Kickin' the time squeeze, grandma style

There are nine people in my house right now. Nine! That's one more than my folks had with 6 kids. Time is a real issue. Still, it's OK. Why? Because I handle it grandma style. I have a calendar on the wall and I'm not afraid to use it. I better not be. Because that sucker is a necessity these days.

Today is a typical, not even all that busy, day for me:

Get daughter #1 to work by 6 am on the other side of town, while squeezing in a driving lesson.

Get the boyfriend ready for work. (Make coffee, breakfast and pack his lunch)

Make sure grand-daughter #3 is up and doing her online homeschooling by 8:30.

Supervise said schooling.

Keep grandson #1 busy, as he is off school this week.

Fill up the gas tank.

Take grand-daughter #2 to work across town, while squeezing in a driving lesson, by 10:30.

Clean the house to make room for the Christmas tree with grand-daughter #1.

Shine the badly and “naturally” distressed wood floors up.

Buy tree.

Put up tree.

Make sure the house stays clean all day.

Squeeze in a little fun for all the kids so it's not all work, no play.

Catch up the laundry that I started yesterday.

Plan and make lunch for me and make sure all the kids that are home eat something nutritious.

Pick up daughter #1 at 2:30

Take daughter #1 to return alternator core for refund.

Come back home and re-clean the house.

Plan and make dinner.

Pick up grand-daughter #2 from work at 7:30 pm.

Do the dinner dishes.

Flop in my chair.

Ya, and that's just the highlights. In between, I have to make everyone feel loved and such, dish out the chores and all the numerous other stuff that goes with the house, such as due bills reminders, book-work, etc. Wait, did I do any writing today? Painting? Photography? Anything that generates money?

Luckily, I rock it grandma style. I've been doing this kind of thing for many years and even though I'm chronically ill, I know how to prioritize and schedule everything so that I don't faint dead away before the day is through. 

Of course, once the day is through, that's another story. Zzzzzzzzzz

Quick and easy chocolate Christmas candy making for kids

Kids can easily make chocolate Christmas candy with a few basic items.

Chocolate candy is the best, easy present ever for kids to make and give at Christmas time. It's fun too. I've done this with my grand-kids many times. They end up with gifts everyone will love that they can make on a budget. If your kids are too young to use the stove, melt the chocolate for them and allow them to do the rest. Here's a few recipes we use here at Grandma's house to get you started.

Almond bark

Oil a cookie sheet lightly and set to one side. Melt 2 bags of semi-sweet, milk, or white chocolate over low heat. Stir in 2 cups of almond slivers or whole almonds. Spread mixture evenly on the greased cookie sheet. Let cool and break into random pieces. Package and freeze.

Rocky road drops

Oil a cookie sheet lightly and set to one side. Melt 2 bags of semi-sweet chocolate over low heat. Add 2 cups chopped peanuts and 1 cup mini marshmallows. Stir in quickly so the marshmallows don't melt. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto the greased cookie sheet. Let cool before packaging and freezing.

White chocolate pretzels

Oil a cookie sheet lightly and set to one side. Melt 2 bags of white chocolate chips over low heat. Dip small pretzels in the chocolate one by one and lay on the cookie sheet to harden. (Dip pretzels using a fork so as not to get sticky fingers.) This candy is pretty with multicolored sprinkles too. Let cool before packaging and freezing.

Chocolate coconut wreaths

Oil a cookie sheet lightly and set to one side. Melt 1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 bag butterscotch chips over low heat. Add one bag of coconut and stir in. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Use a spoon or clean fingers to make a center hole in each candy and shape into wreath. “decorate” the wreath with candy bits of your choice. Let these easy Christmas candy treats cool, then freeze for Christmas.

The make ahead factor saves holiday stress.

The best part about all these easy chocolate candy Christmas treats is that they can be made a month ahead to save last minute stress. They can be used as gifts or served at a Christmas party. Make a couple assorted bags of chocolate Christmas candy for unexpected guests and just leave them in the freezer.

