Grilled Grandma: Camella

How many children do you have? I have 3 wonderful children; Beth 33 who is a stay at home wife and mom, Becki 30 who is a full time mother, and Andrew who is married and works as a Procedure Writer at a Nuclear Power Plant.

How many grandchildren? I have 2 granddaughters; Beth and Junior have a daughter Dorie Jean and Becki has a daughter Althea Clare.

I also have 5 furry and 4 legged grandchildren through Andrew and his wife Julie but we are hoping for a human child soon – not that we don’t love Dixie, Mallory, River, Sunshine and Daisy.

What are their ages? Dorie will be 6 in December and we are planning on celebrating her birthday at Walt Disney World this year. Althea will be turning 2 in January.

Any great grandchildren? No, but hopefully I’ll be blessed to have some one day as my great-grandmother was wonderful.

What do your grandchildren call you? Well Dorie calls me Granny and so does Althea at times but other times she slips up and calls me Mama (she calls her mom – Mommy). I never thought I’d be a “Granny” as this is what my mother was called and I just didn’t think I could feel her shoes, but someone the name grew on me or I grew into it!

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? I see Althea everyday as she and her mom are living back at the family home with my husband and me. I like it; our house was my parent’s home and it’s nice to have the 4th generation in it.

I see Dorie a few days a week, but always on the weekend. She has spent at least 1 night at our house since she was a year old as my husband works out of town during the week and she LOVES her Papa.

What is the best thing about being a grandma? Enjoying life, having the time to bake cupcakes or snuggle under the covers. Watching the Mickey Mouse Playhouse two times a day… I could go on and on. But I like looking at my grandchildren and seeing my family’s future and bits of our past at the same time.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Keeping my thoughts to myself and I’m not very good at it. I am getting better but it is very hard.

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. Althea is hooked on Mickey Mouse Playhouse; she went to sleep one night begging to watch it and woke up at daylight stilling asking. She calls it Dog, Dog because at the end of the show they do the hotdog dance.

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? Dorie and I are famous for our cupcakes, we started baking them a couple years ago and you just never know when we’ll feel the urge but I love the mess and it just being us two in the kitchen.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? Visiting Dorie’s room and looking at her school work. She is always collecting a rock or pebble from somewhere so we often look over her new ones.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? Phone calls, cards in the mail (even though we live 5 miles away).

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? I’d like to pass along my love of family, our history and always standing up for ones beliefs and those in need.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Love

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? How to say no?

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? Relax and enjoy the ride.

Do you have a website or blog? Yes I do. Knick Knacks (by clarestjohns) is a blog about things in general; while Foundations is a cooking blog.

Grilled Grandma: Fanny

How many children do you have? I have 2, a daughter and a son

How many grandchildren? What are their ages? I have 4, Kale 18, Hannah 14, Anika 11 and Daniel 8

Any great grandchildren? no

What do your grandchildren call you? Nana

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? 2 about once a month, the other 2, 4 times a year

What is the best thing about being a grandma? You can love them, spoiled them and leave them when they don't behave

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Seeing them and being shown affection

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? I like to play games with them or show them how to cook

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? Same thing, also taking walks

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? E-mails and phone calls

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? My love of them and my personal history

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Caring and lots of good energy

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? Don't tell the parents how to raise their kids

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? Be there and show lots of love.

You can visit Fanny and learn of her fly-fishing adventures on her website, www.fannykrieger.com.

Grilled Grandma: Sharon

How many children do you have? I have 2. A girl, 40 (she's now a mom) and a boy, 22 (and he's now an uncle)

How many grandchildren? 1, a boy. What are their ages? 2 1/2

Any great grandchildren? No

What do your grandchildren call you? Nama, it's a combination of Grandma and Nana. My grandson couldn't quite say grandma and this is what came out, and I love it! My kids called my mom Nana, so having the combination of both is really special to me.

