Grandma Stories» grandma and grandpa

Kids Luggage Suitcase Sets – Melissa and Doug Trunki – Disney Suitcases For Kids and Babies

Grandma — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 22:45:48 +0000

Kids luggage, specially designed suitcases for kids, babies and toddlers are very popular for children of all ages for travel or when going to Grandpa and Grandma’s house for a visit. Children enjoy having their own luggage to call their own and put their clothes and toys in when traveling out of town, and since Grandpa and I have grandchildren that enjoy visiting, we thought it would be a great idea to look for kids suitcases for sale that are age appropriate and in colors or designs the kids would enjoy.

Kids luggage come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Children’s suitcase styles include backpacks, duffel bags, kids rolling luggage with wheels attached and are the right size as carry on bags when travel requires flying on an airplane. With a new grand baby on the way, we’ve of course looked for baby luggage as well. When our soon-to-be born granddaughter is coming to visit or spend the day/weekend with Grandma and Grandpa, the cute little baby girl will come supplied with everything she’ll want or need for a fun stay.

The toddler suitcases we found for sale are so cute, from popular luggage brands like Samsonite, and the Disney suitcases and polka dot luggage sets for kids or babies are not very expensive at all. To make it easy for young children to lug around their suitcases, luggage makers have fortunately made rolling luggage for kids, toddlers and even babies in the cutest styles.

Melissa and Doug Trunki Kids Suitcases

Since there is a new grand baby on the way, we were happy to find specially designed baby luggage by Child to Cherish in pink or blue colors that says Ready or Not, Here I Come Grandma on the outside of the suitcase. The very popular brand Melissa & Doug luggage called Trunki, part luggage and part riding toy, is prefect for little kids and toddlers who might otherwise grow tired pulling their suitcase or walking through the airport.

Older kids might be happy with solid color luggage or any number of character themes, patterns and styles of kids suitcases, but after seeing how cute the Melissa and Doug Trunki suitcase is for girls and boys, our grandchildren will have fun riding on their suitcase as a scoot toy and have the benefits of very own luggage all rolled into one.

While I’m sure there are many suitcase brands for kids of all ages available for sale to choose from, Melissa and Doug toys and wooden toys, puzzles, toy kitchen and play food, kids crafts, train sets, drawing easel, puppets and blocks for kids, and the extremely popular Melissa and Doug dollhouse for little girls are all high quality, trusted products. It only makes sense that Melissa & Doug’s luggage for kids on wheels, that little girls and boys can ride on and play with, would also be a high quality product parents and grandparents can fully trust.

Our toddler size granddaughter is almost two years old now and she has fun playing with all of the Melissa & Doug toys she has received so far and will continue to receive for Christmas, birthdays or as just because gifts, and the same goes for our yet-to-be born granddaughter when she makes her appearance into the world. Melissa and Doug’s Trunki comes in several colors for boys and girls, including Trixie pink, Sunny orange, Ruby red, Terrance blue, Jade green and Iris purple.

Disney Luggage Bags For Kids

Disney bags and Disney luggage sets and sleeping bags for kids are also very popular suitcases, with a variety of Disney character themes that toddlers and kids love. Some of the best known Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Tinkerbell, Minnie Mouse, Little Mermaid, Disney Princess and the Frog, Winnie the Pooh and others are amongst the list of very popular kids rolling luggage, tags and backpacks.

With so many luggage options for little girls and boys, it’s sometimes hard to choose one over the other choices, especially when kids get a little older and become a tad picky. We’re nowhere near that kid stage with these little grandchildren being babies and toddlers, so until the children get old enough to voice their own preferences for a specific suitcase style or their parents choose their favorite, we’re going to go with Trunki by Melissa and Doug in pink and purple. Once the Trunki’s are received and tested out, maybe I’ll do a blog review about it.

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I’m Going To Be a Grandma Again! More Grandma Stories to Tell!

Grandma — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:28:27 +0000

Yep, I’m going to be a grandma again, and I’m so happy and excited since hearing the news, I can’t help but make an announcement on Grandma Stories! I still consider myself a new grandma, since my two grandchildren are still so young, but now we’re having grandchild number three! Grandpa and I are both beside ourselves with excitement at the upcoming birth of my third grandchild (his fourth), and I’m doing my best to control my desire to rush off to the baby stores and shop till I drop!

