Ultimate Guide: HOW TO BE A SNOW BIRD and do it right!

Our park model home in Arizona

Take the time to do it right...you will never regret it! Follow the links listed here and on the other posts. You will find a wealth of information.

Oregon

I am not here to burst your bubble but there are a few reality checks that need to be considered. I know...traveling off to warm weather in the winter, having two sets of friends and maybe a second home, sounds very luxurious. Golfing while your friends are mucking around on snow and ice would be soooooo dreamy. I want you to stop and think about what you might be doing. There are choices to be made

Arizona

We sat next to a couple from the east side of Portland this summer. They were approaching retirement age I guessed. We were talking about membership in the wine club at this particular tasting room when I told that we were gone for six month of the year so a membership might not work.

The man sat up suddenly interested. "You're snowbirds? How do you do that? We want to wander some but we really just do not know how." Do we sell our house here and move? Can we afford to keep both places? How do we decide?

That is where I come in. I can help you if you are feeling the same way. I wish there had been someone like me when we retired. Truly it was a mystery. We had no idea what was possible and what was not.

If you want to travel from resort to resort you can do that. If you want to work and travel, that is possible too. I have known people that worked in the resort they were staying. Another person worked at the local golf course. Some go back to school and one man I know because a tax consultant. You can figure it out. If you are just looking for a place to build a nest, you can do that.

Try it out first! I cannot emphasize how important that is. When you are first retired things look different that what they will in a while after. Go to the place you think you would like, take a short vacation and get the feel for the location. Being a snowbird requires some doing and I think making a choice about the life style can be a process. Just look around and make yourself sure that is what you want.

If you decide where and when,  I suppose the first consideration is money. Inexpensive second homes can be had but you need to be careful before you leap. (Link: Rental information) Areas that cater to snowbirds both in the southwest and southeast do provide opportunities to rent fully furnished apartments or park models in RV resorts.

You will need to do some research online or even call a rental agent in the place you have chosen to visit. It is all very doable. ( Inexpensive Retirement Information)

RV resorts offer a lot of activities and that is a real consideration when you have free time on your hands. You can rent the park models* in these places. This is another choice that might replace living in an apartment.

Will I Miss my Grandchildren? I think the answer for this one is obvious. Yes, you might miss your family. It is a given. But on the upside, your family dynamic may be better when you are gone for a while.

When we started this life my children actually needed for me to be out of town for part of the year. I got a break from babies, my children became more independent and we enjoyed each others company more when we got back together. In fact, they now see us coming home as a vacation of sorts for themselves.

If you have children that live in a warm place, you can choose to live part of your year close to one child and part of the year near the other. If you get lonesome for them, you can talk on Skype, or use your smart phone, iPad or computer for Face Time or even use video via your Facebook account. This is our link to home or where ever our children are at anytime.

Where should I go and can I afford it? This is such a personal thing...we chose a human comfort zone. Really the geographic location is not as important as the people around me. For example, if I won the lottery, I would not be comfortable living in a high roller apartment in Las Vegas. That is not who I am. While this is an outrageous example, it is absolutely the truth.

If you are a very educated person that loves the opera and expensive restaurants, you need to find a place where those people that live around you love the same things. If golfing or cards help you pass the time, there are a lot of opportunities to connect with those people in a resort. If the pool is important, you need to find someplace that has a heated pool. Even in the southwest it is winter and the days can be chilly. (Link: Like Minded People)

But, what you are really here for is to find out if you can actually afford this life style. It is a given that traveling in a motor home big or small is initially going to be more expensive than buying a park model in a resort. Because snowbirds have been around for a long time, those that are either aging or simply moving will sell these small homes for lower than you will imagine. A price of $10,000 to $20,000 is not that unusual.

How much it will cost to rent the property where the park model is depends on that you expect:

...beautiful vistas and enticing amenities come at a price, and it’s not cheap. Rates vary widely depending on location, season, and how far in advance you book it. For an in-season rental, rates usually start anywhere from $70 to $100+ per night. In addition, many luxury motorhome parks have a minimum stay requirement. A week-long stay at even the most basic luxury RV park could cost $1,000 or more. (From RVShare.com) 

You can get a space for less but be aware that very old unmaintained resorts can be tacky. It depends on your level of "luxury". Mom and Pop may be fun and really nice but the location counts as well as the amenities.

