March 2010

Inquiring Minds Want to Know What You Know

Posted by teresak on March 25, 2010 3 Comments

Now that I have your attention let me reassure you I am not the IRS and neither am I a Census taker. I don’t want to know your dress size, shoe size, or how you voted in the last election.

I just want to know what you think about grandparents. Why? Because I want to write an article (and maybe down the road a book) about grandparenting. I know how I feel about it, but I don’t know how you do.

So please take just a few minutes and click here to fill out the survey.

I really, really appreciate your help!

Teresa

PS. This picture of my granddaughter was made yesterday at my daughter’s house. Isn’t she a cutie?

abby and daffodil

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Making Some Memories

Posted by teresak on March 24, 2010 3 Comments

How do you make memories with your children or grandchildren?  There are so many different ways, and it doesn’t take a lot to impress a young child.

This must be a good week for birthdays (see yesterday’s post) because my friend and partner here at NanaHood, Char, also had a birthday in her family this week. Her daughter Martha turned 3.  To make her birthday special Char had a Princess Party. Martha was the star (of course) and just by looking at the pictures I can tell Char helped her make some memories.

marthaparty

My mom and grandmother read to me and gave me some wonderful memories, as well as a love of books.They also let me help plant flowers and in the spring we went to the woods behind the house and gathered daffodils. I never look at a field full of yellow daffodils without remembering.

Yesterday I ran across the following quote and I’ll share with you as a reminder of the importance of remembering good times.  Whatever else you do today, do your best to make a memory with someone you love!

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Giving Thanks for The Middle Child

Posted by teresak on March 23, 2010 8 Comments

gratituesdaynov094

There has been a ton of research conducted on how a person’s birth order effects their personality. As the mom of five children I have always been interested in what these studies say. Some of it fits my children and some of it doesn’t, but this morning I decided to re-read what the experts have to say about the middle child because tomorrow is my middle child’s 23rd birthday.

Justin with his dad

Justin with his dad

According to one study….

These children grow up to be more independent and are born mediators and negotiators. They also tend to “go their own way” when dealing with established ideas. They are innovators and thinkers. Some famous middle children include J.F.K., Madonna, Donald Trump, Barbara Walters, and Bill Gates. Each of these people is an example of just how successful middle children can become with a little extra encouragement from their parents.

What the study didn’t tell you about the middle child.……

They may not have as many photos in their baby books because mom no longer had time to sit still after they were born.

They are more likely to be left at school or church because mom and dad are more disorganized than they once were.

They are blessed with the memory of an elephant and will remember that they wore their older siblings hand-me- downs and once (just once) got left at school by their parents.

Because of all these things they do not hesitate to play the guilt card on their parents.

On the plus side…..

Birth order has nothing to do with the love you feel for each child you are blessed with.

Watching them grow closer with their siblings as the years pass is reward for having survived the diapers and bottles years.

A heart full of gratitude….

Today I am giving thanks for my middle child. Justin Lee Kindred. Happy Birthday son. We love you beyond measure. May the good Lord bless you all the days of your life and keep you in His care.   Mom

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Crafting with Mema – Making Homemade Bubbles

Posted by Char on March 22, 2010 Leave a Comment

Welcome back for our Monday series here at NanaHood, called “Crafting With Mema“.  These posts include patterns, recipes, and fun craft projects to do with your kids or grandkids.  The ideas aren’t difficult (if anything, we err on the side of SUPER EASY), and we hope we’ll inspire YOU to do more crafting!

Today is my Martha’s third birthday, so it’s only fitting that I use one of her videos for today’s Crafting with Mema.  She and Mema are going to show you how to make homemade bubbles.  It’s a simple craft, but PERFECT for the 2 and 3 year olds in your life. (And while they aren’t on the video, the almost 5 and 8 year old loved it too…)

So, to recap, you need:

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup dish soap
  • slotted spoon or something similar to blow bubbles through
  • a mop to clean up all the bubble splatters on your kitchen floor when you are done blowing bubbles!

Just stir the two items together… and then blow bubbles!

Happy crafting!!

