Show'in Off My Skills (Thanks Jeremy Crow)

Look at me proud as can be with a picture of me and my twin nephews. By now they are walking and cuter than ever. I need to find the slow down button for time, it passes too quickly, except if you're a teenager waiting to turn 18 then the forever wait for age 21. After that don't blink or you will miss something!

What do you need to make time for?

Ideas For The Special Mother in Your Life #FollowFriday #ShoutOut

My mom has made it possible for me to be who I am. Our family is everything. Her greatest skill was encouraging me to find my own person and own independence. ~Charlize Theron~

Here are a few suggestions for that special day.

1. Mother's Day Brunch
2. Drinks With The Girls
3. Make A Card With Canva
4. Leave all electronics at the door.
5. Honor Your Daughter/In-Law/Grandmother
6. Watch Her Favorite Movie
7. Day At The Spa
8. A Phone Call or Skype
9. Her Favorite Flowers
10. Make her a photo album of family
11. Get her favorite craft supplies
12. Write her a poem
13. Go to Church
14. Look at Pinterest for Ideas
15. If Mother Has Passed you can light a candle in her memory/flowers at her resting place if possible.

Thinking Back Tuesdays Story Time #1

I started writing my story at the urging of my kids, several years ago. Personally I think they wore weary of all my stories, just kidding kids! I would think about it a lot finally putting pen to paper fingers to keyboard when my first grandchild was born. You are my motivation dear one. I never knew I could love anyone else as much as my own children for which there is none like a mother's love which is where the term "I love you to the moon and back" comes from. I have made mistakes, moved mountains, motivated by my children, raising them to be strong, independent people, and to be better off than I was. I wasn't prepared for Empty Nest Syndrome which hit me hard when my son spread his wings and flew off to the military.You would of thought the sting of separation would of been lessened, he had been going to Florida to see his father and his wonderful now wife since he was five or six. I remember that was the very first time I had ever sat foot in a commercial airline, my son looking so tiny in the seat. That was the day my heart broke, just a little. I think the oceans are really made of all the mother's in the world's tears.

The stewardess assured me he would be watched over all the way there and I managed to hold back my tears until I stepped off the plane watching it fly my little son away from me. Hours later I got the expected phone call that all was well, I could finally relax.
Now when my daughter grew up and decided she wanted adventure I gave her my blessing, smiling and waving good-bye, I wished her well breathing a sigh of relief that she had the strength to leave the go nowhere town we lived in, closed the door and cried, my heart breaking a little more.
I am lucky that despite all the miles and years that go by we are deeply, completely bound to each other staying in touch through Skype, Facebook, phone calls, letters and cards and visits. Also talking to everyone I know I have drawn comfort that I am not alone in missing my children. I started this story while you were still in your mommy's belly. You were early, you little early bird! Grandma loves you already.
So without further ado here is Grandma Rose's story, my gift to you. Oh yes, You have a little brother coming and we all are going to have a wonderful time!

                                         GRANDMA ROSE'S ADVENTURES

Hello, little one and by little one I'm talking to you while you are still in your Mommy's belly.I already have an idea of what you will look like from your sonogram. Your parents are really looking forward to meeting you and so is everyone else.

Your name has changed a couple of times, but that’s just normal and what parents do. Your Aunt Amy who is my oldest daughter was born June 21st, 1980 in Palm Springs, California where I was raised. I wanted to name her “Summer” and it just happens that “Summer Begins” is June 21st which I think would have been too cool but at my mother's insistent nagging, I ended up naming her Amy and I think now it may be Cindy but hang on...I'm getting ahead of myself! You will read about Aunt Amy later.

How Grandpa C. and I got your daddy's name was we made a deal. Grandpa C. was in charge of the first names, I was in charge of the middle name. After you were born, I chose to name your father after my grandpa who is with the angels now. It's a nice strong name.

I asked your mommy on Facebook how she got her name and she told me, “My mom just liked the name”. “My middle name is my mom and dads middle name together”.

Now your Aunt Ariel came by her name from the Movie The Little Mermaid. I loved the spelling, not to mention the movie, which me and your daddy watch at least a million  hundred times, and her middle name Chelsie was a name I really liked from a man who's daughter was named, thinking it sounded like a song. I love the way your Auntie's whole name sounds like singing.