You also need to know that a nice resort is not going to let you come if you don't fulfill their appearance/length requirements. Still don't be frightened by the prices quoted above. Check with places like Rincon RV Resort Country in Tucson. Rincon Country has two resorts in Tucson. Here is their 2019 rate schedule. I would also check with Voyager RV. That resort is beautiful. I could not find a price schedule for them so you will have to contact the resort either online or personally.

How to Snowbird We are leaving for Tucson soon...here is where we get down to the nitty gritty of being a part time person in two locations. Think about:

• How long to stay gone? We are living about 6 months in both of our homes. That is a personal choice and one we have settled on after all these years. We began by traveling in a motor home, bought a park model in a resort in Tucson, AZ and now have a small townhouse. We live in the Portland Oregon metro area and have been Oregonians all our lives. It rains a lot here and we like to avoid as much of that as we can and still enjoy our beautiful location.
• Should I fly or drive? After people have done this for many years they usually buy a clunker car and simply fly to their winter home. Really this depends on whether you are coming to Arizona from Nova Scotia or from Oregon. Some drives are just not worth the time and expense. Our friends put the car on blocks, disconnect the battery, find a spot in the shade for the vehicle and leave it behind. The worse that can happen is it is stolen or the rats gnaw on the electrical wires! But if it is an insured clunker, you are fine. (Rats are another thing entirely but still you need to be aware of any varmints that lurk about...FYI.)
• Should I rent out my home while I am gone? Let me tell you if this is possible and you can find someone you trust, do this. Most of your other dilemmas don't exist when you do this. We have had students live in our house and rented it out. In both cases it was a win/win situation. The extra cash in the case of renting can pay for your time in the south! The minor clean ups and damage were nothing compared to what we need to do when no one is in the house. The best part is the "closing the house up" part just disappears.

How do I switch from one life to another? There is an extensive list of to-dos when you close your house down and switch to a different life. Many of things mentioned in this will save you money that can be used while you are gone from home. This is a list worth copying:

1. Mail...the post office with forward mail with a beginning and ending date. If you are in one location, this works perfectly. If you are on the road you can have a family member forward you mail occasionally or you can have your mail forwarded to a service and they will take care of this for you.
2. Turning off the water if possible. This is one big bill you do not pay if you do that. If you turn off your water you also need to turn off your water heater. The tank could burn up without water. Some heating systems are dependent on the water. Can you turn your heat off and not have big freezing problems? Draining pipes might be necessary if you are from the frozen north! No matter what, keep in mind what water can do. If you cannot turn it off, have someone check you home frequently. Water damage is a horrible thing and it happens a lot! (Yes we did have that happen to us.)
3. Have the insurance for you second car changed...this can save you a lot of money. The insurance company will reduce the cost for you if you have the car in storage. The coverage is comprehensive so if another person drives that car check with insurance companies to see if their insurance covers the car while they are driving it. Cutting the cost for car insurance for six months out of the year saves you money. 
4. Keeping the bad guys out...I know people that turned on an alarm system and walked away feeling very secure. I still advice you to be very careful. We have someone check in occasionally and ask neighbors to be watchful too. We leave our phone number as well as our local family's number with them.
5. Make your home look lived in when it is not...(see keeping the bad guys out). Be sure that some delivery person is not leaving unwanted ads at your front door. Piled up newspaper ads are an invitation to trouble. I suggest that you have a neighbor clear these away. I hate those things anyway but it happens. The local pizza parlor has to advertise somehow I guess. Leave the blinds partially cracked and leave a plant by the front door that will survive through the winter. You can even hang a generic wreath on the front door that looks welcoming. All these things make your house look lived in. I see that timers for lights do not cause fires so you might consider using some of those.
6. Make choices about turning off garbage, TV, internet, phone service, etc. Most of these services have a "vacation/hibernation" setting. That means that they don't disconnect you entirely and all you need to do when you return is give them a call and they turn your service back on. Your garbage can, TV cable box (if you still use one) and your modem for internet hook-up can remain in place. You might have to pay a small fee but it could be cheaper that paying to have services reconnected. This also gives you the option of coming home for a short period of time or letting a friend/relative use the home and having the services needed. We come home at Christmas and have our internet, garbage and TV turned back on for that short period of time. You make the choice. I have written about what I think is a wonderful solution for reducing cable cost in a post called How Snow Birds Can Cut RV Cable Costs.
7. Decide on a wardrobe. It has taken me years to learn what to take with me and what to leave behind. If you are a total newbie, check on the temperatures during the months you are going to be in a locality. Arizona for example, is NOT hot in the winter. Locals and experienced snowbirds do not dress like it is 90 degree when the temperature rises to the mid 60's during the day. You will need sweaters, longer pants and a jacket in the evening hours. Pay attention to this sort of thing when you pack for your trip. I know we all dream of warm winter days but in this case it is all relative. Warm in the winter is 65 degrees but compared to say Iowa that is really warm. See what I mean?
8. If you leave the electricity on, UNPLUG EVERYTHING that can be disconnected. Just because.
9. Then there is the cat!!! Our cat was a real part of our life...however, the RV resort where we spend our winters before we moved to a townhome would not allow a cat outside the park model. (See making snowbird location choices.) Because our cat was a feral cat when we found him in Texas, he would NOT stay indoors all the time. 

