Art/craft projects, cooking or making snacks, reading stories together, puzzles, a great old Disney movie and lots of popcorn, build a blanket & cushion "fort" under a table. Have a great time, how fun!

How about crafts - watercolor painting, work with clay, buy wooden ornaments to paint for next year. Hobby Lobby has tons of inexpensive things. Valentine's Day is next, could do something to do with that as well.

Decorate and bake cookies or muffins. Do fun pancake shapes for breakfast.

With my girls at that age, what they always most liked doing was helping to do grown up things. They liked cooking with me or shopping, setting the table, even doing laundry. Something where they are given some responsibility and learn something. They might like making something as a gift for their parents on their return.

My five year old would be over the moon to have her nails painted (check with parents first). And movie night. With buttered popcorn!

And she adores crafts. There are bunches of kits on Amazon.

Great idea on crafts...for mom and dad! The seven year old presented us with this tonight for a Christmas gift:

I like the idea of movie night too, maybe with treats we "bake" (sugar-tornado the kitchen with) beforehand.

I also like the idea of doing something beauty related and those nail appliques sound like a great non permanent way to do it. I've never even heard of such a thing before!

Sounds like a blast! One thing I can add is buy a couple of small inexpensive flashlights for their bedside in case they need them at night. Kids love them and they may feel insecure in a different house. Bedtime stories are great, even if the 7 year old reads them. If they have a favorite board game, have their parents bring it. You will be a fresh player where the parents may be weary.

Great ideas so far! My girls are 5 & 7, and they love sleeping over my mom's house, because the entire focus is on them! My mom plays board games with them, does crafts with them, makes cookies with them, lets them make their own pizza, watches a movie with hot chocolate and popcorn with them. They love all the one on one time.

Get thee to pinterest!

They might like any kind of bead craft, too, like bracelets or hair clips, etc. There are cute little sets you can buy with all the necessaries.

I agree about helping do things, especially cooking. My 5 year old (oops, he just turned 6) grandson loves to make applesauce (I let him use the food processor to break them down, then mash with the potato masher after I take it off the stove) and eat it warm, or we make hummus in the food processor or with the stick blender. Sometimes I buy an instant pudding mix for him to make and he loves mixing it all up by hand, or if we make cookies, he loves pouring the different ingredients into the mixer. He's a very aware and careful child, so I just have to instruct him about not touching things when they are moving or hot, etc., so use your judgement about your godgirls and machines and stoves.

He loves making snickerdoodles and getting to roll the cookies in the cinnamon sugar.

I don't think you'll have any worries about being the favorite!

So cool, wanting to be the most fun!

How about a "secret" phone call to them asking what they would really like to do? You may be surprised at what they come up with. Also just asking them gives you points.

Girls are so easy! Cooking, baking, beauty, beading, painting plaster figureines(Walmart), and when you're winding down at the end of the day, yes, microwave(usually ends up being 2 bags w/extra butter melted)popcorn and hot cocoa. In the morning, let them help make chocolate chip pancakes, dumping all the ingredients in the bowl 'to help', and Turkey bacon on a cookie sheet in the oven. Then teaching them to set a 'proper' table, putting napkins/utencils on the right side of the plate. All in all, you'll be surprised at how quickly the time passes. And don't forget, a little fresh air so they sleep better, weather permitting. Have fun. ;)

Echoing Mtn's suggestion, when I took care of kids that age when their parents traveled, they loved making a big "Welcome Home, Mom & Dad" sign. Maybe get a scroll of art paper and some glitter and markers, etc., and let them have at it.

Baking is another fun thing for girls that age (including licking the bowl and beaters!).

Movies. ("Black Beauty", "National Velvet" - anything with a horse!; I think "The Parent Trap" - Lindsay Lohan version, is a wonderful movie for girls, but maybe a bit too old for the five year old? Not sure).

Definitely yes to skating and sledding, building snowmen (or ladies!)...

Games? We played Jenga and Mexican Train Game, youngest player was 4 I think for MTG, and my 5yr old played Jenga. Fun for all ages. Our tradition is hot toddies with MTG, really just spiced hot cider for the kids.

Ok, you all have me even more excited now!

My seven year old niece was just here and we played with Calico Critters for hours. I had two boys so I get a kick out of playing dolls or other girly games. We also played a game from my childhood called Mother May I? with her nine year old sister. We tend toward the silly around here. She wanted to bake cookies but got tired of it after pouring in a few ingredients and stirring (once).

