I was going to thin out our DVD collection but then decided that it doesn’t take up much space. Looks like these old types of media are getting traction again!
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I’m on a kick to clean out old electronics. Except there are two (never used) CD/VCR players, and I think I still need them for the tapes and CDs that may need to be played.
So I’ll be happy cleaning out the 6 laptops, 1 desk top, many many cell phones, and a bunch of other electronics cluttering this house. Round one. The players can stay till round 2.
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Grandbaby #4 arrived this week. (Being coy so as not to publicize her actually birthdate.)
Both mother and baby girl are doing fine.
I was hoping to go see her in September, but they’re embargoed all visitors until November. (Except, apparently, SIL’s parents who will be visiting 6 weeks from now … 
)
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Congratulations! Sad that you can’t visit until November.
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Definitely sad. 
I was invited for Thanksgiving weekend, but I have a previous commitment and can’t go.
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Congratulations @WayOutWestMom . Bummer about not being able to see the baby soon…
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I love this article and I sent it to DD1/SIL. He is in cyber security, so I am sure he likes the reference to that plus the fact that one can go so many clicks to inappropriate content on YouTube. DD1 several years ago figured out the 5-digit TV streaming code by watching the parents, so now they have it where she is not allowed to watch/copy - she is now 7.
“When the show is over it is over” - yes, no begging for next episode or next movie.
Yes on no extra screen ads pushing merchandise.
12 more days until I am with the 5 grandbabies/DD1/SIL. GS2’s birthday is August 31st, and it was important for my stay to include his birthday. He is the middle of 5, as I am, so I try to give him attention and recognition of his family status. Often oldest boy or oldest girl get recognition, or youngest boy or youngest girl. He is the youngest boy, but with 2 sisters younger.
DD1 returns to FT work Sept 2. Sept 2 is first day of daycare for GD3. The older two kids start school on Monday, so they have some ‘easing in’ of some of the transitions.
I am excited!
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I think being there for the birthday is a wonderful gift. I’m in the middle and I still remember that I only had one or two actual birthday parties when I was young.
One of my grandkids loves TV. The first tv wasn’t allowed till age 2 and only on the airplane. They figured out a great routine of Sunday is for TV. Now they don’t have any meltdowns over television the rest of the week. This is a kid who doesn’t do well when it’s turned off. They have a very limited selection of shows they allow. On the other side is my other kids child who gets screen time almost every day for a short period. This grandchild could take it or leave it. I have a whole cabinet of VHS kids shows but no player. We have DVDs but those are more appropriate for older.
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We have Disney plus and a bunch of DVDs. Grands are allowed to eat ice cream and watch TV - in moderation - as a treat at Nana’s house!
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Our spoiling was that when GS didn’t want to go in the stroller, I just carried him instead 
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This is my H, whenever we are on an adventure with the grands. We were walking for miles around the state fair last week, and he carried four year old a couple times. Then six year old GD wistfully wondered if she was too big to carry (not that she needed it, but they’d been on so many adventures together). So H said of course not! And gave her a carry.
Boy was his back sore the next day! (And she’s a stick of a kid, but those long legs were a challenge!)
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GD1 was not a lap baby. She didn’t like to be carried or sat on anyone’s laps. Now there is GD2. Whenever I am holding GD2, GD1 always asked if she could sit on my laps. I said no because my laps are just not big enough for 2 kids.
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We had 3 out of 4 grands over yesterday. It’s heartwarming to see them together and to see my kids as parents. Meals are still in the figuring out stage as we navigate allergy free meals.
I’ve been struggling with bad tendinitis in one elbow brought on in early June by two heavy kid carrying days. I’ve been going to PT and really shouldn’t be lifting them. I’m proud of myself as this morning my son asked me to watch his child as the nanny is out sick. I told him that I am really working on healing my elbow but could help a few hours. He said no need they would handle it. A day of babysitting would set my healing process back.
Next weekend we will have all four grandchildren together.
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Our twins have such very different personalities. Twin B is a non-stop talker (and tends to be a bossy) and very, very social. Twin A is a high anxiety kid, introverted and gets intensely focused on whatever catches her interest (to the point she fails to heed her body’s calls to eat or go to the bathroom).