So, there you have it. Actually, when you think about it, the benefits far outweigh the problems. I hope this reality check helped you make the decision that will work best for you. If you have any further question or ideas, feel free to comment and I will get back to you. I love comments and I am sure you love answers!

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*A park model is a small trailer with all the same amenities as a big trailer. Our park model was about 12' wide and 34' long. We had added a room to the side that we call an "Arizona Room". That space provides storage and utility space. We also have a shed where our washer and dryer was stored as well as my husband's work bench.

Related articles

Tucson for Snowbirds...a season at a glance! (retireinstyleblog.com)

Is being a snowbird right for you? An Interview with me by Satisfying Retirement Blog (retireinstyleblog.com)

How to choose the right RV park! (retireinstyleblog.com)

(Link: Keeping Retirees Connected)

How Snowbirds Can Cut TV Costs

What does your word bubble say?

Or do you even have one of those.

Around the campfire the other night my daughter asked my granddaughter what her word bubble would say if we could see it.

I had never actually thought about my word bubble. But I am sure I have one because I know I am generally not thinking about what I am saying or doing or looking at. There would be a lot of words up there.

My granddaughter looked puzzled. She did not know what she was thinking. She was, in fact, simply living.

Living in the Moment

Meelie thinks about what she is looking at or saying...period. Adults have a hard time doing that. What she does is called living in the moment. Hard as we adults try, thoughts about past things or future problems fill our minds. Actually totally enjoying the moment is hard to do.

So, my thought is, in our effort to live life in the now, we need to take a lesson from an 11 year old. The tree, the cabinet or even the tv show is about the now...enjoy the now. The past does not exist and the future is unknown.

Just a little thought for the day!

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21 Years Ago Today...

Elena at age 10 in Tombstone AZ

One of my grandchildren is turning 21 today...remember that day in your life?

I was at a party with family and all of my midlife friends. We were talking about turning 21 and almost everyone had a story to tell. On the day they turned 21 there were things that they did to mark the anniversary...parties with friends, beer, revelry! Wow, I thought. I have no memories of that day at all. What is that all about?

So today I am invited to go on a wine tasting tour with my grandchild, her mother and her sister-in-law. I feel like it is my birthday because that is what I would have chosen...life is good isn't it? I hope Elena is as happy as I am and I hope when she is old, she has wonderful memories of this day.

What a beautiful day.

Happy Birthday Elena!