Note: Kids learn what they live. Consider buying fair trade chocolate and other cruelty free ingredients for this Christmas project so that kids learn the importance of using their buying power for peaceful, positive change.

Stringing popcorn and cranberries as Christmas garland

Stringing popcorn and cranberries is one of our very favorite Christmas activities, here at Grandma's place. It's old fashioned and simple, just like me. All you need is a bag of frozen cranberries, a kettle of plain popped popcorn and a needle and thread. Stringing popcorn and cranberries as Christmas garland is fun for kids and grownups too.

The look

Strings of popcorn and cranberries bring an old time, yet timeless look to the home. Our family traditions also include stringing this edible garland for wildlife. Just hang them outside. They make a wonderful Christmas treat for birds and squirrels.

A frozen tip

Cranberries used for stringing garland should be frozen. Using thawed cranberries for this task is messy, juicy and sticky. The frozen ones can be sticky too, but they're not quite as bad. The needle should be large but quite sharp. Supervise kids well, so they don't stick their fingers.

Thread type

Button thread works best for stringing edible garland. It holds up better and is stronger than regular thread. If you don't have button thread, don't worry. Regular sewing thread, doubled will work too.

Length of thread

When threading the needle for stringing popcorn and cranberries, leave the thread uncut. That is to say, the part of the thread that is not passed through the needle should remain attached to the spool. This is because you don't know how long the garland will be until all the popcorn and cranberries are on it.

Alternate berries and popcorn

To cut down on stickiness, alternate the cranberries and popcorn. The popcorn will absorb some of the cranberry juice. Try three popcorn kernels and then a cranberry. This is a perfect pattern for the whole garland. As you work, slide the cranberries and popcorn down the string toward the thread spool.

Tying off the strand

When you run out of popcorn and cranberries to string, it's time to tie off your garland. We like to make ours into circles by tying the ends of string together. Just snip the thread at the spool, leaving a few inches for tying. Double knot the thread and your Christmas garland is done.

Time consuming, but homey

Stringing popcorn and cranberries may take some time. I like to play holiday music while stringing the garland. Sing along or just enjoy family conversation. Those who don't enjoy this activity can do another Christmas craft if they wish.

Feed the birds other treats too

Edible garland isn't the only way to feed the birds this Christmas. Our family likes to fill pine cones with peanut butter and roll them in birdseed. We also hang orange slices in the trees for the birds.

Day 5 and still alive!

A facsimile of my late night companion.

It's day 5 of having everyone back in the house and I'm still alive! Barely. LOL It's been a long week of chauffeuring people here and there, picking up after people (yes, they help too) and just generally being a good (I like to think) Grandma.

We've had missed communications, late night rides, sobbing, heart wrenching tears, driving lessons, loud, happy video game sessions and heart to heart talks. And of course, that's not all. Having a house full of kids is very humbling. You really find out what kind of stuff you're made of (or capable of withstanding.)

I must add that you also find out that it's not so bad and that the house is much happier for it.

But, I digress....

Managed to get “run to the bathroom sick” last night from eating too much junk food. At least I think that's what happened. Not really sure. But I am chronically ill. I keep forgetting. And junk food and I just aren't a good match any more, whether the junk be vegan or not.

Anyway.... I got up this morning after a grand total of an hour and a half of sleep, to start all over again, beginning with running my daughter to work at 5 am while still nauseous and dizzy.

Today our new appliances will be delivered in a 4 hour window, with my Tia Wia needing a ride to work right smack in the middle of it. Thank goodness that Nayna is 18 now, so she can wait for the delivery guys if necessary.

Thank goodness for the grand-kids altogether, actually. Whatever would I do without them?

Well, I might get some sleep and some quiet for sure. But sleep and peace and quiet are highly overrated when compared to the absolute joy of late night giggling to cheer you up as you worship that porcelain god.

Man, I love these kids!

Grandma's house plus HOW many?

