P.B. & J Magazine

Santa’s On The Roof

Branches’ Holiday Costumes

Waiting For Santa

Star Party!

Little Jack Horner

Jack Frost

Christmas is Coming

Rain, Rain Go Away

Three Little Kittens

The North Wind Doth Blow

Paper Airplane: UFO

P.B.'s Holiday Costumes

Jelly’s Holiday Costumes

Brick’s Holiday Costumes

Branches

Branches’ Thanksgiving Costumes

Paper Airplane: Classic

Paper Airplane: Heli

Paper Airplane: Stealth

Paper Airplane: Bomber

Sweet Baby James

Thanksgiving Corn Stalks

Fall Flowers Kit

Bye Baby Bunting

Fall Leaves Kit

Thanksgiving Turkey Farm

The Farmer in the Dell

Brick’s Thanksgiving Costumes

Jelly’s Thanksgiving Costumes

P.B.'s Thanksgiving Costumes

Turklish

Jimmy O’Livvie and the Tofu Turkey

Fall Placemat

Brick Halloween Costumes

Brick

The ‘Something’

Jimmy O’Livvie

Pumpkin Stencils

The New Kid

Jelly

Jelly Halloween Costumes

P.B. Halloween Costumes

P.B.

Pirate Adventure

Haunted House

Bat Kite

Brother John

Hush Little Baby

Brahm’s Lullaby

Goodnight Song

Sleep, Baby, Sleep

PB & J Party!

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Santa’s On The Roof

by Staff -- Dec 2008

Let's Get Colorful This Holiday Season!

Hey, kids! Grab your favorite coloring tools and meet this page at your printer!  It’s time to color with PB&J!

Download the stuff:

Santa’s On The Roof Coloring Page

What you will need:

• Printer
• Pencils, crayons, and/or markers
• Imagination

Instructions:

1. Print the pictures to color.
2. Color! Color! Color!
3. Hang on the fridge for all to enjoy!

Branches’ Holiday Costumes

by Staff -- Dec 2008

A loveable, little guy that loves to monkey around!

Hey kids! Meet Branches! Print him out and get ready to color and dress him up for hours of fun.  Don’t forget to look for his friends on www.pbjmag.com/kids!

This Christmas, or any other season, you can play and dress them up in these fun and silly outfits.

Download the stuff:

Branches’ Outfits

What you will need:

• Pencils, crayons, and/or markers
• Scissors (adult supervision required for kids 8 and younger)
• Imagination

Instructions:

1. Color your PB&J character and costumes
2. Cut along the dotted lines
3. Fold the little flaps to make sure the costume stays on Branches

To download Branches, click here!

Waiting For Santa

by Staff -- Dec 2008

Let's Get Colorful This Holiday Season!

Hey, kids! Grab your favorite coloring tools and meet this page at your printer!  It’s time to color with PB&J!

Download the stuff:

Waiting For Santa Coloring Page

What you will need:

• Printer
• Pencils, crayons, and/or markers
• Imagination

Instructions:

1. Print the pictures to color.
2. Color! Color! Color!
3. Hang on the fridge for all to enjoy!

Star Party!

by Christine Holm -- Dec 2008

Here’s a fun idea for a party for kids age 6-11. You can turn it into a sleepover (ask everyone to bring sleeping bags) or just make it a fun weekend or winter-vacation party during the early evening hours.

If it’s snowy, ask kids to wear snow pants, boots, and coats with facemasks and pretend they’re in an astronaut suit!

Start out with some fun games:

Moonwalk Game

Cut out large, crater-shaped circles from brown paper bags, and number them sequentially. Lay out an obstacle course with these shapes so that they’re fairly close together, but not touching. The object of the game is to have the children take turns moonwalking (jumping) over the craters in numerical order without touching them. Explain the concept of gravity (here’s how: http://www.ehow.com/how_2100456_explain-gravity-child.html, and how astronauts were able to walk on the moon (see that here: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/spacesuits/home/clickable_suit_nf.html)

Rocket Relay Races

Divide the children into teams and supply each team with a flashlight. Create or purchase a cutout of a quarter moon, and cover it with reflective tape. Each team is a rocket and each astronaut on the rocket must race to the moon with the flashlight and back, handing the flashlight to the next astronaut on the rocket. The first team to send all their astronauts to the moon wins!