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My Grandsons Told Me That I Am the Best

Once a year since my children began school I have gone school shopping. That has been almost 50 years of a wonderful new beginnings. When my children were small we bought erasers, a large box of crayons and underwear. Now I am not responsible for school supplies...I am responsible for bringing joy. It is so much fun...not easy...but fun. I am a grandmother now.

Brayden at age 7.

Yesterday was my young grandson's day to be taken out for a day with Grandma. They are 9 and 7. We wandered through Macy's and Target. We bought t-shirts (a huge success) and one grandson convinced me to buy a sweat shirt with a Five Nights at Freddie's design. It took a bit of negotiation on his part but we got the job done. The youngest just watches with a puzzled look on his face and asks for nothing. I have to encourage him to tell me what he wants. The youngest walked away with 3 t-shirts and the oldest with 2 t-shirts and a sweat shirt. The youngest did ask if we could visit the Pokemon in the toy aisle before we left the store earlier in the morning and I paid attention.

So after the clothes shopping we walked to the toy aisle where the boys found the Pokemon card sets. That was where they got very serious. They had a limit on time and money so being focused was important. They looked and wondered and even did a price check at one point. They pondered the idea of pooling their money. In the end they walked out with just what they wanted given how much they could spend.

Brysen at age 5.

I bought 16 rolls of toilet paper and some Armour All Wipes to use to clean my car with. We were all smiling as we walked to the car.

Naturally, after a hard morning of shopping we needed to eat so we headed off to Red Robin. We have gone to the same place since this ritual began with this family of children 4 years ago.

As we were walking, to the door they clutched their cards in their hands. That was when I wondered out loud if they loved me. Of course we love you grandma they both said in unison. Why?  I asked, wondering what the response would be.

We love you because you are the best! Why did you think we would love you?

I thought it would be because I bought you prizes. It was hard to admit to them that I even thought that.

I walked into Red Robin marveling out loud...Wow, I am the best! Honestly, isn't that just the most wonderful thing ever? I am still smiling!

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Looking Back at 2010: Global Warming and the Grandma's Litter Patrol

Note: I wrote this post in 2010 because I feel so strongly about the influence we have on our children and I have never understood people apathy toward cherishing our Mother Earth.  I am reposting it for your enjoyment.

Note: The is the post mentioned in the blurb about this blog on the Senior Lifestyle blog award website. I thought it was worth reposting. These two grandsons are now 7 and 9 years old.

I really don't know where else to begin teaching our children about the necessity for keeping our earth clean. They need to know that it will mean a better life for them and their children.

That is where my beautiful grandsons come into the picture. I want to teach them that it can be the simplest things that make the biggest impact. And believe me they are listening. They are at the age between wonder and delight.

Last week we were taking care of our grandsons for a few days. Every visit to Grandma's house has to include a trip to a nearby park. The little green place is full of nooks and crannies and bridges and water.  It is also full of people playing basketball and enjoying a Sunday afternoon picnic. It is a well used and sometimes abused green space.

When we visited the park this last week, we were trying to see if the tiny pond with a creek running through it might have fish or frogs. The water skippers were busy with their big shoes on their feet skimming across the water. But search as we might, we didn't find any fish. Grandma the oldest said someone threw a pop can in the water! The the smallest asked What's that white thing Grandma?

I can honestly can say that I had a feeling of visceral disgust as I looked at garbage in our little park's water. I think that our children should only see clean water and shining skies. This was one of those moments when you wish what happened hadn't but also knew that now was the time. The lesson had begun. The choice was about action or inaction. Did I want them to think that someone else would take care of it or did I want to find a way for the three of us to take responsibility for our environment? For me, there really wasn't a choice. All I needed was a rake, a pair of rubber gloves, two little boys and a big plastic garbage bag.

Two Little Boys

A Rake

And a Garbage Bag

We climbed down the bank to the creek, through the bushes. I raked the garbage and Brayden held the bag. After we were done, we put everything in the bin...that is where it should have been in the first place I said. The lesson was over.