Yup, that's about the size of it alright.

Looks like it's going to be Grandma and Gary's house plus 7 for a while. And if you count all our respective furry friends, well let's not even go there. The last thing we need is animal control paying us an unnecessary visit. Suffice it to say that our house is going to be chock full of love for the next few months as we make room for a few transitioning family members and their companions.

I'm OK with it. It's not going to be the easiest thing to deal with, for sure. But Gary and I love the crap out of all these people so here we are. And here they are again. Here we all are together. You get the idea. Plus, they'll all be moving out soon and of course, I'll be thanking goodness while not so secretly mourning their absence. Ain't life grand and ironic?

Today, I did some rearranging. We're going to need an extra fridge with all these people here. Luckily, we needed a new one anyway so our familial house guests can use the old one. Made room for all the extra non-perishables by adding a spare portable cupboard to the kitchen.

Stuck our old back-up portable dishwasher in the garage as someone recently let us know that our Christmas gift is going to be a new dishwasher. Best Christmas gift ever, thank-you, Hugh and Patty. That old portable one was mostly serving as a counter-top since the connections didn't fit our sink. Gary never was able to find the right size adapters.

As for the old built in, I'll be glad to wish it a not so fond farewell. It was good while it lasted but since it stopped working, it tends to fill up with stagnant water from sink drainage. Which is far from pleasant and necessitates running yucky, chemically bleach through it a couple times a week.

And as you can imagine, with 8 people and heaven knows how many pets in the house, we need that dishwasher, plus whatever other help we can get. So grateful for the gift!

Aja spent the morning doing home-school and cleaning her room on breaks. What a great kid! She's kind of sad to give up her room. Amber and Tia are older, though and need their privacy more. Amber's an adult now, when did that happen? IDK I'm mystified!

So, 3 adults, 2 kids and numerous furry friends in the half finished basement. 3 adults, one older teen, a dog and a cat upstairs. Oh, and did I mention that there's only one bathroom? The other one is still in the process of being remodeled. Oh and did I mention that someone is pregnant. No! Not me! Silly! My daughter is carrying baby # 5. I'm sure that in her condition, she's absolutely thrilled about the whole one bathroom thing.

Ah, well, life is never perfect. But if you're lucky, you get to spend a large portion of it with loved ones. A really large portion in a really small 60's brick house, in our case. Bwa ha ha ha Oh well. They're welcome and we love them. And that's really all that matters, isn't it?

Do your Halloween treats pass parent inspection or end up in the trash?

This grandma is very careful about tossing questionable Halloween candy, as are most parents. Inspection of trick or treat bags often results in good money being thrown in the trash. Why not take the time to be sure the treats you give out this Halloween are a good investment? Safety is first on the priority list for parents when it comes to Halloween goodies. Here's how to insure your trick or treat offerings make the cut.

Think about your own kids when choosing Halloween treats to pass out.

Is this the type of treat you would feel safe giving them? If this treat was in your kids bag of goodies, would you let them keep it? If the answer is no, chances are this treat won't pass another parents inspection either. Quite often, parental instinct will give you the answer to this safety dilemma.

Offer entertainment instead of treats.

Trick or treaters might enjoy a free homemade haunted house tour or other activity. Set up a table with activities like painting miniature pumpkins or making masks. Feathers, fake jewels and mask forms are available at most craft stores. Use your imagination to come up with other Halloween themed activities for trick or treaters.

Give out small toys as a substitute for Halloween candy.

Think rubber snakes, flutes, whistles or other party favors. Be sure to give age appropriate toys to each child. Trick or treating toddlers or babies should never be given toys with potential choking safety hazards. Unsafe toys will never pass parent inspection. Try to choose quality inexpensive toys as treats.

It may be tempting to make delicious homemade goodies for Halloween.

This only works for kids of friends and relatives. Even then, Halloween treats should be labeled with your name, phone and address. Avoid giving homemade treats to kids you don't know. Homemade trick or treat items always end up failing parent inspection due to possible safety risks.