For more ideas, visit http://entertaining.about.com/cs/kidsparties/a/backyardsleepov.htm

When it’s dark enough, let the real fun begin! Have a telescope set up outside; talk to the children about your basic knowledge of the sun, the moon, the planets. (Oops! It’s recently been discovered that Pluto isn’t a planet! See http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060824-pluto-planet.html) To print out a pamphlet for outdoor-stargazing beginners, visit http://www.skyandtelescope.com/howto/basics/3308331.html

Next, head indoors for some great eats. Be sure to decorate the table with sparkling star-and-moon confetti.

Space-inspired treats:

• Tang (The first astronauts really did drink it!)
• Black Holes (chocolate donut holes)
• Moon Rocks (Make meringue candy with a little bit of blue or black food coloring (to make gray). Poke holes in the “rocks” before baking)
• Galaxy Cookies (pinwheels)

(In addition these treats, serve a tray of raw veggies, fruits, and cold cuts for balanced nutrition.)

Little Jack Horner

by Staff -- Dec 2008

Little Jack Horner

Courtesy of www.zelo.com/family/nursery

Little Jack Horner
sat in a corner
eating a Christmas pie.
He stuck in his thumb
and pulled out a plum,
and said “What a good boy am I!”

 

Jack Frost

by Staff -- Dec 2008

Jack Frost

By C.E. Pike

Courtesy of http://cela.albany.edu/literacycorner

Look out! Look out!
Jack Frost is about!
He’s after our fingers and toes;
And all through the night,
the gay little sprite
is working where nobody knows.

He’ll climb each tree,
so nimble is he,
his silvery powder he’ll shake.
To windows he’ll creep
and while we’re asleep,
such wonderful pictures he’ll make.

Across the grass
he’ll merrily pass,
and change all its greenness to white.
Then home he will go
and laugh “Ho, ho, ho!
What fun I have had in the night.”

Christmas is Coming

by Staff -- Dec 2008

Christmas is Coming

Courtesy of www.rhymes.org.uk

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat
Please put a penny in the old man’s hat;
If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do.
If you haven’t got a ha’penny then God bless you!

Rain, Rain Go Away

by Staff -- Dec 2008

Rain, Rain Go Away

Courtesy of www.rhymes.org.uk

Rain, rain, go away
Come again some other day
Little Johnny wants to play;
Rain, rain, go to Spain
Never show your face again!

Three Little Kittens

by Staff -- Dec 2008

Three Little Kittens

Courtesy of www.rhymes.org.uk

Three little kittens had lost their mittens, and they began to cry,
“Oh mother dear, we sadly fear that we have lost our mittens.”
“What! Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens!
Then you shall have no pie.”

“Meow, meow, meow, now we shall have no pie.”

The three little kittens, they found their mittens,
and they began to cry,
“Oh mother dear, see here, see here,
for we have found our mittens.”
“Put on your mittens, you silly kittens
And you shall have some pie.”

“Meow, meow, meow, now let us have some pie.”

The three little kittens put on their mittens and soon ate up the pie,
“Oh mother dear, we greatly fear
that we have soiled our mittens.”
“What? Soiled your mittens, you naughty kittens?”
Then they began to cry.
“Meow, meow, meow,” then they began to sigh.

The three little kittens, they washed their mittens
and hung them out to dry,
“Oh mother dear, do you not hear
that we have washed our mittens?”
“What? Washed your mittens, you are good kittens.
“But I smell a rat close by.”

“Meow, meow, meow—we smell a rat close by.”

