Holiday highlights, plus GRAND Social No. 137 link party for grandparents

/

Holiday highlights

As some of you know, I was a little concerned about how my Christmas holiday might play out. Why I worried at all, I don't know. Considering I have pretty much the best daughters — and a pretty darn awesome husband, too — I should have known everything would turn out exactly as it should. For me, it turned out nearly perfect. The only way it could have been better would have been for my grandsons and their parents to have been here, too.

Here are some highlights of the holiday time with some of my favorite people — and pets — in the world:

christmas 2014 collage

For two full days, my nest was...

Read More

Empty nest perks, plus GRAND Social No. 134 link party

/

Empty nest perks

One of the great things about the empty nest during the holidays is witnessing the enthusiasm with which my daughters feather their own nests for Christmas.

Ever since Thanksgiving, I've received various photo texts and Facebook updates from Brianna, Megan and Andrea showing me the progress of their decorating. Here, just one from each of my crafty, creative, Christmas-loving daughters:

holiday decorating

It warms my heart to see my daughters...

Read More

Colorful quaking aspen, plus GRAND Social No. 124 link party

/
grand social link party

Colorful quaking aspen

In Colorado, we don't have a huge variety of trees changing color come fall. We do have the aspen trees — often called quaking aspen — though. Their magnificent autumn show of color would put to shame any other trees, which just may be why aspens are the primary deciduous trees on the mountainsides, alongside the majestic Blue Spruce and other pines.

The orange, red and yellow of the aspens...

Read More

FaceTime milestone, plus GRAND Social No. 123 link party

/

FaceTime milestone

I was telling my husband just the other day that one of the things about living in an empty nest is that time often seems to just go on and on as it's no longer marked by milestones delineating the months and years. The parenthood calendar revolves around things such as kids reaching those all-important ages, such as 16, 18, and 21. Or learning to drive, attending homecomings, celebrating graduations, and so much more.

baby FaceTime 

As a grandparent of young...

Read More

'This Is Where I Leave You' giveaway, plus GRAND Social No. 122 link party

/

'This Is Where I Leave You' giveaway

this is where i leave you

In anticipation of Friday's opening of THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU starring Jason Bateman, Tina Fey and many others in an amazing ensemble cast, Warner Bros. Pictures is offering up a prize package for Grandma's Briefs readers. In addition...

Read More