Even though I don’t have an official grandma name or nickname quite yet, it really does not matter if I chose a name for myself or not, because the grandchildren are going to ultimately decide on my/our nicknames. My grandchildren are so young, but starting to talk more at this point, so there is plenty of time for choosing grandma and grandpa nicknames. I can think of a whole variety of grandparent names to choose from for my/our grandchildren to call us that we would prefer, but when it’s all said and done, the grandkids will make the decision and I’m fine with that.

Calling me Grandma is just fine of course, but I’d prefer not to be called Nana because one of the other grandmothers is already called Nana and the baby’s are going to get confused figuring out who Nana 1 is and who Nana 2 is. One of my sons and his lady love are expecting our new grandchild sometime in May of next year, so there’s plenty of time to prepare and plan for the day of his or her birth. I’ve already seen sonogram pictures of the growing baby, but it’s still very early into the pregnancy, so more sonograms are sure to be taken.

Oh the fun we will have holding, loving, playing with, rocking in the rocking chair, singing lullabies and playing peek-a-boo, buying toys and gifts for this new little baby. Oh yeah, and spoiling him or her is on the top of my list, just like my other grandchildren, that’s for sure! Okay, spoiling within reason, but not over the top extravagant, where the parents might feel the need to tell me to pull back the reins a bit. Grandparenting is awesome!

Over the Christmas holiday this year, the pregnancy will most likely be far enough along where the happy parents will find out whether we’re having a healthy baby boy or girl. I already have a grandson and a granddaughter, so we have no particular wish for a boy vs. a girl baby, even though the parents are hoping to have a baby boy. Seeing my son holding and cradling my granddaughter when she was first born tells me it won’t matter at all if the baby is a girl or a boy, because he is going to be an excellent father either way.

It is very important to me as a Grandmother to be careful to respect boundaries and give the parents their rightful space to make their personal decisions together, and not over-step. That is not to say that as grandparents we won’t offer suggestions, recommendations and guidance when desired, but the ideas we share are just that, ideas and suggestions. The fact that I am a mother of six children myself, and Grandpa is a father of two, we both know a few things about pregnancy, childbirth, babies, two o’clock in the morning feedings, parenting etc, so any advice or suggestions we may give is always with the purest intentions.

I understand all too well the sometimes overwhelming thoughts, fears, concerns, feelings and emotions that run through the minds and hearts of new parents. First-time parents often experience a flood of self-doubt, as to whether they will be good mothers and fathers, and that is one area that Grandpa and I can be of help. As a matter of fact, I’ve already ordered my son Armin Brott’s book The Expectant Father, as it provides a lot of great information for brand new fathers to help answer all of the questions new dad’s ask and wonder about.

Of course, the baby’s mother also receives the very popular What to Expect When You’re Expecting book by Heidi Murkoff, with excellent information and pictures of each stage of pregnancy and more. Quick, someone hold me back from rushing off to Babies R Us and Toys R Us and buying up a bunch of baby stuff already! Oh my gosh! I’m going to be a Grandma again! I couldn’t be more excited and neither could Grandpa.

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50 Grandparents Day Gift Ideas in Celebration of Grandparents Day

Grandma — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:05:15 +0000

Getting ideas for Grandparents Day gifts for Grandma and Grandpa for National Grandparents Day this year can be easy if you simply ask the grandparents what they would like or need. Of course, the common response to the “What do grandparents want for Grandparents Day?” question is often answered with “a visit would be nice”.

Grandparents certainly love spending time with their grandchildren as often as possible, but many grandparents live out of state, or even far away in another country, which makes visiting regularly nearly impossible.

Even though “a visit” would be the most popular answer of what to give grandparents on their special holiday, the second favorite gift would usually be a recent photograph of the grandchild(ren) in a nice frame. Being grandparents ourselves, Grandpa and I have discovered the benefits and pleasure of having a couple electronic digital frames with hundreds of family pictures around the house. Not only do we enjoy seeing our kids and grandkids automatically rotate with the frames, but we also included vacation photos and a variety of family-related events and special memories captured on camera.

Grandparents Day Gifts

Grandparents living in an assisted living facility or nursing home often requires a little extra thought in what to give as a gift, as these places have their own sets of rules and guidelines due to limited or lack of space. Before deciding on what to buy a grandparent in a nursing home or assisted living environment, talk to the staff who take care of the grandparent to see what items would be most needed or desired.

