New Years for the younger crowd

Not yet ready for Time Square, but still they want to party? Why not give them some age appropriate activities for New Years Eve. Let Mickey Mouse and friends start the party off right!

Forgive me.....

I just want to ask all of my Fun Friends out there to forgive me for being MIA the last couple weeks. It would seem the newest fun tester coming to MAD has decided to make this last trimester a little hard on Mama. I will not go into details but it has been a bumpy road. We have about 6 weeks to go and I am going to try to be here more for you all. So let's try to get back to having some fun!

Don't forget Fiddo this Christmas

Christmas is about giving, which can be hard for little kids to understand. So help them with this concept by having them make a treat for their furry friend. Parents website has a recipe for making Doggie Biscuits! What better way to show your pet some love them by making these wonderful treats filled with love.

Swiper's good deed Christmas tree

Christmas is almost here and many parents are using the "if your not good Santa will not come" comment to get kids to behave. Instead why not try rewarding good behavior with the Swiper's good deed Christmas tree! Every time you catch them being good, they get to add an ornament. How fun is that!?!?

Who wants to win FREE books!?!?!?!?

Scholastic Books is having an awesome give-a-way. You can win EVERY book in the January catalog of your choice. How amazing would that be? You have till Dec. 23 to enter. Go "like" their FB page and then follow the link to win. Just that simple. Get going and good luck.

FREE 2 yr subscription to LEGO Club magazine

Does your child love legos? Mine does! We got him this a while ago and he loves getting his magazine in the mail. Why not sign up your lego builder for a FREE 2 yr subscription to LEGO Club magazine

A-mazing maze

Want your child to have some fun and practice pencil skills? Well then print off this cute Bubble Guppies Holiday Maze!

Bass Pro Shop, not just for dad!

I sooooooooooo wish we had a Bass Pro Shop closer to our home. Their Santa's Wonderland 2011 has so many neat things for the family. We are talking FREE city here. Free photos with Santa, free crafts, free games and activities. You have got to check this out!

Have a ball! Ornaments your kids can make.

Check out these super cute and EASY to make ornaments from Parent Magazine. All you need are some clear ornaments and a little paint and your family can make ornaments that will bring joy to anyone who sees them! They are so simple even your littlest family members can make their own.

Who LOVES FREE? Get your subscription!

I just signed up for mine and now you can get yours too, a free subscription to American Baby! Hurry! Who knows how long this will last.

Umizoomi Chritmas coloring pages

Does your child love team Umizoomi? Why not suprise them with this wounderful Christmas coloring page collection.

Online Christmas match game

Looking to kill some time? Boost your brain? Or just keep the kiddos busy for a bit? Then check out this Christmas Match Game. Just like the Memory game but with Christmas gift boxes. So get clicking and see how well you do!

Merry Mouse

Tell me this isn't the cutes thing ever!?!! It is the Merry Mouse. This easy to make craft/gift would make a nice addition to any Christmas package or as a hand out in your child's classroom.

Awsome deal on a wonderful Christmas gift

Today the NWF is having a sale on their children's magazines! Ranger Rick, Big Backyard and Animal Baby. I have gotten Big Backyard for my son before and he loved it. And at just $10 for a year it would make an awesome gift for the children in your life. That is a 50% savings! So what are you waiting for?

Count down to Christmas paper chain

Well it is December 1st. The month all children loose their minds asking for everything and the biggest question "How many more days till Christmas?????"

What I do to help our son, is make a "count down to Christmas paper chain." Every night he gets to take one link off the chain at bed time. When the last link is taken down he will know the next morning is CHRISTMAS!!!!

It is easy to make, just some construction paper and tape/glue/staples to make the links. It is a fun "craft" and a festive tradition to help the little ones (who don't necessarily understand terms like weeks) to understand how many more days till Christmas.

Dora Christmas coloring pages

Swiper no swiping! These Christmas coloring pages are for the kids! Enjoy these cute printables from Nick Jr. I know we will!

Beaded Ornaments

Looking for a fun Christmas craft that is simple and cheap? How about one that makes memories? Well then it is time to have your kids make some Christmas ornaments of their own. You need only two things, beads and pipe cleaners. Step back and let them be creative and see what type of wonderful ornaments you will have for your tree this year.

Has your child been naughty or nice? Let Santa tell them!

