Grandma's Modern Day Trunk of Treasures

Grandma Shelley has Moved!

2009-12-16T14:14:00.002-07:00

Grandma Shelley has moved to www.grandmaslittlepearls.com or www.grandmaslittlepearls.blogspot.com.

All of my content from Grandma's Modern Day Trunk of Treasures has been packed up and moved to my new addresses. I would love for you to come and check out my new place!

Grandma Shelley

Grandma Shelley Interviewed by the LA Times?

2009-12-02T09:27:00.002-07:00

Crazy but true! I was recently contacted by the LA Times about the grandkid camps I do for my grandchildren. They say it is a growing trend among grandparents and they wanted ME to share what my grandkid camps are all about.

I had a telephone interview yesterday and the journalist interviewing me asked some great questions. She was also very familiar with this blog where she can also pull information about my grandkid camps.

I LOVE being a grandma and I LOVE creating memories with my grandchildren. I also LOVE event planning! Creating, brainstorming, planning, organizing, and presenting any event is "my thing". I thrive in all of the little details and in all of the special little touches.

My Grandkid's camps and many of the other things I plan for my grandchildren and family provide an avenue to do what I love. When the events I plan include my children and grandchildren the joy I find in the process is greatly magnified.

I have been a grandma for nearly 10 years and the number of "events" that I have planned for my family and grandchildren is unknown. What is known is that I am very blessed with a very close family. They all support and participate in our family events. My grandchildren are not just cousins and my children are not just siblings, but they are also all very good friends which is very important to me too.

Being recognized by the outside world for what I refer to as my "Grandma Style" is a great feeling. What I do as a grandma comes very natural to me and I enjoy sharing with and maybe even inspiring other grandparents through this blog to find the same joy that I have found in being a grandma! I am thrilled when I learn that other grandparents have used my ideas to enrich the lives of their grandchildren and when they have created their very own memories with their grandchildren.

The article will be printed in the LA Times and on line this month. I will keep you posted!

Five Day Family Retreat in the Pines

2009-12-01T09:22:00.008-07:00

I am happy to report that we have pulled off a very successful five day family retreat in the Pines. It all started with a well planned schedule and individual assignments that every family member had received well in advance. Some of the assignments included meal preparations and clean up, Thanksgiving Day food assignments, activities for the kids, evening activities for the entire group, evening treats, fire building assignments, quiet bedtime activities for the kids, and even household chores. Each adult was responsible for their household chores for the entire stay. It worked like a charm!

Some of the chores included: the trash, laundry, bathrooms, floors, keeping the water cooler filled with cold water, living room and kitchen pick up and cleaning, and the windows. With 18 little hands the windows needed frequent cleaning! We also had a couple of dads that arranged for our nighttime bedding needs and the morning bedding clean up for the kids. Our formal dining area served as a sleeping area for the older children by night and adult dining by day.

As the families began to roll in on Wednesday night our mountain home became filled with nine excited children and ten adults ready to share in some great family time. Bedrooms were assigned per family and space had been provided in the pantry and kitchen for their food and cooking supplies. I had a meal prepared for everyone and after dinner the kitchen became the hub for Thanksgiving baking.

To keep the children busy we had morning and afternoon activities scheduled each day. Each set of parents were assigned specific activity times. This gave the other parents 1 1/2 hours of kid free time both morning and afternoon. The adults did a wonderful job and they all arrived very prepared and very organized with projects and activities that the kids loved. (I will be posting pictures and sharing the projects and activities soon.)

On Thanksgiving day it was fun to all work together in the kitchen to prepare our Thanksgiving Feast. One of my daughters had the assignment to do the table decor. The adult table was beautiful and the kids table was fun and filled with fun activities for them to do before and after dinner. (I will post pics later.)

The next day we had a block of time scheduled for our individual families. Everyone left the cabin and went out to lunch and to do their own family activities. When one of the children was asked what they wanted to do during their family time he said; "Go out for a quick bite to eat and then back to the cabin!" It was very clear that we were doing something right!

A family activity was planned for each evening that both young and old could participate in. The kids loved playing games with the adults. On Friday evening after dinner a couple of the dads left with all of the kids on a car ride to go look for Elk. While they were gone the remaining adults worked to decorate the house for Christmas. When they returned we greeted them with a Ho...Ho....Ho....Merry Christmas. The inside of the house had been transformed to kick off our Lamont Family Ho....Ho....Ho...lidays. The house was lit up, and we had Christmas music playing. Papa and I had a small gift under the tree for each of the children. Each gift had a personal invitation to the "GrandKid's Christmas Day Camp" the next day.

Since they had arrived I had a sign on my bedroom door that read "Grandma's Christmas Workshop, No kids allowed" There imaginations were going crazy with what I might have going on in my workshop. Within my workshop were all of the activities and the supplies needed for the day camp and the Christmas decor that we used to decorate the house.

On Saturday, after breakfast the parents got ready to go have some adult time in town. The kids watched the clock. They were anxious for both the parents to leave and for our Christmas Day Camp to start. (I will post this years camp schedule and activities later.) The day camp went well and we even had a very welcome surprise for all of us that added to the fun.

The Saturday evening bedtime activities included a reading of the Polar Express book in a dark room using only a flashlight to shine on the book. The following morning there were more activities for the kids and after lunch we had a viewing of the Polar Express movie. We served the children Popcorn and m&m's during the movie in fun Christmas bags.

Whiles the kids watched the movie one of my daughters had the assignment to prepare sack lunches for dinner. Preparations and packing were done by those families who were leaving that night. Following the movie all of the kids put on their pajamas and got ready to go on the Polar Express Train Ride. Our sack lunches were eaten before boarding the train. (My daughter had done some fun things in the lunches which I will share later.) All nineteen of us boarded the Polar Express that evening. The children were delighted to see the North Pole and to see Santa when he boarded the train. For the adults....seeing the children's joy filled us with joy too!

Although we see one another all of the time this retreat served as a family reunion of sorts. We all worked together well and everyone did their part so that everyone enjoyed their time together. Most importantly, quality time was spent together as a family, family bonds were strengthened, and lasting memories were created for all four generations that shared this special time together!

First Snow of the Season

2009-10-28T22:35:00.003-07:00

We had our first snow of the season at our home away from home in Flagstaff, Arizona. I have never lived where it snows so this is a very exciting first for me. I have already enjoyed the beauty of the Fall colors for the first time as Summer turned to Fall. Beautiful!

I missed this first snow fall in person but I am very anxious to get back up there and experience a real winter. My kids and grandkids are all anxious to get up there to play in the snow. I can't wait to share in the fun and in the wonderful memories we will create!

Global Warming Solution is in the Works

2009-10-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

Last night while watching three of my grandsons, out of blue, my oldest grandson who is eight said; "Grandma, if no one has fixed global warming before I grow up I will fix it."

The solutions and the needed inventions are very clear in his very sharp mind. I can only imagine his frustrations sometimes....being in 3rd grade when he would probably much rather be in a research lab helping to save the planet!

Playing in Tents - A Kid Favorite!

2009-10-02T07:53:00.003-07:00

Knowing that my grandchildren love to play in tents I just had to add these two small tents to my grandma bag of tricks for outdoor play! These small two man tents are perfect for children to play in. I purchased them at WalMart for just $20 each. They are easy to set up and simple to move around. They are small enough that they could be used for indoor play too.

The kids were indoors when it started to rain outside. They quickly ran out and sat the rainstorm out in their tents. The tents were a big hit and a great addition to my Trunk of Treasures!

String + Trees = One Big Web

2009-10-02T06:43:00.002-07:00

This kid made web was created from over 1000 feet of yarn. The kids really enjoyed spinning their tangled green web through the forest. It was huge! It was a huge (temporary) string art craft project of sorts. The only rules I made were no knots and don't tie one another up in your web which I am sure was very tempting.

The follow up activity was to create a big ball of yarn as the web was removed. This web was done on private property. Caution would have to be taken if doing it on public lands. We would not want strangers to get caught in our web!

Just Being Silly

2009-10-01T23:22:00.002-07:00

Just being silly and making her grandma laugh. Pure joy for both of us!

Outdoor Cooking of Sorts

2009-10-01T23:04:00.002-07:00

This is a creative and fun activity that you can do when you are in the outdoors. I gave each of the girls a plastic plate and I asked them to use their imaginations to create a plate of food to serve me. They searched the forest floor and came up with some great meals.

We have a plate of spaghetti and meatballs with a side of salad, a hamburger and a side of fries, and a hearty serving of an all meat plate with chunks of beef and ribs.

Fort Building....the next generation!

2009-10-01T22:35:00.003-07:00

It is so much fun to watch the next generation do the same things that their parents did as children. The grandkids worked long and hard to collect the wood and rocks they needed to create their fort. The children were very proud of the huge building materials that they had found and hauled to their building site.

The parents however thought it looked more like a fire danger since the "Fort" looked a lot like a huge bonfire ready to be lit. Don't tell the kids!

Checking Out the Big Outdoors

2009-10-01T22:29:00.003-07:00

This little guy wonders around nonstop checking out checking out his new surroundings on his recent visit to Flagstaff. He loves chasing the lizards, chipmunks, and squirrels. He also keeps his eyes on the bigger kids and takes it all in. He is as very happy camper when he is playing outdoors at his grandma and Papa's house in the forest.

Down Time .... A real rarity at the cabin in Flagstaff

2009-09-29T09:33:00.006-07:00

Climbing trees, a hike to the pond, carrying piles of bones back to the house, chasing Squirrels, building forts, taking down a pine tree, riding bikes, and everything else they had spent their day doing looks to have been exhausting.

After enjoying some afternoon TV and a short rest they were ready to go again!

No Front Teeth ... and Couldn't Feel any Cuter!

2009-09-28T23:39:00.002-07:00

"Don't I look cute without my teeth Grandma?" She was very surprised to learn that even Grandma had lost her two front teeth many years ago!

A Beautiful Display of Teamwork!

2009-09-28T23:27:00.004-07:00

It was so much fun watching the grandkids working together to get this tree down. You should have heard all of the commands and suggestions that they were yelling out to one another. A lot of muscle, cooperation, and an enormous amount of energy was put into this challenging feat of determination. For grandma.....it was a beautiful display of teamwork!

Monkeys or Grandkids?

2009-09-28T23:11:00.003-07:00

I won't kid you . . . . this very loved activity makes me very, very nervous. When these granddaughters visit there is no keeping them out of the Pine Trees! They are on the ground one second and the next they are yelling out; "Grandma, look at me!" I look up and they are half way up a Pine Tree.

The younger kids just look up in awe, wishing they too could be up there. These are very well rounded and very active girls. They are as happy climbing a Pine Tree as they are all decked out in a frilly dance costume covered in sequins with their hair and make up done for a Pink Carpet Premier!