The North Wind Doth Blow

by Staff -- Dec 2008

The North Wind Doth Blow

Courtesy of www.rhymes.org.uk

The North wind doth blow, and we shall have snow,
and what will poor robin do then, poor thing?
He’ll sit in a barn and keep himself warm
and hide his head under his wing, poor thing!

Paper Airplane: UFO

by Staff -- Dec 2008

Jump in the captain's chair for flying adventure fun!

Hey, kids! Have you ever dreamed of piloting your very own airplane? Well, it’s time to make your very own paper airplanes with PB&J!

What you will need:

• 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper
• Tape

Instructions:

1. Fold an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper at a line about 1 inches from each end.

2. Turn the paper so that the folded edge is at the bottom.

3. Fold up another line about a half-inch up.

4. Repeat step 4, adding another fold about a half-inch up.

5. Bring bottom edges together, tuck inside each other, and tape to secure.

6. Drop it for your own UFO sighting!

P.B.'s Holiday Costumes

by Staff -- Dec 2008

He's a goofy dog who is ready to play.

Hey kids! Meet P.B.! Print him out and get ready to color and dress him up for hours of fun.  Don’t forget to look for his friends on www.pbjmag.com/kids!

This Christmas, or any other season, you can play and dress them up in these fun and silly outfits.

Download the stuff:

P.B.‘s Outfits

What you will need:

• Pencils, crayons, and/or markers
• Scissors (adult supervision required for kids 8 and younger)
• Imagination

Instructions:

1. Color your PB&J character and costumes
2. Cut along the dotted lines
3. Fold the little flaps to make sure the costume stays on P.B.

Jelly’s Holiday Costumes

by Staff -- Dec 2008

She's a very pretty kitty who loves to play

Hey kids! It’s Jelly!  Print her out and get ready to color and dress her up for hours of fun.  Don’t forget to look for her friends on www.pbjmag.com/kids!

This Christmas, or any other season, you can play and dress them up in these fun and silly outfits.

Download the stuff:

Jelly’s Outfits

What you will need:

• Pencils, crayons, and/or markers
• Scissors (adult supervision required for kids 8 and younger)
• Imagination

Instructions:

1. Color your PB&J character and costumes
2. Cut along the dotted lines
3. Fold the little flaps to make sure the costume stays on Jelly

Brick’s Holiday Costumes

by Staff -- Dec 2008

He's a tricky racoon who's always getting into something!

Hey kids! Meet Brick! Print him out and get ready to color and dress him up for hours of fun.  Don’t forget to look for his friends on www.pbjmag.com/kids!

This Christmas, or any other season, you can play and dress them up in these fun and silly outfits.

Download the stuff:

Brick’s Outfits

What you will need:

• Pencils, crayons, and/or markers
• Scissors (adult supervision required for kids 8 and younger)
• Imagination

Instructions:

1. Color your PB&J character and costumes
2. Cut along the dotted lines
3. Fold the little flaps to make sure the costume stays on Brick

Branches

by Staff -- Nov 2008

A loveable, little guy that loves to monkey around!

Hey kids, meet Branches! Print him out and get ready to color and dress him up for hours of fun.  Don’t forget to look for his friends on www.pbjmag.com/kids!

Download the stuff:

Branches

What you will need:

• Pencils, crayons, and/or markers
• Scissors (adult supervision required for kids 8 and younger)
• Imagination

Instructions:

1. Color your PB&J character and costumes
2. Cut along the dotted lines
3. Fold the little flaps to make sure the costume stays on Branches

Branches’ Thanksgiving Costumes

by Staff -- Nov 2008

A loveable, little guy that loves to monkey around!

Hey kids, meet Branches! Print him out and get ready to color and dress him up for hours of fun.  Don’t forget to look for his friends on www.pbjmag.com/kids!

Download the stuff:

Branches’ Outfits

What you will need:

• Pencils, crayons, and/or markers
• Scissors (adult supervision required for kids 8 and younger)
• Imagination

Instructions:

1. Color your PB&J character and costumes
2. Cut along the dotted lines
3. Fold the little flaps to make sure the costume stays on Branches

To download Branches, click here!

