Watch my FIRST how-to video and learn some tricks and tips for making gingerbread houses with kids. So much FUN!!
Peanut Butter Popcorn
We LOVE popcorn at our house! My husband’s favorite is plain old buttered and salted, but I have a sweet tooth so give me some sugar. One that we both love along with all of our kids and grandkids is Peanut Butter Popcorn. It is super easy and fast to make and is great to make ahead and take camping or to any family activity. Wherever we take it people rave and ask for the recipe. Thanks to my Canadian roommate from thirty years ago at Ricks College for this one!
Pop three bags of microwave popcorn and put into a LARGE bowl. While it is cooling put 1 cup peanut butter (we prefer the chunky for the texture but smooth works fine), 1 cup white corn syrup, and 1/2 cup white sugar in a saucepan. Slowly warm it up while constantly stirring. Keep cooking it until all of the sugar dissolves and the sauce is creamy. Pour it directly over the popcorn and stir it all together. YUMMY!!
One of the great things about this recipe is that it is easy to modify how sticky you like it just by only using two or two and a half bags of popcorn. And it is simple to make a smaller or bigger batch. Just remember…two parts peanut butter, two parts corn syrup, and one part sugar with as much popcorn as you prefer. Put his one in your recipe box and be sure to send your friends to my website for this and other fun ideas.
Why Thanksgiving is the Perfect Holiday
It used to bother me that stores would start to put up their Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving. Now they don’t even wait until Halloween is over. Pumpkins and goblins go down and Santa Claus goes up by the middle of October. But I have decided not to let it annoy me anymore. In fact, I LOVE that no one decorates for Thanksgiving. It is just one of the things that make it the purest holiday of the year.
Thanksgiving is the only major holiday that has absolutely no commercialization and that is why it is my favorite. The only money people spend on this day is for fabulous food and gas to get to grandma’s house. It is the holiday that is about all of my favorite things…family, faith, food, fun, and football. (Well, that’s my husband’s favorite!)
The biggest stresses on this day of gratitude are who is going to cook the turkey and which team will win the big game. What a concept…to pause on this special day to give thanks and ponder how truly blessed we are. I would venture to say that more prayers are offered on this one day as families gather around their table than on any other single day of the year.
My Dad is one of eight children and until a couple of years ago they all would gather with their kids and grandkids for Thanksgiving dinner. Because of the large number of family members, we would use the church’s gymnasium and set up a feast with all the fixin’s on one end and a volleyball net on the other. After the turkey and pies were all cleared up, we would play volleyball. Aunts and uncles and cousins of all ages and sizes would play together and cheer each other on. It was our special family tradition and we loved it.
The families have grown and moved away and some have passed on since then. Now each family celebrates in their own way, but those memories are vivid and real to me. I can hear the chatter of aunts working in the kitchen. I can smell the roasting turkey. I can see the myriad of different pies lined up on the banquet table. But most of all, I can feel the warm hugs of family I haven’t seen for months. That is what Thanksgiving is really about, and that is why it is the best holiday of the year.
Low Tech Granny in a High Tech World
I am a full time student in college at the age of 55 and there are serious issues when attending school at a university that doesn’t speak the same language I do. That’s right, all of my professors and fellow students speak “technology” and it is a completely foreign language to me.
In one of my classes we had to do a huge team project and as usual I was the oldest member of the group. The other kids thought it would be easiest to do it in Google docs. Google what? I am barely used to using “google” as a verb, and now it has docs! And when did “google” become a verb anyway?
Cell phones are another big issue for me. Until recently I only had a basic one I could make calls with. I finally learned to text and was so proud of myself. I never did figure out how to take pictures with the thing though. For my birthday a couple of months ago I got an Iphone. It’s great! Now I can call, text, AND take pictures. No apps. No games. No GPS. Baby steps for this girl. Like my fellow grandma friend says, “I just wasn’t born with a chip!”
I am continuing to make progress though. The other day I decided to text my husband as I walked to my car in the parking lot. I see students doing it all day – texting as they walk through the crowded halls of the school. And I did a pretty good job…until I ended up in a flower bed! Yup, I’ve still got a few more details to work out until I am fluent at this technology thing.