When grand kids were that age we played many board games, did puzzles and loved coloring. Board games = Sorry, Parcheesi, Apples to Apples and Trouble. The fun conversations that take place when involved in these activities is priceless.

I ran a K-6 after-school program for several years and we did lots of crafts. I always tried to give them new experiences, and it had to interest me too as I'd be sitting there doing it with them. We liked crafts that weren't too structured.

One easy art project for any age is to make crayon rubbings with household items that have different textures. Let them find textures throughout your house but also set some items out. They can cut out shapes from the paper and make collages or use them as decorative papers for other projects, like card-making. Ask the parents to send over a bag of broken crayons. This example is kind of limited in textures, but you get the idea.

Layered sand art is fun too. I used colored sand, but I found a few other ideas of how to color sand or salt with chalk or powdered tempera paint.

How to color sand

My kids used baby food jars and made Fimo lids. You cover the metal lid with clay and then make some type of beach-theme shape to top it, then bake it according to instructions. Kids made miniature seashells, fish, as well as more outside-the-box thinking like a beach towel and pair of sandals and a three-piece Nessie emerging from the loch. That was the older kids, but all of the jars were really cute.

If planning to bake, you could pick up some simple, plain aprons and then go to a craft store and find fabric paints, fabric markers, etc and let them personalize their aprons. Sometimes when giving gifts to kids in that age range, I have purchase cool cucpcake liners and other fun cake decorating stuff which could also work for you, all those things that mom and dad may not be inclined to do too often.

If you know their favorite colors, you could also give them each their very own silicone spatula to take home with them as well.

Skipped right down after I read the flashlight suggestion to tell you that I buy the cardboard tubes of glow-in-the-dark bracelets @ Target or a dollar store (you get 15/$1) for our granddaughters & distribute several to each @ bedtime; they love them! & the pretty colored light lasts all night. You can put 1 on a doorknob & a few in the bathroom as well.

As a former kid who needed a nightlight, I know well how a dark room can be scary to a little one.

Thanks for these great ideas! Mayflowers - I laughed at the rubbing idea because I can just imagine them trying to hold down one of my cats to do a "fur rubbing."

You just gave me the idea that although it would be very messy, as long as I can get my husband out of the house to avoid his blood pressure spiking, they might both enjoy making calm down jars to keep. The older one has a very active brain and a meditative activity might be good for her.

If you're going to rub the cat, be sure to stock up on Band-aids. ;)

With the crayon rubbings, they could cut out shapes and make a calico cat of different colors and textures. Even the five year old can cut circles and triangles and a long tail. Glue them on to a background of solid-colored rubbed paper. Even non-artsy kids like the tactile feel of this activity. It's meditative too.

Those calming jars are cool. Would like to see them in action. I love liquid watercolors. We used them for spritzing and straw-blowing on paper. I also remember making some cool marble paper, but that was probably a different paint.

You better send your hubby out for a few hours. No matter how much fun and well-behaved kids are, a full 24+ hours of them can be exhausting.

Watch Elf, with cocoa and marshmallows and the cookies you make. (It's our new favorite movie)

If you think cooking would go over well, a favorite cookbook for cooking with kids is Pretend Soup by Mollie Katzen. It has the recipes written in words, but also broken down in pictures so that even little kids can follow the recipe.

bpathome - the seven year old is growing up way too fast! Apparently she is "so over" Elf (one of my favorites) because she's seen it so many times and her new favorite "Christmas" movie is Nightmare Before Christmas (she likes monsters). Her five year old sister is very obliging and said it doesn't scare her--she only had a few nightmares after they watched it.

crl_ - I love this idea! The seven year old is an extremely picky eater. Wondering if picking out a recipe might encourage her to try a new food.

Hubby already said he has a "thing" that weekend (I haven't picked the weekend yet!!) Actually he gets along really well with the girls, he's a teddy bear.

Shrinky Dinks! DD sent them for the kids. They are hilarious and our gks loved making them. They color them then you put them in the oven and watch them shrink. They can make necklaces and bracelets from them.

Also Legos. They are huge now.

Went to Montessori school with DGS this morning. His class (ranging from 3yo to 5yo) made pinecone ornaments - pinecone, cup of glue/paint brush, beads and glitter in cup/applied with teaspoon. I left prettier than I arrived since he decided to blow - twice - what went on the table. Teachers will add a string and send home in a Ziploc. Everyone had fun. Not sure what the other classrooms were creating. You could also do pincones, paper towel rolls cut into two pieces or TP roll cover with peanut butter, roll in birdseed. Hang with curling ribbon or string from the trees.

