August 24, 2010

Kiss, Kiss

I sure have missed PDub these last few days. He breezed through here a few weekends ago just long enough to play outside with Grammy a little bit. We ran up and down and INTO hills. We watched truck, cars, and motorcycles drive past. We played with the little red wagon. And in those too brief moments, I felt a calm and peace that only comes from spending time with PDub and sharing his wonderment at the smallest of discoveries.  He saw for the first time a little clay rabbit hidden in the straw beneath the pines.  Oooh! He exclaimed.  And then a clay chipmunk. Oooh! again.

Since then, PDub and I have been much too busy.  He is in a new school and I am in a new school and it is just enough to make a body...well...just plain exhausted.

At times like these, a comforting kiss, a gentle hug, an encouraging word...they can make a big difference in someone's day.  I thought of a book that helps when life gets busy or big changes come along and you don't know what you're doing, who you'll know, or whether you will like them or they will like you. 

The Kissing Hand

The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn, was written to comfort her own daughter at the start of school.  Audrey had noticed a mother raccoon kiss the cub's hand.  The cub then rubbed the kiss on its own mouth.  And that inspired Audrey to try the same thing with her daughter.  I think PDub would like this book.  I think about the way we pretended to take little hats off a page and place them on each other's head.  I can see him accepting a kiss and taking it with him in his sweet little hand to school each day.  I can also see him giving his mommy a kiss to take with her.  Who will you give a kiss to today?  Need one for yourself?  Here it is.

~X~

August 20, 2010

Grammy's Got a Brand New Blog!

I'm so excited!  I just can't hide it!

Look! Look! Look!

I have my very own custom blog design!

Check it all out!

I enlisted the services of Amy at Designer Blogs to design a blog that would be cheerful, but not too ABC-ish.  I wanted everything coordinated: the backgrounds, the fonts, the dividers, the header, the sidebar.  I dreamed of special touches like a button others would find cute enough to use on their own blog sites.  I wanted pictures to be framed.  And I wanted a signature!  I am so happy with the results, I just had to brag share!

Whatcha think?!  Love it, don't you?!

Blush~

August 15, 2010

Hooray for Hollywood!


Today, PDUb got a taste of the big screen for the very first time.  Mama and Daddy at Law met Aunt Cat and Uncle Jaybird at the theater to see Despicable Me.  In 3D, of course.

Now, when Mama at Law told PDub what the plan was, he was just as excited about seeing Aunt Cat as he was about the movie.  She is a star in his eyes!

The first thing PDub's parents found out was that he was not heavy enough to hold the seat down.  So he got folded up...oops! Daddy at Law rounded up a booster seat and with Twizzlers in hand, he was all set.  Except Aunt Cat was not there yet.  So, every few minutes, he checked with his mama.  Yes, Aunt Cat is coming, she reassured him. 

When Aunt Cat finally arrived, PDub kept taking off his glasses and waving to her. Correction: PDub gave her multiple SHOUT OUTs! She would wave back and point to the movie to get him to watch.   This repeated itself several times until Mama at Law finally offered to let him sit with Aunt Cat.  Yeah, sure!

Despicable Me Deluxe 10 Inch Plush Figure Minion DaveI asked how PDub liked the movie, and Mama at Law said he liked one part that showed a big moon.  (He always points out the moon when he sees it!)  And there was one part where the little yellow minions photocopy their rear ends and giggle.  PDub thought that was funny, too.  Who laughed loudest?  Uncle Jaybird, of course!
As for Mama at Law, she said it was one worth waiting for the release on dvd.  But they had fun, and it was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon.


PDub lasted until almost the very end and finally had to get up and go play in the lobby like any two year old high on Twizzlers is bound to do.  She said he just ran around in circles.  Maybe I should go eat some Twizzlers right now and head out for my run.

See you in the movies!
~Grammy

August 9, 2010

And the Award Goes To...