Homemade gifts for Grandparents Day are especially enjoyed by many grandparents, made by the little hands of young kids making something unique just for Grandma and Grandpa. Not all grandparents are made the same, meaning that some grandma’s and grandpa’s are thrilled to receive just about anything made by a grandchild, while other grandparents won’t find a homemade macaroni on a string necklace or a spray painted coffee can very attractive.

Grandpa and I are amongst the first group: we’d be happy to receive just about anything made by our grandchildren, perhaps a personalized gift with a message or card that says “I love you”, or a small handmade clay handprint of grandchildren’s little hands. Most grandparents agree that things a grandparent does not want or need for Grandparents Day, Birthdays or Christmas etc, are gifts that require dusting and cleaning like knickknacks, or silly gag gifts that inevitably find its way into the trash.

50 Grandparents Day Gift Ideas

Digital Photo Frame
Books
Candies or Chocolates
Gourmet specialty coffee or tea
Board games or puzzles
Crossword puzzles, word search, sudoku
Craft kits
Classic movies on DVD
Personalized afghan or throw for Grandma/Grandpa
Pandora jewelry, Pandora bracelet or charms
Grandma’s Memory Book
Gardening tools and supplies
Cooking/grilling gadgets
Victorian silhouette picture of grandchild in black and white, mounted and framed
Hand painted flowerpot or vase
Tickets to a play or special event
Gift card to grandma and grandpa’s favorite restaurant
Homemade cake or cookies
Personalized calendar with birthdays, anniversaries, holidays already written
Gift cards for gas or groceries
Gift card for favorite department store or clothing store
IOU notes for landscaping, housecleaning, carpet cleaning, car washing
Phone cards for long distance
Pharmacy gift cards
Quilt or Afghan, new flannel bed sheets,
Electric blanket or electric throw for winter
Floral or herbal sachets to hang on doorknobs or in drawers
Audio books on tape, CD’s of favorite performers from their era
Beauty salon or nail salon gift certificates
Magazine subscriptions are especially appreciated by nursing home/assisted living residents
Gift baskets or homemade treat baskets
Homemade jar mixes with instruction card
Fragrant soaps and body lotions
Scrapbook photo collage of family and grandchildren
Portable CD player or iPod
New bathrobe and slippers
Homemade baked goods, desserts, jams and jellies
Aftershave, cologne
Personalized stationary with envelopes, pens, Stamps
Personal care essentials, nail clippers, etc
Ice cream toppings and nuts to pour on favorite ice cream flavors
Flavored popcorn
Relaxation spa treatment at local Spa
Easy-to-care for household plants
Sports fan gifts: golf, fishing, hunting, football, baseball etc
Take Grandpa to a football or hockey game
A year’s pass to national or state parks
Digital camera
Homemade “all about your life” book, including photos, memories and stories from the past
Webcam – Grandma’s, grandpa’s and great grandparents who are computer users LOVE having a webcam to see and speak to their kids and grandkids on interactive online video chat.

Get a little creative in your thought processes while trying to find grandparent gifts for new and older grandmas and grandpas, or over 70 year old grandparents and great grandparents. Gifts don’t need to be expensive at all, and most grandparents would not want their children or grandchildren over-spending on gifts. Remember, your time or “a visit” is the number one gift on most grandparents wish list.

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Valentine’s Day For Grandparents

Grandma — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:12:24 +0000

Valentine’s Day is a special holiday for sweethearts, friends, lovers, spouses etc and that includes grandparents, on February 14 of each year. Valentine’s Day for us this year will be spent visiting with our grandchildren and grown children, out of town. There will likely be the Valentine’s Day cards and small gift-giving, even if the gifts are very cheap from stores like Walmart or Target.

Valentine’s Day gifts for lovers or wives typically mean sending flowers of one kind or another, but considering how overpriced flowers are during the Valentine’s holiday, flowers just never cross our minds to give as a gift to each other. I don’t mind at all either because there is really no good reason I can think of to spend so much money on Valentine’s Day flower bouquets that are just going to die in a few days.

We’ll wait until we arrive at our destination, where the kids and grandkids live, before we embark on buying any cards or inexpensive gift of some kind. The most we will do gift-wise is probably just buy a small toy for the grandchildren and just give cards to the adult kids. Since the grandkids are still very young, any Valentine’s Day gift for him and her may end up being a little toy they can play with to their heart’s content.