Today at the park. Twin B saw 2 girls she had met at the various daycamp sessions she attended this summer. She immediately went over and introduced the 2 girls to each other and formed a child pack to play games. (one girl was around her age; the other was a few years older.)
Twin A was off at the edge of the play area digging in the dirt and collecting interesting rocks. Eventually she realized she knew both the girls, went over to see what they were doing, but a few minutes later decided she really rather dig up rocks and went back to her solitary pursuit.
GS meanwhile had found a stick and was busy slaying dinosaurs w/ his ninja sword.
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My D and her friends are doing what she calls “feral summer” or “nineties kid summer” for the second half of the summer. It’s basically a roaming group of kids and moms (most work but either have summer off or were able to cut back hours) going to very low stakes, free or almost free outings. Fossil hunts, lots of hiking, beach trips, playgrounds, etc. Long days building dams in streams, throwing sticks at the water, and generally roaming with little plan. The kids have all learned to, as they apparently say in Bluey, “bush wee.”
This has basically been their August. We did go with them to a huge county fair one day (no rides, we did all the free things), and the other day a bbq at my S’s place on a lake. Next week they’ll stay with us for five days at the shore.
I’m pretty sure they haven’t seen a screen in over a month (no, I take that back–they did a family movie night to introduce them to ET). Before feral August started, they camped for two weeks in the woods. D and SIL have always used screens very sparingly, and it’s nice to see them and their pack of friends are being raised similarly. I hope it continues!
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My GD is a combo of your twins–very social, very high anxiety. She’ll want to bring together every kid she knows at the park, then falls apart completely if someone doesn’t get along with someone else. Her goal is for everyone to be happy all the time, and if they’re not, she gets sad. My parents used the “over-sensitive” (“you’re TOO sensitive!”) label on me, which I wouldn’t do to her. But she is very sensitive and empathetic to the point of causing her pain. I feel that for her and try to look out for her. But at the same time, she is incredibly social and for the most part, kids flock to her. Hope that lasts!
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The time with the kids and their ability to have the summer adventures. Lots of memories made.
Lightning in a bottle.
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Just found out a piece of information - GD3 at daycare, they won’t have room for her until the end of September, so I am a ‘Godsend’ to them as I can take care of the baby all day long - thus she is going to really be bonded with me like the older 3 children. GD2 really warmed up to everyone the last time I saw her (before that she was a momma’s girl, always going to her if she was in the room).
GD2 (turned 2 in June) is not interested in the potty but doesn’t like the wet diaper either and pulls it off. Hopefully can make some progress with her potty training. Will ask DD1 about the padded briefs that are a help for potty training - put her in those and have her have frequent potty time on a Sat/Sun. Last thing at night and first thing in the morning putting her on the potty.
Talked to DD1 about the birthday gift ideas for GS2 and I have some things and DD1 told me what they have for him. A 4 YO is easy to please.
SIL is able to focus on his stuff, the last certification exam, lining up the bridge experiences etc. for hopefully getting out of the Army in April and into good FT work (rather than extending Army time another year at lower pay).
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I’m catching up here - it’s been fun to hear about all of your grandchildren adventures.
Congratulations, @mominva! Your sweet grandsons will bring you much happiness!
Congratulations, @WayOutWestMom! The first snuggles will be so sweet! That embargo would make me sad, too!
@fretfulmother ~ Thinking about you. I hope you have plans to visit your dear GS soon.
Summer has been amazing. Between our GS and GD’s many sports and camp activities, we also have plenty of time to play games, read, create, and bake. We spend lots of time riding bikes, practicing sports skills, and playing at parks. I care for them about two days each week, mostly at their home. School begins in a week and I am already feeling a little sad that we’ll have less time together.
I do communicate by text and phone with SIL, mostly regarding kids and schedules. He will check in during the day or offer to pick up dinner for H and me on his way home. He is responsible for asking me if I’m available to care for the kids when he wants to golf or when he plans a night out with D. Otherwise D is the communicator. She sends links to her work schedule and the sports schedules that go directly to my phone calendar.
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