Their Teachers Would be Very Proud

2009-09-28T22:59:00.004-07:00

The cousins are out of school for the weekend. They and their parents came for a weekend visit to the cabin. The oldest cousin who is nine was the pretend teacher and she turned the back patio into a classroom and school was in session. They worked hard on their assignments and then played hard on on their very frequent recesses climbing trees and building forts.

I love seeing my grandchildren playing together as cousins and good friends!

Our Littlest Mountain Guest

2009-09-28T22:37:00.004-07:00

This little guy (my youngest grandchild) stays busy and on the move checking things out when he visits us in Flagstaff. He loves being outdoors and seeing all of the forest animals scurrying around the yard. He has discovered the bunny's hiding place and he loves seeing the bunny run away when he heads that way. He likes to chase the Squirrels and Chipmunks and watch the birds eating from their feeders. He is ALL boy and his clothes and shoes prove it when it is time to come in to the cabin.

Butterfly Crafts

2009-09-28T14:52:00.005-07:00

My grandsons were great sports with this cabin craft. I had purchased two craft kits to have on hand to help keep the grand kids busy when they visited. They were both glitter art kits. I had purchased one of birds for the boys and one of butterflies for the girls visit. Well on the boys visit I could not find the bird kit that I had purchased for them. They willingly and beautifully completed the butterfly project. Being the boys they are they would not touch the pink glitter that the kit included! They insisted that they were making all boy butterflies. They were very proud of their artwork and they were as tickled as they could be to be doing crafts with their grandma.....even if they were butterflies!

The birds have still not turned up. I know they are hidden somewhere in the house to stay safely hidden as a surprise for the boys. I will be the surprised one now when I finally happen upon them!

An Adventure through the Meadow

2009-09-28T14:27:00.003-07:00

Papa and I had been living across from this meadow and pond for a few weeks without ever going to check it out. We had no idea what exciting things we would discover when we headed out on this adventure with our three young grandsons and their parents.

Everything was discovered with so much excitement. There were several piles of animal bones, some complete skeletons. You can only imagine the thrill of their grizzly finds. They discovered bedding areas of large animals. We guessed probably the beds of deer or elk. The ponds edge was filled with thousands of growing cat tails which they harvested as a souvenir. A big highlight for these three boys was finding a decaying Racoon at the waters edge.

The boy's daddy and their Papa taught the boys how to skip rocks and each tried to outdo one another by creating big splashes tossing bigger and bigger stones into the pond. It was a beautiful day for such an adventure. Discovering the meadow and the pond through the eyes of our grandsons was an absolute gift.

Papa Sharing Big Boy Toys

2009-09-28T14:17:00.003-07:00

This was a very exciting activity for our three grandsons who were visiting us in Flagstaff. Their Papa had a water trailer at the house with a fireman hose attached. Papa gave them each a turn at holding and running the powerful water hose. A very simple everyday thing for their Papa....by sharing it with his grandsons.... created what will be a long remembered memory.

Helping Papa with Cabin Chores

2009-09-28T13:59:00.003-07:00

Three of our grandsons each had a turn getting to climb the ladder and helping their Papa fill the bird feeders on a recent visit to Flagstaff. It was also watering day for the plants. The watering pan for the animals was also cleaned and filled with fresh water.

They had way too much fun with their Papa to even know that they were helping with the chores!

Yummy Fireside Treats

2009-09-28T13:48:00.003-07:00

All of my grandchildren love helping to build a camp fire. It is a must do (and a well supervised) activity when they come to visit us in the mountains. This night we roasted marshmallows and the kids made S'mores for their treat. The adults enjoyed a really yummy pineapple upside down cake that my daughter and her husband baked in their dutch oven. It was perfectly baked and sooooo good!

Hello, Mama Bear

2009-09-28T13:13:00.004-07:00

Let me introduce you to Mama Bear and her baby. This life size bear is part of the decor in our temporary mountain home. She stands right next to a bank of windows on the back of the house and next to one of the patio doors. It took me the longest time to get used to her standing there. She frightened me for weeks when I would catch a glimpse of her when I was home alone.

I have since made friends with her and I now greet her every time I enter the house alone. (Not to worry.....I know I'm being silly.) My youngest grandson has made friends with her too. On his last visit he entered the house and the first thing he did was give the bear and her baby a huge smile like he was visiting a dear old friend. He waved and waved to the bear and kept telling her hi! He was a bit puzzled and very disappointed that the bear was not sharing in his excitement of seeing one another again.

Home Away from Home

2009-09-27T15:49:00.004-07:00

Well here it is... our home away from home. This has been home for the last six weeks or so and it will be our home until my husbands job on the Navajo Nation is complete. It is a beautiful four bedroom home nestled among the Pines of Flagstaff, Arizona. Our view just beyond the Pines in the front is a very large meadow with a large pond. The backyard is a wildlife playground. The lot backs up to National Forest. At the end of our lane, just right of the house is an additional two car carriage house with an apartment above. The property also has a large fire ring for building big bonfires. It is a great place to do dutch oven cooking and the roasting of marshmallows for some really tasty s'mores.

All of the living spaces have large uncovered windows to invite the natural light and the beauty of the outdoors in. The breakfast nook in the back of the house overlooks two bird feeders and a bird bath. We have Squirrels, Chipmunks, lizards, and a wide variety of birds who have parties just outside our windows all day long! A couple of my favorite wildlife guests are a pair of large Jay Birds. They are bright blue with a black crown on the top of their heads.

The homes interior is beautiful and fully furnished. I only added a few items to the fireplace mantle to make it feel a bit more like home. The home also has a baby grand piano which has given me an opportunity to brush up on my very rusty piano skills. Just this past week a skunk was spotted hiding under our front walkway. All I could think of is the amount of times I have swept that front walk with the skunk probably being just inches from me!!!!

My very favorite guests are the two legged variety that come up from the valley to visit. Our children and grandchildren have been frequent visitors and it is they who have turned this home away from home and it's furnishings into a real home for us!

A Very Spoiled Grandma!

2009-08-28T21:29:00.007-07:00

I have quickly realized what a spoiled Grandma I am! This is just day twelve of me being a long distance grandma and I am not very good at it at all. My husbands work has taken us just three hours away from all of our children and grandchildren for a few months.

I only had to go five days before seeing a set of my kids and four of my nine grandkids who came for a weekend visit. I was thrilled to see them and we had a wonderful time together. When it was time for them to go you would have thought they must live on the other side of the world from my emotional state when having to say my good-byes! My sadness started up when it got within a couple of hours of their planned departure. I held it together until it was time for them to load up in the car. It was then that the tears began to flow and my heart was breaking that I was not going to see them for a while.

I held up in my bedroom to try to gain composure so not to upset the kids. They all came in one at a time to say good-bye to their sobbing grandma. They had me laughing and crying at the same time. I realized how silly it was to be feeling so sad but the tears continued to flow and my heart continued to be break.

It has now been just five days since they left and I will be seeing another set of kids and three grandsons tomorrow who are coming for an overnight visit. I have been already been trying to prepare myself for their departure. Since I am still tearing up when I think about my first set leaving just five days ago I think I will be better off talking to my grandsons ahead of time to let them know that my tears (that I'm sure will come) when it is time to go is because I love them so much and that I will miss seeing them until next time.

I already know that once they leave I will only have another five days before I will get to see another set of my kids and two more grandsons who will be spending a few days with us.

As you can see I am a very spoiled grandma. I am also a very blessed grandma who loves living close to her children and grandchildren!

Most importantly, I have gained enormous empathy for ALL long distance grandmas in a very short period of time. I have also wondered several times this week if my own mother who is now in her late eighties has ever felt this way. I have always just assumed she was thankful for the peace and quiet she was left with when we left with our young family. I wonder now if I assumed wrong......no surprise, that makes me ( a very homesick grandma) shed tears too!

Pop Star Treats Inc.

2009-08-16T21:48:00.003-07:00

Early Saturday morning we received a knock on the door. To our surprise we opened the door to find our nine year old granddaughter who lives right down the street and her friend who was spending the weekend with her.

We were greeted with a well rehearsed sales pitch. They had created a sign reading "Pop Star Treats", a product and price sheet, and a folded up cutout from a Halloween Costume catalog of two Pop Star costumes that she and her friend wanted to earn the money to buy . Their presentation of the cupcakes and their sales pitch were both adorable.

They had spent the day before baking up a storm and they had a WAGON FULL of cupcakes for sale! They had also made mini cupcakes on picks as free samples for their potential customers. They were confident that just one bite of their tasty free samples would greatly sweeten their revenues!

We were thrilled to be their first cupcake customers. Later in the day they hit us up for a car wash, and even later in the day they hit us up for some housework. Each time they returned they had a bit more cash in their tightly clinched fists. When they left our house in the late afternoon they had earned a total of $54! Not bad for a days work at 9 years old.

Creative, hardworking, and adorable are just a few of the words I will think of with this precious memory!

Peek-A-Boo

2009-08-09T22:02:00.002-07:00

All of the school age cousins peeking out of McDonald's Playland. I thought they might enjoy the play time as cousins with Papa and I. They ended up LOVING it! Simple things, great times, precious memories. What a wonderful gift for both grandchildren and grandparents!

Grandkid's Back to School Party Favors

2009-08-09T21:38:00.002-07:00

Pencil boxes (with their names printed on them) filled with a few school supplies were the party favor for this years Grandkid's Back to School Party. The items included new pencils, erasers, a pencil sharpener, a bottle of glue, some stickers, a back pack package of Kleenex, a box of crayons, and some sweet treats.

Before the party started I had a list of rules. (much like you would see in a classroom.) Each child's name was listed and there was a box to check off for each task or rule. The number of tasks or rules matched the number of things inside the gift boxes.

I showed them the boxes at the beginning of the party and we talked about the rules. I explained to them that broken rules would result in a loss of an item or items (of their choice) from the gift boxes.

With Papa and I being so outnumbered and with an outing planned we needed an incentive to help us. Some of the items included following directions the first time they were asked, no fighting, buckling up in the car, being helpful, staying with our group in the parking lot and in McDonald's, eating good, cleaning up, and participating in all of the games and activities. The incentive plan worked like magic. They were quick to remind one another of their potential loss or losses. At the end of the party everyone had earned their complete gift boxes!

The box had to be packed just right to get it all in there. They all loved going through their gift boxes and then the challenge of getting everything packed back in. I was so proud of them as they worked together, assisting one another to get their gift boxes filled again.

Outing to McDonald's with Grandma and Papa

2009-08-09T21:27:00.002-07:00

These pics are from our Grandkid's back to school party this year. Believe me, Papa and I got the looks, and all heads turned when we arrived with our seven little ones who were all talking up a storm and all very anxious to hit the playground.

A trip to McDonald's netted hours of fun cousin time of unlimited play, ice cream and food. I don't remember why the raising of the hand but what an adorable photo to catch at a back to school party!

Ice Cream Before Dinner?

