The next Grilled Grandma

This week's Grilled Grandma, Edna, reveals a secret that most grandmas don't talk about: That we still really like our kids, too, not just our grandkids.

I know, I know. That's kind of hard to believe, considering that grandmas typically go on and on and on about the little ones, but often fail to mention the parents of those precious grandchildren. Pictures of the children? You gotta be joking ... where would they fit in a brag book filled with granddaughters and grandsons. Especially when you have SEVENTEEN grandchildren, as Edna does.

But, like I said, Edna admits to enjoying time with her adult children, not just the grandchildren. When asked what she most likes to do when visiting her grandchildren, here's her response:

 Believe it or not, when we go to visit the families I find I also enjoy spending time with my own children as well as the grandchildren. We often are all gathered in someone’s family room where we chatter and laugh with all ages mingled in. The little ones are on the floor, the middle ones are in and out, and the teenagers are part of the fun. Gradually we migrate into groups where I often find I’m with the youngest and we play silly make believe games.

She's right. I gotta admit that as much as we love seeing our Bubby, we also enjoy hanging out with Megan and Preston. Of course, I would have never said that out loud, well, written it, if not for Edna's admission to the same. Now I can't wait to have all the girls and their guys and however many kiddos they produce hanging out with us all at one time. THAT is the kind of family time I truly look forward to!

Read what else Edna fesses up to in her Grilled Grandma feature, which you can find right HERE.

Today's (completely unrelated) question:

If you could teach one of your pet's to do one thing, what would it be?

My answer: I would teach Abby, our tabby cat, to answer the telephone. I hate the phone and Jim just ignores it, but I'm pretty sure Abby -- who alternates between thinking she's a human and thinking she's a dog and who must always be in the middle of everything going on -- would enjoy conversing with anyone who happened to dial our land line.

The next Grilled Grandma

This week I'm grilling up Sue for the Grilled Grandma feature and I gotta say, this grandma put my "Awwww!" response into high gear. She does so many special things with and for her grandkids that I couldn't help but think, upon reading each reply to my questions, "Awww ... that's so sweet!"

One in particular got to me, actually even made me a bit verklempt. Could be my wacky hormones wreaking havoc (again) or could be just that the sheer sweetness of it that brought tears to my eyes. You decide:

In response to my question "What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you?," Sue said this:

Love – I’ve given each of them a special name that they’ve heard me call them since they were infants, and each name has the word love in it – I have a “Honey Love”, a “Love Bear”, an “Angel Love”, a “Snuggle Love”, a “Huggy Love” and a “Happy Love”.  I have a special bear for each child and have made a heart button with the individual names that I sewed onto each child’s special bear.  The bears always greet the grandkids on their beds with a welcome note in the bear’s hands when the kids come to visit.

Awwww!

Read more of Sue's awwww-inspiring grilling HERE.

Today's question:

What's the most unusual nickname you've ever given someone ... or that someone has given you?

My answer: When my first nephew, Nicholas, was born, I loved to call him Nicker Bocker Booger Buns. When Megan was born, the same rhythm seemed to work for her, too, and I dubbed her Meggie Beggie Booger Buns.

The next Grilled Grandma

I'm continually floored by the precious little kiddos I get to see and read about as part of the Grilled Grandma feature. But I gotta say that this week's Grilled Grandma -- Crystal -- has a granddaughter after my heart. I can say that because I don't have a granddaughter of my own ... yet.

Just listen to this cuteness. In response to my question of "What do you like to do when you visit your grandkids at their house?", Crystal said this:

I enjoy playing pretend and being part of their active imagination play.  Today Helayna served me tea from her Starbucks shop (in her room) and then she had to dash into the closet (her dressing room) and change into hockey clothes!

Cuteness personified, wouldn't you say?

Crystal has five super cute grandkids, courtesy of three (of her four) super cute kids. Read all about them in her grilling, which you can find HERE.

Today's question:

What's your favorite drink from Starbucks ... or any tea or coffee shop?

My answer: I love, love, love the Pumpkin Spice Latte available in the fall and winter.