Paper Airplane: Classic

by Staff -- Nov 2008

Jump in the captain's chair for flying adventure fun!

Hey, kids! Have you ever dreamed of piloting your very own airplane? Well, it’s time to make your very own paper airplanes with PB&J!

What you will need:

• 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper

Instructions:

1. Fold an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper in half vertically.

2. Turn down the top left as shown; crease.

3. Fold in again as shown.

4. Flip over and fold this side as in steps 2 and 3.

5. Grasp from the bottom and let it fly!

Paper Airplane: Heli

by Staff -- Nov 2008

Jump in the captain's chair for flying adventure fun!

Hey, kids! Have you ever dreamed of piloting your very own airplane? Well, it’s time to make your very own paper airplanes with PB&J!

What you will need:

• 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper in half vertically.

2. Measure and mark one of the halves you cut in half both vertically and horizontally so that you have 4 same-sized rectangles.

3. Cut the rectangles as shown.

4. Fold the top two rectangles in as shown.

5. Fold as shown.

6. Fold the remaining rectangles as shown: one up, one down.

7. Hold in the position shown, and let it drop!

Paper Airplane: Stealth

by Staff -- Nov 2008

Jump in the captain's chair for flying adventure fun!

Hey, kids! Have you ever dreamed of piloting your very own airplane? Well, it’s time to make your very own paper airplanes with PB&J!

What you will need:

• 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper

Instructions:

1. Fold an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper in half vertically; crease it and then make it full sized again.

2. Fold the top two corners down as shown.

3. Fold the top point down as shown.

4. Fold sides in as shown.

5. Fold up the point below sides up as shown.

6. Fold all in the middle (along the original crease you made in step 1).

7. Fold outer edges up as shown.

8. Straighten out side wings, and let it fly!

Paper Airplane: Bomber

by Staff -- Nov 2008

Hey, kids!

What you will need:

• 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper

Instructions:

1. Fold the top right edge of an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper down until the top, 8.5 inch-edge evenly covers the left 11-inch edge, leaving a 2.5-inch strip at the bottom that’s uncovered. Press down along the new crease you’ve made.

2. Take the point you’ve created on the top left and fold it down over itself, halving it. Press the new crease you’ve made.

3. Now unfold and fold back the creases you’ve made a couple of times.

4. Find the point in the middle of the unfolded page where the two creases you made intersect. Fold the entire top of the page down from that point, leaving a 2.5 inch space uncovered along the bottom edge.

5. Fold inwards at both sides where the line you’ve created 4.25 inches down from the top.

6. If you’ve made sharp creases, a point at the top will form when you fold the sides inward.

7. Now, take the top edge of the triangle you’ve made on the left and fold it upwards to meet the point at the top. Do the same thing on the right side.

8. These two new folds create a diamond pattern. Working from the bottom point of the diamond, fold the left side of the diamond in toward the center of the diamond. Do the same on the right side.

9. Mark the tip as shown, and fold the top point down.

10. Tuck the flaps on either side into the top tip.

11. Now, turn it over and fold the edges inward.

12. Fold once more on the sides as shown.

Sweet Baby James

by Staff -- Nov 2008

There is a young cowboy he lives on the range
His horse and his cattle are his only companions
He works in the saddle and he sleeps in the canyons
Waiting for summer, his pastures to change

And as the moon rises he sits by his fire
Thinking about women and glasses of beer
And closing his eyes as the doggies retire
He sings out a song, which is soft but its clear
As if maybe someone could hear

(Chorus)
Goodnight you moonlight ladies
Rockabye sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Wont you let me go down in my dreams
And rockabye sweet baby James

Now the first of December was covered with snow
And so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston
Lord, the Berkshires seemed dream-like on account of that frosting
With ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go

There’s a song that they sing when they take to the highway
A song that they sing when they take to the sea
A song that they sing of their home in the sky
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep
But singing works just fine for me

©James Taylor
Courtesy of You Can Close Your Eyes CD by Susan Anders, www.songwriter.com

Thanksgiving Corn Stalks

by Staff -- Nov 2008

Let's Get Colorful This Thanksgiving!