Okay, kiddo Grandma's Adventures is about to begin... Stay tuned for the next installment of  GRANDMA ROSE'S ADVENTURES next Tuesday's Thinking Back Tuesdays Story Time.

I really really want everyone's input and I have a thick skin and am willing to learn so please comment what you all think!

Thinking Back Tuesdays #1 Has Begun

Thinking back Tuesdays is official. I have been reading tons of advice and such coming to the conclusion that slow as a turtle will win my continuing growth as a Grandma blogger. I tried learning how to insert tabs coming to the conclusion I'm a better writer getting too frustrated trying to insert for example 'tabs'. The happy part is I like the way my blog looks now. Don't hold your breath tho!

I started out today going to my Facebook. In one of my earlier posts, I had  announced quitting one of their games for I was sick of the program bogging down everything else I tried to do. It feels good not to get all disgruntled all day long. I wanted to say good morning to my daughter that I saw online, my boy wasn't there. Then I watched my grandson's video's and I can tell you I am set for the day as far as smiles. Thank you Britany for posting those and all the pictures so far. I'm very proud of her.

In watching my grandson I thought how amazing it was to watch a little being that has me in him interacting. Like my babies when they were little he is full of smiles. It makes me remember days that I thought I had forgotten when mine were little. 

                          Grandma Rose's Adventures

My first born Amy was about six months old when she first started rolling over as well. First times are so amazing and never get old! I was living in Chula Vista, San Diego in a two-bedroom apartment in a Navy based huge building. My ex-husband had disappeared leaving me all alone with my baby daughter. I had gone out one day and landed a job at a restaurant called Bob's Big Boy as a hostess.

The uniform was a brown skirt that zipped up in back, a white shirt with your hair pulled back with a hairpiece you attached to the back of your neck. I had put Amy in the middle of my bed getting ready when I heard ~thump~ startled I looked up. Amy had rolled off the bed landing on the carpet.

Needless to say, I rushed over picking up my wailing baby soothing her until she stopped crying. Then I gave her some baby Tylenol figuring if she had any aches from the fall it would make her feel better. That was my first heart-attack. After that, I surrounded her with pillows so that didn't happen again.

So of course, when my son Tysen and my daughter, Ariel came along I was ready this time by God. I found out the hard way you can't take your eyes off your baby even for a few seconds because that's all the time it takes for an accident to happen.

Amy was fine by the way, back to her happy little self. My ex-husband? Well, my old boss from the Sports Fishing boat I had worked on with my ex-husband came to see me one day at work. As I walked up to him all kinds of crazy thoughts were running through my head watching his somber face. My Ex had been gone for two weeks by now. The Captain informed me that my Ex had been working on a boat for the last two weeks and he wanted me to know.

Needless to say, I got a transfer to the Bob's Big Boy in Cathedral City, California, called my mom and dad getting the hell out of dodge!

100 Exquisite Adjectives by Mark Nichol

I love learning new words or being reintroduced to one. I ran across a list of them and will add a word a day.

Word#42 Insidious: subtle, seductive, treacherous

In a sentence: You are insidious I told my horrible husband.

Take A Little Trip With Me

Grandma and Grandpa Rose

I've been watching Bones for a couple of weeks at least. For your amusement and I must confess, mine as well, I asked myself a couple of questions about my show. They are:

1.Why are skeletons mouth always wide open?

2.This actor who got killed didn't stand a chance in this show. He brought a knife to a gun fight, got his hand cut off, got run over and cats were eating him when he was found. Safe to say he won't be returning.

3.While reading Diana Bauder's post about her bank experience which you have got to read, it reminded me of a couple of times the bank has messed up with me.

I always when asked my name I say "Sheryl with an S". Evidently Sheryl with a C has lots of parking tickets and has been a very bad girl.

I also had troubles when my first married name was Barker.One time when my bank put my check I was cashing into a 'Parker' account I of course freaked. Times like that keeps you on your toes.

More Grandma & Grandpa's Corn

4. I have to admit I'm a tad on the spacey side. Head up in the clouds and all that. That happens most of the time standing in front of the refrigerator. (How come there is a D in fridge and not refrigerator)?

