Entertaining grandkids: 3 sure things

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Entertaining grandkids: 3 sure things

As a long-distance grandma with visits being few and far between, I feel obligated to provide memorable merriment for my three grandsons each time I see them. I put careful consideration into packing my grandma bag with goodies and games and crafty ideas galore.

Sometimes the magical makings I lug 800 miles to my grandsons' door elicit exactly the enjoyment I'd hoped. Sometimes they fail. Especially if picking a Pinterest activity to try together without trying it first myself.

When I visited Bubby, Mac, and Jak last month, I failed at more than a few things. On the other hand, there were a few that surpassed my expectations in terms of the enjoyment factor for the boys. Three in particular were a huge success, and these will likely have a spot in my grandma bag each visit going forward.

Following are those three sure things because if they entertain my grandkids, I'm willing to bet they'll entertain most. Consider them as go-to options for your grandma bag — or to have on hand if you're one of those fortunate grandmas whose grandkiddos live nearby.

FREAKY FACES APPLE SNACK

Now, this one didn't require me packing much in my grandma bag, just a quick trip to the grocery store upon my arrival for the fixings: apples, strawberries, chocolate chips, and peanut butter, plus anything not stocked in Megan's pantry that I needed for this recipe for the freaky eyes (which needs to be made at least 24 hours before snack assembly as the eyes need to dry).

freaky face apple snacks

They're pretty simple: Just quarter an apple; remove...

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More than grandkids: What else I found in the desert

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When I visit my grandsons in the desert, I take lots and lots of photos of them.

Bubby, Mac, and Jak may be my primary focus, but the flora and fauna of the relatively foreign land in which my grandkiddos live get my camera (iPhone and otherwise) clicking now and again, too.

Here are a few of my non-grandchild shots from my recent desert visit, all taken in my daughter's front and back yards, all things I've never found in my own front or back yards... or anywhere in Colorado, for that matter:

desert flower

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Final countdown! Plus, GRAND Social No. 204 link party for grandparents

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Final Countdown

With mere hours remaining in my desert visit, I'm soaking up as much fun in the sun with my grandkiddos as I can.

Shooting as many photos as I can, too. Here are a few I especially love:

toddler and book
Jak enjoys a book break.

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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?

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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Grandma's colorful, creepy crowd

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Halloween has gotten far more colorful since I became a grandma.

A little more creepy, too, I must admit.

Proof lies in my seasonal pics from the past seven years:

halloween costumes 

Oh, how I love my creepy, colorful...

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Serving up silliness

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My youngest grandson seems to be maturing far more quickly than I recall being the case with his two older brothers. At just over 15 months, Jak's been working diligently on mastering basic skills seemingly in hopes he'll be as independent as Bubby and Mac as soon as possible.

Skills like feeding himself.

Megan texts photos now and then of the goofy boy's progress. Most recently these:

toddler eating yogurt

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