Our Family Flag

BHG

Our Family Flag
As a home school mom, who rarely shares about her homeschooling on this blog, I wanted to incorporate a very tiny educational tradition for this wonderful holiday.
Point out the American Flag every time you see one with your children. Explain that the flag stands for our country and that it’s one way to tell the whole world who we are as a people.
It also shows we’re connected to each other as Americans. Discuss the sacrifice that our Old Glory represents - the generations of people that have given their lives for our freedom. Regardless of the political climate, or how you feel about our nation's state of affairs, this is one of the greatest countries in the world; a country that stands for freedom, and one which helps other lands gain their personal freedom.
Because our flag is symbolic of all these things, we treat it with respect. At home, study a flag more closely and explain to your children that each part of the flag has a meaning.

The 50 stars stand for the 50 states. The 13 stripes stand for the 13 British Colonies, whose citizens decided in 1776 that they wanted to govern themselves rather than be ruled by a king.

Just like my family has created our own "family logo and phrase," what better way than the 4th of July to create your own Family Flag? (We haven't done this yet, but isn't this a fun idea?)
Use construction paper, felt,or fabric. Select the colors together. Instead of stars, cut or embroider symbols that represent each member of your
family; a favorite hobby (ballet, baseball, golf, gardening), or a characteristic (sweet, determined, hard-working, fun). Make sure every family member participates in the creation of your “Family Flag” since it’s symbolic of the most important group in your life - your family.
What an amazing legacy piece this will be for generations to come.

4th of July Decorating and Craft ideas

There are so many quick and easy ways to decorate for the 4th. I am always a week late getting my decorations up. So in typical fashion, I went and pulled things down from my attic today.
Yes real time, on evening of July 2nd, and I am posting them an hour later. That means it's not too late to engage in the festive side of decorating. :)

For many, it's a necessity to pull things together quickly.

And that doesn't mean sacrificing style. I know many of us have one of these kitchen
organizers. How simple and elegant.

Since Patriotic decorations are not something that we typically keep up for long periods of time, USE WHAT YOU HAVE! Do you have white dishes and Christmas red napkins? Throw in a dash of blue and you can set a patriotic plus tone for the 4th.
I hit a yard sale earlier this season and she had decorated her kitchen in flag decor.
I bought 4 of these baskets to use for chips, napkins, ketchup bottles etc.
They were a quarter each.
She also had three of these hanging plaques for $0.50. In 20 seconds, I had an instant "window mistreatment." I don't typically decorate with a "country" feel, but it's perfect for this week.
I'm still looking for my big flag afghan and the flag material that are hiding from me in our attic. I love to drape them across the sofas.
Followers of my blog know that I can not have enough candles. No one can. Outside on our deck, these star candles will be floating in a blue bowl to create cozy night time ambiance.

Yes, an entire box - all brand new....from a yard sale.

Candles are EVERYWHERE at yard sales.
WHY? Burn your candles, my friends.
They are are a frugal decorator's best friend.

And if you are busy trying to get ready for your festivities, why not let the kids help with the decorating.
Most of us have some clear, flat marbles laying around. Let them have fun and create a masterpiece at the same time.

Pride Pins

Flat glass marbles serve as canvases for mini masterpieces. Using the colors of our flag, making pride pins as gifts is as easy as one-two-three!

BHG has some wonderful ideas, as usual.

4^th of July Crafts for kids and adults, including how to make fun flags for your home and yard

Decorating Ideas with red, white and blue color schemes for just about everything in your home

Don't miss the whole week of my 4th of July tradition and recipe ideas.

posted at :hooked on houses, Rhoda's

Family Fun 4th of July ideas

Red, White & Blue Only – Create a neighborhood tradition and organize a potluck that no one will want to miss. Invite all of your family and friends to this casual party and give them each a food assignment. Include all the necessary foods for a successful celebration, and don’t forget to mention that everything must be RED, WHITE and/or BLUE. Foods of any other color will not be permitted, so your guests will have to get creative.