I was making our favorite dinner which is cheeseburgers. Simple enough. I bake my hamburgers in the oven at 350 degrees for 22 mins with the fries on each side, burgers in the middle of the pan. Less standing time. Here is me and Grandpa Rose's conversation:

Me- (Standing by the hamburger patties) Hmmmmmm
Grandpa Rose- Ut oh what's going on?
Me- I forgot what I was doing.
Grandpa Rose- Making the sound of a busy signal "Beep beep beep beep"
Me- Cracking up
Grandpa Rose- Quipping, "How dare you be busy brain"
Me- I think I was put on hold.
Grandpa Rose- Who else you got in there!

I hope you had an amusing trip with me.

100 Exquisite Adjectives
By Mark Nichol

I love words and came across a list of them. I'm going to add a word a day to my posts as long as I don't forget.

Word #6
Baleful: deadly, foreboding
Giving him a baleful stare I told him to get lost.

Happy News

I got a call from my son yesterday. He asks me, "Mom, what was you doing when I called telling you Barrett was coming"? Or something like that.

Right away my mind starts churning thinking okay maybe he is writing this down for something, what was I doing I ask myself trying to remember over a year ago.

So I tell him and he tells me that I'm going to be a Grandma...again! After a shocked excited silence, I exclaim, congratulations and I tell Mr. Rose. He laughs and quips, when did they find the time?

So I ask you, what is more exciting than having one grandchild?

It's having two Grandchildren!

Thank goodness I'm over the "woe is me" feelings of being a long-distance Grandma. This is what family is all about. Plus I get to travel.

I'm already planning what I'm going to do for holidays and all that and will update when I know what the sex will be.

What's the happiest news you have every got? I love stories so do tell.

I love words and came across a list of them. I'm going to add a word a day to my posts as long as I don't forget.

Word #1-Adamant: unyielding; a very hard substance.
In a sentence: He was adamant about telling the truth.

100 Exquisite Adjectives
By Mark Nichol

Tinybeans Is The Best

I am so happy. Yesterday I spent a while setting up my new grandson Barrett's journal. I had looked at other journal sites and they at first looked simple enough but when I started to try and add pictures that is where it got hard.

Now I may be slow but I get there being around the web for a while now usually I can figure things out but I needed something simpler.

So I decided to go where the experts are and looked up long-distance grandmas and presto one of those sites recommended Tinybeans.

So I register and log in and its soooooo easy! It even has a store where you can make a book! You can add the people that can see what your posting, it sends email alerts, so far so good.

I love you Tinybeans and when I need a smile and a heartful of love that s where I go.

Its time to grow up grandmas and grandpas!

Every time a child is born so is a grandparent. I have a brand new cutest grandson who could be put on Gerber jars for babies. Being a first-time brand new grandma I wasn't sure what to expect as far as feelings omitting the natural ones; excitement, love, awe, been there done that; especially with the long distance grandma thing which is amusing in itself for when I left California I could give a rat's ass about anyone's feelings but my own. Maybe selfish but if I hadn't made the choices I had made I wouldn't have had such  wonderful adventures.

There is a mommy blogger( shhh I said "mommy"), who I took to her posts right off the bat. She runs +The Spew and I love her blog. Take a look she won't bite...much.

This is a rundown of what happens on the internet when researching. I was reading The Spew and ran across a link to the top 25 mommy bloggers ever. Now keep in mind I'm always looking for research on long-distance grandmas, so I went to take a look. An hour later I had some tips, laughs and saw how other bloggers did there blogs. Then I that big giant blinding light bulb came on over my head; grab the sunglasses this is gonna be a good one; and thought to myself, "Why don't I google top grandma sites?" Ta da aaa. Hurray; lots of grandma sites popped up with chock full of tips on how to be a great long-distance grandma.

So guess what folks; suck it up I say; it is what it is and with my grandson's army of relatives; extended relatives and people who just plain love this little baby...its on!
http://www.grandparents.com/grandkids/long-distance-grandparents

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sue-margolis/long-distance-grandma_b_7699400.html

To My Soon To Arrive Grandson #FixThePlus *

I am happy as a new Grandma can be. 

Both Grandpa and I are looking forward to a 

brand new, first time ever, Grandson.

I was never the one to keep harping on 

either one of my kids, a son who is 29 and a 

a daughter that is 25 years old.

So when my son put me on the calling list to let me know I was delighted. I think I'll be a

great Grandma and will have to do some Long Distance Grandma research so I can handle this. 

I can't wait until you are here little one and I already got a heads up I will be coming to visit 

you when you are finally here.

Do you have any Grandchildren?