My theory is that kids today are “native speakers” of all things electronic. I, on the other hand, am a traveler in a foreign land. Hopefully the longer I visit, the more fluent I will become. It may take a while though, and I am sure by then Google will have had other babies that I am supposed to know how to use.
My Little Girl’s Shocking Confession
I was pregnant with my fourth child and had three other children ages four, five, and six. At the time I was also teaching a women’s group at church. The topic of the lesson this particular month was, “Teaching Children About the Power of Procreation”. My husband and I decided it was a good time to begin explaining things to our little ones on a child’s level, so we had a special Family Night lesson about it.
I found a wonderful children’s book on the subject at the library with just the appropriate level of information for our kids. The book sweetly explained how flowers are pollinated and how dogs have puppies by using plain language and precious drawings. On the last page it had a cute sketch of a Mommy and Daddy lying under the covers in their bed. The book very delicately described that this was how babies come into Mommies’ tummies. We wanted to keep it simple, but also use this as a teaching moment to explain that sex is something we only do AFTER we are married because it is so special. We felt good about how the children reacted and were sure we had taught them well.
The next week, my four year old daughter had a little neighbor boy over to play. They were the same age, knew each other from church, and always got along perfectly. One of their favorite things was to play house using a little tent-like covering over our card table. They had a great time. After a couple of hours, we took her friend home and immediately I could tell something was bothering my sweet girl. She didn’t want to talk about it at first, but when her solemn behavior continued, I questioned her again. Looking up into my eyes, this little angel started to cry and suddenly sobbed, “I…..HAD…..SEX!”
Once I started breathing again, I sat down and put her on my lap. I tried to remain calm and find out exactly what had happened. Apparently my husband and I had missed a couple of crucial details. She thought she and her friend had sex because they laid down together under a blanket! WHEW!! Never a dull moment raising kids.
What to Have for Dinner If You Hate to Cook
At three meals a day for 34 years with a family of six, I have cooked almost 225,000 meals. Okay, that’s a lie. My husband does cook Sunday dinner every week and at least one other night a week. (Yup, he’s a keeper!) I must confess I also beg him to take me out to dinner as often as possible. If you also take into consideration that as soon as my kids were old enough to get themselves a bowl of cereal I quit cooking breakfast for them, that number is probably a gross exaggeration. Suffice it to say I have cooked at least 10,000 meals since I have been married. That’s still a lot, right??
Now with just my hubby and I at home, we do our best to spend as little time as possible in the kitchen. That is why we absolutely love this quick dinner. And it is delicious to boot! We call it “CHILI SALAD.”
Put a large handful of torn lettuce on two plates. Top that with some regular size Fritos. Now heat up a can of chili in the microwave and put about half on each salad. Sprinkle some grated cheddar cheese over the hot chili. If you like onions, put some sliced purple ones on top. Ranch dressing completes this yummy dish. This meal uses just one bowl and takes about FIVE minutes to make. What’s not to like?
How to Lose Infertile Friends in Ten Ways
We just found out that my daughter and her husband are NOT pregnant…again. They have been going through infertility treatments for over a year and it is heartbreaking. It’s made me realize I have been guilty of “infertility insensitivity” in the past and I am pretty sure I am not alone. We are hoping and praying for a happy ending just like “How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days”, but in the meantime here is a list of things NOT to say to a couple with fertility problems and what to do instead.
“When are you going to have kids?” Like it is any of our business anyway. Be the kind of friend that lets them share their grief with you when and if they want to.
“Just have faith.” Because we don’t think they already do or what? Telling an infertile couple this is actually a slap in the face because it is taking every bit of faith and hope they have just to keep trying. Instead, acknowledge how much you admire them and let them know you are praying for them.
“Relax and it will happen.” We have all heard those stories of people who got pregnant right after they adopted a baby, and they are nice but not helpful. Have you ever tried to relax when someone is telling you to? You go relax!
“At least it’s fun trying” …said no infertile couple EVER!! The romance leaves when there is an objective to sex. When the shots and bills and medication and thermometers start, the fun has ended. Validate their feelings and listen with your heart.
“Enjoy being just the two of you.” Obviously they must like each other or they wouldn’t be married, much less wanting to have a family. Infertility can take a toll on a relationship so let them know you are there for them by giving them a gift card or tickets for a fun date night.