ME!  Little ole ME!  My heartfelt thanks to Kristina over at The Churchill Family and Life As We Know It blog.  Blog awards, for those of you who just enjoy browsing blogs for your reading pleasure, are a blogger's way of saying, "Nice job!" "Way to go!"  "Look at her!"  I can never get enough of that kind of recognition.  Yes, I write to journal my adventures with my grandchildren, but I love my readers and I really want them to feel like stopping by the blog was worth their time and something they will do again and again.  I also love comments here as well as in person by folks who read it but don't want to comment publicly. I thank all of you for tagging along. So, thanks, Kristina! Go check out Kristina's blog.  She has the cutest kiddos, and she also has beautiful photography and poetry from her everyday life that will encourage and inspire you.

Here are the Rules for this award:
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave it to you.
2. Share SEVEN things about yourself.
3. Pass the award on to 15 bloggers who you recently discovered, and who you think are totally awesome.
4. Contact the bloggers and let them know that they have won.
So here I go with seven earth shaking, life changing, can't believe she said that...things about me.
  • I have tried to retire twice.  It never works.  I am too restless and broke to stay at home all day doing nothing.  (which is what I do given my distaste for cooking and housework)
  • That lead to this. I just returned to teaching, except this time I will be a working in a virtual school as a virtual special educator.  I am really (not virtually) excited about it!
  • I am afraid of knives.  No reason for it.  Just a random fear.
  • I live vicariously through my two daughters, which makes me beautiful, smart, an attorney, and a runner. Thank you, girls!
  • I just directed a wedding. What an honor!
  • I have had some very trying times in my life and I wouldn't trade them for the world.  How would I know how to fully appreciate the calm or joyful times otherwise?
  • I married my husband of (almost)33 years just 13 weeks after I met him. And that has made all the difference in my life. 
Now since I will be busy getting myself in gear for the new school year, it's a perfect time to let you browse some of my favorite blogs.  Come back later when I have more time to share what Grammy and PDub have been reading.

The World from My Basement is a blog written by someone I actually know.  She is so talented and you will love her monogram shop.  You can thank me later.

I love parties.  She makes me want to have one every month! Visit Attention 2 Detail for inspiration.

Readers who enjoy deals and especially those who may live in the low country area of SC need to follow soireesandshenanigans for some heads up about some sweet deals.  She also has another blog about a sweet little baby on the way, so this is a two-fer.

Book Buddies to check out.  You will not be disappointed!
Brimful Curiosities
Vintage Children's Books
Silly Eagle Books
Happy Birthday, Author

Mommy bloggers:
Cultivating Rosebuds
Mommie Cooks
Mommy Teacher 123
Our Abby
Just a Mom, Reading to My Kids
Making Lemonade

Craftier than Crafty!  The Seasoned Homemaker puts me to shame.

Last, but not least, The Green Hanger Shop!  My other blog and business undertaking.  You didn't think I would pass up a chance for a little more self promotion, did you?!

Humbly
~Grammy

August 2, 2010

Potty Time!

Potty!
This is a potty tale based
on a Cinderella plot.
Warning: This post is rated PT: Potty Training  May contain words like pee, poop, and bookey(boo-key)
Mama at Law had breaking news for me yesterday.  She had just purchased three sets of Thomas the Train underwear, size 4T, and three pairs of easy on, easy off shorts and was ready for potty training to commence starting today!


Disney Pixar Cars Rev and Go Potty System
This is called a potty system.
A system...really?
This shouldn't come as a complete shock to PDub.  She bought him a potty some months back.  He commenced to take it apart and put it back together, take it apart, and put it back together, take it...yeah, you get the idea.  It was one big ole toy.  An editorial note here, potties today are ridiculous.  They play music and have lights and talk to you.  How many of you sit on toilets that do that?  I say bring back the little wooden chair with the pot underneath that does nothing but catch number one and number two.   If you want to have a bunny decal on the back of it, okay, but no music, faces, or lights!  This is the potty, not Vegas. Back to the potty, though.  PDub has actually managed to hit the mark a time or two, but he has remained in diapers up to now.

When he moved into the two year old room at daycare, the first thing Mama at Law noticed was the lack of diaper cubbies and the presence of potties.  When she picked PDub up last week, he had managed to poop in the potty for the very first time.  Oh, the joy!

So, with the teacher's encouragement, PDub is going to quit diapers cold turkey this week.  Mama at Law washed all his new drudies last night and even let him try on a pair.  Ah, warm undie...makes you want to...oh no, wait, PDub!

Gives you a warm feeling, doesn't it?
~Grammy