How fun ! Making forts was a big favorite for my kids and grandkids. Then give them a flashlight to read or have new coloring books and a brand new box of 64 count crayons.

Baking cookies and making old fashioned popcorn on the stove is always a hit, too. If there is time, You can start the visit with a trip to the grocers and let them pick out their favorite foods.

Other simple games is crazy eights, Uno, War (with a deck of cards), Go Fish or play I Spy or Simon Says.

Ditto anitamo above!! Forts are a MUST! Have sheets, blankets, pillows in a pile and walk away for the good night. Music for dancing and singing!! I assume these two are siblings, so ask them to bring their favorite movie(s) and watch them with them with popcorn and whatever topping they are allowed (ask mom about options and then provide them and let the kiddos choose). Even caramel apples are fun and easy and messy. Have fun Godma!!

You know what I loved when I was a little girl. Paper dolls! Where have they gone?

http://store.doverpublications.com/by-subject-paper-dolls.html

http://www.amazon.com/eeBoo-Paper-Dolls-Day-Paris/dp/B007JVG23W/ref=sr_1_11?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1450184217&sr=1-11&keywords=paper+dolls

eBay has a bunch as well.

Tibbrix, we have some paper dolls. But I think the better alternative is magnetic sets that come in a metal tin. We have a few for travel and such.

RE: paper dolls - here's a scouting site that's been around for a long time - lots of cute themed paper dolls that you can customize yourself. Entertainment value depends a lot on cutting skills, BTW...

MakingFriends.com

crl, I looked at those, but I think part of the fun of the paper dolls is actually the imperfection of them, the folding of the tabs - I guess the "low-technology" of them. Lol.

Tibbrix, I think there's an age and personality component to that. My five year old is really good at fine motor skills, but has a perfectionistic streak, and I would say she is just barely at the age to be able deal with things that fiddly and delicate. She still might accidentally rip them and then have a complete melt down screaming fit because it wasn't perfect any more, especially if she was tired or otherwise out of her routine. So I personally wouldn't suggest them for a non-parent looking for fun activities that need to include a five year old. (As I said we do have some paper doll types of things, but they are done at home.). The magnets are less delicate so not prone to the same potential problem.

If you might be interested in a 'beauty' related outing, maybe "mini-spa day"? I've done this for my nieces & it's such a treat for them.... they feel so grown-up and glamorous. The spa I frequent has a 'Little Princess Spa Package' for $45.... it's a mini-manicure, mini-pedicure, make-up application (read: lip gloss and maybe a swipe of eyeshadow) and curls in their hair. It really is fun, and only takes about an hour.

As i bet Robo knows, a lot of parents would have a fit if you did that, smhinnb (I'm not one of them, as long as the kids don't book a standing weekly appointment).

I want to come to Robo's sleepover now. Phooey.

mtn, you'd be welcome! As long as you can tolerate mess and cat hair.

Their mom would be ok with a spa day! I likely would be pretty bored.

The older one is very interested in fashion and the younger one is interested in whatever her sister likes so today I ordered a Shrinky Dink jewelry set. Also ingredients for calm down jars (but I'm going to test drive at least one beforehand!), and some liquid watercolors << I'm going to have to hope my husband forgets he requested "nothing messy" before the month is out.

I'm thinking about a movie night and making some healthy-ish movie snacks (maybe PB popcorn balls or something) beforehand.

The older one has a very bad/picky relationship with food right now so I'm thinking something like the Mollie Katzen recipe book where she could pick out a recipe based on photos might be nice. I was very picky too and I SO relate to my oldest goddaughter - she's way less nerdy than I was at that age but I can see so much of myself in her, good and bad, including interest in bizarre fashion, trying to outthink the grownups, and being standoffish/independent/not physically affectionate.

I want to come too! You definitely win cool godmother!

Oh and since you have liquid water colors, you could make homemade play dough. Just use one of the kool aid recipes, but omit the kool aid packet and use the water colors to dye it. You can add spices for scents if you want to.

"As i bet Robo knows, a lot of parents would have a fit if you did that, smhinnb (I'm not one of them, as long as the kids don't book a standing weekly appointment)."

Really!? Wow... I don't have children of my own so maybe I miss some of the nuances. I do Christmas and birthdays and the occasional 'fun auntie' stuff, but beyond that I guess I don't pay a lot of attention to parenting issues & dos and don'ts. I never would have guessed that MtdRdRedux, if you hadn't said. Alas, mine are all too old now for mini-anything. They'd like a full on spa-day complete with hair-extensions and false eyelashes ;) (not quite, but they certainly grow up fast!).