Year after year, people will invent more outrageous recipes. Just seeing what clever dishes everyone comes up with is more fun than actually eating them. Add to the festivities by having a contest for the most original dish, and be sure to take a photo of the patriotic champion with his/her prize-winning recipe in hand.

Annual Photo with Uncle Sam – There is nothing more fun than a silly tradition the whole family can participate in. Here is one for the Fourth of July that encourages creativity and makes for wonderful annual family photos. It’s simple. Every family member must make his/her own Uncle Sam’s Hat and wear it for a group portrait. You can allow everyone the freedom to create anything they want (as long as it is red, white and blue) or you can choose themes for each year: paper hats, glitter hats, flag hats, moving hats, tall hats, symbolic hats, funny hats, etc.).

If the Fourth of July involves several families getting together, each family can design their own “family hat” and make duplicates for the rest of their family members to wear. No matter what, make sure you capture this patriotic pastime on film for everyone to enjoy.

Fourth of July Friendly Gazette – Forget trying to send out a family newsletter in December when you have a hundred other things to do. Everyone will enjoy (and have more time to read) your news during the summer, so why not create a Fourth of July Friendly Gazette and make enough copies to share with your extended family and your friends - even the mailman!

Get the whole family involved, and have everyone help come up with the topics: your summer vacation plans, funny family stories from the year, achievements and disappointments, too. Add pictures, and be sure everyone signs the final edition before you have it copied. Get ready for a Gazette to come your way after your friends see what you have created.

Don't miss more 4th of July traditions
and Fun 4th Recipe Ideas

New Coupons have loaded

Just a reminder that since it's the beginning of the month, the coupons have reloaded on my blog. Print them directly from my side bar or sign up with Coupons.com to receive updated emails...or do both. I do. ;)
There are some great cereal coupons that you can use when Gen. Mills brands go on sale. I also splurged on some Starbucks ice cream....oh yes...coupon + sale = yummy, frugal treat.



Kraft coupons have also reloaded. You must sign up to print them off though. This Kraft Cheese deal is still going on around the country, so print the coupons quickly. They go fast. I have stocked up on FREE cheese for months.

4th of July Traditions

All week long there will be unique July 4th ideas right here. This year, why not start a family tradition to honor your local public servants, who embody the July value of ‘Courage’? Most families have the annual cookie exchange at Christmas time, but why not eliminate some of that cookie baking stress and enjoy sharing treats during the "lazy days of summer." Token of Appreciation / Patriotic Appreciation – Visit your local fire department, police department or any other public service-based organization. Bring them cookies, lunch, or a red, white and blue Fourth of July cake to let them know that you appreciate their hard work. Talk to your children about the service that these men and women provide and how truly blessed we are to live in a country where it is available. Don’t forget to mention that they have to work on holidays when the rest of us are having fun. Your children will learn a valuable lesson and will enjoy visiting a different public service organization each year. A photo of your children standing with the policemen, or sitting in the fire truck will help keep this wonderful memory alive. *************************************************** I Love My Country Because – Before you celebrate the Fourth of July, sit down with your children and discuss the importance of freedom and the truly amazing country we live in. Ask them to share why they believe freedom is so important, and let them know your feelings as well. Create a lasting family tradition, and save their wonderful comments by writing them down on stars cut out of red, white and blue construction paper. The older ones can write on their own stars and even help cut them out. On the top of each star write, “I love my country because…” or ”I am proud to be an American because…” and then leave space for the wonderfully spontaneous answers you will collect over the years. You can use these patriotic declarations to decorate the tablecloth at your Fourth of July barbecue or collage them into your Fourth of July Album with your annual picnic photo. Two years ago, it started pouring as soon as we arrived at the high school stadium where the fireworks were going to be shot off. Our family ended up sitting in our van waiting for the storm to pass. We used the time by sharing examples of people who we each viewed as courageous...one person still living and one person from history. It was such a memorable evening and it made a lasting impact in the hearts of our kids as we shared what true courage was all about. ************************************************************ Don't miss the 4th of July recipe ideas?