2009-08-09T21:11:00.003-07:00

A highlight from the back to school party that ended up being all the chatter to their parents when they got home was that; "Grandma let us have ice cream before dinner!"

It's true! But, not really planned that way. I reversed the party plan due to Papa getting home to go with us to McDonald's earlier than expected. The plan was to play our games at the house, and have an early dinner of grilled cheese sandwiches, chips, and a drink at home before going for an ice cream treat and some play time at McDonald's.

We instead, went to McDonald's and had ice cream. They were having so much fun playing we decided to stay and have dinner too.

So, completely by accident, a fun, "naughty", and long lasting memory was created!

Grandkid's Back to School Party 2009

2009-08-09T20:51:00.005-07:00

I fudged a bit on the back to school party this year but it was still a wonderful success!

The party began at my home in the afternoon just a few days before school was to begin. I had seven guests this year. The oldest is going into the fourth grade and my youngest guest will be starting preschool this year.

The party started with a few rounds of ABC Bingo. We then loaded up for a trip to McDonald's for an ice cream treat and some fun cousin playtime. They were having so much fun playing with one another that they worked up quite an appetite. We ended up ordering dinner too before we left.

After we returned home we did our traditional Hokey Pokey dance and I ended the party with party favors of some back to school supplies and a few treats!

Look who Grandma Loves!

2009-08-04T07:17:00.004-07:00

Two of my grandson's and their parents took a summer vacation to the beach recently. I had a request of them (the boys) before they left. I asked them to please write a message in the sand for "Grandma" and take a picture of it and send it to me as an activity for them at the beach.

It ended up being quite the task since the waves kept washing it away before they could snap the picture. They endured and got the job done just like Grandma requested. I love it! How can such a simple thing bring a grandma so much joy?

Invention Crafts - 2 liter Bird Feeder

2009-07-06T12:10:00.006-07:00

This is a simple nature craft using a plastic bottle, a wooden skewer, twine, and birdseed. The young inventor first removed the label off the bottle using kid safe scissors.

Wash the inside and the outside of the bottle. Drain as much water as you can from the bottle. Place the lid on the bottle and dry the outside of the bottle.

About 3 inches from the bottom of the bottle draw a 3 "x 3" square or an arched topped square on both sides of the bottle using a Sharpie marker. Make sure the openings match up on opposite sides of the bottle. You could give the child a pattern to trace. Cut out the marked sections. I started the opening for my grandchild using a sharp knife. The child then used a pair of kid safe scissors to finish the cutting.

Make sure that there are no sharp edges on the bottle openings. Using a paper towel and the bottle openings dry the inside of the bottle. Tie a 4-5 foot piece of twine or heavy string around the neck of the bottle. Center the twine/knot on the bottle neck to leave you matching lengths of twine to be used to tie to the feeder to a tree branch.

Cut a small "X" one inch below the center of your bottle openings using a sharp knife. (This should be done by an adult) A drill with a small bit could also be used by an adult. Don't make the wholes or "X's" too big, you want the wooden skewer to fit tightly.

Push the wooden skewer through one "X", now push the skewer through the bottle and out the "X" on the other side of the bottle. Center the skewer in the bottle. This creates a wooden perch for the birds to sit on on both sides of the bird feeder. Snip off the sharp end of the skewer and add a bit of masking or duct tape to both ends of the skewer to help protect eyes and skin from any sharp edges.

Take the bird feeder outdoors. Hang the bird feeder on a sturdy branch in a tree. Placing it where it can be seen from an indoor window is really fun. Fill the bottle/bird feeder to just above the wooden perch with wild birdseed. Now, sit back and watch the birds discover this very special treat!

Interesting note: Three of my granddaughters saw the finished bird feeder hanging in their cousins tree just minutes of him being home with his finished project. I received a frantic phone call that they all wanted to make one too. I was too busy that day but promised we would do the project the next day. They all arrived the next day and were thrilled to create their very own bird feeders. They took them home and hung them in their trees which are right across the street from the cousins feeder they had seen the day before.

The feeders were quickly found by the birds. With the kids watching they discovered that the birds finished the seed from the girls feeders before the one across the street which was the original bird feeder made by my grandson.

My eight year old grandson made the observation that the birds preferred the girls feeders because they were more attractive! Turns out the girls had added decorations to their feeders using colorful Sharpie markers. Regular girls stuff like flowers and hearts. Not science, but a very good observation. Who knew???

Invention Crafts - Working Elevator

2009-07-06T11:40:00.002-07:00

On a recent visit to my home three of my grandsons pulled out my invention crafts tub for some crafting fun. This tub is where I store all kinds of things for my grand children to recycle into their very own one of a kind inventions.

This is not a time to worry about the clutter that fills the kitchen counters and floors as their very creative minds began to quickly gather items that are needed for their inventions. It is amazing what ideas can be sparked by the treasures that are found in "Grandmas invention craft tub."

Above is photos of the finished elevator system, it's inventor, and his younger brothers who marvel at their big brothers invention skills. The invention has an elevator car with opening doors, a pulley system that can lift and lower the elevator car for more than six feet. Even the balance of weight was considered by this young inventor. Vegetable cans were borrowed from the pantry to give him the weight needed for the invention to work safely and properly!

4th of July Gift Boxes

2009-07-02T21:13:00.002-07:00

I created these small gift boxes for my nine grandchildren for the 4th of July. I found the boxes in the dollar store "Dollar Tree" in the wedding section. They were 12 for a $1. They are solid white and they could be used for any occasion or holiday by adding your own decor to them.

I decorated the boxes using patriotic stickers that I found in a Michael's Craft Store. The stickers were adorable and a great price. The book had 316 stickers for just .70 cents! The regular price was only $1 which is still a great price.

I also like getting the small white bottles of bubbles from the same section of the dollar store. They are 9 for a $1. I added a patriotic sticker and they became a 4th of July party favor for the small gift boxes. The boxes are a perfect size for a few goodies and favors. These boxes were filled with candy, party poppers, a light stick, a bottle of bubbles, and a red, white, and blue tinsel necklace!

4th of July Necklaces

2009-07-02T20:55:00.003-07:00

When I have all nine of my grandchildren together I like to do things to make them feel united. This year we are all attending the fireworks together. I was in the dollar store recently and I saw some red, white, and blue tinsel garland that was really thick and shiny. Like always, I found inspiration in this glittery dollar find.

The strand was nine feet long. I have nine grandchildren, so I cut it into nine, one foot lengths. I added a bit of clear tape to the cut wire ends to keep it from possibly unraveling. I tied 24" lengths of blue yarn about an inch in on each end of the cut tinsel.

I had created nine very festive 4th of July necklaces for a buck! The necklaces ended up being part of a small gift box that I made for each child. The shiny thick tinsel necklaces made the perfect topper for the patriotic gift boxes!

Popping 4th of July Fun

2009-07-02T16:43:00.009-07:00

Every 4th of July I treat my grandchildren to some kind of small gift, goodie, or activity to help celebrate our time together at the fireworks show. This year I put together small gift boxes for each child.

The small patriotic decorated boxes include a few Tootsie "Pops", kid safe TNT "Pop-its", always fun Party "Poppers", a glowing light stick, a small bottle of bubbles that will provide lots of "Popping" action, and a glittering red, white, and blue necklace which also serves as a eye "Popping" burst of color and shine to top of the gift boxes!

To add to the fun I will arrive with their gift boxes in a large basket lined with patriotic linens and some festive red, white, and blue tinsel party picks. I will also have the supplies for face painting. Face paint, glitter, patriotic stickers, and sparkling stars will provide some holiday fun while they are waiting for the fireworks to begin that I am sure they will enjoy.

This project and these ideas are all very simple and inexpensive but they help to make the time you spend with your grandchildren just a bit more fun, festive and memorable!

Make sure to watch the 4th of July clearance sales and you too will find inspiration for just pennies on the dollar that can be stored away for the year and used to create your own memories in helping to make the 4th of July holiday "Pop" for your grandchildren too!

Have a happy and safe 4th of July !

Dance Recital Times Three

2009-06-15T13:25:00.004-07:00

My three granddaughters recently performed with their dance school. The college auditorium was filled with all those who were there to support the little dancers. They had been practicing for weeks and weeks for this very special Pink Carpet Event. Custom costumes had been made. Hair, make-up, a limo, lights, fireworks, the whole nine yards. The girls were thrilled to be a part of it.

Our family was there with 100% attendance taking up over half of an auditorium row of seating. All five little boy cousins were there to support and to be entertained by their sweet and adorable girl cousins. Three of the boys cousins 8, 6, and 2 all walked into the auditorium carrying bouquets of flowers for the girls. It was as CUTE as it could be!

The girls did a great job and they were very proud of themselves. They came straight out still in their last costumes following the show to see all of us. They were showered with bouquets of flowers and a flashing photo shoot fit for the dancing diva's that they were!

I am very proud of the girls and equally proud of my entire family who all do such a wonderful job of supporting one another.

Time Fly's

2009-05-08T11:44:00.005-07:00

I had not realized so much time had past since I had last posted. I've had lots on my plate recently with an unplanned two plus weeks of being really sick, a six day trip out of state, and all of the planning details for a large July wedding.

Being well again makes me realize how thankful I am for my health. The out of state trip yielded a very happy young bride with her finding the wedding dress of her dreams in a bridal shop in Salt Lake City. The details of the large July wedding....still a bit overwhelming.

The trip to Utah also served as a chaperoned trip for my daughter to go visit her fiance in Orem, Utah were he attended school at UVU and plays on their baseball team. I had lots of free time while there while they crammed as many dates into their days together as they could. They had a great week together.

I really enjoyed myself as well. I shopped til I dropped. Ate where and when I wanted to eat. Took in a movie of my choice. Napped whenever I needed a nap. The only thing that got me out of bed a bit earlier that I liked was the pretty yummy and FREE continental breakfast at the hotel!

I had a beautiful view from my hotel room. The mountains in Provo are beautiful and to add to the beauty they were covered with freshly fallen snow! I spent so much of my time looking at the beauty and at the locals zipping by taking care of their business and wondered if they even noticed the beauty around them anymore.

One of my very favorite things were the trees that were in bloom that lined many of the streets. I called them Popcorn trees. I don't know what kind of trees they were but the blooms look just like beautiful white popped popcorn! The trees were just covered in yummy looking white stuff!

One of the Popcorn trees was just outside my 3rd floor window and it was in full bloom. We have a song that the children sing in church that says "I looked out the window and what did I see? Popcorn popping on an Apricot tree. Spring has brought me such a nice surprise, popcorn popping right before my eyes!"

I know it wasn't an Apricot tree but for sure it was a nice surprise and I too saw popcorn popping right before my eyes.

Now it's time for me to look at my natural surroundings. What am I zipping around and taking care of my own business and missing???

Another Gift of Nature

2009-04-22T17:29:00.003-07:00

I heard on the TV today that research has shown that time spent in nature is good for your brain. Those who spent time in nature or looked at nature pictures for one hour before testing scored 20 percent higher. Those who spent time outdoors on city streets showed no improvement.