Don’t forget… if you and your children/grandchildren create something from one of our Crafting posts, we’d LOVE to see photos (or videos).  Along those same lines, we are also interested in posting YOUR video or photo tutorials, so if you have crafty kiddos and want to share, please send an email to admin@nanahood.com.

About “Mema”: Cheryl Booth has been crafting for more years than she cares to remember, and has shared her love of crafts with kids in her home, in Bible classes, at summer camp, and elsewhere.  You can visit Cheryl’s craft shop online at http://www.mycraftbooth.etsy.com

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Nana’s Lap

Posted by teresak on March 20, 2010 Leave a Comment

Today is the third children’s book I am reviewing for the give away here at NanaHood. (And don’t forget to enter the two BOOKS giveaways, HERE and HERE. ) The deadline to enter is next Saturday!

The title of today’s book  is Lilly and Lucy’s Shadow by Christopher Aslan Kennedy and illustrated by Stephanie Hill. Lilly and Lucy are two little girls with crazy pigtails who meet their shadows while playing in the park. The shadows look rather scary but Lilly and Lucy are brave little girls and what they do with their shadows is a testimony of their courage.

thumbnail.phpAnd now for the book of the week for Nanas…..

I love mysteries and trying to figure out what happens next.  I have a good friend (my daughter’s mother-in-law) who also loves to read and when she finishes with her books she passes them on to me. One of the latest books in my sack from Patty (Thanks Patty!) is a book called No Time For Goodbye by Linwood Barclay.

A young girl wakes up and her whole family is gone, vanished without a trace. She spends the next 25 years trying to go on with her life but always living beneath a gray cloud of doubt and worry, while wondering what happened. When strange things begin to happen to her she devotes herself totally to learning the truth and by doing so involves her husband and daughter in a dangerous journey. A true thriller I didn’t figure this one out until near the end of the book.

no time

You might not want to start reading this at night. It will keep you up! Enjoy!


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Fun Friday Links – Girls’ Books Edition

Posted by Char on March 19, 2010 2 Comments

Teresa just sent me an email checking in, and her email made me realize it’s FRIDAY.  (Yes, I admit it, I’m a bit “off” this week).  I apologize for the lateness of the post, but I hope the fun links will make up for the fact that the day is half over!

So… it’s the Books For Girls edition of Friday links!  I had so much fun putting together my list of book links.  I kept remembering all the books I’d read and the list has become entirely TOO long.  I’ll give you the shortened version here today… how about that?

Anne of Green Gables series – this is my all-time most favorite series of books ever.  I fell in love with Anne when I was around 10 (or so?), and I now own every single book L.M. Montgomery wrote.  (And she wrote quite a few more besides the Anne series). The highlight of my (literary) life would be to find an Anne of Green Gables, First Edition.

Little House Series – no “girls book list” would be complete without these!  Several years ago, I had the chance to visit South Dakota and take a tour through a home and museums there.  LOVED it.  Cannot wait to take Martha to see it.  (And I think the boys will enjoy it too!)

The Ramona Series – I apparently have a “thing” for books in series!  Anyone who reads regularly knows that the worst part of reading a good book is that it eventually ENDS.  Thank goodness for good authors like Beverly Cleary who let us keep revisiting our favorite characters.  Ramona was one of my favorites when I was in grammar school.

Superfudge – Another favorite author was Judy Blume.  I read several of her books over and over and over.  And over.

Nancy Drew series – I mentioned the Hardy Boys last week, and this list would not be complete without mentioning Nancy Drew.  I once spent an entire summer reading EVERY. SINGLE. Nancy Drew book on the shelves at our local library.  I rode my bike back and there almost every day, with two books in my basket.  (Yes I was a fast reader).  I’m sure Nancy Drew and Carolyn Keene are the two top reasons I love reading mysteries today.

I promise that I have about 25 other items on my list, but I’m so behind today, I’ll leave you with these.  HOWEVER, I want to know… what are YOUR favorite books for girls? Please leave me a comment, because I may be forgetting some, and I want a complete list!

And don’t forget to enter the two BOOKS giveaways, HERE and HERE.  The deadline to enter is next Saturday!

Happy Friday!

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