Maybe, and it’s a big maybe, we might also give the grown kids a small box of Valentine’s Day heart candy or something similar, if they’re not already sold out at the local stores near our hotel. Valentine’s Day is at the very beginning of our Chicago vacation trip for a week’s visit with the grown children and grandchildren, so planning anything special to do on Valentine’s Day may be a little difficult depending on their work schedules and other family responsibilities.

There is of course the weather to consider as well, so we’re expecting to plan mostly indoor things to do while we’re in Chicago, and spend some time checking out some of the new businesses, fun venues and restaurants that have opened up since we were there last. If it weren’t for the fact that we’re spending Valentine’s Day out of town, playing and having fun with the kids and grandkids, I’d almost say that Valentine’s Day for grandparents is overrated. Why?

Because neither of us are interested in the over-commercialism (materialism) of many of the holidays, especially Valentines Day and Christmas, and just because we’re grandparents doesn’t mean we will make a big deal out of one more holiday pushed on consumers to spend, spend, spend. We’ll just go with inexpensive, cheap, cheaper and cheapest.

If I had the time and inclination to actually make some homemade gifts for Valentine’s Day, like winter scarves or gloves etc, making gifts could almost count as a free Valentine’s Day gift since yarn is so dirt cheap. Since I don’t know how to knit or crochet, nor do I care to learn how, we’ll just make a point of stopping in one of the local stores and pick up something appropriate for the holiday.

From what all the grown kids have said so far while planning this vacation trip, all they care about is having us there for the week and spending time together “hanging out” and doing a bunch of fun activities around town that are soft on the wallet. Theirs and ours, since they pay their own way to each of the places we go while we’re in town.

Our not being expected to pay their way for everything we do and places we go is a great bonus, and we greatly appreciate their pre-planning of their budget to leave some room for spending Valentine’s Day with the grandparents, with their own money. The hugs, kisses, tickles and laughter are all free gifts to each other, and those last a lot longer than some stupid bouquet of flowers anyway.

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GE Side By Side Refrigerator Freezer Problems and Recall

Grandma — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:47:36 +0000

We have a large General Electric (GE) side-by-side refrigerator freezer that suddenly and without warning broke down and quit working. At first Grandpa thought that maybe the problems were only with the freezer motor or blown fuse, since it appeared that the frig was still cooling. The lights inside still worked and the water line for the ice maker and water dispenser on the door still worked. It turns out that the refrigerator circuit board was giving us the problems and in need of repair or replacement, and both the refrigerator and freezer had died.

It figures that the refrigerator would break down on a weekend and we would have problems trying to reach a local service provider or repairman to come and fix the refrigerator for us. Then again, having refrigerator or freezer problems happen on a weekend is much better than if it happened during the work week or while on vacation. Fortunately, we still have a very old stand-up freezer in the garage so we were able to save all the frozen food, and didn’t have any problem keeping the food in the refrigerator cold and nothing was spoiled.

I started searching the net for information about GE refrigerator and freezer problems to try and narrow down the possibilities and reasons why the circuit board would die after just six years, and I found out that there was a circuit board recall in 2006 for several models including our exact model number! A recall of the main circuit board for several GE refrigerator/freezer models and we never got the memo. No letter. No phone call. Thanks GE, for nothing.

GE Refrigerator Master Control Circuit Board Recall

An official letter addressed to GE Customer Care Servicers, written and signed by GE’s National Service Manager Richard Zutterman, dated November 7, 2006 says:

“GE Consumer & Industrial places a very high priority on product quality and customer satisfaction and thus continuously assesses our product reliability. Recent analysis has discovered a potential problem with the main circuit board on a limited number of refrigerator models, which could lead to lower than anticipated life expectancy on that component. Therefore, if the main circuit board fails, GE Consumer & Industrial will replace this part free of charge to the consumer until further notice.”

Zutterman’s letter adds that the affected refrigerator/freezer models are side-by-side plastic liner, side-by-side metal liner, bottom freezer two door and bottom freezer French door styles. These models were produced between May 2005 and August 2006, with the HH-FL serial number range, and all are included in the recall program.

Interesting how this letter was provided to servicers directly, but I still want to know why we as a consumer and customer of GE never received any notice regarding a recall of the main circuit board. I have a pretty darn good guess as to why, but I’ll keep that to myself.