The world that God created for us to live in is amazing. He thought of everything for us! So all of those camping trips, visits to the mountain cabin, the sites of waterfalls, streams, the ocean, and lakes, evening programs with the Park Rangers, the canyons, snow trips, watching for wildlife, and the family hikes they do more for our families than create wonderful memories, and good family fun. Who knew?

Bargains! My Favorite Thing to Find

2009-04-22T09:14:00.002-07:00

I went to CVS to have my prescriptions filled yesterday. I chose CVS this time because I had two gift cards that I had received for free for filling previous prescriptions there months ago. While waiting for my prescriptions to be filled I browsed the store. I found a bunch of storage containers at DEEPLY reduced prices. I had been needing some so this was a great find. When I went to check out with my prescriptions the cost was completely covered with my free gift cards and the receipt included a $5 off coupon on any purchase in the store of $15 dollars or more for the next three days.

I went and loaded my cart with thirteen storage containers in a variety of sizes. The CVS shopping carts are very small and I was making a huge purchase so it was very awkward and quite a balancing act getting my purchase to the register. Most of the containers were valued at more that seven dollars each and I didn't pay more than a $1.50 each. On top of that, my total was just over the $15 dollar mark before tax so, I used the $5 off coupon I had just received. My total cost was just over $13 for 13 storage containers. A savings of $60.88!

If mood and happiness boost the immune system as research says then I received a much needed shot to my immune system with this find!

Loving from a Distance

2009-04-21T14:05:00.003-07:00

So close, but so far away. That is how I have been feeling for the last ten days or so. I have been sick with bronchial problems and just today diagnosed with acute bronchitis . Not wanting to pass my germs on to others I have tried to stay a healthy distance away from others. There have been a few special family occasions within the last ten days that I did not want not miss. I allowed myself to attend taking extra care to not pass my germs along to others. This meant no close contact with my grandchildren. I don't even know how to describe what that has felt like but I will try.

I think I have realized the deep connection between the feelings of love and affection for my grandchildren and the use of physical touch of hugs and kisses to help express those feelings. While I have been sick, seeing my grandchildren and feeling the deep emotions of love and affection for them......and not be able to express it through touch. It somehow made my love for them even greater. There they were, so close, but so far away.

I know that once I am feeling better I will have a better appreciation for my health. I will also have a much better appreciation for the closeness I am able to enjoy with my nine grandchildren. I look forward to the unlimited supply of healthy hugs and squeezes that we all have in store for one another.

Camp Out Cake Walk of Sorts

2009-04-15T21:44:00.003-07:00

The kids really enjoyed a game that I made up for one of the activities at the camp out. Last year we had had a unit on the animals of the Southwest. I first reviewed the pictures of the animals from the previous year. It created quite a conversation between us as they all shared the facts that they had remembered about the animals.

We then placed the pictures on the ground in a circle. I gave each child a paper sack for earned prizes. I asked the children not to step on the pictures but to walk in a circle around the pictures until the music stopped. When the music stopped each child had to name the animal that they were standing by. If they answered correctly they were rewarded with a prize from the prize bowl.

The same idea could be made a bit more difficult for older children by asking more challenging questions about the animals or the objects that you choose to use. We also made it more fun by having the children do different actions as they went around the circle or changing the direction of their march. For a few rounds we made certain animals wild, which doubled the prizes, and some animals that voided any prize at all. Everyone was great sports and they all enjoyed this very simple and fun learning activity.

Night Hike 2009

2009-04-15T21:26:00.004-07:00

It is tradition that we go on a night hike at our Grandkid's Camp Out. I always change it up a bit each year. We all bundle up in our jackets and we put on our hiking shoes and socks before heading out. I always remind the children to stay together and what to do if a car is on the road.

This year I gave each child a glow necklace to wear. We headed out with just two flashlights this year that Papa and I had but we did not use unless needed. Papa had activated several glow sticks and placed them along the dark streets in our rural neighborhood. We hiked in the darkness under the stars looking for the glowing sticks along the way.

It created a lot of excitement when they spotted the glow in the distance. They really enjoyed the hunt and the thrill of being on a hike at night! Walking back home was quite the light show with seven energetic campers and fourteen fists of glow sticks!

Camp Out Search and Rescue Activity

2009-04-15T21:00:00.003-07:00

I added a new activity to this year's camp out. It was such a hit with the kids that it just might become a new tradition. Every year I try to do a teaching unit. This year the topic was on emergency preparedness while camping. I talked to the children about how to be safe when you are in the outdoors. We then put together a survival necklace to wear around our necks. The necklace was a five in one survival necklace. It included a compass, flint, a mirror, whistle, and a waterproof space for matches. I did not want to give the children matches so we filled the small canister with several little things and we talked about what we could use them for. It created quite a discussion and they had some great ideas which I will share later.

To follow up on this activity we formed a search and rescue team. Six of the children and myself were the search and rescue team. We took turns having one of the campers leave the tent with Papa. They went to hide and we stayed quiet in the tent waiting and listening for the sound of their whistle. The whistle alerted us to a lost camper (the hiding child). We then discussed what the missing camper looked like and what they were wearing. We then headed out as a search and rescue team to find the lost camper. We had to work together to stay quiet, to listen for the whistle, and to search together as a united team. Each child took a turn being the lost camper with their Papa.

The kids absolutely loved this activity and they loved their new survival kits too. Later in the day three of my granddaughters were out shopping with their family. They were all still wearing their survival necklaces. One of the girls blew their whistle when the youngest one piped up and scolded her saying "Hey, are you lost?" I couldn't be more proud of my little camper!

Hungry Campers!

2009-04-15T20:32:00.002-07:00

The camp out menu called for pancakes, ham, and milk. It sounds simple, doesn't it? I first asked how many of them wanted ham. Only one wanted ham. So, I browned up a small batch of ham in a skillet for the one child and Papa and I. I then mixed up the pancake batter. When the kids entered the kitchen they all seemed to be starving and definitely had minds and tastes of their own. There were orders for Mickey Mouse pancakes, some with chocolate chips some without, some with extra big ears, some with small ears, regular round pancakes, round pancakes with chocolate chips in the batter, round pancakes with chocolate chips added after they were cooked, pancakes with butter, pancakes without butter. It was a pancake frenzy.

As the pancakes came off the griddle the yellow trays had to be taken out of the dishwasher and hand washed so that they could use them again at their request. The Camp Out is all about the grandkids so we were as happy as we can be to add that simple element of fun and tradition to our breakfast.

Everyone wanted warmed maple syrup on the side in a dipping cup because that is just how you do it at "grandma's house". Once they saw and tasted the ham they all wanted it adn then wanted seconds so two more batches were browned in the skillet before everyone had had their fill.

It was fun, and exactly what the camp out is supposed to be. They were all hungry campers and they all ate a good and hearty breakfast.

As a follow up....My son said that when he asked his five year old son about what he had had for breakfast at the camp out he said pancakes and meat! My son asked what kind of meat? He described it as really good "orange squares of meat!"

Camp Out Free Time

2009-04-15T20:24:00.003-07:00

While Papa and I were prepping the Camp Out breakfast the kids kept themselves busy with indoor coloring projects at the table. Our two oldest campers who are eight and nine helped keep the younger ones busy until it was time for them to come into the kitchen to put in their breakfast orders. It made Papa and I feel very good to have received many of the projects to place on our fridge with hand drawn hearts and hand written notes expressing their love for us. So, so sweet!

Firing up the Morning Campfire

2009-04-15T20:16:00.002-07:00

It never fails! When the campers wake up to a chilly morning they like to fire up the campfire. It was extra funny this year. For one thing, as always it puts out no heat, and secondly, they were indoors. I guess, tradition is tradition and you know what? That's exactly what I am trying to create for my grandchildren!

Rained Out, No Problem

2009-04-15T19:59:00.003-07:00

We had to move our traditional Camp Out campfire (all pretend using an electric flaming Halloween caldron) and s'mores indoors this year due to the threat of rain. The kids did not seem to mind at all. Our oldest camper who is nine entertained the rest of them with story after story around the campfire. They each enjoyed their s'mores that were roasted over my gas range in the kitchen.

This year instead of using chocolate bars in the s'mores we used a peanut butter cup. They were extra yummy!

Do it Yourself Camp Out Dinner

2009-04-15T19:48:00.002-07:00

With close supervision we allowed the kids to roast their own hot dogs at the Grandkid's Camp Out. Some started out by saying that they hated hot dogs, which I did not know or remember. Their minds quickly changed when they found out that they got to roast them themselves!

They filled their trays (a favorite at grandma's house because they are just like at school.) with their roasted hot dogs on a bun, toppings of their choice, chips, applesauce, and a drink box.

Even Work Can Be Fun at Grandma's Camp Out

2009-04-15T19:37:00.005-07:00

I added a very last minute activity to our recent Grandkid's Camp Out. We were planning on eating outdoors and I had not wiped down the outdoor tables ahead of time. So, thinking quickly, and I have to admit quite smartly, I filled a tub with warm sudsy water, got out seven rags and I called it an activity! All seven of the campers pitched right in and got the job done. Every square of the tables were scrubbed as was everything else in the area that had a surface. They did not quit there. Everything got a towel dry too!

Grandkid's Camp Out 2009

2009-04-14T15:03:00.004-07:00

Our camper numbers grew by one this year, bringing us up to seven grandkid campers at our 2009 Camp Out. One more camper didn't seem to make much of a difference. It did however make a big difference to our new little camper. The little guy really loved being a part of the camp out this year and that added an extra element of joy for Papa and I too!

A United Effort

2009-04-13T11:53:00.003-07:00

Putting our tent up this year at the Grandkid's Camp Out was a united effort. A rain storm was moving in and the wind gusts made the task extra challenging. It took every little camper to help their Papa and their daddy/uncle to get the tent up and staked down. Our littlest camper sitting on the rock above was watching the action from the sidelines while hanging on tightly to his sleeping bag snuggle toy!

I was very proud of all of my campers. They stayed focused and worked hard to reach their common goal of getting our Camp Out tent set up this year.

Sand Art Craft

2009-04-13T11:20:00.002-07:00

The kids LOVED this project. All you need are some stencil pictures on heavy paper, colored sand, craft glue, and paint brushes. All of our pictures were of birds for this project. They painted small sections of the pictures with glue then sprinkled on the color of sand that they wanted for that section. They loved the magic of the colored sand sticking to their pictures.

Once the sand was sprinkled on the entire area of wet glue the children used their papers to funnel the extra sand back into the sand container. I had only planned on the children doing one picture each but they all did three or four because they enjoyed this project so much!

I didn't get pictures of the finished project but they turned out great!

TIP: I had eight different sand colors. I found the sand in the dollar section of Target stores and once again I purchased it at the end of the summer season for half off! It did not take much sand at all to do this project. I still have quite a supply of colored sand so if you have any craft ideas that use sand.....please share!