Hopefully, in some small way what we do can help. It doesn't matter if global warming is caused by us or by mother nature. The fact is, humans are having an effect on the world. How could we not? When did we forget the message about global warming was simply about keeping our own backyard clean?

But, even more importantly, are we forgetting to teach our children and grandchildren about how we can prevent the destruction of Mother Earth because we are so caught up in why Mother Earth continues to get warmer and warmer? Please quit messing up my Earth.

Do you think the why is as important and what we can do?

Have a wonderful day.

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I'm Going to Tell Grandma and Grandpa!

Pano picture with me son appearing several times...this is life in our world!

Dinner time with family is always a lively affair. We share stories, children quarrel and parents tease...endlessly. So when my granddaughter told her dad that she was going to tell on him for teasing...Grandma and Grandpa needed to know what he had done, he had no memory of ever doing anything bad enough that he would "be in trouble with Grandma and Grandpa."

He threw his hands up in the air in amazement. "What did I do?" he asked.

Now you can imagine how our minds were turning. We wondered what did he do that would make him be in trouble with us. He is over the age when we have any power.

However, in our 13 year old granddaughter's mind, my husband and I have some mythical power over just about everyone and everything. My husband and I looked at each other in amazement.

"I am going to tell Grandma and Grandpa!" she repeated but still her father would not let her alone. He couldn't see how any bad could come of his behavior.

Did she tell? Well, yes she did. Was my son in trouble...maybe just a little bit. Did we laugh? You can bet on it. Will my son change? Never. We like him just the way he is. As for our granddaughter, she is perfect!

Don't you just love children. They are a constant source of amazement.

Any stories? I would love to hear them.

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Did you know that if you put the earbuds to your ipod up your nose....

I published this originally in 2009. My granddaughter Elena (the one with the earphones up her nose) was around 11 back then. She called this last week and wanted to see the story again. Here it is. Happy Thanksgiving 2016

Elena with her Uncle Larry

I love my grandchildren...bless their peeked little heads! They make me laugh, they make me cry, they occasionally make me want to run and hide. But, in spite of the hiding part, they mostly make me laugh.

I have a lot of teen aged grandchildren and one that is an "almost teenager". She is a great joy to me and hates it when I talk about her. So I will not mention her name...not today anyway. She has just gone to middle school where she hangs out with other middle school humans all day. She is not a baby any more she tells us and she thinks that being in middle school should prove that to us .

I took her to ballet after school this last week and offered to meet her at the front door of the school because it was the third day of school and we weren't entirely clear on what the drill was. I don't know what I was thinking. Oh my gosh...you would have thought I had offered to entertain at an assembly naked!! NONONONO!!! THAT IS A VERY BAD IDEA!!! she warned. I hid out in the parking lot ducking down as low as I could...she found me anyway. So I took her to her lessons as anonymously as a grandmother possibly can.

Her brother discovered the "pee hole" in his underwear when he was about 4...and had to tell me about it when we were streaking down the freeway at 70 miles per hour. "Grandma, know what I found out today...I have a pee hole in my underwear. Do you think grandpa knows about that?" The freeway almost had a huge pile up that day and there were reports of a hysterical older woman with a child in the back seat driving erratically on Oregon 26.

So yesterday when my nameless granddaughter came into the dinner room and announced that "if you put the earbuds to your ipod in your nose the sound will come out your mouth" I should have remained cool. As she leaned over to let me listen I almost fell off my chair. My daughter and I were still laughing as she headed out the front door to visit with the neighbor boy. Her parting words were "don't talk about me while I'm gone!" My daughter and I looked at each other in amazement. Would that be possible?

I'm just saying....!!!

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On the Interview with Madeleine Anna

My granddaughter interviewed me this morning. She live in Dubai, UAE. She is doing some research on growing old and it turns out I qualify to talk about that. That makes me smile...being qualified that is. It was a lot of fun to answer her well thought out questions because it turns out I am full of information and answers. Now it is your turn to smile.

This is Maddie and her younger sister.

She asked me questions like "What was your first thought when you found out you were pregnant?" That one required a little historical background with the answer. She asked about first dates and teen years and family stories and (best of all) what I remembered about her father when he was young like her.