Hey kids! Grab your favorite coloring tools and meet this page at your printer! It's time to color with PB&J!

Download the stuff:

Thanksgiving Corn Stalks Coloring Page

What you will need:

• Printer
• Pencils, crayons, and/or markers
• Imagination

Instructions:

1. Print the pictures to color.
2. Color! Color! Color!
3. Hang on fridge for all to enjoy!

Fall Flowers Kit

by Staff -- Nov 2008

Get started today, and enjoy a new hobby!

Calling all scrapbookers! Every month on the PB&J website, you’ll find fresh, seasonal designs, papers, borders, and banners to download, print, and cut out for your scrapbook—free!  You can start a scrapbook of photos, schoolwork and accomplishments, stories, ideas, and memories.

Download the stuff:

Fall Flowers Kit

What you will need:

• Printer
• Scissors (adult supervision required for kids 8 and younger)
• Imagination

Instructions:

1. Print the papers to use.
2. Cut away to your heart’s content!

Bye Baby Bunting

by Staff -- Nov 2008

Bye, baby bunting
Daddy’s gone a hunting
To get a little rabbit skin
To wrap his baby bunting in

Bye, baby bunting
Daddy’s gone a hunting
To get a little lambie skin
To wrap his baby bunting in

Bye, baby bunting
Daddy’s gone a hunting
A rosy wisp of cloud to win
To wrap his baby bunting in

Courtesy of Lullaby’s from Nature’s Nursery CD serenitysupply.com

Fall Leaves Kit

by Staff -- Nov 2008

Get started today, and enjoy a new hobby!

Calling all scrapbookers! Every month on the PB&J website, you’ll find fresh, seasonal designs, papers, borders, and banners to download, print, and cut out for your scrapbook—free!  You can start a scrapbook of photos, schoolwork and accomplishments, stories, ideas, and memories.

Download the stuff:

Fall Leaves Kit

What you will need:

• Printer
• Scissors (adult supervision required for kids 8 and younger)
• Imagination

Instructions:

1. Print the papers to use.
2. Cut away to your heart’s content!

Thanksgiving Turkey Farm

by Staff -- Nov 2008

Let's Get Colorful This Thanksgiving!

Hey kids! Grab your favorite coloring tools and meet this page at your printer! It's time to color with PB&J!

Download the stuff:

Thanksgiving Turkey Farm Coloring Page

What you will need:

• Printer
• Pencils, crayons, and/or markers
• Imagination

Instructions:

1. Print the pictures to color.
2. Color! Color! Color!
3. Hang on fridge for all to enjoy!

The Farmer in the Dell

by Staff -- Nov 2008

The farmer in the dell
The farmer in the dell
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The farmer in the dell

The farmer takes a wife
The farmer takes a wife
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The farmer takes a wife

The wife takes a child
The wife takes a child
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The wife takes a child

The child takes a nurse
The child takes a nurse
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The child takes a nurse

The nurse takes a cow
The nurse takes a cow
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The nurse takes a cow

The cow takes a dog
The cow takes a dog
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The cow takes a dog

The dog takes a cat
The dog takes a cat
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The dog takes a cat

The cat takes a rat
The cat takes a rat
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The cat takes a rat

The rat takes the cheese
The rat takes the cheese
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The rat takes the cheese

The cheese stands alone
The cheese stands alone
Hi-ho, the derry-o
The cheese stands alone

Courtesy of Sweet Dreams Lullaby CD for baby,  www.webehave.com

Brick’s Thanksgiving Costumes

by Staff -- Nov 2008

He's a tricky racoon who's always getting into something!

Hey kids, meet Brick! Print him out and get ready to color and dress him up for hours of fun.  Don’t forget to look for his friends on www.pbjmag.com/kids!