I found the General Electric appliance website to find local providers who could service the refrigerator free of charge because of the recall, wrote down the listed phone numbers in hopes that we’d be able to find someone on a Saturday to come and fix the refrigerator. That didn’t happen. I called the first GE phone number listed to register our complaint and was surprised to reach a human rather than a recorded message machine, and I can imagine the company rep wished she had taken the day off or called in sick.

I gave the lady rep the model number of our refrigerator and freezer (GSS25), also explaining what I had found about there being a circuit board recall on several models, so she put me on hold to check on that. She finally comes back and explains that IF there were a recall, we would have received a phone call, letter or email. Umm, yeah, right.

She then gives me a phone number to call for information on appliance recalls, but calling the number was a complete waste of time because the voice-recorded message was strictly about dishwashers – not refrigerators and/or freezers. There was no option given to “push zero for an operator” or anything like that. Thanks again GE, for nothing.

I printed off the recall information I found online so we can either fax or mail in copies of the invoice and receipt to get our money back from the stupid GE company, since they were oh-so-kind enough to inform us that our circuit board had been recalled several years ago. Not.

Luckily, Grandpa found a local GE parts store that had our circuit board in stock, at a cost of about $150.00 plus tax. We’ll be sending GE a bill this week for a full refund of our money, especially since the recall info said the “units may be in or out of the standard 1-year product warranty and both instances are covered under this concession program”. If you are having motherboard problems with your GE refrigerator/freezer, the link above will provide you the complete list of models and model numbers said to be included in the circuit board recall, phone and fax numbers etc.

Grandpa has to be one of the best do-it-yourself handyman geniuses on the planet and he had the refrigerator/freezer working perfectly in no time at all.

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Kids In The Kitchen Gooseberry Patch Cookbook Recipes

Grandma — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:00:10 +0000

The Gooseberry Patch cookbook for kids called Kids in the Kitchen includes recipes that kids of all ages, including preschoolers, toddlers and older kids can enjoy the fun of cooking in the kitchen with mom or dad, or even Grandma and Grandpa.

Kids need to be in the kitchen rather than being shooed away, so children can learn the basics of nutrition, healthy food choices, correct portion sizes and much more. Gooseberry Patch cookbooks are not just for adults, and as a Grandma who raised 6 kids and now has two grandchildren, I love the great ideas found in these cookbooks for kids.

Cooking with kids in the kitchen is a fun activity that should be encouraged rather than discouraged. The Kids in the Kitchen: Recipes for Fun cookbook was designed exclusively with little kids in mind, and the list of recipes found in this cookbook will help little chefs want to learn how to cook lots of good food!

Kids in the Kitchen Cookbook for Kids

This delightful Kids in the Kitchen cookbook is loaded with recipes and goodies kids can make themselves, like “breakfast banana split” and “easy-as-pie spaghetti bake” plus crafty recipes like “homemade face paint”. This children’s cookbook includes thoughtful safety reminders, fun facts and charming full-color artwork too. The wipeable cover and 80 durable pages is kid-friendly and makes a great gift for kids.

The recipes and fun ideas in this cookbook are all easy and quick for kids to prepare and make. A review of the cookbook says, “This cookbook is filled with a lot of wonderful recipes that the kids can really make and they taste great. There is also craft recipes; play clay, face paint, bubble mix, dog biscuits and Goopy goo. Our family has really had a lot of fun with this book—a must have!”

Another reviewer says, “I noticed the cookbook because of the cover and bought it and the monkey measuring spoons for my 8-year old granddaughter. The recipes are kid friendly. My favorite is the breakfast banana split. We love the recipes in the back for bubbles, goop, etc.”

The list of recipes in this kids cookbook goes on and on. Besides those already mentioned, other breakfast meal recipes include things like “toad in the hole”, “jam surprise muffins” and more. Snack recipes include “bagel pizza”, “ham & cheese roll-ups”, “baked French fries” and delectable dessert treats like “crispy monkey pops” that even little kids can make.

Dinner type meals include recipes like “Texas straw hats”, “baked mac & cheese”, “easy cheesy quesadillas”, “easy-as-pie spaghetti bake” and much more. Sections include Breakfast, Anytime Snack, Dinnertime, Desserts and Just For Fun. Little kids will be thrilled to use their imaginations to create new ideas, and there are also adorable kid sized small kitchen utensils like the monkey measuring spoons and the kids apron set that are just the right size for kids.

