Gingerbread houses at Retirement Center

I've been in charge of the homeschool co-op's monthly visit to the retirement center.   

Scheduling the time was the easy part I learned.  I also needed to decide on the activities.  We had been reading to the elderly, but clearly that wasn't a hit.  Many were nodding off while the kids read and since most couldn't hear well, having ten children reading all at once didn't work well.  

We did a playdough time.  Both elderly and children tried to eat the dough.  Soo... for December I decided to let them eat.   

This was the biggest hit.   We didn't have enough room for everyone.  We've never had so many attend our events.  It also lasted two hours instead of the normal one hour.  Some really got into the decorating, others liked licking the frosting off the crackers and others just watched as their child/partner created masterpieces.  All snacked a little. 

We had so many leftover supplies...  My boys decided we could make houses again at home. 

Cookies and Instant Sugar Rush anyone?

Since the gingerbread house building had been SUCH a success, we decided to decorate cookies for February.  

I was a bit nervous about using the decorating bags and tips since my experience always has the icing coming out the back end..  

I tied the bags closed as tight as I could.  

Only two of the twelve bags had exploding issues.  WHEW!

What I should have been more concerned about was the SPRINKLES!

First of all they came out quickly.. Secondly, once the kids started sprinkling, they didn't want to stop!

Some of the cookies were as tall as they were wide!

We had one batch of store bought icing.  We knew right away who was eating cookies with that icing.... they had the green and blue lips!

I've now been told that my activities are looked forward to.  I can't decide if it's the excessively messiness they enjoy or the recent sugar rush!  Our spring activity last year was planting flowers... it was also messy... and thankfully no one ate the flowers or the dirt.  

Duncan says bingo and art day are the only other really anticipated activity days. 

Maybe we should plan an art inspired bingo party... using candies for markers. 

I have three more to plan.  One will be our class musical recital.