Encourage grandkids to learn more about science and nature during playtime

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Dear readers: As I mentioned yesterday, I'm off playing in the desert with my grandsons. In light of that, I offer you here a guest post of sorts — playtime suggestions courtesy StatePoint Media.

dinosaur toys

Have any budding scientists in your family? If your grandchildren are fascinated by nature, dinosaurs, and other cool science subjects, you can help foster their interests by turbo-charging their playtime to fit their favorite topics.

"Learning is not just for the classroom or a formal setting," says Dr. Lise Eliot, early childhood...

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Salvaging content from disappointment

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When I review products, my policy is to post reviews on those products my readers will appreciate. I prefer to not bash goods from good folks with good intentions whose only downfall is wares warranting a lukewarm "meh" in my opinion; I simply don't publish reviews on such products. (Though I do promise to publish warnings to steer clear of dangerous or deceptive goods, if such come my way.)

baby tub time

With that in mind, my grandsons recently reviewed a product they — and their mom — didn't find...

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Saturday movie review: 'Nativity!' (redux)

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Dear readers: About this time last year I reviewed the comedic Christmas film NATIVITY!, which upon my first viewing of it in 2011, it became a fast favorite of mine. I think it's truly a must-see holiday family film, so I'm sharing a second serving of my review from last year, which I then titled Saturday movie review: Obscure, must-see Christmas film edition. Enjoy!

So you've gone through the classic (and not so classic) Christmas movies. You've watched it all, from White Christmas to Polar Express, A Christmas Carol from various years to A Christmas Story for sure, on to The Grinch, Love, Actually, While You Were Sleeping and possibly even Joyeux Noel, too (those last three being faves of mine). Yet you're still craving more festive film fun.

Well, my friends, have you seen NATIVITY!?

NATIVITY!

No, not that nativity. This NATIVITY! — which, if you've followed Grandma's Briefs...

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29 holiday jokes for kids

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29 holiday jokes for kids

'Tis the season of joy, and there's no more joyful sound than that of children's laughter. Share these jokes with your favorite kiddos to elicit some of that joyful noise this merry time of year.

 holiday jokes for kids

Where do snowmen keep their money?
In a snow bank.

What do you call a...

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Saturday movie review: Wild Canaries

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Unfortunately I cannot tell you when this movie will be released theatrically. I can tell you, though, that the minute you get the chance to see WILD CANARIES, you absolutely must. This funky, romantic, comedic, screwball murder mystery is in a class of its own and not to be missed.

WILD CANARIES directed by Lawrence Michael Levine stars Levine as Noah and his...

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Don't freefall backward down the slide, plus other tips learned in a bounce house

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Because my grandsons have an in-ground trampoline at their house, you wouldn't think they'd get much fun out of the Bounce-A-Round I reviewed a while back — which Bubby and Mac had not yet seen. During their visit a couple weeks ago, though, once Patrick brought his son over and the inflatable bouncing thingamajig was inflated, Bubby, Bud and Mac had a boisterous bouncing blast.

bounce a round

A couple days later, the bouncing blast was supersized when PawDad...

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Wherein Bubby and Mac dance like... er... dance to 'Gentleman'

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Just Dance 2014 Gentleman

We enjoyed several fun outings while my grandsons and daughter visited our house. As the weather was uncharacteristically cruddy for this time of year, the challenge was keeping Bubby and Mac busy inside while Mommy and baby bro Jak — and PawDad and Gramma, too — got ready to go.

The Wii came to the rescue... though semi-inappropriately so, I must...

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