May 16, 2018

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

May 16, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

"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…

May 10, 2018

Throwback Thursday: Entertaining grandkids... 3 sure things

May 10, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

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…

May 07, 2018

Functional art for Mom's Day

May 07, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

Functional art for Mom's Day!

A few weeks ago I shared with you how fantastically artistic Brayden and Camden are, their school art show submissions proof of such.

Now my daughter Megan (mom to Brayden and Camden... as well as little bro Declan) has taken my grandsons' creativity a step further. She turned the boys' art into marvelous Mother's Day gifts for Gramma. Functional gifts.

To wit:

May 02, 2018

Gramma's three MVPs

May 02, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

Though it seems a mere 37 seconds ago that fall youth sports ended, the spring season is already well underway.

This go 'round, I have three—count 'em, three—footballers out and about on the field.

March 14, 2018

Word of the day: Artistry

March 14, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

Today's word is... ARTISTRY

Definition of artistry (per Dictionary.com):

[ahr-ti-stree] noun

1. artistic workmanship, effect, or quality. 2. artistic ability.

Artistry on display:

March 12, 2018

OT for Tooth Fairy

March 12, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

OT for Tooth Fairy

Last week I shared a precious pic of Brayden displaying his first missing molar. Mere days after that post, Megan shared on social media a photo of Brayden and Camden, who both lost another tooth.

One day later, Megan posted yet another photo, this one showing Camden lost yet another tooth.

March 01, 2018

Throwback Thursday: The tunes they are a changin'

March 01, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

This #TBT piece by Lisa Carpenter originally published March 24, 2011 on Grandma's Briefs.

I'm proud to say my family is musical. We dabble in playing — a guitar and piano here, a recorder and ukulele there — but it's in the listening to music that we really excel. As a whole, our hearts, minds and ears are open to myriad genres, everything from classical to Christian, country to show tunes, hard rock to soft rock and many that aren't really rock at all. We even have our family favorites in the rap genre. (I must admit, though, jazz and easy listening rarely pass notes in our homes, our cars, our iPods, or Spotify queue.)

Music plays a prodigious and powerful role in our family, which is why...

February 28, 2018

Word of the Day: Jubilation

February 28, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

Today's word is... JUBILATION!

Definition of jubilation (per Merriam-Webster):

1: an act of rejoicing : the state of being jubilant

2: an expression of great joy

Jubilation on display:

February 15, 2018

Throwback Thursday: 10 things I forget I love... until I remember

February 15, 2018/ Lisa Carpenter

This #TBT piece by Lisa Carpenter originally published February 21, 2011 on Grandma's Briefs.

I love jams and jellies. Chokecherry, strawberry, pomegranate, cherry. Yum! I eat jam or jelly nearly every day. On peanut butter sandwiches. On crackers. On toast. On English muffins. On bagels. (Not all in the same day, of course.)

Recently though, as I toasted an English muffin, I noticed the honey in the cupboard and decided to travel that oft-ignored culinary road. So I put it on my toasted muffin instead of jelly or jam, took a big bite, and instantly thought, "Yum! Why don't I have honey more often?"

I always forget how...