In just a few easy steps you can send a video from Santa to your child (or whom ever you wish.) It is easy with the Portable North Pole! We have done this the last 2 years for our son. Last year we sent him a naughty one LOL and when he started acting better we sent him a nice one.

You add personal info about your child, their wish and even a photo. Our son was shocked that Santa knew his name and what he wanted. And when he saw a picture of himself in Santa's book, well let's just say he believes in Santa 100%.

It's free. It's fun. What are you waiting for?

Christmas lists

Yes folks, that time of year has arrived when children ask, no BEG, for not only what they want, but every last thing they see on television! What is a parent to do? How are we to keep track? The Christmas list! Next time they say "I want that!!!!!" tell them to go write it on their Christmas list, that you can print off right now for them to use. It's cute, will make your job easier and best of all, maybe, just maybe they will stop saying "I want that" and just write it down on the list instead. Yeah, right! Who am I kidding! Happy printing.....

Arthur Christmas the movie

Well we ( my son and his friend) just got back from seeing Arthur Christmas. I think we all gave it a two thumbs up and some ho ho hos. Very cute movie indeed. I personally LOVE Grandpa Santa while the boys were thrilled with the elfs. I would say it is definitely a fun family movie.

Do you have a "kid's table?"

I know many people have a separate "kid's table" at Thanksgiving dinner. Here is a fun Bubble Guppy Table Setting Pack for the little ones! It will not only entertain but make their table a little more cozy!

Thomas BINGO

The fun tester here at MAD has recently found a love for the game of BINGO. So to go with his love of trains and Thomas I found this printable Thomas Bingo game. I can't wait to play with him!!

Dora Thanksgiving coloring book

Does you child like Dora? Well here is a printable coloring book to help keep them busy this Thanksgiving while your trying to get dinner on the table.

Do you Black Friday?

Over the years I have ventured out to the black friday sales. And over the years I have been both amused and horrified by the crowds and their behavior. Last year my hubby went with me for the first time since our son spent the night at his grandparents.

Now, personally, I have no desire to ever go out on black friday again, but I guess my hubby had so much fun at the Toys R Us sale, now HE wants to go again!!!

So if your one of those crazy people, like my hubby, who plan to head out into the darkness in search of a sale, I have a site for you that you can look at all the black friday ads and make you plan of attack.



Fun Thanksgiving game "Crossing the sea"

Here is a fun game to play about Thanksgiving, Not only great for family fun, but classrooms too!

Have a Disney Princess call your house.....really!

Does you child LOVE a Disney Princess? Well now you can have one call you very own home! Really! Just put in your info and when you want the call and she will ring you! Talk about a special surprise.

Toilet Paper Tube Turkey!

I love this cute and very easy to make Toilet Paper Tube Turkey craft! We all have toilet paper tubes, if not, wait, you will as soon as the last person uses you current roll up! You can make a whole flock of these adorable little guys.

Teaching kids about being thankful

Thanksgiving is near and it is a great time to teach little ones about being thankful and using their manors to say thank you. This cute interactive story/game "The Thankful Old Troll" From Dora is a good way to share those ideas.

What are you thankful for craft

Here is a craft idea from Disney that I have simplified material wise for my MAD Family Fun Friends. It is not only beautiful but meaningful too! You can use it as a center piece as well.

Materials

• Flowerpot
• Sand or stones
• Bare tree branch
• Colored construction paper
• Scissors
• Marker
• Straightened paper clips

Instructions

• Fill a flowerpot with sand or stones and set in a shapely bare tree branch.
• Next, cut a pile of leaf shapes from colored construction paper.
• As your guests arrive or your family members, have them take a leaf and, with a marker, write their name and the date on one side and something they're grateful for on the other.
• To decorate your tree, push a straightened paper clip through the stem of each leaf and hang it in place.

Pilgrim Hat Craft

So I wanted to make Pilgrim hats with my son, so I googled the idea. Do you know how many different ways there are to make a Pilgrim hat!?!??! I finally found one that was simple and didn't require me to go buy anything extra.

Don't worry if you don't have poster board for the band, just use multiple layers of construction paper to give the band some sturdiness. And if you don't have gray paper, just use white or have your child do some coloring!

Have fun with this and I would LOVE to see some photos of you all in your hats!

Make a popsicle stick flag

Celebrate Veteran's Day by making this popsicle stick flag!

Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day. But what does that mean?