Her last question was about what wisdom I could pass on to her. I told her that she needs to see everything she does as a building block for what she will become. If she makes mistakes, atone for them and admit what she did. What is done normally cannot be undone and in truth the past does not exist. That is why she will need to move forward and learn from all her experiences.

The interview was a wonderful opportunity for me. It was like a vetting of my past as well as serving as a validation of my value to the future. I hope it turned out to be as special as she hoped it would be.

I was reminded that as the "wise" people in our families, we need to find a way to pass on wisdom on so that it weaves its way into our children's lives without them even realizing it.

This week my grandchildren voted, several for the first time. My granddaughter posted on Facebook that she had done her part. My words of wisdom to her as we watched the count come down was to remember that when others go low we always go high. It is a family tradition.

What is the best words of wisdom you could give to your grandchildren or children? Give it some thought.

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You Don't Need a Reason to be Happy!

I have been reading Louis Sachar's book Sideways Stories from Wayside School to my grandson this summer. The Wayside School was built 30 stories high instead of 30 classroom long. The idea just makes me smile.

Louis Sachar's book was the perfect choice for this eight year old. Even though the characters are odd and in many cases, impossible, the storyline somehow reaches him in ways I can't.

We were reading the chapter about the little boy that came to school smiling from ear to ear. The classroom on the thirtieth floor needed someone to smile on that particular day. Even though no one could figure out why, they started smiling too, even the mean kid. But no one could get DJ, the smiling boy, to tell why he was so happy. They guessed and guessed but he could not answer. He was too busy smiling.

Brayden's school is not sideways. 
All 30 classroom are on the ground.

We found the answer when DJ went to recess.

Louis, the yard teacher, called, "Hey, DJ Come here."

They walked to the far corner of the playground, where they were alone.

"What's up DJ?" Louis asked.

DJ just smiled.

"Come on, DJ. You can tell me. Why are you so happy?"

DJ looked up at him. He said, "You need a reason to be sad. You don't need a reason to be happy."

Isn't that just perfect? We can list the reasons we are sad but happy? We don't need a reason.

Don't your agree?

Have a wonderful day!

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I often wonder if authors are not like teachers in that they learn more when they are writing than their readers do.

Sachar is the guy that wrote Holes, There's a Boy in the Girls Bathroom and other modern day children's classics. His stories are unique and often quirky but above all fun to read no matter your age. I'm glad I chose him for my summer reading with my grandson.

Click the image for Amazon availability.

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• A Book Worth Reading: What the Dog Saw

Do You Lie About Your Age?

My son and his family left this morning to go back home. They were staying in their condo close-by for a month so we spent a lot of time together. July is the month of a rejoining in our family. For almost 25 years I have been watching 12 grandchildren grow and change.

Meelie, Age 4 or 5

Because we only see his two girls once a year, we notice the growing more noticeably. In my mind I mark the march of time.

This year their youngest child is 8 (almost 9) going on 13 (like her sister). She is tall, physically strong and above all articulate and a great reader. But...she is 8 (almost 9)...not older, not younger, just 8 (almost 9)! Why do I say that even though she looks older?

Well, here is the deal. Her real age is related to her emotional development. She responds and truly acts like an 8 (almost 9) year old. She wants to say she is older but I am not buying it!

We had a big celebration because the oldest, Maddie, turned 13 this year and this is the first time we have ever celebrated a real birthday with her. Birthdays are on my mind.

So when I was sitting at breakfast in a restaurant when someone at a table near me was revealing that it was their birthday I paid attention.

Today is my birthday. I just turned 50,  she said.

Well, another added,  I am not 50 and I am so glad. 

How old are you then? asked the first.

Age 8 (almost 9)

I wouldn't be surprised if that lady didn't want to lie about her age just like Meelie but she didn't. She was quite a lot older than 50.

However, in the end it would not have mattered what the woman said. The answer would have been the same...Oh my goodness, you don't look XX years old!

That one just keeps coming up over and over...you don't look XX years old! 

