NANA SAYS ENJOY THE END OF SUMMER

Since July is over and August has begun, the stores are full with back to school items. There can be a pressure to get organized now. Get over it with some school supplies shopping- buy a package of pencils! Then get back to the continued enjoyment of the summer. Stressing too much about the new school year filters down to the children who may be enjoying their time at camp or camping or just being with their parents and families more. Yes there is shopping with the little ones-maybe! You know their sizes! When my girls reached an age where they wanted to buy their own school clothes and supplies, they were given a nominal amount. They had to be frugal with the money. Actually if you hold off until the middle of September for clothes, many things go on sale anyway. For older children, they often wait to see what the other kids are wearing and may reject the earlier purchases. Save the bills! So see there is no real need to rush the month away with worrying about school shopping yet! If you are lucky, Nana has a new activity! As each grandchild starts school, she will buy an outfit! Last year one but this year three! Two grandsons start Junior Kindergarten! As for the granddaughter starting Grade Two, well Nana plans to try to have a special outing with her to buy that outfit. It is seen as stretching out the gifts bought for birthdays and Christmas. One less at those events budgetting to help the working parents with their budgets! So back to summer. Nana and Granpa have a babysitting gig in a week- 5 days and 4 nights while one couple celebrate a special anniversary away in a southern location! Plans to go to a  farm for children to enjoy things like a wagon ride and enchanted forest, splash pad visits and of course an ice cream or two! That's the real meaning of summer- simple, slow fun things! And yes a nap or two in the afternoon when the children are expected to read a book with quiet time!

NANA SAYS CHILDREN SAY SOME CUTE THINGS

Well as we all know, teenagers say things that are not so cute- swear, scarcasm, etc. When they were little, they did say some cute things. As I was pulling my two grandsons in the little wagon yesterday, I recalled the time I was pulling my granddaughter years ago. Around and around the garden! I was getting tired! Finally, I said, "Sophia, Nana sure is your Donkey! "She said, " No Nana, you are my Horsie!" We find our youngest grandson calling Adolph- Papa instead of Granpa very endearing! Like another Papa in the family who probably finds it warms his heart to be called the name! Even the speech development- our little grandson used a four word sentence-  I don't want to! Could have been five if he said do not! Listening to children and what they have to say, the questions they ask and what they remember means stopping and paying attention to them. We all know that is why it is important not to swear, do not talk about anyone or say something we do not want repeated! Do the children and grandchildren in your lives say some sweet things?

STAYCATION OR WHAT YOU CAN DO AT HOME ON A WEEK OFF

May is a good time to take a break form work. This week also coincides with my anniversary. So let's me be more relaxed.  Changing the normal routine is as good as a rest. I still rise at 5:50 a.m. I like to go on my weekend power walk every day. Observations of my world at that time can be made. As I walk by the Central Library in Richmond Hill, at Yonge and Major Mackenzie, I noticed the traffic is quite busy as well as the number of people heading to work. It makes me realize how lucky I am to be within walking distance of work and do not have any real commute as most people do in my area. There are lots of chirping birds that make it seem as if I am really in the country instead of a suburb of Toronto. I can blog a little later in the day. Well it is only an hour or two later but seems much later!! I have aready completed some minor projects- new curtains for the kitchen. Plans for a couple of dinners out at restauarants and a movie. Hopefully a day trip or two to be back in time to pick up the little grandsons from Day Care! Sitting on my back porch and reading or jotting down some ideas for this blog. Puttering in the garden, pulling weeds and just stopping to look at the world around me. Okay, I really would rather be spending Springtime in Paris, but there is a always a French channel on TV or French music to pretend my bucket list wish is true. Perhaps, next May I will be in France! I was lucky one May to be spending my anniversary in Rome! Do you enjoy Staycations? It is a little bit of preparation for retirement!