December 10, 2014

Santa's triple treat

December 10, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

“Kids believe in Santa; adults believe in childhood.”
― Cate Kennedy, Dark Roots: Stories

three brothers and santa

Perhaps the post title "Santa's...

November 26, 2014

Of this I can't resist: Pre-Thanksgiving Christmas cheer

November 26, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

I typically steer clear of anything smacking of Christmas cheer before Thanksgiving. I do my best to avoid holiday displays in the stores until after the Thanksgiving turkey leftovers have filled my fridge. I ignore collecting recipes for Christmas treats and eats before I've enjoyed my Thanksgiving cranberries and pumpkin pie. And Christmas tunes of any sort are absolutely forbidden on my stereo, car radio, iPod and any other musical device until Thanksgiving evening, at the earliest.

Yes, I do my best to resist anything that upsets the order of my holidays.

My resistance to pre-Thanksgiving Christmas cheer dissolved immediately, though, when...

November 12, 2014

Baby talk

November 12, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

A sign hung in a prominent spot in my home during the full-nest years. It looked like this:

thou shalt not whine

It was that sign, in fact, which now hangs in a...

November 04, 2014

5 ways to be a unique grandparent

November 04, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

How often have you thought, "Now that's a great idea! I should do that!" when a grandchild tells you about a fun experience or activity with his "other" grandparents? I admit I have a time or two.

how to be a unique grandparent

Yet our grandchildren are enriched by the varied gifts, talents and experiences each grandparent...

October 31, 2014

Happy Halloween from Grandma and her little monsters

October 31, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

Halloween grandma and grandsons

October 29, 2014

Middle child of my middle child

October 29, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

The Middle Child
Even though you're not the oldest,
or the youngest, you see,
Being in the middle is a really neat place to be!
The middle of a sandwich
is the most important part,
And in the middle of your body,
you will find your heart.
The engine in the middle
is what runs a good machine;
And our family wouldn't be the same
without you in between.
~Unknown

middle child

I know labeling children isn't an appropriate thing for grandmothers...

October 28, 2014

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

October 28, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

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