Kids in the Kitchen Year’round Fun Cookbook is another fun cookbook by Gooseberry Patch with kid-friendly recipes for celebrating year ’round holidays…Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day. You’ll even be ready for fun holidays like Friendship Day and Ice Cream Day. Kids will love the recipes for “funny-face pizzas”, “jungle malts”, “twistin’ tomato pasta” and “howlin’ good snack mix”…while parents and grandparents appreciate the safety tips to keep kids safe while cooking in the kitchen.

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Repairing Drywall Cracks in Textured Drywall

Grandma — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:00:40 +0000

Repairing drywall cracks in drywall, due to foundation settling from the extreme heat we get in Texas, started before my husband fell through the ceiling and we had to learn about repairing large ceiling holes in a textured ceiling. If you have ever had cracks in your foundation and needed to know how to fix or repair cracks in drywall, let me tell you right now, doing these repairs yourself is a pain in the butt.

Having to fix foundation cracks is a costly project, plus the cost of repairing or replacing broken brick on the exterior of the house, and replacing shrubs or bushes that were destroyed in the process. Getting our green grass to grow back again isn’t a big deal at all, and we’re not the least bit worried about regrowing grass right now. I know people who decided to fix their cracked foundation themselves, rather than hiring a foundation specialist to do the repairs, but that is one do-it-yourself project that has “Hell No” written all over it.

As a homeowner, doing repairs or home improvement projects comes with owning a house, that’s for sure. Being able to fix drywall cracks on the interior of the house ourselves, with the help of an experienced carpenter in the family, is saving us a lot of money in the long run.

Fortunately for us, we didn’t have to go far to learn how to patch drywall cracks, and I was happy and relieved to find out that do-it-yourself drywall repairs to repair damaged drywall doesn’t take very long to finish. If we didn’t have our own carpenter to rely on to help us repair the drywall, something tells me that our DIY project to patch the drywall plus taping, bedding, texturing, painting and finishing the walls would have brought on a lot of cussing and do-overs.

Foundation Problems Warning Signs

Cracks in the ceiling or walls

Separation of ceiling trim or crown molding

Cracks in interior walls near corners of doors or windows

Obvious cracks in exterior brick and mortar

Windows, doors and wall joints cracking and pulling away from each other

Doors that are sticking or have been shaven at the top

Door sill separates from the door frame

Cracks and/or leaks in and around the brick fireplace wall

Noticeable change in elevation or “slope” of the floor when walking

Cracks in ceramic tile

Tears, wrinkles or separating wallpaper

Previous or existing sheetrock repairs showing signs of curling or tearing

Windows that stick or are very difficult to open/close

Drywall nails popping out of sheetrock, gypsum board or corner frames

I don’t know all of the causes of foundation problems, but extreme heat is one we know all too well here in Texas. If we had to do all of this drywall work completely on our own, without our trusted carpenter to help us, there are “how-to” videos online that teach how to fix drywall cracks and even videos about how to tape drywall that would come in very handy.

I don’t know if it has anything to do with our foundation problem or is related at all to having to repair cracked drywall or not, but it seems odd that we had ant problems for a short time during this whole ordeal. As soon as the foundation was fixed, closed and sealed up, the ant problem disappeared completely.

I don’t know if these were just your ordinary household ants or if they were carpenter ants, but Grandpa mentioned something about Rasberry crazy ants being a big problem in Houston, Texas in recent years and that the crazy ant problem is spreading.

Oh great, just what we need. A crazy ant invasion taking over our homes and neighborhoods. Ick. Why I keep wanting to spell Rasberry ants as Raspberry crazy ants with a P, I don’t know, but who would have thought that repairing drywall cracks and fixing foundation problems would make me think of raspberry jelly? I crack myself up sometimes.

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Spiked Coffee Recipes Taste Better Than Beer

Grandma — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 04:53:08 +0000

We love drinking coffee and it’s not because of any health benefits derived from coffee. No, that would be too simple. Regular, home brewed coffee tastes good to me and Grandpa, but nothing tastes better than when we create our own recipes for spiked coffee. Spiked coffee, in all of its goodness, tastes a lot better than beer ever could.