Well Veteran's Day (originally called Armistice Day) came about in 1919. It was to remember the end of WWII “the war to end all wars,” which happened at a ceases fire at the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month. Over time congress has passed bills turning Armistice Day into our modern Veteran's Day.

But what does it all mean????? Well the best way to put it is today is a celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Now I know a lot of people are anti-war or don't believe in the cause that some of the wars/actions/conflicts were based on. And to that I say everyone has the right to an opinion. But try to remember you have that right because our Veterans fought so you could have it.

So today, take a minute to thank a service person. They are easy to spot when they are in uniform, but check out the hats some of the older generation wear and you will see names of ships or other hints that they are veterans too. Make a point of walking up and shaking their hand and saying thank you. This is something I (and now I am teaching my son) to do, everyday, not just on Veteran's Day. If they are at dinner with family, say excuse me first, but thank them AND their family. Their family had to face time without them while they were defending out freedoms.

Both of my Grandfathers were in WWII and I am sorry for the things they faced, but thankful for their sacrifice so I and my family have the right to be free.

Where's the beef

Do you remember that commercial from your younger days? I do! And now it's back and you have a chance to win a FREE Where's the beef shirt! Wendy's will be giving 3,000 of them away and it is so easy to enter.

Once you visit the link above, each time you click next, there are games you can play (but you can just keep hitting next and pass them.) At the end it will ask you a question (it has been "All of the above" every time I look at it) and then takes your info. You get to chooses which style/color of shirt and size. I went for small so our Fun Tester could have it. He loves free stuff.

So what are you waiting for? get over there and enter for a chance to win a free shirt!

Free fun on Saturday

Looking for something FREE and fun to do? Why not try Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics!

This Saturday (Nov. 12th) the kids will be making this cool science lab.

And On Nov. 19th the project is this adorable Santa Sled.

Sit still with math skills

Don't you love going to restaurants that have activity placemats to keep your kids busy till the food hits the table? Well here are some printable math skill placemats you can use at Thanksgiving while the kiddos wait for all the grub to hit the table!

Shhh, don't tell them they are learning!

Oh where, oh where has MAD Family Fun been?

First I want to apologize for once again being MIA. The fun should never stop, but this pregnancy is making me, well, tired, old, and cranky!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween and survived Day Light Savings time.

It is November and though commercially all the stores seem to have skipped right to Christmas, we here at MAD promise not to forget the lost holiday of Thanksgiving. So keep you eyes open for some upcoming fun with crafts, coloring, food and more in honor of good old turkey day!

Does your child get TOO much candy at Halloween?

Is there such a thing as too much Halloween candy? Maybe. But now there is a program that can not only eliminate some of it, but make your kids feel great and benefit our armed forces over seas. It is the Halloween Candy Buy Back Program. Too find a participating dentist near you, click here.

What is the Halloween Candy Buy Back Program?

	Dentists nationwide "buy-back" Halloween candy from children in their communities and then send the candy to U.S. Military deployed in combat through Operation Gratitude or other Military support groups. The troops love the candy--for themselves, but also to give out to the children in the communities they patrol.

Halloween at your local zoo

Halloween is just days away!!! Are you looking for something fun and safe to do? Why not try your local zoo. Ours, Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, MI has the Great Zoo Boo. There is trick or treating, a carnival, rides, and just lots of fun to be had. It has become a tradition with our family.

I know other Michigan zoos have Halloween events like John Ball in Grand Rapids and the Detroit Zoo. Don't live in Michigan? No problem! Check with your local zoo! Don't know what the closest zoo is to you? Then check here!

Bubble Guppies Halloween Party Game

I don't know about your kids but my son went through a Bubble Guppies phase. And for Halloween I found this game for him. You get to create different pictures and can even print them out when your done!

Do you live near a Meijer store?

Why do I ask? Well because this Saturday (Oct 29) they are having their Halloween Carnival Events from 11am-2pm. The event features spooky crafts for kids, frightening face painting, treats, free giveaways and much more. So why not save your grocery shopping till then and take the whole family.

Which Halloween candy is healthier?

Okay this is a loaded question! Candy and healthy are not to words that go together. But for all of us parents out there that WILL raid our child's candy bags, here are some tips if you are trying to watch your waistline.

Round 1: Twix vs. Kit Kat
The Winner: Kit-Kat
Twix bars contain much more sodium. A serving of three Twix bars has three times more sodium compared to an average size serving of Kit-Kat.