Gift certificates are a welcome treat.

Many fast food venues offer coupons for individual items. Passing safety inspection is not a concern with these trick or treat offerings. Parents can take their kids out for a free treat without concern. Kids love getting these treats because it gives them a second day of fun to experience.

If you do give candy, keep this in mind:

Parents look for things like wrappers that can be opened and re-wrapped. Another safety alert goes off when packaging appears tampered with or open. Small holes in packaging could be needle insertion or injection sites. Buy Halloween candy that is securely wrapped and difficult to tamper with.

Cut your entertainment budget without sacrificing fun

Family fun doesn't have to be expensive.

This Grandma knows how to have fun on a budget. Looking to cut costs without cutting the entertainment? Tired of budget scrimping and saving with no entertainment rewards? Want to find entertainment venues that save money and provide fun for the whole family? Here are some fabulous ways to cut your entertainment budget without sacrificing the fun.

Movies

*Next time you rent a Redbox movie, share it with friends, family and neighbors. Last one to watch returns it.
*Cancel the cable. Watch Netflix and Hulu through your X-box.
*You can also share your Netflix log-in with others. Split the meager cost and save a bundle on entertainment.
*Have a gathering and watch movies together. You can socialize and save money at the same time.
*Most movie theaters allow employees unlimited free movies during off peak times. Some even allow for one or two guest passes per visit.
*Rather than watching first run movies in theaters, wait for them to come to second run theaters or DVD. It's the same movie, no matter when you watch it.

Passes, memberships etc.

*Buying a State Parks pass cuts the entertainment budget. See some of the most beautiful areas of the state without paying admission fees every time you visit. Be sure to visit enough times a year that the cost is worthwhile. Camping, swimming and hiking are just a few of the offerings of state parks.
*Entertainment venues, restaurants, book stores and more, all give out free membership cards for discounts. Cut the budget by taking advantage of these free offers.
*Restaurants often have punch cards. Buy so many meals and get the next free. Is there a better budget cut than free?

Free days

Many cities offer a certain amount of free days per year at such entertainment venues as museums. Usually these require a state ID. Take advantage of these days to cut the entertainment budget. Arrive early. These free day events are often crowded.

Off peak rates

Travel during the week, rather than on the weekend. Rates are lower and the trip will be every bit as fun. Travel to warm weather countries or states in the winter. Reduced rates for off season travel cut the entertainment budget nearly in half. If you'd rather travel in season, purchase tickets well in advance.

Tents, campers, cars and cabins

Why pay for a hotel when camping is a fraction of the cost? Why fly when driving 4 people costs the same as flying one? Road trips are a blast! Plus, you see more sights on the way to your destination. If you like roughing it, go for economical tent camping. Try a camper or cabin if you prefer a little more comfort.

Bring back board games, jigsaw puzzles and other old time entertainment.

Many of the things our parents and grandparents did for entertainment were completely free. They were also tons of fun. So, why not turn off the phones and TV's for a while? Socialize with your family members and friends. Get to know them on a more personal level by playing games together. Who knows? You might get more than a night's entertainment out of this deal.

Breaking the chain

Some chains are made to be broken

Today, a lot of my various blog posts are about minding my own business. It's not a bad thing. It's about empowerment. It's a little about freedom. It's a lot about empowering and trusting others as well. But, back to that chain.

Since you last heard from me, my last grand-kid in residence moved out. Breaking the “under my roof” chain was not an easy choice, but it had to be done. Of course, I will miss her. Of course, there will be times when I wish she was back. But the bottom line is, I'm grandma, not mom and kids belong with their parents.

But wait, there's more.

I'm not just breaking the live in chain. I'm breaking the responsibility chain. Because not only do kids belong with their parents, so does the responsibility of raising them, no matter the circumstance. Barring abuse, neglect and other serious issues, that is.