The person receiving the so called compliment really wants to ask how old they do look. Older? Younger? Shorter? What????

It was at that moment that I began to understand why people, especially women, lie about their age or simply never tell. It is just too hard to have the conversation and like me, no one ever knows what they should say.

I have heard my husband invite people to guess his age...that one came back and bit him and I have never heard him ask again.

See, in the end it doesn't really matter what the number is or how old you look. What does matter is how your emotional development is coming along. It matters what age you are in your mind or in Meelie's case, how long you can sit still!

In the end, we can fool some of the people part of the time but not all of the people all of the time. So, instead of trying to fool them (and ourselves), why not just keep them guessing? I think I am going to try it.

Do you reveal your age?

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Watching, Waiting and All That Means

We drop into bed exhausted every night. The days fly by because they only get to stay over night for 4 sleeps. The first sleep was after a 37 hour plane ride from Dubai. Safely next to our bed they slept like the babies they are.

We have ridden the bicycle, made a duct tape purse, decorated cookies, played pickleball, taken a walk, eaten out a Wild Wings where I embarrassed them cheering for Green Bay and watched two wonderful movies on Netflix. Plus a lot more. They had a wonderful time but of course they were ready to go when their mom and dad came.

I couldn't explain to you if you have never been around children what it feels like to love them so completely. Even after a scolding they will snuggle close. But best of all everyday begins with the watching. I can see them growing right before my eyes.

The Tanque Verde Resort here in Tucson has hundreds of horses that they use on trail rides and for lessons. We visited yesterday just so the girls could get their "horse fix". They petted horses and named the ones that caught their fancy. And then they climbed a tree and just sat and watched. It was the best they told me. Soon we headed out to eat and then come home to another movie. 

Yes, waiting, watching and learning from children is one of the great joys in my life. I am a happy woman.

Maddie took this picture from her perch in the tree.

Beautiful children at peace and in their element.

When I told them that climbing the tree
was probably against the rule,
they just smiled and relaxed a bit more.
You could tell they were so happy
in that moment.

They taught me that what we have is enough and we should be happy wherever we are perched. What did you learn today? And where did you learn it?

Have a wonderful day. I hope your Holiday Season is shaping up to be as wonderful as mine.

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Grandchildren Love Change

Are those my grandchildren or what...they love change as much as I do. In fact, on a good day we do things for 15 minutes. On a jumping day we stay with something for 5 minutes or less. We are working on being more focused.

Today we are coloring and writing and playing and digging and sweeping the floor. Oh I will print pages for coloring and we will take a LONG walk to a neighboring school so they can play on the grounds. It is a good thing they are staying all day. We might run out of time to do it all.

I am hoping the sprinklers are on the walking trail way. If there is we may even work in a little water play!

I am a very lucky woman that my grandchildren are ready to go the minute they come in the door. It is so much fun!

I love my grandchildren!

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Grandchildren: When It Gets Very Quiet...!

See, I am the type of person that does three things at a time but cannot hear an explosion in the same room. The world can fall down around me and I will not notice. It is a special talent. But when it comes to my grandchildren, there are thing that get my attention right away. Total silence is one of those things. My head comes up and I move at the speed of light because I know that what might come next is probably not going to be a good thing. Here is what happens:

This little girl is VERY busy but on that particular day all she was doing was figuring out how to use a broom. Phew!

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Grandparenting: On Herding Cats

Wiggly Little People!

My beautiful grandson, Brycen, was in his end of school program today. He is four. It is so much fun to watch these little people in situations like this. They are just being who they are and they do not worry much about anything else. I have taught this age group and I will tell you right now it is a bit like herding cats.

When they walk onto the stage, their shirts are tucked in and every hair is in place. Before long the cowlick and the shirt tail has escaped and both shoes are untied. I don't know how or why but there you have it. 

When I looked around the room I could see that every mom, dad and grandparents was smiling.

His mom and dad are heros in Brycen's eyes!

My grandson told his teacher he wanted to be a paramedic when he grew up just like his mom and dad. That made we wonder when the little boy next to him wanted to be a superhero...do you suppose his parents are Batman and Wonder Woman? Maybe in his eyes they are.