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? Every week, he lives one block from me. It's a wonderful thing. (<:

What is the best thing about being a grandma? It's almost all fun and games and no stress of raising him.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Keeping up with him!

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. While in bed with all his stuffed animals, he snuggled in between them all, poked his head out and said "pick a boo, Nama". He was supposed to be calming down to go to sleep. This was a good tactic to win over Nama’s heart. We read one more book, the last of 3!

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? We get blankets out and make a tent over tables and chairs, get under and read books, do puzzles and play with his animals. And we play outside in the garden. He loves watering my plants, and we grew sunflowers this summer.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? Building with Duplos and Lego's, racing with his cars and watching movies while he lays in my lap.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? Calling each other, but If I want to see him, I just walk over and spend some time with him. I am so lucky. My son lives behind me in a small apartment and my daughter, son-in-law and grand child 1 block away.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? To keep a kind heart, an active body and a spiritual soul. To give back and pay it forward.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Loving.

What is one thing you wish you had learned earlier as a grandparent? Well he's only 2 and I am still pretty new at this, so I can't really think of anything as of yet.

What one bit of advice would you give a new grandma? This is not your child, so respect his or her parent’s wishes on bringing up your grandchild. Not that you can't suggest things from time to time.

Visit Sharon's awesome event-planning site (for big and everyday events!): Your LifEvents.

Grilled Grandma: Nezzy

How many children do you have? I've raised two responsible adult children: Geek Son who is 35 and Social Butterfly daughter who is 32.

How many grandchildren? What are their ages? I have eight beautiful grandkiddos. Are ya'll ready??? Zacharie will be sixteen in December, beautiful Alexis is thirteen and baby Ian just turned one. Ethan the deep thinker, is thirteen and the prankster Joel is ten. Adorable Sarah will be five in October and Princess Honor turned seven the seventeenth of September. Handsome Jacob is the big one-O.

Any great grandchildren? No, but that's OK. I'll have fun while I wait. :o)
 
What do your grandchildren call you? They call me Grandma "Muzzy". Hubby always calls me Nezzy and the first Grand called me Grandma Muzzy . The first grandkiddo called my Grandma Muzzy and it stuck like a splattered bug on a windshield!
 
How often do you get to see your grandchildren? Four of the 'crew' live in town and my sweet DIL encourages drop-ins so believe me I take advantage of that copping every chance I can! The other half live ninety miles away and I'm lucky to get there once a month. {{{SIGH}}}

What is the best thing about being a grandma? Simply cuttin' loose and joinin ' in all the fun! As a grandmother ya find yourself lettin' 'em do all the things you wouldn't allow only this time you'll find this rockin' Grandma smack in the middle of it all.
 
What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Probably bitein' my tongue. I have made a rule for myself that I do not offer advise to my kids unless I'm asked. The only time I'll break that rule is if someone is really in danger of some sorts.
 
Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. Oh baby, every time the barn door swings one of 'em have me crackin' up about something! Tryin' to convince one that Chucky Cheeses really wasn't "Chucky Jesus". Or the time Ethan gave Honor a handful of rocks tellin' her they were 'kitty-eggs'. She presented her treasure to her mother who tossed them in the backyard. Low and behold if a stray pregnant cat didn't camp out in their garage blessin' the fam with a litter of kitties. Yep, Miss Honor will not be convinced there is not such thing as kitty eggs! The time I was reminded that , "mama doesn't allow us to use that word," when I called a cow STUPID. There is sure not a shortage of laughter on the Ponderosa.
 
What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? Golly gee, the activities are many. I hold what I call camp Grandma where you can find us hikin' these hills and hollers, shootin' leftover fireworks ( we are smack in the middle of nowhere), makin' butter, runnin' and sliding in our socks on my slick utility room floor, playin' games, readin' books.....most anything goes!  After all it's Grandma's house.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? We read books, play, talk and tell stories. The time is filled with snuggly hugs and my very special 'noisy Grandma kisses.