Canteen Beading Craft

2009-04-13T10:49:00.004-07:00

I supplied each child with a plastic canteen with their name on it and the materials to add some custom, do-it-yourself beading.

I gave each child a small baggie of beads. I made each bag exactly the same and suggested that they trade beads among each other if they needed additional beads of a certain style or color. We tied vinyl threading to the canteen and the kids strung the beads any way they wanted. Papa and I helped to tie the knots on the end. They were all very pleased with their creations!

The canteens were then filled with water and used throughout the camp out for all drinks of water. A cooler of water was placed on the back patio for unlimited refills.

Tip: I picked up the canteens on clearance late last summer at Wal Mart. They normally sale for $1 each but I found them for just .25 cents each! Once again, anytime I find the number I need of one item for grandchildren crafts or activities my creative and frugal brain begins to think of how I can use them. Once I purchase items ahead of time I make a note of my purchase in my camp out file and store the items away in one of my modern day trunks which is a Rubbermaid tub in my garage labeled Grandkid's Camp Out!

Grandkid's Camp Out 2009

2009-04-13T10:12:00.003-07:00

The trick to hosting a successful camp out for seven little campers is pre-planning and organization. Our Camp Outs always begin with an indoor gathering craft and a snack to hold them until dinner.

The table above is set and waiting for their arrival. A "Welcome Campers" sign has been posted on the front door. A printed schedule has been made to keep my little campers and myself on task until we say good-bye late tomorrow morning. All of the supplies needed for our activities have been gathered and are waiting out of sight until needed.

Soon the front entry will be filled with sleeping bags, pillows, backpacks, overnight bags, favorite stuffed animal sleeping partners, and seven really excited campers!

A Treasured Cookie Jar

2009-04-06T21:37:00.006-07:00

This cookie jar goes as far back as I can remember as a child. The original metal lid was painted yellow somewhere along the line. As you can see it has been well used even since the lid was painted many years ago. My mother was great at keeping fresh baked goodies for our family in the kitchen. She was a great cook and she made the best chocolate chip, peanut butter, and molasses oatmeal raisin cookies ever!

My mother never made a small batch of cookies. She would always double or triple the recipe so that everyone could have all they wanted. I loved coming home from school to the freshly baked cookies and cold glasses of milk.

The days of my 85 year old mother baking cookies for us has come to an end. It is something that generations of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren miss dearly. Baking cookies and other favorite family treats was a way that my mother expressed her love for our family.

While clearing my parents home of unneeded items recently I was lucky enough to get my mother's cookie jar to use in my own home. Today I took the time to carefully wash and shine it just like I would have done with any other valuable treasure.

Today I filled the cookie jar with my own batch of homemade cookies. It was a very sweet experience and one that I look forward to doing again for many years. It is and it will always be like having a piece of my mother in my kitchen with me. The cookie jar itself, and the sound of the lid being taken off and put back on triggered some wonderful memories. I thought of how much my mother loves our family and how much we love her. I wondered just how many hours of service she rendered to our family over 65 years by just filling this cookie jar for her family with batches and batches of cookies.

I am as happy as I can be to have my mother's cookie jar. There will NEVER be a time when I will bake cookies and fill the cookie jar for those that I love and not think of my mother, her love for me, my love for her, and her priceless example of mother and grandmother!

Too Cute, to Not Share

2009-04-06T15:26:00.005-07:00

I recently took my granddaughters set of scriptures that I had given to her as a gift for her 8th birthday to a bookstore to have her full name printed on them. I took them on a Saturday and I told her that I would return them to her on Sunday at church.

Her middle name is Aileen. At church she came running up to me and asked if I had her scriptures. She quickly looked them over and was very pleased to see that her name was spelled correctly. She told me that she had been very worried that they would spell her middle name to read "Alien!"

Grandkid's Camp Out 2009 Invite

2009-04-02T14:15:00.005-07:00

I have posted many times about the past activities, traditions, crafts, and more that we have done over the years at the annual Grandkid's' Camp Out. I have some extra fun things planned this year but I can't post about them yet because I want them to be kept as a surprise. My grandkids have been known to read my blog! So, I will have to let you know what's new this year a bit later.

A Pair of Very Loved Hands

2009-04-02T07:54:00.003-07:00

I would recognize these hands anywhere and one day I will yearn to see them doing what they love to do. These are the hands of my 85 year old mother. On a recent visit to my home I had a project for her to work on to keep her hands and mind busy doing something that she loves and knows well. Together we created the patterns for different sizes of work aprons to fit my nine grandchildren. I cut them all out and she took the drivers seat at the sewing machine. A seat that she would not give up. She spent hours and days at the machine. It triggered many fond memories for her from her decades of sewing for her family.

One memory went back at least sixty years when she spoke of making/sewing my two older brothers button up shirts for school. She taught me a lesson that day of just how long kind words can be remembered. She spoke of being introduced to another mother. The other mother was trying to connect my mother to her children. When the other mother connected her to my brothers she said; "Oh, you are the mother that makes those really nice button up shirts for your boys." My mother beamed with pride as she remembered those words some sixty years later.

The nine aprons my mother completed while she was here do not showcase the perfected sewing skills that she once had but, they are a perfect example of one of the ways that she has demonstrated her love for her family throughout her life. I will love seeing my grandchildren in the aprons that a pair of very loved hands created. I will be sure to take this as an opportunity to remind my grandchildren just how much their great grandma loves them!

My Award Winning Dancers!

2009-04-01T10:43:00.002-07:00

This was such a fun day to spend with our granddaughters and their parents. It was the girls first dance competition. It was great to see their confidence and their blossoming dance skills on stage. They looked adorable, they were great members of their dance teams, and they gave it their all!

They won many ribbons and trophies but most importantly they realized the rewards of their hard work and practice. The reward was not only the trophies and ribbons but also the confidence they had gained, the skills they are perfecting, and a sense of achievement for their individual efforts. Great job girls! Grandma is very proud of you.

Grandkids Camp Out Invite 2008

2009-03-31T14:56:00.005-07:00

In my preparations for the upcoming Grandkid's Camp Out I came across this invitation that I did last year that I had not shared here before. The kids were all thrilled to see pictures of themselves at the camp out from the year before in their brochure invitation. They also loved the personal write ups about each of them. Giving them a camp out schedule created a lot of excitement and anticipation for all of the fun things they had to look forward to.

Baby Killdeer Birds Hatched

2009-03-31T12:26:00.002-07:00

Look who's arrived! Three healthy, baby Killdeer birds hatched on March 30, 2009. It was a very windy day yesterday morning when I went out to check on the eggs. To my surprise all three eggs had hatched. There was almost a whole eggshell laying next to them. The last one must have just hatched because the eggshell was still there and the one laying closest to the shell was still wet. I ran for my camera and when I returned the eggshell had blown away.

They all left the nesting area yesterday to run around a bit. The parents kept a very watchful eye on them and their surroundings to keep them safe. They all returned to their spot in the rocks for naps frequently during the day with one of the parents spreading their wings over them to keep them safe.

Today when I went out to check on them they were all away from their nesting place. One of the parents was there to direct me away from the nesting place by using his/her broken wing act. I could not hear or see the other parent or the babies anywhere but I am sure they are nearby.

A Morning Tradition with Grandma

2009-03-28T21:57:00.002-07:00

My morning couldn't have started better today. I was awoke by my nine year old granddaughter who had spent the night. She climbed in bed with me and said "remember that game we play while looking out the window?" I said, "I sure do....would you like to play it again?"

For quite some time a high arched window in my bedroom was left bare before having shutters installed. The tradition started when she climbed in bed with me one morning when she was just five or six. We would lay there looking out the window and take turns naming things that we could possibly see in the sky above.

This morning she quickly accepted the invitation to play the game again and she jumped out of bed and opened the shutters then climbed back in bed and snuggled next to me. We had a great time coming up with many answers. Some were silly and made us laugh. She said a bathtub for one of her answers and I said bathtubs can't fly through the air. She replied with a very matter of fact "Things happen Grandma!"

My favorite answer that she gave this morning was a cannonball! We have done this more times than I can even count. It is such a simple thing and it has created wonderful early morning memories for both of us.

The Helping Hands of Friends

2009-03-21T09:51:00.005-07:00

Last Evening we hosted a dinner party for a group of friends from our church. Some of our guests brought the salads, breads, and desserts. I did the meat, two potato dishes, and a roasted vegetable dish for 30 . I am in my element with this type of thing so my day had gone pretty well by doing what prepping I could, pre-cooking, and the tables earlier in the day.

The last thirty minutes however was a different story. My menu, presentation, and table scape required a lot of last minute work. I had a pot of potatoes that I had cooked. It was the biggest pot I have and it was filled to the top with about 20 pounds of hot boiled potatoes. They had boiled over and had made a huge mess on the top of my stove. The stove top WAS sparkling earlier in the day. It was time to mash the potatoes with two tubs of sour cream, butter, and cheese and I could not find my masher. I knew I had given it a new home in my kitchen just the day before and I could not remember where it was.

My last minute solution was to use my electric mixer. The beaters were not long enough to reach the bottom of the pot so you can only imagine the last minute mess I was creating on my apron-free self, the counters, the walls, and the kitchen floor. The stove had a big boiled over cooked on spot too. I had everything hot and plated in time but I was left with a very last minute mess in my kitchen as the first guests arrived at the door. I was using my kitchen island and counters as the serving space so the mess I had created was NOT the look I was going for!

When I opened the door I saw the faces of friends and out of my mouth came "I am so glad to see some friendly faces and helping hands." Without hesitation they willingly and generously pitched right in. Some filled the sink with dishwater and washed up my cooking pans and wiped up the counters, another tackled the stove top, and others filled water pitchers and set the tables with last minute items. They pulled some quick tricks just like I would have done by quickly cleaning my counters and kitchen of unneeded items and placed them out of sight in my walk in pantry.

Within minutes my friends had saved the day. As the evening continued so did my friends with their willing and helping hands as the tables were cleared, desserts were served, and the clean up completed.

It was a great evening with friends and it left me feeling very grateful for the new friends that I have made since moving here. I love coming together as friends with a common goal and seeing it completed. Although this time it was very last minute and unplanned the joy I experienced was just as sweet!

St. Patrick's Day Cupcakes

2009-03-18T09:17:00.003-07:00

Not a great picture. Not a great presentation YET!. But, these cupcakes are going to be used in a great presentation later today. I am assisting with an activity for girls 8-11 at my church. It is going to be a treasure hunt with clues along the way. The clues all have a bit of "Irish catch words" in them to add a bit of holiday fun.

The girls will be divided into two groups. One will be looking for nine golden coins, and the other for nine green coins that have been hidden and have the clues attached to them. Before they are able to read the clue they have to complete a task of some sort. The theme of the activity is "Count your Blessings, and see How Lucky you Are".