“Everything happens for a reason.” Advice isn’t what they need. Send a card like one my daughter got from a friend that just said, “If one more person tells me to hang in there….” Keep it light.
“I understand how you feel.” No. You don’t. Period. Everyone’s story is different even if you have gone through infertility challenges. And infertility situations are all different, so just share your love and support.
“Haven’t you figured out how it works yet?” Actually infertile couples probably know more about how “it works” than anyone else in their lives. Don’t even go there with this one. It isn’t funny and it is very hurtful.
“You’re lucky you don’t have kids.” Couples struggling with fertility would LOVE to be dealing with morning sickness, colic, poopy diapers and all the rest. Be grateful if you do have kids and leave it at that.
“It will all work out.” That is their hope and dream, but it is expensive. Help it happen by saying, “Here is $10,000 for your baby fund”!
The Marble Fun Run
In my opinion the words “fun” and “run” should NEVER be used in the same sentence, but I must admit this is one exception I would make. The Marble Fun Run involves no jogging or sprinting whatsoever. Maybe that’s why I like it so much!
During our visit to see our long-distance grandkids in Tennessee we wanted to create some memories and we had to do it on a budget. The Marble Fun Run was perfect! It was inexpensive and we had a blast for hours. And it was great for our little homeschoolers too. How often does a six year old get to learn about inertia and momentum?
Get two 6′ long tubes of foam pipe insulation from your local hardware store. We got 1-1/4″ width with 3/8″ thickness but there are other sizes that should work fine. These cost less than $2 each. Cut them both in half lengthwise to create FOUR 6′ long miniature “half pipes” to form the track. Use masking tape or duct tape to connect them together end to end. Make sure the tape is formed as flat as possible to the curve of the foam so it doesn’t slow down the fun.
You will now have 24′ of track to play with, but don’t worry – just put it down the hall or into the next room to make it fit. You can make it shorter, but by the time you start looping and curving you want all the length you can manage. Get some marbles at any dollar store year round. (The big box store we tried didn’t have any because apparently marbles are a “Seasonal Item”. Who knew?) We got a bag of 100 for $1…SCORE!! This whole project cost less than five bucks! Yippee!
Now the action really starts! Lift one end of the track up and let a marble roll down in the dip of the foam. We got tired of holding it up so we finally taped it to the wall. (Good thing Mommy was napping!) Each child got five marbles of the same color so we could keep track if any were missing. They each took turns seeing whose marble could go the furthest, do the most loops, or stay on the steepest curves.
Grandpa had a great time creating loops and turns and hills with the kids while Grandma took pictures. We even did some experimenting with how many books we could pile up before the marble didn’t have enough momentum to get over the hill. This was such an exciting activity with the kids they left it up and played with it for days. Just make sure all of the marbles get picked up and put away so babies don’t choke on them. NOW GO HAVE FUN SOME WITH THIS RUN!!
PS Notice the toilet paper tubes on the track in this picture? Easton got the idea to put them over the tube to see if the marble would go through it. Later we found a pile of tp in the bathroom! Gotta love grandkids!
What’s In a Name?
What’s In a Name?
When I was growing up every Grandma I knew of was called just that – “Grandma”. I never thought about being called anything else when I became a grandma, until my best girlfriend told me she was going to have her grandchildren refer to her as “Gygi”.
Apparently, she always wanted to go by “Nana” but her husband had a grandmother who went by that name and she did not want to tread on sacred ground. Her grandkids other grandma went by “Nan”, so even a shortened version was not an option. My friend researched various nicknames and finally settled on Gygi. She didn’t want her grandkids to get confused which grandma she was.
Call me simple minded, but I just prefer the traditional “Grandma”. My grandkids other grandma does the same, and I don’t think they get us confused at all. She is much taller and I am much wider. And this way my grandkids can choose any Hallmark card and be safe. No need to search through all of them looking for one that says “Grams” or “Granny”.
My daughter lived in the Philippines for over a year and wants her future children to call me “Lola” like they do there. I don’t know. There is something I love about just being called “Grandma”. Maybe it is because of the great memories I have of my own grandmas. There isn’t anything in the world I would rather be. Now to make sure they never forget I’m the GROOVY one!
mygroovygrandma 