Grandpa enjoys his crown and coke on occasion too, and we’re not opposed to doing a little wine tasting from time to time either, but neither of us are big drinkers either way. Getting together with friends over the holidays usually includes trying a new brand of wine with dinner, or as an after dinner drink, but I don’t think I’ll ever become accustomed to being a wine drinker.

There’s nothing wrong with drinking wine, if that’s your thing, but I’m more of a mixed drink type person. Margarita’s with Mexican food is an all-time favorite, but offer me a cup of coffee with Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlua or whiskey in it and it’s all good from there on. I’ve seen some spiked coffee recipes online that recommend adding vodka to coffee, but that’s one I haven’t tried. Yet.

Since it’s usually over the holidays that we’ll treat ourselves to a bit of the booze, it’s often disappointing to see the current price of buying Baileys at the liquor store. $45.00 for a bottle of Baileys Irish Cream is ridiculous, so this year we opted to make our own spiked coffee at home.

Make Your Own Spiked Coffee

Making your own spiked coffee is not only easy to do but is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying the ready-mix booze at the store, considering it only costs about $20.00 for a large bottle of whiskey that will last us for awhile. I don’t know how much Vodka costs at the liquor store, but I would guess Vodka is probably cheaper than buying Baileys or Kahlua, but I could be wrong since I’ve never bought Vodka before.

Anyway, if you like coffee, you will love spiked coffee. Here is a spiked coffee recipe we have in our collection. I’m providing measurements for each of the ingredients, but feel free to spike your coffee a bit more than the recipe calls for if you’re so inclined. If you like the taste of CrÃ¨me de Menthe, that’s another ingredient sometimes included in spiked coffee recipes, but I say no thanks to that idea. CrÃ¨me de Menthe has a disgusting taste, in my opinion.

Brazilian Coffee – Recipe
3/4 oz Coffee Liqueur
3/4 oz Brandy
3/4 oz Orange Liqueur
Fill with hot Black Coffee
Top with Whipped Cream
Sprinkle Brown Sugar on top (optional)

As a matter of fact, I’m drinking a cup of spiked coffee as I write this. All I did was pour a cup of hot coffee and then I added 2-3 tablespoons of our favorite coffee creamer (International Delight French Vanilla), then add about 2 tablespoons of whiskey and stir. Some people like their spiked coffee a little more spiked than I do.

Note: I don’t know your thoughts on the difference between instant coffee and home brewed coffee, but there is no way I would even consider drinking instant, let alone make spiked coffee using instant coffee granules etc. Why would you want to ruin a good tasting recipe with instant coffee anyway?

One more thing – I don’t like the taste of whiskey by itself, so if I go much heavier on the whiskey than that, all I taste is the whiskey. How anyone can stand the taste of Scotch, Whiskey or Vodka straight out of the bottle I’ll never understand. Ick.

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Funny Grandma Quotes and Grandma Grandpa Sayings

Grandma — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:41:23 +0000

As a Grandma, I have a good laugh when I read clean jokes about grandma’s and grandpa’s, but dirty grandma jokes have never impressed me or made me laugh. Humor is good for the soul and no matter how old you get, we can all appreciate a good clean joke or poems about grandma’s and grandpa’s.

Just for fun, I thought I’d share some funny Grandma and Grandpa jokes I’ve come across, as well as several grandparent one-liner’s and sayings. I hope you enjoy these jokes as much as I have. Feel free to share your own favorite quotes about being a grandparent in the comment section below.

Funny Grandma Quotes

“The reason grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is that they have a common enemy.” Sam Levenson

“There are few things more satisfying than seeing your children have teenagers of their own.” Doug Larson

“My grandmother was a very tough woman. She buried three husbands and two of them were just napping.” Rita Rudner

“You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She’s 97 today and we don’t know where the hell she is.” Ellen DeGeneres

“My husband’s granny is 87 and she just got two hearing aids and cataracts removed from both eyes. I tell her we’re going to fix her up just a little more and then sell her.” Tina Fey

“My grandmother lives in Florida now. She just moved, which is great because we thought the coma was permanent.” Myq Kaplan

“I was going to be a nice guy and mow my grandmother’s grass, but then I thought, ‘Hey, the cemetery takes care of that.’” Ken Ferguson

Grandma Grandpa Sayings

“The simplest toy, one which even the youngest child can operate, is called a grandparent.” Sam Levenson

