9/4/09

IDEA: Countdown calendar!

As children grow older and more aware of the days of the week and months of the year, they can look forward with anticipation to major events such as vacations or birthdays. Help build this excitement by making your very own countdown calendar. Print out an empty calendar or make one with a ruler. Try it for 3 to 4 weeks tops. Label each day (name and date) and on the final square mark: "Your birthday!" or "Vacation!". You can put it on the door of the refrigerator or somewhere in the house where everyone can see it. Buy small stickers and children can take turns pasting one each night. Afterwards you can both count down the days to your event. Try to buy stickers that go with the theme of the calendar. For example, if you´re counting down for a birthday, try birthday cakes, candles, balloons, etc. If you´re waiting for a vacation to the beach, try suns, sunglasses, fish, etc. Have fun counting down!

TIP OF THE DAY

Keep a box of baby wipes in the glove compartment of your car. Always useful!!!

DAILY RECIPE: Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake

1 pkg devil´s food cake mix with box´s ingredients (oil, water, eggs)
2 large cream cheese bars
1 can of condensed milk
Prepare cake mix according to package directions plus one cream cheese bar. Blend well and bake according to box instructions. Meanwhile blend the other cream cheese bar with the can of condensed milk. When cake is cool, frost with the cream cheese/condensed milk frosting. Top with swirls of Hershey´s chocolate syrup.