% '------------------------------------------------------------ ' This function finds the last date of the given month '------------------------------------------------------------ Function GetLastDay(intMonthNum, intYearNum) Dim dNextStart If CInt(intMonthNum) = 12 Then dNextStart = CDate( "1/1/" & intYearNum) Else dNextStart = CDate(intMonthNum + 1 & "/1/" & intYearNum) End If GetLastDay = Day(dNextStart - 1) End Function '------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' This routine prints the individual table divisions for days of the month '------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub Write_TD(sValue, sClass) Response.Write "

Beat the Blues
The temperatures have fallen. The holidays are over. We’ve been through a
whirlwind of back-to-back celebrations and events. Then overnight with the
flip of a calendar page, all comes to a grinding halt. This can cause our
outlook to topple downward with the temperatures.
Got the Winter Blues? Don’t call the doctor just yet! Gather your family and
plan a reason to get excited. With a little bit of creativity and
imagination, you can keep the blues at bay with a party!
Throw a Luau!
Decorate with palm trees made from crinkled, rolled up brown grocery bags
and green construction paper. Make beautiful tissue paper flowers to add a
tropical flair: Fanfold a stack of different colors of tissue paper. Twist
the end of a green pipe cleaner around the middle of the stack. Gently
separate each layer of paper to fluff into a flower.
Tear a brown grocery bag into strips three-quarters of the way up to make a
hula skirt. Reinforce the top with duct tape.
Serve mocktails of mixed pineapple and cranberry juices to add island flair.
Grill chicken, beef, pineapple chunks, broccoli and sweet peppers on
skewers. Brush with teriyaki sauce or pineapple juice, and serve over rice.
After dinner, burn off some energy with a few round of the Limbo. End the
night by conga dancing and doing the shag to island and beach music with the
kids.
Your Move or Mine?
Gather your board games and invite another family over with a couple of
their favorites. Write each game title on a slip of paper. Take turns
drawing a title and playing games.
Dump raisins, M&Ms and some peanuts or cashews (assuming there are no
allergies) for a quick treat that won’t get crumbs on the games. The kids
don’t have to know about the fiber and protein in the peanuts and raisins.
Pass the Popcorn Please!
Plan a themed movie night with a double feature like High School Musical 1
and 2. Share your love of reborn classics with Star Wars or Indiana Jones. A
sing-a-long intermission allows for a bathroom break.
A card table loaded with goodies serves as a concession stand for hungry
marathon movie goers. Add hot dogs and a cup of carrots and grapes to your
fare for an easy dinner.
Use brown lunch bags labeled with names to easily divide popcorn. Prefilled
snack-sized plastic bags add convenience and set portions for candy. Arrange
sofas and chairs in rows to complete the theater effect.
These activities are kid-tested and approved and are sure to become year-round classics. Remember, you can make them as simple or as elaborate as you want. The important thing is to have fun and spend time with those who matter to you. I guarantee that will brighten your winter and make memories that shape your children’s childhoods
Kimberli Russ Vida has three busy children, two crazy but friendly dogs, and too many fish to count. She finds sanity through writing, reading, golfing and planning parties for family and friends. She has a degree in English and a minor in Elementary Education.