Download the stuff:

Brick’s Outfits

What you will need:

• Pencils, crayons, and/or markers
• Scissors (adult supervision required for kids 8 and younger)
• Imagination

Instructions:

1. Color your PB&J character and costumes
2. Cut along the dotted lines
3. Fold the little flaps to make sure the costume stays on Brick

Jelly’s Thanksgiving Costumes

by Staff -- Nov 2008

She's a very pretty kitty who loves to play

Hey kids, it’s Jelly!  Print her out and get ready to color and dress her up for hours of fun.  Don’t forget to look for her friends on www.pbjmag.com/kids!

This Thanksgiving, or any other season, you can play and dress them up in these fun and silly outfits.

Download the stuff:

Jelly’s Outfits

What you will need:

• Pencils, crayons, and/or markers
• Scissors (adult supervision required for kids 8 and younger)
• Imagination

Instructions:

1. Print Jelly, outfits.  (Printing at home with heavier paper will help your Bonkerz last longer.)
2. Color, cut out and tape.
3. Play, play, play!
4. Put the stand from the first page together to make your Bonker stand up!

P.B.'s Thanksgiving Costumes

by Staff -- Nov 2008

He's a goofy dog who is ready to play.

Hey kids, meet P.B.! Print him out and get ready to color and dress him up for hours of fun.  Don’t forget to look for his friends on www.pbjmag.com/kids!

Download the stuff:

P.B.‘s Outfits

What you will need:

• Pencils, crayons, and/or markers
• Scissors (adult supervision required for kids 8 and younger)
• Imagination

Instructions:

1. Color your PB&J character and costumes
2. Cut along the dotted lines
3. Fold the little flaps to make sure the costume stays on P.B.

Turklish

by Adam Zavalney -- Nov 2008

Claire didn’t like traveling.  Claire didn’t like her grandpa’s farm.  Claire didn’t like the country, and especially didn’t like Thanksgiving.  So what happens to Claire every year around the end of November?  Claire goes on a family trip to her grandpa’s farm for Thanksgiving.  Figures.  She never understood why she had to leave the comfort of her bedroom, which she only recently acquired from her older brother who moved away for college, every time she had time off from school to enjoy it.  She was 10, she had tons of friends, and when school got out for Thanksgiving break, all she wanted to do was stay at home, invite her girlfriends over to play Nintendo Wii, and have High School Musical marathons late into the evening, but that just wasn’t going to happen.

“Well, can I at least bring my iPod?” Claire asked her Mom who was beginning to become frustrated with Claire’s non-enthused tone of voice.

“Yes, you can bring your iPod, Claire.” Her mother replied with a huff.

“Good, at least I won’t be TOTALLY cut off from technology all weekend long,” Claire returned.

“You know Claire,” Claire’s mother said, “visiting Grandpa’s farm isn’t the worst thing that could happen to you.  It’s good to get out of the city, and away from technology once in awhile to enjoy time with family and nature.”

“I’ll be spending time with Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers up in my bedroom” Claire snapped.

Claire’s big brother Michael came into the kitchen all Mr. College Grown Up-like and said “Claire, don’t give Mom such a hard time.  She’s right, once you get older you will learn to appreciate certain things in life more, like family, and a break from the stresses of the business-based society we live in today.”

“Wow Mike, college has done wonders for you…you’ve learned that you are OLD!” Claire responded.

“Look you guys,” Claire’s mother said, “you know Grandpa has been lonely ever since Grandma passed away, it’s the right thing to do, us visiting him on the holidays.”

“I know,” Claire said, “I promise I’ll be good and TRY to enjoy myself.”

After packing, Mom, Claire and Michael got into the old station wagon, which has seen many trips in it’s day. Trips to Grandpa’s farm, camping, hiking and all sorts of other outdoorsy family oriented activities.  Claire sat in the back, like always, and Mom and Michael sat up front talking about how college was going, and other boring grown-up stuff that Claire held little to no interest in.  She put on her headphones, and Hannah Montana sang her to sleep as she stared out the window as the disappearing city transformed into a vast land of snowy fields and open plains. 