The tasks require such things as naming blessings of family, home, education, friends and such. We will meet up at the very end for the final clue to be read. This clue will require listening to their leaders and working together doing the hot and cold game to find the hidden treasure.

The cupcakes will be the treasure and the treat for this activity day. They will be hidden inside a really, really cute Treasure Trunk. I cannot disclose the location yet since it is still a hidden treasure! It is going to be fun.

A Visit From the Leprechauns

2009-03-17T22:31:00.008-07:00

My soon to be eight year old grandson called me this morning to tell me about some Leprechauns that created some mischief throughout the night at his house. They awoke to a tiny note on the kitchen counter that was written so little it had to be read with a magnifying glass. The note said that they had hidden the car keys that were needed for a planned trip to the zoo today. They had left tiny clues around the house to lead them to the keys. They had played with his mommies favorite angel collection and had knocked one over but didn't break it. One of them had thrown up some green goo on the bookcase. They had used the toilet and left very green water that needed to be flushed, they had flown down two flights of stairs on a toy helicopter, crashing it into the window blinds where they jumped out of the helicopter and left it still dangling from the blinds. They found the keys near the crash site downstairs.

One of the tiny notes requested that they eat Lucky Charms for breakfast. When they went to the fridge for the milk the silly Leprechauns had turned the milk green too!

The visit from the Leprechauns made for a very fun and exciting St. Patrick's day morning for him, his brothers and his cousin visiting from Idaho.

Just a little something to file away in your mind .... perhaps the Leprechauns can visit the little ones you love next year too!

An Exciting First for Me

2009-03-17T21:56:00.002-07:00

Today when my husband got home from work I said "I think I am going to start getting a house cleaning service." To my surprise he said, "I was going to call you today and suggest that!"

You are probably wondering what condition my house must be in, right??? Not to worry, we are not living in filth but the entire house from base boards to ceiling fans could use a good deep cleaning.

So, within minutes of getting the green light I was on the phone scheduling a cleaning service that came highly recommended by my two daughters. I have until Thursday morning to get my pre-cleaning done to be ready for the cleaners! That's how you do it right?

The service asked if I wanted it cleaned from top to bottom. Why not? So, that is the plan which I am very excited about. Isn't it fun that we can experience first's in our lives at any age?

Saint Patrick's Day Tic-Tac-Toe Game

2009-03-16T07:33:00.006-07:00

I created this fun Saint Patrick's Day Tic-Tac-Toe game for the children's singing time activity at my church. It was a group activity with two teams. Each of the squares on the game board were numbered. When they (one child from the team) placed their colored coin on the board the entire group would then sing the song that matched the number. After singing, it would be the next teams turn. The next team would place their coin of the opposite color on the board trying to get three in a row. The entire group would then sing the song matching the number of their choice. The goal was to get three in a row with the prize being getting to sing a song of their choice.

The base is a foam core board from the dollar store. Scrapbook paper cut in strips created the 12" game lines. The computer generated shamrock tic-tac-toe header is placed on a backdrop of matching scrapbook paper. Everything was put in place using a glue stick. The coins can be found in party, craft, or maybe even dollar stores. I used blue painters tape on the back of the coins so they would easily peel off the board without damaging the game.

This idea could be used for a Saint Patrick's Day Party or a family activity. Instead of singing, you could have the children to do something silly, answer a question about themselves, or just take turns playing a BIG game of Tic-Tac-Toe.

This idea could be used for any holiday by making up the game board and the game pieces to fit the holiday.

A Treasure from Mother Nature

2009-03-09T15:35:00.005-07:00

Mother Nature has brought a wonderful treasure to my grandchildren and I. A species of bird that I was not aware of has made her nest of sorts in our dry river of landscape rocks in our front yard. What an educational gift this has been for our family.

As soon as I learned what kind of bird they were I emailed a link that told all about the birds to my children to share with my grandchildren so that they could learn all about the birds. I then invited all of the children to come and see the wonderful treasure that Mother Nature is sharing with us.

The birds (mother and father) are called Killdeer. They lay their eggs on the ground usually in rock or gravel. They do not build a nest so that the eggs will blend into the surroundings to keep them safe. The eggs are speckled and they do in fact blend in very well. The parents take turns sitting on the nest and they are very vocal and protective if you approach their eggs.

When you approach the nest you are first warned with aggressive chirping. When you get too close they get up and run away from their nest and pretend to have a broken wing hoping to distract you with their injury. Both parents will get into the act to lead you far away from the eggs. Once they feel you are a safe distance away the wing miraculously heals and they fly off and circle around to return to the eggs.

There is a lot of information on the web on this species of bird. It is amazing to see how text book their behavior is. As an added bonus, the baby birds will hatch with their running shoes on. As soon as they break out of their shell and their feathers dry they become self feeders and run around following their mother like baby chicks do. In my reading it said that they will stay in the area for at least two weeks until they learn to fly!

It will take 24-28 days for them to hatch. We don't know for sure how long the eggs have been there but suspect about 10 days or so. We'll be watching and waiting. The grandchildren and I can hardly wait to see the fuzzy little guys!

I Love Spring

2009-03-06T10:34:00.004-07:00

Although Spring isn't official until March 20th, I have to say that Spring is in full bloom in the deserts of Arizona. I took a walk around my acre yard last evening at dusk to enjoy the incredible rebirth and growth that the Spring weather has brought to our growing landscape. I love seeing the trees budding out, the bright green new growth on the shrubs, the flowering of heat loving plants, and to hear the beautiful songs of the birds that seem to know that it is Spring too!

To add to my marvel .... our acre lot began as an acre of un-irrigated dirt and rocks just three years ago. There were no birds to hear because there was no tree in sight for them to even perch in. Every single plant and tree has been planted, cared for, and nurtured by my husband and I. This was no small task. We have over 150 living plants including 24 shade trees. A couple of weeks ago we worked together to cut back our shrubs and plants in preparation for the new growth that spring and summer brings.

Landscaping our new place from scratch has been a very rewarding. We created our own design, we selected our own plants, and as I said we have been "hands-on-dirt-lovin- do-it-yourself-er's" through the entire process.

Although we are still far from done, the empty canvas of landscaping space we have left keeps our minds actively thinking of our future hopes and dreams for our little corner of the earth that we call home.

Invention Crafts

2009-03-05T10:05:00.005-07:00

These boys were in heaven with an afternoon of invention crafts and snacks at grandmas house. I had arranged it with them the day before. Before they arrived I pulled all of my resources out. These are items that most would throw away that I know are very useful in the minds of my young inventors.

A variety of boxes, bits of wire, paper rolls, plastic bottles, and anything that I think may inspire an invention filled my kitchen island (their lab) when they arrived. I could see their minds working the minute they walked in the room and they began grabbing their resources.

With lots of tape, glue, string, paper, and grandmas helping hands occasionally the items quickly took form to create an airplane, and a remote controlled rocket. An old ink pen was turned into a joist stick for the remote control and the antenna was finished off with the inner spring of the pen. An applesauce cup into a cockpit. Plastic parmesan cheese bottles were turned into powerful rocket boosters and Pepsi bottles into booming airplane engines.

The boys have a great time creating and I love seeing their creative minds in action. Most important of course, are the memories created for everyone in the lab!

Distraction Worked!

2009-03-05T09:48:00.002-07:00

This little guy has been having a surprising new problem with separation anxiety. He used to beg to come to my house, loved his nursery class, and he would leave his mommies side with a great big happy "Bye Mommy!"

Now when he comes I have to peel him off off his mommy and he is very sad during the separation from his mommy portion of the stay. On this particular day I was ready with a distraction that worked well. Kid safe scissors, glue sticks, and colorful paper did the trick. The tears and anxiety stopped within seconds.

Another surprise .... when mommy returned he wasn't ready to go and it took a bit of pleading with him to get them on their way. Since then, the anxiety continues. His mommy stopped by my door with him the other day to drop something off and he just kept saying "bye grandma" every second. I assured him with my own good-byes every second too!

Craft Stick Animal Puppets

2009-02-16T22:26:00.003-07:00

This is a very simple craft to do with kids. I used craft sticks, construction paper, string, buttons, crayons, googly eyes, and pompoms to create different animals. The only tools needed are kid safe scissors and a glue stick.

Once they are done you can create stories with the children using their new animal puppets.

A Day with Grandma and Papa

2009-02-16T21:49:00.003-07:00

One of our grandson's has really been wanting to spend a day with us without his baby brother. He had a day off of school today for President's Day so I had arranged about a week ago for him to come and spend the day with us until bedtime. He arrived with great excitement and wanted to start our day doing some crafts. So, that is exactly what we did. We went to my grandkids craft drawers and pulled out some supplies to create a project. We decided to create some craft stick animal puppets.

We worked on our crafts until it was time to go to lunch. The restaurant of his choice was the "star" place. Carl's Jr. where he loves their star chicken nugget kids meal! After lunch we went to see the movie "Hotel for Dogs". He loved it. We then went and spent about an hour walking around PetSmart looking at all of the fish, birds, reptiles, cats, and rodents!

We then headed for a local water machine to fill our water bottle. He was thrilled to help his papa put in the quarters and fill the bottle. Right next door was a new donut place. I asked him if he liked donuts? I know that he loves donuts. His eyes lit up and he squealed a big yes! He searched the entire donut case before making his final selection. We sat in the donut shop and enjoyed our donuts together while having some great conversation.

He was anxious to get back home and work on our craft project again. We had a bit of outdoor play time then back to crafts. His boy cousins dropped by and they had a great time playing together outdoors until dinner time.

His choice for dinner was "sucky noodles", which is ramen soup on his favorite plate at grandma's house and a cup of chocolate milk. After dinner he hit the shower and papa helped dry him off and get on his pajamas. He finally finished up his craft project just in time to leave for home so he could be home in time for a school night bedtime.

When he got home he told his mommy and daddy all about his day. Papa and I got a big hug and thank you as we left. We know that this day meant a lot to the little guy and us ..... we had a really great day too!

A Gift From My Valentine

2009-02-14T15:23:00.004-07:00

My Valentine and I have been married for nearly thirty-four years. My bridal bouquet was made of yellow roses (my favorite) and since then he has always remembered that despite the holiday or occasion it's yellow roses that I love to receive. Thank you my sweet Valentine!

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-13T22:21:00.009-07:00

My Valentine goodies and cards are ready to be delivered. I had a great time baking mini cupcakes in Valentine wrappers, whipping up a batch of delicious butter cream icing, and hand frosting and decorating a bakers dozen for each of my grown children and their families.

Once the icing was set I wrapped them in festive pink cellophane and tied them with a Valentine ribbon for a fun presentation. The Valentine cards have been sealed and I have prepared a cute heart shaped container with a few candies inside for each of my grandchildren.

My gifts aren't much but a little something extra to say "I Love You" this Valentine's Day.

