Welcome to Families First Monthly

From The Heart

This issue is mostly about parties so I’ll share a little about my grandson Otto’s sixth birthday party. The science themed event featured experiments such as blowing up balloons by using baking soda with water and vinegar in a pop bottle, and placing sour gummy worms in a solution to make them wiggle. The cake was a volcano with orange frosting lava spilling over.  Our traveling gnome guests Fam & Ily modeled for a photo on the pile of presents. Otto was thrilled with his special day celebration because it included family and friends. 

We have a Festive Mess story on page 10 and it has ideas for fun projects and themes for children’s parties. Check out the photos in our wedding day spread on page 9 because the little boy covering his eyes is just too cute. There is a mermaid in our midst and she loves to attend parties and events. Find out more about her by reading our Young Entrepreneur column on page 12.

Click to view full size

White is everywhere now thus the Winter Festivities column and Mark Lindsay’s Beauty and the Snow pictorial. I am not an outdoorsy winter type so I have been working on my hobby of miniatures. My husband put together the General Store kit I had for years. This was a Christmas gift and lately I have been absorbed in one inch equals one foot land. I recently acquired a box of vintage buttons. It is fun to discover what they’ll become – tiny plates, shallow dishes, platters, and snazzy covers for various containers. My general store is coming along. In this photo you can see the storekeeper with some empty shelves behind him. This project will keep me content inside while winter howls around me. Do you see the Families First Monthly in the basket of magazines?

Thank you for reading and happy winter,

Laura Lee Kalchik