Declan and the dastardly deed

/
Declan and the dastardly deed

I was chatting on the phone with my daughter Megan one day last week when out of the blue she exclaims, "Whoa! There's a tarantula in the fridge!"

What?

"Yeah, I just opened the fridge and forgot I had put it there!"

Read More

BTS 2018: School boys and other stuff

/
BTS 2018: School boys and other stuff

My three desert-dwelling grandsons started school on Tuesday. Declan delighted in taking part in first-day photos for the first time as he began half-day preschool the same morning his brothers headed to big-boy school. This year Camden is a first-grader, and Brayden—believe it or not …

Read More

If you give a grandma a gift

/
If you give a grandma a gift

Most kids know what happens if you give a mouse a cookie. Perhaps nearly as many know what happens if you give a pig a pancake. How many, though, know just what happens if you give a grandma a gift? In particular, if you give a long-distance grandma who's been oh-so lonesome for her grandsons the most heartfelt gift they've ever given?

My grandsons recently learned what happens if you give such a grandma such a gift. And trust me, it wasn't pretty.

Read More

Grandma challenge: How full can she fill forty-four hours?

/
Grandma challenge: How full can she fill forty-four hours?

My desert-dwelling grandsons and their parents visited my house last week—for forty-four hours. The family had taken a road trip to Vail for a wedding, and Jim and I were fortunate they fit in a stop at our place on their way back home.

I was thrilled to host them and was determined to squish as much into the visit as possible, unsure of when I'd see Brayden, Camden, and Declan (as well as Megan and Preston, too) again.

As all three boys have birthdays in June…

Read More

Who are these boys?

/
Who are these boys?

And how did they get so big?

The 2017-2018 school year officially ended for my grandsons Brayden and Camden yesterday.

I last saw my desert-dwelling grandsons in person last December, so the end-of-year photo Megan shared on social media of the accomplished kiddos—that I pilfered and pertied up with kudos—left me…

Read More

Like father, like son... and son... and son

/
Like father, like son... and son... and son

"A father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you are." ~ anonymous

My son-in-law Preston works out in the mornings before he goes to work. Last week my grandsons joined Dad in doing a few pushups—before school, before even changing out of their pajamas.

The photo Megan shared on social media…

Read More

Throwback Thursday: Entertaining grandkids... 3 sure things

/
Throwback Thursday: Entertaining grandkids... 3 sure things

This #TBT piece originally published May 18, 2016 on Grandma's Briefs. Thank you for reading!

As a long-distance grandma with visits being few and far between, I feel obligated to provide memorable merriment for my three grandsons each time I see them. I put careful consideration into packing my grandma bag with goodies and games and crafty ideas galore.

Sometimes the magical makings I lug 800 miles to my grandsons' door elicit exactly the enjoyment I'd hoped. Sometimes they fail. Especially if picking a Pinterest activity to try together without trying it first myself.

When I visited Bubby, Mac, and Jak last month, I failed at more than a few things. On the other hand, there were…

Read More

When you really love ice cream

/
When you really love ice cream

When you really love ice cream!

At the start of last week's GRAND Social post, I shared with you my oh-so sad grandson Declan who oh-so-badly wanted to go to Disneyland.

Now, that video may misrepresent that particular grandkiddo a smidgen, as sad is oh-so far from Declan's typical disposition.

So today, at the start of this week's GRAND Social, I share with you a shot—four, actually—that better show the more common, more comedic side of my wacky youngest grandson.

Read More

When you really wanna go to Disneyland! Plus, GRAND Social No. 299 linky for grandparents

/
When you really wanna go to Disneyland! Plus, GRAND Social No. 299 linky for grandparents

When you really wanna go to Disneyland!

My youngest grandson, Declan, enjoyed the family visit to Disneyland in February so, so much.

Now the nearly four-year-old wants to go again.

Like, really wants to go again.

Right now!

Read More