Baking Cookies for First Responders with your Grandkids

Got the winter blues? Get out into the community and take your grands with you!

Actually it's not just the winter blues I have. It's the news of the day that's adding to my distress.. Our hearts are aching. You want to do something, but not sure what. Hanging out with your grandchildren is a wonderful start, and doing something for others really helps. Don't sit in your house and mourn.

My grandkids and I get together periodically for some community service, either taking small gifts to a local nursing home or baking cookies for our local fire stations or police departments. I actually got this idea from my daughter-in-law. She's all about teaching her children from a very young age to serve and show gratitude to service members in our community. Her first born loved firefighters (as most little boys do), so they would often stop by the station to visit with the men and women. And oftentimes, they baked cookies first and would take them to their new found friends.

Sadly my desire to show appreciation to police and firefighters was kickstarted by a wave of police officers being killed. My sweet great niece hosted a community party for police officers to show our deep gratitude to them. We also got together and made goodie bags for each. That got me started taking treats by on a regular basis. And as always, I often involve my grandchildren.

Really not much to tell or explain. I invited my grandchildren over to spend the night* and bake cookies. We decided to supplement our baked cookies by going to a local grocery store and purchasing more sweet treats and savory munchies. 

I think I need some more blue icing.

Cookies had a winter theme.

And so it goes! A trip to the store for more treats. The girls went with me. And then it was back home to pack everything up in an attractive bag and add some thank-you cards. Then we were off to the fire station.

Let's get this all packed!

We have to add some chocolate to the mix.

We did it! A job well done. Now we just need to deliver.

They were so sweet and appreciative to my granddaughters.

Final thoughts and "this-n-that"~

*If you've never invited your grandkids over for a slumber party, you really need to try that. It makes you young again. It takes you back to those thrilling days of your youth when sleepovers and slumber parties were the best things happenin'. Playing beauty shop, making fudge, and dancing to the Beatles simply can't be beat. And the laughs and giggles--beyond compare.

And that big ol' smile across your face when you've done something for others--you can't put a price tag on that.

One more giggle~ It's about my youngest grandson who lives in Dallas. My blog last week was about his visits. He was visiting once, and we took treats to the local fire station. He grabbed the fireman's hat out of the costume box before we left the house. He was about three at the time, and when we got to the fire station, he refused to wear the red fireman's hat even though it was his idea to bring it.. When his cousins asked why, he said he was afraid the firefighters would recruit him and expect him to go with them on their next emergency. So there you go--out of the mouths of babes.

If you've done some kind of community service with your grandkids, please share. I get more ideas from my readers! And if you were in a deep blue funk like me due to a recent event in Florida, try either hanging out with your grands or nieces and nephews, or doing some community service. It does help. Until next week!