Here and now: August 13, 2015

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In my world...

baby boomer lifestyle 

On my mind...

The fabulous time I had Tuesday with my friend Ruth from San Diego. She was in Colorado on business but took time out of her busy schedule to spend a day and night with me. In those 24 hours together we:

  • Visited a book store.
  • Walked a labyrinth—my first...
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Climbing the wall

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My grandsons and their parents are pretty much fully moved into their new home. Their backyard, though, is undergoing a mega-makeover (a pool and more!), which means the boys are unable to play outside in the yard for a few months.

Good thing they have a park right across the street.

Despite the nearby park, though, Bubby and Mac were already climbing the walls soon into the relocation. So when PawDad and I were there a week or so ago, Preston took Bubby, Mac, and PawDad to the local community center to burn off some energy playing basketball. And to, literally, climb the walls.

Mac was too tiny for the wall-climbing venture, but Bubby was a pro in no time. He quickly mastered the small wall...

rock climbing kid 

Then Bubby moved on to the medium wall...

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Super zuke! Plus, GRAND Social No. 167 link party for grandparents

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Super zuke!

I'm not the greatest at gardening, but before I left to visit Bubby, Mac, and Jak nearly two weeks ago, I did notice I had a few zucchini growing in my garden. They weren't all that big, so I decided to just let them grow while I was away.

From the looks of this one, I probably should have pulled it before I left:

large zucchini 

Bud held up the super zuke for me to photograph before he, Brianna, and...

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Saturday movie review: Goats

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Coming-of-age films tend to be character-driven stories with minimal action. GOATS is no exception. The comedic tale of one young man's coming into his own and realizing that loved ones are still worth loving despite their flaws and failings has nearly no drama. It has lots of characters, though. As in, What a character! kinds of characters.

Goats movie

The main—and least wacky—character is Ellis (Graham Phillips), a 15-year-old kid soon departing for prep school, leaving his Tucson home where his...

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Team with grandkids and National Wildlife Federation to create a wildlife habitat

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Team with grandkids and National Wildlife Federation to create a wildlife habitat

certified wildlife habitat

Grandma and Grandpa's house is a magical place for a grandchild. Having your yard certified as a wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation can increase the magical factor tenfold and more.

Certifying your yard, no matter how big or how small, is much easier than...

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This is war! Card fun with grandkids

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I put a lot of thought, time, and energy—and sometimes money, too—into coming up with creative and enjoyable crafts, games, and activities to pack into my grandma bag for visits with my grandsons.

It's not necessary. At least not all ways, it seems. Bubby taught me that when I visited him and his brothers in mid-July.

"Wanna play war, Gramma?" Bubby asked while holding a deck of cards. I considered the crafting supplies in my grandma bag, the games I wanted to review with him and the books I hoped to read.

"Sure," I said.

war card game

So we did. And had a super time!

Bubby didn't know all the rules, had only played hands—not full...

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Hanging with the monkeys! Plus, GRAND Social No. 166 link party for grandparents

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Hanging with the monkeys

Today is my last day with the monkeys. These monkeys also known as Bubby, Mac, and Jak, who were practicing their moves in the peewee division of American Ninja Warriors at their nearby park:

peewee ninja warriors

This afternoon, PawDad and I leave the jungle and head back home, where the...

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