This is one of the joys of being retired and can spend time close to your children and grandchildren. When people ask me what I do all day I always wonder if they could even guess. Life is good.

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Counting: 2 Books to Help Children Learn by Doing

I think that we grandparents have a wonderful opportunity to give our grandchildren some unique experiences. Because our home is different from the one that the children are being raised in, we can offer them a chance to change their routine and learn while they are at it.

But first I want to visit the concept of "learning by doing versus learning by learning". Text books and books in general do offer some wonderful learning experiences for children.  However, doing what the book is talking about offers a totally different look at the world.

Dr. Seuss's Beginner Book Collection
 (Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish, 
Green Eggs and Ham,
 Hop on Pop, Fox in Socks)

I remember back when I was teaching kindergartners we would celebrate Dr. Seuse's birthday each year. I think that more often than not we would start with Green Eggs and Ham. The book always symbolized for me the idea that trying new things can be a little bit scary but if we can find the courage, scary things can turn out to be a lot of fun.

Eggs are eggs but GREEN EGGS just don't look like something you would want to put in your mouth. But when the child cracked the egg, stirred the egg and then added a drop of green food coloring they were very tempted to take a taste. The taste showed them that eggs, even green eggs can taste very good.

Now I am retired and I get to spend time with my three smallest grandchildren ages 2-6. We do all those things that they DON'T DO AT HOME. We don't talk or read about doing things like cleaning a park. We actually go to the park and pick up litter. We take a few of the beans we are going to have to dinner outside and plant them. We take a sack on our walks and see how many different things we can find...a treasure hunt of sorts. Puddles are splashed in and ants are stared at. My grandchild learn by doing.

Little Blue and Little Yellow

Even the idea of recreating the art work used in books can be fun.  Leo Lionni books like Little Blue and Little Yellow can bring alive the concept of color and how they can be put together to make an absolutely new color. A little tissue paper or water colors can become an afternoon of fun. The idea of tying a book to a learning activity as simple as that and it brings learning by doing alive.

I don't know why I wanted to talk about this today. I read something recently I suppose and thought I could learn by writing about my thoughts. Learning by doing works no matter your age.

Have a wonderful day.

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Counting: 3 reasons we are so rich!

I Just thought you would want to know how much fun our three little grandchildren can turn a Sunday afternoon into...they are three reasons we are so rich!

How did Grandma and Grandpa get to be so rich?

I really need for you to know that we are rich...but you also need to know that I am NOT talking about money here. It seems that my beautiful 16 year old granddaughter thinks we are rich. I don't know what kind of rich she thinks we are...I will need to ask her soon.

I was visiting with my daughter the other evening. She was in Portland and I was in Las Vegas.  My husband and I were having dinner at the Culinary Dropout located in the Hard Rock Hotel. It was late and we were eating light...not expensive. We were seated outdoors and the temperature was very near 80 degrees. As I talked with my daughter she laughed because it was, as always, raining in Portland. I admit that I did rub our good fortune in a little bit...she does lots of fun stuff too so she can take it.

Then she told me that my granddaughter wanted to know how Grandma and Grandpa got to be so rich? I have asked myself that question many times. How did we get to be so lucky?

My daughter's thought that it was our enthusiasm for little things make what we have or do appear to be valuable. I had to agree because, if being an over-the-top-Pollyanna makes one rich, I am a very wealthy woman.

We are rich in so many ways. We have been able to do things that we never even dreamed possible during our retirement. We have 12 grandchildren that bring us great joy. They are beautiful, talented and best of all, nurtured and cared for by wonderful parents.

Our family 6+ years ago...there are now 4 more grandchildren. Three of
the grandchildren are now in college at Oregon State University.
One grandson is in the Marines and another granddaughter will marry this fall.
 My curious granddaughter is in the white shirt the very center of the picture. She was 9-10 that year.

So Elena, if you read this, I hope you understand what is important in our lives...honestly it is not about the money. Not in any way!

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