My grand-kids will always be number one in my book. Same with my kids, of course. But here I am in my 50's. I find myself in a spot where my whole life has revolved around them. I suppose in some ways, that's as it should be.

But what about me? When will I be number one in my own life? Well, over the last few years, I have been making gradual changes toward that end. Because, let's face it, if you don't take care of yourself, what will you have to share or give to others? Not a darn thing.

I'm no good at selfish. That's not where I intend to take this. My grand-kids will also still get my advice and undivided attention when they need it.

So will you, by the way. This blog will now contain some of the best realistic parenting advice you'll ever get. Not because I'm especially intelligent but because I've been through a lot of crap and learned from it.

As for my kids and grand-kids, they will still be welcome and frequent visitors to my house. We'll laugh and play and go places together. We'll do all the fun things we always have. I love being a mom and a grandma. It's just that I don't want to be in that parenting role with them anymore. It's not my job.

The kids are too old and the grand-kids already have parents for that.

Plus, I've been wrong to take care of their responsibilities every time they have financial woes or struggles. It's not good for any of us.

Plus, I really should mind my own business.

Yes, I admit that I'm a bit of a know it all. Stop laughing, OK? I'm a huge know it all. Is that better? The difference is though, that now I'm trying. I'm really trying to break that chain. I hate when anyone tells me how to live. It's about time I realized that other people do too.

Meanwhile, you can still look to this blog for that parenting advice. And maybe a laugh or two along the way. I am hilarious, after all. You won't be able to help yourself.

Breaking the chain can be fun and I intend to prove it.

More adventures in Common Core math

Math should not cause a kid to look this depressed and frustrated!

Oh ya, we all have them, don't we? Those nights of bending over the elementary school math paper going, “Huh?” Good heavens, I was in Trig and Calculus in high school. It was easier than this “Common Core” crap. Who in the heck decided to bestow this gem on grade schoolers? Is there still a firing squad, because....

The kid is frustrated. I'm frustrated. My ever-supportive boyfriend is on the phone with an elementary school teacher trying to sort out the madness. All because they added money to the subtraction equation in my grand-daughter's homework assignment without explaining to her how to break down money when subtracting a larger cent portion from a smaller cent portion. What?

Why are we doing this to kids who understand fully the math concepts behind conventional subtraction? Why are we not just glad they have the mental capability to find the answer ONE way? That used to be a good thing.

My grand-daughter learned math the “old” way. She's good at it. She gets it. Now, she has to turn around and learn math all over again. Because the fact that she understands it the old way just isn't good enough any more. Not only that, I can't help her with her homework because I have no idea in hell what she's supposed to be doing.

Both my boyfriend and my grand-daughter spent time on the phone with a grade school teacher last night. They still didn't get it. Friends, if the teachers can't even explain it to the kids or the parents after a half hour phone conversation, who the hell can and why are we doing this?

I know. I know. Times are changing, right? But let's face it. Not every kid is destined to be a rocket scientist. They don't all need advanced math skills, especially at the elementary level. Surely, that can wait until they reach high school, can't it? Then, they can decide if their chosen career warrants it and go from there.

Oh, but that makes too much sense. Instead, let's confuse the hell out of kids, parents, grand-parents and everyone else involved until they all hate math so much that they never, ever want to use it again, even in real life.

Let's make it as complicated and frustrating as possible because that's how we make kids love math, right? WRONG!

Elementary school math should involve simple, basic concepts that are easily explained. It should give kids the basis for understanding the way numbers work. It should not be an exercise in hair tearing, gut wrenching exhaustion.

So, what happened? Well, what happened was that my grand-daughter went to school today with her math problem done one way and a note for the teacher to please sit down with her and explain how to do it the second way so that she can understand it.

Will that happen? Who knows? At this point, I'm not even sure the teacher gets it. Because if she did, you would think that by the time the kids got an assignment requiring them to use it, they would understand it. That's the point of teaching something, right? Making sure the kids understand it? Or at least it used to be.

Sigh....