Round 2: Tootsie Rolls vs. Candy Corn
This battle, however, has to be declared a tie.
You would have to eat about 26 pieces of candy corn to equal the same amount of calories you would get from eating 4 Tootsie Rolls.

Round 3: Sweettarts vs. Smarties
The Winner: Smarties
Each Smartie roll contains about 25 calories and five grams of sugar. A serving of eight Sweettarts contains about 50 calories and 13 grams of sugar.

Round 4: Bubble Gum vs. Tootsie Pops
The Winner: Bubble Gum
A piece of bubble gum has less than half the calories and sugar (25 calories, 5 grams sugar), on average, than one candy-coated Tootsie Pop (60 calories, 10 grams sugar)

Round 5: Peanut M&M’s vs. Skittles
The Winner: Peanut M&M’s
Even though Skittles have fewer calories than peanut M&M’s, that doesn’t necessarily make them the better choice.  Unlike Skittles, peanut M&M’s are lower on the glycemic index, which means they keep you satisfied longer, and don’t spike your blood sugar as high.

 

Does your child still need a Halloween costume?

What!?!?! Halloween is less then a week away and your child still doesn't have a costume!?!?! Don't worry! Here are some last minute ideas!

Halloween Coloring Pages

The folks over at RaisingOurKids.com have a wonderful selection of printable coloring pages just for Halloween. Click on over and check them out!

When a good kid goes “bad”

One of the best parts of being a parent is sharing the world with our kids. They are the reason we strive to provide awesome fun and educational experiences. But what do you do when a good kid goes bad? And what do I mean by “bad?”

Well as most of you know, MAD Family Fun is expanding. Our newest “fun tester” will arrive at the end of January, beginning of February. This new addition to the family was a very big surprise. Needless to say our current “fun tester” is NOT too happy about a baby brother. As a result he has gone “bad.” Back talking, being rude and disrespectful. I am so not a happy mom these days.

As a result of the “bad” behavior, fun has taken a downward plunge. Getting to do super fun stuff is a privilege not a inborn right. More and more it seems we have skipped events because of the “bad” behavior. Just this weekend we did NOT go to Spooky Science Saturday, Zoo Boo, or the pumpkin patch.

Now here is the ironic part. While we have skipped events as a form of, shall we say, punishment for our son, in reality the whole family is suffering. This was an unforeseen side effect. In fact yesterday, my hubby asked if we could get a babysitter for the boy so we could still go to the pumpkin patch and get fresh donuts and cider.

So what do you do when a good kid goes “bad?” Honestly I don’t know. Everyone is missing out on the fun around here and it stinks. Do we all get punished for our son’s bad behavior or does he get to do fun things despite his bad behavior? No one ever said parenthood was easy……….

NWF Photos caption contest

Are you good at making up silly captions? Well then enter the National Wildlife Federation photo caption contest! This is the photo that you have to caption. Good luck!

It is world egg day, who knew!

Ahh the incredible edible egg. Who knew it had its own day! Why not have breakfast for dinner tonight with some yummy eggs.

You got to get some of these!

What do you need to get? The McDonald's Halloween Treat Pack!! It is a booklet of coupons full of savings. I paid $1.19 for ours and now we have the following coupons to get FREE

3 apple slices
3 small apple juice or white milk jug
3 hamburgers
3 small cones (ice cream!!!!)

I don't know about you but that dollar and change just brought my son tons of yummy fun, It definitely paid for itself a few times over. I have a happy kid and I am a happy momma!

Spooky eats and party treats

Mr Food (the guy in the photo) has a wonderful FREE Recipe Book for Spooky eats and party treats! Check it out. My mouth is watering. The hot carmel apple cider looks yummy!!!!  Maybe with some spiderweb spread on the side......oh the possibilities!

Finger Sandwiches any one?

These ghoulishly funny Halloween snacks are great fun for the kids to help make and eat, and provide a healthy alternative to the usual massive sugar attack.

Ingredients

thin sliced white bread, crusts removed

cream cheese or peanut butter

almonds

strawberry jam

Directions

1. Gently flatten the slices of bread with a rolling pin to make them more pliable. Spread with some cream cheese or peanut butter.
2. Roll up the sandwiches and make three indentations with a blunt knife to form the finger joints.
3. Trim the ends of the fingers into a "V" shape and stick an almond on to each tip with a little cream cheese to form the nails.
4. Now for the gruesome bit -- add a dollop of strawberry jam over the end of the finger for the blood!