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? Telephone baby. I talk, tell jokes and sing to 'em. If you read my blog at all ya'll know I love to belt out a good tune.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? Maya Angelou once said that all a child really wants is to see your eyes light up when you walk into a room. I want my grandkiddos to remember the spark of love in my eyes in the joy I get just bein' in their presence.

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? Joy, I want them to remember me as a happy person who brought love and laughter into their hearts. I want them to carry that with them forever.

Do you have a website or blog? Yep, sure shootin' I do. Ya'll can find me over at Cow Patty Surprise.

Grilled Grandma: Pauline

How many children do you have? I have four wonderful children. I'm quite in awe of them and so proud of the fine adults they have become. Son aged 43, daughter 41, son 38, daughter 33.

How many grandchildren? What are their ages? Five grandchildren and another due in January. Michael, the oldest, and my only grandson to date, is 16. There are three 11 year old girls, twins Krystal and Shayde and Jami (born within a month of each other), and just turned seven year old Georgia. I say there has been a "grandchild drought" but the drought has broken! Can't wait to have another baby grandchild.

Any great grandchildren? No, I'll have to wait a while before I have that joy.

What do your grandchildren call you? Granny. When Michael was born my daughter asked me what I wanted to be called and I chose the name by which I knew my beloved grandmother.

How often do you get to see your grandchildren? I live on a farm with my oldest son and his three daughters so I see them often. Usually Georgia gets off the school bus and comes straight to my house, one of the twins sometimes comes with her.  I've been house-sitting a distance from the farm for over a month now and I do so miss those visits. I usually go home a couple of afternoons a week to get my share of laughter and love.  

What is the best thing about being a grandma? Oh gosh. So many good things.... but the best? I think it's just the way my heart lights up when I see them.

What is the most challenging part of being a grandma? Being discreet with advise, I think. Judging when is a good time to pass on a few words of 'wisdom'. Learning to accept new parenting methods, perhaps?

Describe a recent time that one (or more) of your grandchildren made you laugh out loud. I blogged about it not long ago. I laughingly said to the seven year old, "Oh, you're a little monster!" She replied, "I can't be a monster. I'm a girl!"

What is your favorite thing to do with grandchildren who visit your house? They all like to do different things. Michael just likes to go out on the farm with my son. The girls, when they are all together, invariably put on a concert, dancing and singing. They like to play American Idol and dress up in my scarves and pieces of material from my sewing stash. I was once Simon Powell on the judging panel but refuse to play him now after overhearing the youngest one very sadly telling the others, "Simon was mean to me!" Some of them like playing card games or making pictures or cards. Some of them like to bake with me.

What is your favorite thing to do when visiting grandchildren at their house? I'm so much a part of the everyday scene at my son's house that it's just business as usual. When I visit my daughter and her two children it's usually a case of sit back and watch them going about their everyday lives and trying to keep up with what's going on. They lead such busy lives.  

How do you maintain the bond between yourself and your grandchildren between visits? Now I should feel guilty. I don't do anything to maintain the bond. It's there. That question is food for thought, actually. I will have to consider whether I'm taking it for granted or whether it does need nourishment.

What do you most want to pass along to your grandchildren? To put it simply, to appreciate the love of family. To know that they 'belong". To be tolerant and accepting of each others' differences. I'd like them to know they are loved unconditionally. And to know that there's a great, big, wonderful world out there waiting for them to discover it.  

What is one word you hope your grandkids think of when they think of you? I adored my maternal grandmother but, even now, I could never say in one word why. And I can't think of one word my grandchildren might apply to me. My daughter asked my grandson this same question a couple of months ago and he said "insightful". I like that but I think the word would change as they grow older. If the others grew to use the same word when they are 16 I'd be happy. I guess loving and caring would be nice but I'd hope that would just be so taken for granted that it wouldn't dawn on them.

Take a virtual visit to New Zealand via Pauline's lovely blog, Pauline's Paddock.