A BIG Valentine Surprise!

2009-02-13T21:08:00.010-07:00

I promise this was NO set up. Just before I left on my trip I posted about "Heart Attacking" someone for Valentine's Day. Papa and I found a very happy surprise waiting for us when we returned home from our trip.

Our first clue was a long hallway that leads to our bedroom was scattered with hearts. Our bedroom door and doorknob, the bedroom walls, furniture, lamps, shutters, bathroom walls, shower walls, mirrors, my bathtub, and even the toilet were all covered in hearts of all sizes and Valentine colors. Precious personal notes had been written by our nine little Valentines to let their grandma and papa know how much we are loved.

The welcome home surprise brought a big smile to our faces. I laughed and smiled as I read their little notes and as I pictured them in my mind choosing all of the very creative spots they had chosen to stick their hundreds of handmade hearts.

They were all very excited to hear about our surprise and how much we enjoyed it. They all asked if we saw this one and that one that they had carefully chosen to place. They had been anticipating our return and reaction for a couple of days. Today when we all spoke after school it was very clear that they had had a lot of fun creating this very special Valentine memory for Papa and I!

It is indeed a "Heart Attack" that we will long remember as a very special time.

Heart Attack Someone for Valentine's Day

2009-02-08T07:14:00.003-07:00

This is a fun thing to do anytime of the year to let someone know that they are appreciated and loved. It could be a big surprise for your grandchildren or you could help your grandchildren do it for someone else.

You first cut out dozens of hearts out of colored construction paper in all different sizes. You can have a color theme or you can use all of the colors of the rainbow!

To "Heart Attack" someone you take all of the paper hearts and cover the space while the receiving person is away. You could do the bedroom of a child, the bedroom door of a child, a front door to a home, or a garage door. It could even be Dad's office, Grandpa's shop, or the inside of a car. The options are probably endless. One of my granddaughters once "heart attacked" my husbands bathroom vanity and mirror area as a surprise for him when he returned from a long day at work. It looked adorable and imagine her Papa's surprise!

You can write little notes of appreciation and love on some of the hearts too. This is a really neat thing to both give and receive. So why not give it a try this Valentines' Day?

Hint: Use the blue painters tape to hang the paper hearts. It won't damage paint, furniture, fabrics, or finishes.

For My Nine Little Valentine's

2009-02-07T22:50:00.003-07:00

I have hand selected a Valentine for each of my grandchildren. I plan to take them with me this week on my trip and use some of my driving time to handwrite each of them a personal note.

Some of them are duplicates this year because I thought they were so cute....but never duplicates to siblings!

I sure love my nine little Valentine's! I'm a very blessed grandma.

Grandma Shelley is Headed to Hollywood

2009-02-06T22:25:00.004-07:00

My husband and I just pulled together what we think is going to be a really fun trip. It is something we have never done before. After being unsuccessful at getting a last minute cruise we had hoped for, we decided to head to Hollywood for some Television show tapings. After doing some research on the Internet we have tickets to three shows.

First on our agenda is The Price is Right. I tried to talk my husband into making ourselves shirts that read "Oldie-weds....Newly-retired" to wear to the show. No such luck! We have had fun talking about what we would like to win on the show and playing the game of would you rather win this or that questions. I learned he would rather win a new truck over a long romantic trip!

The following day we are going to the taping of the sitcom Gary Unmarried. We have never seen the show so I hope it is appropriate and funny. The following day....can you believe it? Dr. Phil! Who would of thought I would ever get my husband to the Dr. Phil show. I guess it helps that he won't be on stage. We may also be able to squeeze in the Tonight Show one of the nights.

We lined up hotels using Hotwire to get great deals and we "mapped quested" some of the restaurants we want to eat at. It is amazing what you can do from your home computer these days!

Talk about spontaneous....We'll be in Hollywood with about 48 hours notice. Sooooo not like us, but very exciting!

Collecting Ideas for My Next Grandkids Camp Out

2009-02-05T10:49:00.004-07:00

To keep a favorite tradition going I am in the creative stage of planning my next grandkids camp out. It usually happens in April before it gets too hot to sleep outdoors. I have been on the look out for fun activities and a new camping or outdoor skill of some sort to teach as part of our time together.

We have a few things that we keep each year as part of the tradition. Those include a night hike, roasting s'mores (over our gas bbq), helping Papa put up the tent, creating personal hand washing stations, and making their own foil dinners that we cook in the indoor oven.

I would like to add dutch oven cooking but that would require a very watchful eye to keep all of my little campers safe from the hot coals. Perhaps, my new camping skill could be fire safety & dutch oven cooking. I'm just wondering if I'm brave enough to give that a try.

The camp out starts in the early afternoon on a Friday once all of the kids are home from school. The kids then go home late the following morning usually for a much needed nap. Please share your ideas on any craft, activity, or cooking idea that would work for a camp out. I would love to hear your ideas!

Made From Scratch Pasta Dish

2009-02-04T18:37:00.002-07:00

What shall I call my creation? "Garlic Bow Tie Chicken Alfredo" How does that sound?

I have to say it turned out delicious and it could easily rival any dish at the Olive Garden!

My entire life as a homemaker I have shopped the grocery ads weekly and then I plan meals around what I have on hand. This practice has always served us well and we have eaten very well over the years on a modest grocery budget. This night was no exception. I wanted to find another way to fix chicken. So, looking through my pantry and in my produce drawers I came up with this combination and it really worked well. Three of us ate at home and we had leftovers the next. That was six meals for probably under five or six dollars. ( a $90 dollar value at Olive Garden.)

Because it was my first time and from scratch I don't have an exact recipe to share. I can only tell you my process and ingredients. I cooked my 1 pound box of bow tie pasta as directed. I cut up zuchinni, red pepper, carrots, spinach and three boneless skinless chicken breasts. I sauteed the vegetables (except spinach) in a small amount of olive oil just until tender crisp. I then added the chicken strips, stirring and turning for a quick cook. I then added the spinach and cooked until just a bit wilted. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Sauce: One stick butter, minced garlic, flour, and four cups milk to make a garlic white sauce. Once thickened season with a tablespoon of chicken bouillon, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and lots of parmesan cheese (I used canned).

The first night I put the drained hot pasta on the plate, topped with the chicken vegetable mix, then topped with the sauce and sprinkled it with more parmesan cheese. It was a beautiful presentation!

For leftovers the next night, I combined it all together in a skillet and heated it through. It was just as good but not quite as pretty.

The photo is of the leftovers the second night. I didn't know yet on the first night that it was photo and blog worthy until we had all cleaned our plates!

A Grandmas Box

2009-02-03T12:32:00.003-07:00

I heard a great idea this morning when reading another blog that I thought I would pass on. Another grandma shared that she has a "grandma box" where she keeps many of the things her grandchildren give her such as rocks, drawings, school programs that we attend, cards, and all of the little odds and end things (treasures) that they give us. I know we all make a fuss over these things when they are presented and maybe display them on our fridge or bulletin boards.

This grandma who shared her idea of the "grandma box" is thinking about making a strong impact on her grandchildren even after she is gone. She wants the box to be found by her family after her passing. She wants the things in the box to show the love she has for her grandchildren and the importance they were in her life. She also hopes that the box will bring back many memories of the time they shared here on earth.

Stay tuned: I will be creating my own "grandma box". I think it is a wonderful idea.

Blueberries "A New Favorite Thing"

2009-02-02T22:53:00.004-07:00

A few months ago I added blueberries to my diet. I eat at least one half cup a day. I love them on a bowl of cold whole grain cereal or mixed into a bowl of hot whole grain cereal. Both ways are absolutely delicious and I know I am doing something really good for my body and brain!

I decided to add them to my diet after my mother was diagnosed with dementia. In my reading on dementia I learned that they are a super food for the brain and that they have even been shown to repair brain damage. So, I added them to my diet as a preventive measure since the threat of dementia is now in my genes. Who knew I would fall in love with them!

I buy them frozen from Costco. They are a great deal compared to fresh in my local grocery stores (5 pound bag for just over $10). On my cold cereal I pour them on frozen. They thaw quickly and they make the milk very cold and oh so yummy. When I add them to my hot cereal I warm them up first in the microwave so that my cereal stays nice and hot.

Do you have any other healthy ways to add blueberries to your diet?

Blueberries are in fact "a new favorite thing!"

Forbidden Love

2009-02-01T19:40:00.003-07:00

Our male inside kitten Izzy ( a very large 7 month old) has been receiving a nightly visitor. She sits outdoors looking as pretty as she can just hoping he could join her outdoors for a bit of romance. I'm sure Izzy would love to join her but it is a forbidden love. We as cat owners don't want to be responsible for adding to the cat population and Izzy's mother (who is half the size of her kitten) strongly agrees with us. She is sitting right behind him on one of the chairs growling her disapproval of the nightly interest in her baby boy!

Boost Immune System and Go!

2009-01-28T20:44:00.003-07:00

My daughter's family has been sick for a week. High fevers, vomiting, sore throats, body aches, severe coughing, and sleepless nights. She had managed to stay well to take care of her husband and four children until it caught her too. Things quickly turn from bad to worse when the mom gets sick too. Reinforcement was needed!

They didn't want to ask for help because they knew it was highly contagious. Despite the risk, they needed outside help badly. I gladly offered my help and they accepted. I have always been very lucky in that I can take care of sick people and not catch it. (I just knocked on wood, just in case my luck in running out.)

In preparation for my day of active duty in the trenches of coughs, runny noses, fevers, body aches, sore throats, and vomiting I did all I could do to boost my immune system before going. I had a tall glass of orange juice with a high protein breakfast. I boosted my immune system with a multi-vitamin, Vitamin C, Zinc, and a heavy dose of Echinacea before leaving home. When I got home for the day I added a "nap" ... for an added boost to my immune system of course!

Although everyone was sick, it was nice to see my daughter able to rest and to take care of herself. The kids were very sweet. They were good at taking turns with "grandma" as I honored their requests to rub their feet, tickle their backs, fill their sippy cups, and to adjust their blankets and pillows.

I'm going to go visit my vitamin cabinet again before bedtime and wash them all down with another tall glass of OJ! I'll keep you posted on my how my string of luck is going.

No Pecking Order This Day

2009-01-28T20:18:00.003-07:00

We had this little guy for two days and a night to help out his mom and dad. I can't think of another time when he has had his Grandma and Papa all to himself. He was absolutely perfect during his stay with us. He slept good, he ate good, and he was as happy as he could be. He is number eight out of nine grandchildren and when all of the grandchildren are here together he is usually near the bottom of the pecking order for the toys, the treats, the favorite sippy cup, and for his turn to sit on the coveted stepping stool.