When Claire awoke, it was pitch black all around her except for a distant light in the night sky.  Mom and Mike had stopped their conversation and were sitting quietly, listening to some ancient song on the radio…something about a ‘Surfer Girl’ by some band Claire had never heard of.  The only light, other than the moon and the headlights of the wagon, drew nearer and nearer as the song about a girl who surfs faded into an upbeat song about ‘Stayin’ Alive’.  What was with adults and their lame music?

The car ride was over and Claire’s Mom turned off the engine.  A tiny, mostly bald head with glasses peered out from behind some tired and old window shades.  The head disappeared and the full body of the man known only as ‘Grandpa’ appeared out the front door with his winter parka on. 

“Hi Dad!” Claire’s mom exclaimed with a very excited tone in her voice.

“Hey Gramps,” Michael said as he extended a hand for shaking.  Grandpa took Mike’s hand in his own and shook it vigorously with enthusiasm.

“Looking good college boy…excuse me, MAN!” Grandpa said.

“Ah thanks Gramps, you aren’t looking to shabby yourself!” Mike replied.

“And where is little Claire?” Grandpa asked, realizing that someone was missing from the welcoming party.

Oh great, Claire thought to herself.  Here comes the part where I get out of the car, run over for a soft embrace and instead get lifted up into the air, squeezed to death, and then, the worst part…the scruffy facial hair rub to my face which Grandpa never forgets to do.

“Owwwww, Grandpa!” Claire screeched.

“Oh, sorry deary, I always forget, about the beard.”  Grandpa said with a touch of embarrassment in his voice.

“Oh that’s alright Grandpa, you’ll never learn,” Claire responded with a playful shove to Grandpa’s leg.

“Who’s hungry?” Grandpa asked.

“Starved.” Michael replied with a bit of an overdone elongation of the word ‘Starved’...it came out sounding like ‘Ssssstaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrveeeeeed’.
“I could eat,” Mom said politely.

“Yeah, me too!” Claire said, more excited than she meant to sound, but she was indeed very hungry.

The four of them went inside Grandpa’s farm and had delicious homemade meatballs and potatoes, which was tradition on Grandpa’s farm.  De-li-cious.  After supper, Mom, Mike, Grandpa and Claire stayed up playing card games until all of them were falling asleep in their chairs.  Everyone decided to hit the hay, and get an early start on the next day…Thanksgiving day that is.

Mike and Grandpa went straight off to bed and Claire was tucked in by her mom.  Claire’s mom told Claire how proud she was of her for being a good sport about the trip so far.  Claire said, that she was sorry for being a snot earlier.  Claire’s mom kissed her goodnight shut off the light and closed the door behind her.  Claire quickly took out her music player and tried to turn it on.  Nothing…the player was dead.  “Oh No,” Claire whispered angrily, “the first day of our trip and my iPod is dead!”  Turns out Claire had forgotten her music player charger at home.  She was now stranded without any of her technology!  What would she do?

After much huffing and puffing, Claire eventually drifted off to sleep.  She awoke to the smell of bacon and eggs frying.  As much as she disproved of going to the farm, she new as well as anyone, that there was nothing better than the smell of bacon and eggs in the morning.  She ran downstairs to the kitchen and was welcomed by her mom and Grandpa sitting at the table sipping coffee.  She greedily grabbed up a plate and started scooping food onto it.  She sat down and started to inhale grub. 

“Whoah!” Grandpa exclaimed, “Slow down child, you’ll get a belly-ache.”

Claire ignored this suggestion and began talking with her mouth full, “Mom, my iPod is dead and I have NOTHING to do today!”
“Honey, chew with your mouth closed and wait until you’re done chewing to speak.” Her mom scolded. 

Claire quickly finished chewing and swallowed down her food.
“I said…,” Claire started.

“I heard you the first time.” Her mom said.