in another place? Be sure to tell us all about it (only including your first name and name of the church-no locations please! this is the internet, duh!)

If you have a long car trip ahead, play this game and see how fast the hours fly by!

It’s a car scavenger hunt and here’s a list to get you started. Print this list and mark off which cars you have spotted. If there are several players, take turns as to who marks off the next car that you pass or that passes you.

Accord
Aerostar
Alero
Astro
Audi
Aurora
Blazer
BMW
Bonneville
Camaro
Camry
Caprice
Caravan Caravel
Cavalier
Celebrity
Cherokee
Cirrus
Civic
Concord
Contour
Corolla
Corsica
Cougar
Dakota
Denali Escort
Excursion
Excursion
Expedition
Explorer
Galant
Grand Prix
Hummer
Infiniti
Interpid
Intregue
Jimmy
Kia Laredo
Lexus
Lincoln
Lumina
Mazda
Mercedes
Montana
Monte Carlo
Mustang
Mystique
Navigator
Park Avenue
Pathfinder PT Cruiser
Probe
Ram
Ranger
Sable
Safari
Saturn
Silhouette
Silverado
Suburban
Sunbird
Sunfire
Tahoe Taurus
Tempo
Tracer
Tracker
Transport
Towncar
Venture
Villager
Volkswagen
Voyager
Windstar


A Nature hunt is a great way to find interesting things in your own backyard!

Nature Hunt
Required: Hunt list and good weather
Players: Small to large groups

Make out of a list of known nature finds in search area. Here are some examples that could go on the list.

Pinecones Oak leaf Maple leaf Stick Moss

Bark Bugs Rock Types Acorns One hard to find item

You can make your list as long and specific as needed depending on age group and time available. You can divide up as individuals or small teams. Searchers go out and retrieve items. The first team to collect all items and return to starting point wins. A fun way to add bonus points is to collect really cool things that you find that you never knew existed!

Whatever your summer plans may be, make sure you never forget them by keeping an Adventure journal/scrapbook! Keep any photos, ticket stubs, candy wrappers or other things that will remind you of Summertime 2008!

Be sure to be safe and have fun! May Panagia and your patron saint guard and protect you!

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Hey Kids! Mother's Day is right around the corner. What are you giving to your mom this year? Not sure? Here are some great ideas that anyone can afford!


1. Hand-made Cards
You can make a card like the one in the picture with tissue paper flowers! Just fold a piece of construction paper in half. Next, draw stems from the bottom of the paper to about the middle. (You can make as many as you want and they can be all the same height or different) Then cut a piece of tissue paper into different size squares. Take the eraser side of a pencil and put it in the middle of a tissue paper square and twist. Take the "flower" and glue it to the top of each stem.

You can also use your imagination to design a card yourself!

Write a heartfelt message to mom inside and Voila!


2. Gift Certificates

Make mom one special gift certificate, or a book of them!
Some things you can include are:
taking out the trash
washing the dishes
setting the table
making your bed
1 hour of "no-bother" time
Get creative!

3. Make Mom Breakfast

Even if you can't use the stove you can make mom a delicious breakfast of cereal, toast, bagels, english muffins or microwaved oatmeal! Ask Dad to help you make coffee! Set the table with flowers (real or paper!) and leave her a good morning note to read while she eats!

4. Hand-made Journal

You can either use a small notebook or create your own. If you're using a pre-made one you can decorate the front with different pictures. You can use pictures of your family (make sure there are doubles!) or you can cut pictures out of magazines of things you know mom enjoys. Glue them to the front along with any stickers, tickets, etc. If you're going to make your own find a decorative piece of cardstock, and about 12 sheets of computer paper Tie a string from the top sheet of paper around the cardstock cover. Fold them in half. Decorate the cover. On the first page write all the things you love about your mom!

5. Icon family tree

Do you have extra catalogs with icons in them? Or extra paper icons? See if you can find all the patron saints of your family and make a family tree! Get a 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock and draw a tree. Make sure you make enough branches for everyone in your family. Then cut out and glue the icons in their proper spot. Remember to start with your parents on top and then the oldest to youngest children underneath.


Do you have your own Mother's Day gift idea? Share it with us! Send us pictures and we'll post them on this blog!

Announcing the Orthodox Kids Essay Contest!

To launch the PB & J Kids blog I am hosting it's first contest! It's the "What I love about being Orthodox" Essay Contest!



RULES:

*Essay topic: "What I love about being Orthodox". Essays should be as detailed as possible. (Also include favorite Orthodox books or stories)

*The Orthodox Kids Essay Contest is open for kids ages 7 through 13.

*Essays should be a minimum of 100 words.

*Include first name, email address, parish name, priest name, city and state. ONLY FIRST NAME, AGE and CHURCH NAME WILL APPEAR ON THIS BLOG!

*One winner will be selected from the following age categories:

ages 7-9
ages 10-13

*Entries will be judged on originality, creativity, story structure, and overall appeal

*All entries must be received by midnight on Sunday, June 1. Email submissions to OrthodoxMama@gmail.com. Be sure to get your parents' permission before submitting!

*Winners will be announced on the last Saturday in June!


PRIZES:
The winning essays will be posted on this blog for the world to see! (Only first name and parish name will appear)


Ages 7-9
Daniel and the Lion by Claire Brandenburg
prayer rope

Ages 10-13
Basil's Search for Miracles by Heather Zydek
prayer rope


Books will be autographed!!


**Personal information will not be posted or shared (other than what is stated above), it is only required for verification and notification purposes.


Now Get Writing!!

Be sure to check back for other great contests and giveaways!


Have an idea for a contest? Tell me about it!

PB & J Kids