I have a bottom drawer with all of the plates, bowls, and cups for the little ones. I don't think he could believe his luck in getting any one he wanted. He got all of the toys to himself and even his choice of the blankets for bedtime. Bringing the step stool out was like a dream come true for the little guy. ALL of my grandchildren love this well used step stool and there is a clear pecking order (within the minds of the grandchildren) of who should get to sit on it. It was really fun to see him climb up and down and spend as much time as he wanted sitting on his thrown for the day.

Papa and I really enjoyed our two on one time with our adorable #8!

More Photo's From Our Sunday Walk with the Boys

2009-01-25T20:24:00.002-07:00

These photo's speak for themselves as do the ones in the next post. It took us one and a half hours to circle our block with two of our grandsons. We discussed, poked, kicked, took a closer look at, listened to, watched, and picked up and touched everything that was new and exciting in every muddy pool, crack, litter pile, hole, gully, dirt pile, and weed. They also became very resourceful since we left home with no containers to carry their finds.

More Photo's From Our Sunday Walk

2009-01-25T20:24:00.000-07:00

A Sunday Walk With Our Grandsons

2009-01-25T20:16:00.002-07:00

These photo's speak for themselves. This was a Sunday walk with two of our grandsons who just love to find and salvage treasures, learn new things from their Papa, they notice and investigate things in nature, and they take it all in with great excitement. When we were nearing home they said this was a really fun walk today. Papa and I agreed!

Five Star Event

2009-01-25T13:32:00.001-07:00

Last evening we shared in a bit of belated Christmas joy. Each of the adults in our family received tickets to the play "Lend me a Tenor" and a promise for dinner out before the show as part of our Christmas gift to them.

Everything went perfectly except that one of my son in laws was sick and unable to go with us. He was truly missed. Although the restaurant, a BBQ place was very busy we enjoyed visiting with one another as we waited to be served and seated. It was fun to see everyone's choices from the menu. There were plates piled with ribs and meat, buns piled high with tender and sweet pulled pork, baked potatoes nearly the size of a shoe box with all the toppings and a big scoop of BBQ meat on the top. There were sides of coleslaw, cheesy potatoes, beans, corn, applesauce, and more.

We sat outside on the patio and the weather was perfect. It was also much quieter outdoors so we could more easily visit with one another over dinner at our long shared table for 10.

The timing was perfect when we finished dinner just minutes before the doors opened for seating at the play. It was just a short walk to the theatre across the street.

The show was very good. It was well performed, funny, and very entertaining. We all enjoyed the performance. We all sat together so we were able to enjoy one another's laughter, quiet comments, and a treasured shared memory.

My husband and I were thrilled with the results of our evening out. It was just what we had in mind for our adult family members. As parents it is very rewarding to see your adult children enjoying shared time together and to know that each one of them made it a priority to be there with our family.

It is fun to get to see the adult kids having a night off from being mommy and daddy to my adorable grandchildren and getting to be just who they are and a date to their spouse. It is great fun to have the original family unit together and marvel at how well each one of our in law kids fit into our growing family unit.

This was not a five star event in the fact that we were all dressed up dining with china or attending a black tie Broadway play. It was a five star event for our family because our goals as a family were met as we enjoyed every single minute of time together. What more could parents ask for? Last night we received far more than we gave!

A Note of Gratitude

2009-01-24T09:22:00.001-07:00

This week I was on the receiving end of a very kind gesture. One of my nieces sent a note to thank my husband and I for the influence we have been in her life. She spoke of memories she had as a young girl and the influence we had had on her as parents to our four small children at the time. She said she decided at the time that it was what she wanted for her own future family. She shared that she implemented those things into her own family (of seven children) and that she has been very happy with the results.

Her memories were created from very simple things we did as parents. We had no idea of our influence at the time. She probably had no idea that her simple note of gratitude would be a great influence on me either.

Her note was an unexpected boost to my spirits and it reminded me of the importance of our influence on others. Most of all, it made me want to pay it forward and do the same for others.

Old Tricks Still Paying Off

2009-01-23T17:15:00.001-07:00

As a wife and mother I have followed the wonderful example of my parents of "a penny saved is a penny earned"! It has served my family well to live well within our modest means. We have never felt that we have gone without at any time. Our homes have been comfortable, I have never had to work, everyone has always had the clothing and shoes they needed, we have eaten well, we have never been without a savings, we were able to take a summer vacation every year with our four children, and we very thankfully have no debt.

Looking toward our retirement and the "fixed income" stage of our life I am very thankful for the frugality we have already lived and practiced. The old tricks of shopping the ads, using coupons, living within our means, and getting the most out of the store promotions for cash back, free gas cards, and free gift cards are all still paying off in a big way.

This week a trip to JC Penny netted us nearly $800 in savings while spending under $60. Those dollars purchased two adult ski jackets (value of $320), Four $80 holiday dresses (that we purchased for $5 ea.) for my granddaughters. (they will be birthday gifts throughout the year for the girls dress up box), and another $210 dollars of merchandise to add to the dress up birthday gifts for just $10 bucks!

Today on a trip to the grocery store I saved $84.39 and I spent just $28.30. I have been doing this sort of thing for the last 33 years to help our family get the most out of my husbands hard earned money. Our teamwork has payed off over the years. My husband worked at a job that he really disliked for over 30 years. His sacrifice and hard work gave his family a steady and secure income, great benefits, good hours for family life, and now a nice pension for the rest of our lives. His retirement is well deserved. I won't be retiring from my job which is and has always been to get the most for our money! He is now onboard and is using the old tricks with me. The payoff for us is both fun and a means to living well within our own financial means.

The Joy of Anticipation

2009-01-21T09:47:00.002-07:00

As part of our Christmas gifts to our family we purchased tickets for all of the adults to attend a stage production together. We also promised them dinner out before going to the theatre. Most importantly, my husband included a very heartfelt message from us along with our gift. The note shared our love for all of them and the realization of how busy all of our lives are. It spoke of the importance of family and the value that we put on our shared time together. A few tears were shed and calendars were marked with the priority being "family".

We are looking forward to this night out with our adult children. Schedules have been cleared and babysitters have be lined up. Oh, the joy of anticipation!

Family Birthday Roster

2009-01-20T21:31:00.001-07:00

My family has grown from six to eighteen in recent years. We currently have nine adults and nine kids in our growing family. It is getting harder to remember everyones birthdays as our numbers climb. We celebrate every single birthday as a family. To help us all remember birthdays I have created a Family Birthday Roster. This roster only lists the birthdays in our immediate family. You could certainly add extended family if you wish. The grandchildren that read love to read the roster to keep track of the upcoming birthdays too.

I work to keep the roster current as the new little ones come along or as we gain more in-law kids. The roster is just a quarter of a computer generated page that lists the birthdays by month, the date, and the name of the birthday person. I also decorate it a bit by adding some fun birthday graphics. I mount it on another piece of scrapbook card stock to create an 1/2" border on the edges. I then put a self sticking magnet on the back so that it can be stuck to the fridge or to a magnetic board in our homes for easy reference.

This has worked very well for our family. It is nice to have the reference handy and it is a good reminder of who's birthday is coming up next and that it is time to start thinking of our gift ideas!

Sample:

Our Family Birthday Roster

January.....16th Peter.....28th Sue

February...5th Bryan

March.......11th Chris.....19th Jack.....30th Pam

April..........

May...........3rd Tiffany

I did it this way so that I could get a lot of information into a small space. If we don't have any birthdays in a month I still listed the month so that all twelve months are there. As babies are born or a marriage adds an in-law son or daughter they can be easily penciled into any month until the birthday roster is updated.

This idea has served our family very well. So, if you have trouble remembering birthdays in your family please feel free to give this idea a try.

Five Minutes of Local Fame

2009-01-19T22:59:00.001-07:00

The Broadway Babies

2009-01-19T20:48:00.001-07:00

Introducing the Broadway Babies! Three of my granddaughters performed with their dance company at a recent community event. The two younger girls (far left in photos) are part of the Broadway Babies and the older sister (that I am very sad to say, I did not get a photo of because I ran out of memory) danced with the older dance team.

The family was out in force to support the girls in their first stage performance. Three of the boy cousins watched with admiration and excitement as the girls took the outdoor stage to perform their adorable and well rehearsed dance routines.

The girls were as cute as they could be and they felt like a million bucks. They had their first experience with stage make up and hair. They were all wearing jewels in their hair and matching glittering earrings as part of their dancing attire.

This grandma couldn't have been more proud of the girls for all of the practice they had put into learning the dances and for their courage to go on stage. I was also very proud of all those who attended to show their love and support to their granddaughters, nieces, and cousins!

Grandma Shelley's Road Trip to Vegas

2009-01-16T20:45:00.004-07:00

t

I know this is a bit off of topic for my blog but I wanted to share in another great thing about being a grandma with a newly retired Papa! Last minute invite to go to Vegas. Sure, we have the time....

A recent road trip to Vegas was so much fun. My daughter invited my husband and I to go on a business trip with her. We were more than happy to accept. She offered free transportation in a company rental car and complimentary lodging for three nights in a very fine hotel.

Each morning we dropped her off for a day of meetings at the Rio and my husband and I kept ourselves busy as tourists until it was time to pick her up. Some of the highlights of our trip included scoring half price show tickets, a breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet, and touring the beautiful hotels and casinos.

Our last night was so much fun. We picked up our daughter after her meetings and we headed for the dinner buffet. We chose the buffet at the Paris Hotel since it had been voted the best in Vegas for the last 3 years. We were not disappointed. It was a beautiful restaurant and the food was delicious and plentiful! We then hit the streets on foot to walk off our dinner and we toured the nearby hotels, casinos, and shopping. We really enjoyed the F.A.O. Shwartz Toy Store. We lost track of our time in there looking at and playing with the toys. They had a piano keyboard on the floor like they had in that Tom Hanks movie. My husband and daughter showed off their piano and coordination skills as they played some pretty impressive tunes with their feet.

One thing we really noticed in Vegas was a lot of honking of cars. There were double decker buses honking at hotel shuttles, shuttles honking at taxi's, and taxi's honking at passenger cars! It was crazy. I have never been to New York but I have always imagined the streets of NY being like that. We lost track of how many times we had been honked at for no good reason. It seems they hit their horn each time they have to hit their brakes.

We enjoyed the excitement of the city, the good food, the entertainment, and the sites but most of all we enjoyed the time we had with our daughter. (I guess I could somehow tie this in as a grandma story since she's the mom of three of my grandsons. ) We shared in some great conversations, we had many good laughs, and we created some lasting shared memories. We enjoyed seeing her in the role of businesswomen and in her excitement for learning new things. It was also very rewarding to see how she kept a constant pulse on what was going on at home with her sweet little family. It was very clear on where her priorities lie.

This was an opportunity for me to just be me, mom, and wife. There were no phone calls home to grandkids, no postcards home, and no time spent shopping for them. And somehow, I still had a really great time!

Road Trip to Vegas........A+ I have a very generous and thoughtful daughter! Thank you.

Grandma Shelley Goes to Vegas

2009-01-16T20:36:00.000-07:00