About those liquid watercolors. We use them in our preschool and the ones we have are not washable. They will stain fabric...and hands...just keep it in mind. I would not use these in playdoh! We used them to paint wood frames from the craft store ($1 each) for parent gifts this year. The watercolors act almost like stain on the soft wood. The colors bleed together a bit making a tie dye effect. Very pretty and vibrant. Use q-tips to paint for more control. Have fun!

I owned liquid water colors and used them often to make homemade play dough. Ours were definitely washable and I never had anything stained by them. I guess different brands are different. It was really nice not to have the kool aid smell.

For example--washable liquid water colors found via a quick Google search.

Also Google turns up lots of hits for liquid water colors and making play dough.

This one has a microwave recipe.

I thought I would give a sleepover update as it just happened, in the course of 24h we did a playground/beach visit, shrinkydinks, jigsaw puzzles, dinner out, a movie at home and a museum visit. The girls were very polite and well behaved. But, when it came time for bedtime, they both missed their mom and wanted to go home. Unfortunately mom was out bowling. So there was some crying and snuggles and many stories were read. Then I got a visitor for more snuggles at 530am. So I returned two very tired girls the next day and apologized to mom. That said they are already planning their next visit but want to come home to go to bed.

The funniest moment is when the older was crying at like 11pm (now 2h past bedtime) and I said "how do you cope when you sleep over at your friend's house?" And she replied "NOW I MISS MY FRIEND!!!" I was like, "whoooops, my bad."

Lol, Robo. When I was confronted with that (I would take care of children, including babies, toddlers...when their parents traveled, I never had that problem with "older" young children, but the young ones who missed their mom - always at bedtime - I would ask them, do you want to see mom? And they'd say yes, and I'd say, okay, close your eyes and imagine you and mom doing your favorite thing together, or maybe mom giving you a hug. Can you see her? And they'd nod. And I'd say, so see? there's mom, right with you.

For some reason, it always worked. Go figure.

Robo, it sounds like you had fun! I missed this post so I'm glad you gave an update.

Mayflowers, thank you so much for the colored salt jar idea. That can be one of the crafts I do with my grandsons next time we do a sleepover.

My DGSs spent the night last night. I got out my markers, colored pencils, oil pastels, graphite pencils and an assortment of papers. While they were working on their drawings I was playing music. My oldest DGS asked if it was Beethoven. As soon as they were finished with their project they had out their iPads and were listening to Whip NaeNae. I videoed the oldest DGS doing the dance and we sent it and pictures of their artwork to Mom.

Bedtime is still a problem with the boys, they are only fifteen months apart and they pick on each other unmercifully at bedtime. I'm going to order a cot bunk bed for them as the second queen size inflatable mattress bit the dust.

Wow, I should have sent my boys to your house for sleepovers...better yet, ME! Sounds like fun :)

DS had a friend who just couldn't stay for a whole sleepover so he'd come for "half a sleepover". When all the boys were getting into their pjs, he would, too, and then call his mom when they were unrolling their sleeping bags. He'd come back in the morning for pancakes and morning fun. Worked out great.

Sounds like lots of fun until bedtime. Good for you for reading and soothing and not losing your patience! My oldest had a hard time being away from mom and dad, some kids are just like that.

Oh yes, you reminded me that in the morning we had them "help" with the pancakes by shaking whip cream in a jar and the oldest helped whip the cream by doing the whip nae nae!

Love the idea of half a sleepover.

My mom said I must have been puzzled because I loved sleepovers and couldn't wait to leave home at any opportunity!

I'm super excited as there may be another addition to my extended family soon (not me, although I'm trying for many years) so I will get to expand my godmama powers.

The girls like sharing a bed but the eldest is very disruptive in early morning (she's not a sleeper) so I may get something so the youngest can have a good night's sleep.

Robo, I have just trashed the last of my two Coleman queen size inflatable beds. They aren't terribly until you consider you need to purchase new quite often. I'm going to get stackable cots for the boys. when they are stacked it's like a bunk bed but if I need to separate them because of picking at each other I can move one to another room.

Seems like a great idea Holly Kay! At the cottage I have an IKEA daybed/trundle bed but feedback is the foam mattresses are a little too hard for comfort. I've been considering bringing back a double bed from the cottage and putting a queen where the double was (in a loft apartment). But that is a little pricey for me right now.