Disney Grand Adventure finale! Plus GRAND Social link party No. 192 link party

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Final photo

Megan, Mac, Bubby, and I closed out our Disney Grand Adventure with a mad dash to Disney's Hollywood Studios. There was no way in the world we were leaving Disney World without riding the Tower of Terror.

Rode it we did — Bubby twice! Once with me, then once with Megan as we each took a turn sitting it out with Mac... who was no way getting on that thrill ride the rest of us love. (Photos to come once I go through them.)

Hollywood Studios was our last stop before boarding Disney's Magical Express, and it's where we had our final official Grand Adventure photo taken.

 

Farewell to a fabulous (and fabulously busy)...

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Yay, Broncos! Plus, GRAND Social No. 191 link party for grandparents

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Yay, Broncos!

The Denver Broncos are going to the Super Bowl! Hooray for the home team!

It was sheer joy all across social media last night for Broncos fans — and the Broncos — as Peyton Manning and the gang beat (big time!) Tom Brady and the Patriots!

Denver Broncos Instagram page
Celebration on the Denver Broncos Instagram Page

Congratulations, Broncos! Let's take...

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Wherein I repeat myself. Again.

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I've said it before: Yesterday on Instagram.

On Facebook, too.

And I'll now say it again.

And because I simply cannot wait for my GRAND Adventure to begin.

One week from today.

Woot!

Today's question:

What are you excited about today?

9 people you'll meet as a grandparent

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9 people you'll meet as a grandparent

people grandparents meet

NINE
Co-grandparents. Otherwise known as the in-laws, or the other grandparents. These folks are now your partners for life in this grand gig called grandparenting. Partners in loving your grandchildren as only grandparents can. Hold them close. Have their back and they'll...

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The concussion discussion from a grandparent's perspective

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My Q&A with Being Brain Healthy author Ruth Curran

concussion movie posterWill Smith's film CONCUSSION, based on the true story of one brave doctor's unrelenting efforts to enlighten the NFL about the effects of continual trauma to the brains of football players, has opened the eyes of many to the dangers of America's favorite sport. Concussions affect far more than just football players, though, and the movie has also opened the door for many important discussions about the effects of brain injuries of all sorts, suffered by all ages, regardless of the cause.

I have long been concerned about concussions in my rambunctious, active, sports-loving grandsons, so I turned to Ruth Curran, author of Being Brain Healthy, to assuage some of the worries and concerns I have as a grandmother. See, grandparents, unless they're in a situation where they serve as primary caretaker for their grandchildren, have little say in the day-to-day care of their beloved grandkids, can't restrict certain sports or activities. That doesn't mean we have no concerns.

being brain healthy by ruth curranHere, Curran addresses my concussion...

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Perfectly natural, plus GRAND Social No. 189 link party for grandparents

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Perfectly natural

My daughter, Megan, mother to my three grandsons, arranges for an annual family portrait with a professional photographer. Though the photos always look super to me from my biased grandma perspective, try as they might — photographer, Mom, and Dad — one or another of the boys (or parents) are looking away or blinking or being unhappy or uncooperative in each and every shot.

The same happens when I attempt photos of all three boys together (as a trio or with me). Even more so when Megan and Preston pose with their boys. The results tend to be far from perfect when seeking perfection.

family at beach

Megan and Preston visited San Diego over the weekend, the boys in tow as

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The makings of a Grand Adventure

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Last week I revealed the signs that 2016 would surely be my year. Already, it's shaping up to be exactly that thanks to an upcoming, all-new experience I recently added to the last week of my January 2016 calendar.

I've known for a couple weeks now, but I've been a little leery of sharing publicly as it seemed a wee bit too good to be true. I'm still a little leery — despite plans officially in place — so I shall present it to you piecemeal in hopes of not jinxing anything.

My big reveal, a little at a time:

What do you get when you take an adorable seven-year-old...

seven year old 

plus a wacky four-year-old...

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