The next Grilled Grandma

This week's grilled grandma is a real grandma -- and she has the license plate to prove it. What makes her real? Just ask her grandchildren and they'll gladly tell you.

In addition to a certified license plate, real grandmas have a special song sung about them. Grandma Anita's special song goes like this:

Grandma loves me this I know
for she always tells me so
I am hers and she is mine
Grandma loves me all the time

Yes, Grandma loves me
Yes, Grandma loves me
Yes, Grandma loves me
She always tells me so

Read about all the things that make Grandma Anita a real grandma -- or at least a real loved grandma -- right here.

And if you've got a real grandma to grill, click here to send me her first name and e-mail address so I can add her to the schedule.

Today's question: 

If you were to have a personalized license plate, what would it say?

My answer: EYE1IT (I won it ... on a fancy schmancy vehicle I'll win from PCH -- or at least use the PCH funds to purchase.)

The next Grilled Grandma

It's funny how doing this Grilled Grandma feature introduces me (and you!) to grandmas with similar names. I can understand having multiple Ninas and Lisas and such, but having double Grandma Cats was something I never expected. Awhile back, I featured Grandma Kat; this week I feature Grandma Cat.

Like the former grandma with a similar name, this Grandma Cat is one of the lucky ones: She gets to see her grandchildren every single week. I envy that more than I can put into words.

So what does Grandma Cat (aka Jeannie) do with her little ones when they get together? "Just play. We play lots of things, blocks, dolls, chalk, picnics in the livingroom, walking the dog, reading. I love it all."

Read all about Jeannie and how she became known as  Grandma Cat HERE.

And if you know of a grandma you'd like to see grilled, be sure to let me know HERE.

Today's (totally unrelated) question:

Do you have a tattoo? If yes, what and where? If no, what and where would/have you considered?

My answer: I don't have a tattoo, but I've considered getting a thin ankle bracelet.

The next Grilled Grandma

This week's Grilled Grandma, Susan, spends more time thinking about grandparenting duties than any grandma I know. That's because she's the About.com Guide to Grandparents and seriously works that role, dispensing all things "grandparent" to the many followers of the site.

As busy as she is, I'm sincerely grateful Susan took the time for a grilling. For one thing, her responses introduced me to something all grandmas should know about: Bananagrams. What are Bananagrams? I had the same question when she mentioned it as one of the things she likes to do with her grandkids. So I googled it and THIS is what I found. I so cannot wait until Bubby can Bananagram with me!

On a more serious note, Susan touched my heart with her wish for what she hopes to pass down to her grandchildren: "I want my grandchildren to be generous souls who care about others, who are open-minded, who stand up against bigotry and demagoguery and greed." The words of a truly kind and wise grandma.

Read about banangrams and more in Susan's grilling, which you'll find right HERE.

Today's question:

What is your favorite fruit ... excluding Bananagrams?

My answer: Raspberries -- on their own, in jam, mixed in a fruit salad, topping sweet cream ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery! Mmmmm....!

The next Grilled Grandma

No, this is not an early April Fool's Day prank. This here is Charli. She's a stand-in for the grandchildren of this week's Grilled Grandma, Carol.

Charli is the star of Carol's blog, Charli and Me. It's a great blog, you'll want to check it out (and see Charli in her Easter bonnet and such). But what I think is especially great about Carol's blog is that it's just one of the ways this GREAT-grandma deftly uses technology to stay in touch with her loved ones. In addition to her blog, Carol uses e-mail, she texts, and she's on Facebook.

"I love Facebook because I can send messages that don’t appear on the home or profile page," she says. "When you’re a teenager it isn’t very cool to have your grandmother telling you she loves you all the time on the same page that your friends are viewing :>) "

I love that!

Read all about Carol and her love for her grandkids ... and great-grandkids ... right HERE.

If you know of a grandma ripe for grilling, you can send me her first name and e-mail address right HERE.

Today's question:

If you could have only ONE Internet goodie -- e-mail, Facebook, the web in general (but no FB), webcams -- what would you choose to keep?

My answer: I'd keep the web in general so I could keep Grandma's Briefs.