“To me old age is always fifteen years older than I am.” Bernard Baruch

“Just about the time a woman thinks her work is done, she becomes a Grandmother.” Anonymous

“The reason grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is that they have a common enemy.” Sam Levenson

“To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent – that is to triumph over old age.” Thomas Bailey Aldrich

“Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present and future.” Gail Lumet Buckley

“If nothing is going well, call your grandmother.” Italian Proverb

“When a child is born, so are grandmothers.” Judith Levy

“Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.” Alex Haley

“I wish I had the energy that my grandchildren have – if only for self-defense.” Gene Perret

“Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild.” Welsh Proverb

“Grandparents who want to be truly helpful will do well to keep their mouths shut and their opinions to themselves until these are requested.” T Berry Brazelton

“They say genes skip generations. Maybe that’s why grandparents find their grandchildren so likeable.” Joan McIntosh

“Few things are more delightful than grandchildren fighting over your lap.” Doug Larson

“The idea that no one is perfect is a view most commonly held by people with no grandchildren.” Doug Larson

“When grandparents enter the door, discipline flies out the window.” Ogden Nash

“Grandmother-grandchild relationships are simple. Grandmas are short on criticism and long on love.” Unknown

“Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.” Alex Haley

“A grandma’s name is little less in love than is the doting title of a mother.” William Shakespeare

“A grandmother is a babysitter who watches the kids instead of the television.” Unknown

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Christmas Gifts For Grandparents-Homemade Christmas Gifts For Grandparents

Grandma — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:59:00 +0000

Being a grandparent is one of the greatest joys in life, and when Christmastime rolls around, finding special Christmas gifts for grandparents can sometimes be challenging. Most grandmas and grandpas fall into the category of being grandparents who have everything they need or want already, and most grandparents will tell you not to buy them a Christmas gift that requires a lot of attention, dusting, or money.

For a grandparent who has everything, there are still many options in choosing creative and unique presents for grandparents that don’t cost a lot of money. Grandparents understand the financial strain that the economy is having on families struggling to provide for themselves and their children, and grandma and grandpa gifts don’t need to be expensive.

Christmas presents for grandparents that are homemade are some of the best gifts anyone would be thrilled to receive, especially when the gift carries some special meaning and sentiment between the grandparent and gift-giver. Grandchildren can make homemade Christmas ornaments that have been hand-decorated with their name, age and date as a creative and cheap gift for Granny and Pop Pop.

Gift baskets for grandparents that contain sweet treats, cookies, candies, chocolates, gourmet coffee and tea, bath products and other cheap additions are an excellent gift idea for grandparents that won’t break the bank.

Homemade Christmas gifts from your kitchen can be given as gifts in a jar such as muffins, breads, hot cocoa, dry soup mixes, brownie mixes and other tasty treats that are layered in mason jars and decorated with Christmas ribbon and recipe instruction note cards.

Many grandparents have gone digital and are quite computer savvy. If Granny or Grandpapa enjoy sending cards to family and friends, consider buying the Hallmark Card Studio software where printable cards can be created and printed right from the computer! That’s a time-saving, cost effective way of giving cards throughout the year.

Out of all the gift ideas that grandparents could suggest, there aren’t many that would suggest giving Grandma or Grandpa a new puppy or kitten. Some grandparents might be thrilled to be surprised with the gift of a new pet, but other grandparents may not wish to be responsible for feeding and taking care of a pet at this stage in their lives. If in doubt, always ask a grandparent about their interest in having a new dog or cat to love and take care of before buying or adopting a pet for a grandparent.

The best Christmas gift grandparents of all ages would enjoy is the gift of time spent with children and grandchildren. Pull out some of the old classic board games, card games or dominoes the family used to play together, take some family photos of everyone having a good time together and create some lasting memories with the pictures being placed in a digital photo frame for grandma and grandpa to enjoy.

There are many Christmas crafts for grandparents who are crafty and like to make things with their hands, so consider your grandparents interests and hobbies when deciding on a Christmas gift. Does Grandma like to sew, knit or crochet? Is Granny active or more sedentary? Does Grandpa enjoy fishing, hunting or sports like golf? Make your grandparents a homemade shadow box of their favorite things to do, or a shadow box of their accomplishments, awards and achievements from days gone by as a treasured Christmas gift.

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