The Magic Pouch Builds a Village

We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Grandchildren in Chicago. I wanted a new idea for the Magic Pouch, something different. I finally decided it would be fun to build a Christmas village. I went to the Dollar Tree and bought all of the pieces that they had for a village including the snow. Because some of the pieces were too large to fit into the pouch, they had to go on treasure hunts to find them.
What fun they had!

The first time that they checked the pouch, there was a note saying "Lets build a Christmas Village together. Before we start, ask you Mom and Dad where we can put the village. "

Then : "Go to Miles' bed". There they found a note saying: "Go to the dryer".  They found two buildings (gift wrapped) and the "snow" inside the dryer - the fun begins.

Miles really got into this. In between the Magic Pouch discoveries, he started to use Legos to add his own parts, he made a hobo with campfire and a little newsie guy with a newspaper (that one really made Grandma proud). Walking across a bridge was Admiral Ackbar from Star Wars and in the corner was the TARDIS with Doctor Who standing next to it. I think he covered many different angles.

Fall Leaves

I received a video, via email, of my grandchildren in Chicago jumping into a huge pile of leaves. They were having so much fun!  They were jumping from a step ladder.

It got me thinking that our grandchildren in Florida don't know what pretty fall leaves look like.

Grandma decided to fix that. Grandpa and I took a ride up the mountain in search of the brightest leaves. Grandpa pulled over and I jumped out to pull "fresh" leaves off the trees.  When I put them in the box, I realized that they would probably dry out and fall apart before they arrived. To solve that problem, I got out the iron and wax paper. Using a tea towel, I pressed the leaves between the wax paper with a hot iron. I then carefully peeled the wax paper off. This put a waxed coating on the leaves to preserve them.

I placed them in a Ziploc bag, then into a padded envelope along with a letter and some fall picture books.

They were excited to get the package.

Before waxing.

Grandma's letter

More Grandma Fun Toys

It is so exciting to receive an unexpected box in the mail with a surprise made especially for you by your Grandma.

New "Friends" I Made for My Grandkids

Magic Pouch to the Rescue!

My grandson has always been all boy, very active. When he started kindergarden it was very hard for him to sit still. One night I was talking to him and his Dad on FaceTime. He didn't look very happy,
Seems that he has been bringing home Oops Notes from school. He had a problem keeping his hands to himself and talking out of turn. Of course it broke my heart, I was frantically trying to think of how I could help. I was so far away. Then it hit me -The Magic Pouch!
Miles is a huge Star Wars Fan. Grandpa and I spent the weekend going from party shops to Hallmark Stores looking for a Star Wars bracelet. Finally found one online and ordered it. The plan had begun.

The Magic Pouch wrote him a letter.

The letter included Star Wars stickers and a chart.

The following Friday, Miles and his Dad called me on FaceTime to show that he had 5 stickers on his chart. A whole week without one Oops Note!  Hooray Miles and Magic Pouch!

The Magic Pouch send a special Star Wars book to him.

Oh No...Magic Pouch Mistake?

We just got back from visiting our three grandchildren in Florida. The magic pouch was a big hit. Because there are three kids I used a new, larger bag that I receive as a gift when I bought Clinique makeup. The twins are two and a half years old so I used mainly Fisher Price Little People, bubbles and sunglasses. Their older brother, Colin is almost six years old and really into Power Rangers. I was surprised at how many small Power Ranger toys that I found in Target. Colin wanted to know why the Magic Pouch was bigger than the last time, nothing gets by him. I told him that I didn't know because it is magic it just appears in my purse.

The day after we arrived home I received a picture text from my son. It said "Look Grandma, It's the Magic Pouch!" It was a picture of Colin standing next to a large Clinique ad in a department store and there was my new makeup case. What was I thinking? Should have used an older case? He decided that  the Magic Pouch's picture was there because it is famous....whew!

Grandma's Magic Pouch

When our kids were little their Grandma Murphy always had a crisp, new dollar bill for each of them when they visited. When I became a Grandma I decided to have fun surprises when I saw my grandchildren. My sister had given me a small Mary Kay cosmetic bag for my purse. It was black velvety with silver roses on it and a pretty tassel on the zipper pull. Thus was born Grandma's Magic Pouch! When I visit them or they visit us, the Magic Pouch "appears" in Grandma's purse. It is so magical that when they are good, the Magic Pouch "creates" a special surprise for each of them. They love it! I buy small items of interest when I see them. For example, Lego figures, Disney Princesses, Fisher Price People, candy, little flashlights, bubbles, jewelry - there is no end to the ideas. When we go out to dinner I have something to keep them busy until dinner arrives. I put them together in sandwich bags in the bottom of my purse, when no one is looking I slip the toys out of the bag into the "Magic Pouch" in my purse. When one of them says "Grandma, can we check the Magic Pouch?" it is ready. Sometimes it is empty. My son told me that one time on their long car trip from Chicago to Pennsylvania, his son was tired of being in the car and said "How far until we get to the Magic Pouch, Dad?" As they got older, the Magic Pouch grew with them. Two of my Grandchildren are now 7 and 8 years old and reading. Suddenly, the Magic Pouch had a note in it instead of a toy. The note says "GO TO THE LIVING ROOM COUCH" there another note "GO TO MILE'S BED" then "GO TO THE TOP DRAWER IN THE SILVERWARE CHEST IN THE DINING ROOM" another note "GO TO TABLE ON BACK PORCH" where there is finally a large Magic Pouch surprise that is too large for the pouch... but best of all, they went on a treasure hunt! They love it and it makes very special memories.The Magic Pouch sent they up and downstairs, funny part is a parent must accompany them. 

 One time I sealed Star Wars Figures and Strawberry Shortcake figures in tin cans as a treasure hunt surprise. Got the idea from:http://www.ourbestbites.com/ 

 My favorite Magic Pouch adventure happened last year when we went out to breakfast with the kids. I put two gifts in a brown gift bag with handles. I wrote their names on the bag and hide it in the back of the car. After we were seated at the table, I said "Oh No, I left my purse in the car, be right back". No one paid any attention and I went out, got my purse and bag. I went to the hostess stand and asked her if she would please put the bag behind the stand until two children came up to ask for it, it is a surprise. Of course, she said yes.

After ordering breakfast, they were getting a little restless and asked if they could check the Magic Pouch. They alway take it out of my purse feel it all over to see if there is anything in it. This time the note told them to take their Daddy and go to the nice lady behind the stand by the front door and nicely ask her if there is anything behind the stand for them. The lady really got into and asked them their names. This time I surprised everyone, their parents, Grandpa, Aunt and of course my little angels.

 Our Grandson took one of prizes to school for Show and Tell. As he was headed back to his seat, he stopped, turned around and said;"Oh yeah, it came from my Grandma's "Magic Pouch."

 Grandma's Magic Pouch is so much fun. Just when they get old enough to start questioning the Magic Pouch, "Does the Magic Pouch really make those toys?"etc. it re-invents itself and does a treasure hunt. I don't think they dare question it anymore, although Miles did ask how The Magic Pouch can type those notes.

When "The Magic Pouch" visit with the other Grandchildren, the pouch is larger because there are three children.

 Next post I will tell how The Magic Pouch helped my Grandson with a problem at school.