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.

Long Distant Bonding with Secrets and Surprises

Our son and family spent a week with us last summer. I noticed that our seven year old granddaughter, Lucy, has become quite the helper. She especially liked setting the table for dinner. I taught her a new way to fold the napkins. Lucy thought that this was great. After they returned home, I decided that it would be fun to continue this long distance. I bought all different kinds of napkins: pumpkins for Halloween, turkeys for Thanksgiving, leaves for Fall, Snowmen, Christmas Trees and just fancy ones. I had the best luck finding them at an affordable price at The Christmas Tree Shoppe. I purchased a pretty box at Michael's that was just the right size. Before I put the napkins in the box, I unwrapped them so that they would be easy for her to sort them out. I enclosed a letter telling her to not open the box until she was alone in her room.I also told her that this was secret between Grandma and her.Hide the box under her bed and every night she could surprise everyone with a different napkin from her box. Her Mom told me that she took her favorite napkin to school the next day to show her best friend. It was fun finding this new way to bond with her. We went to their house for Christmas, I had fun helping her pick them out.I also learned that you don't have to spend a lot of money or buy what everyone else buys - you just have to be a little creative.

Knitting Fun Things

I crocheted for years and as soon as I found out that I was going to be a Grandmother I decided that it was time to learn to knit. I found a wonderful local yarn shop, Knitter's Dream and the knitting began. I also learned that the pastel pink and blue that my children wore as babies, was no longer popular. I dragged myself into this century and started to use the bolder, brighter colors.I just finished a sweater for Lucy, our seven year old. It turned out great but I was knitting in PA and she continued to grow in Illinois. When she received it and called me on the iPad, I saw that it just fits her, sigh. Lesson learned - next one will be made four sizes larger instead of two. I am working on two new major knitting projects that I will share as they progress. Here are some that I have completed:

Story Time - long distance

Hi, I'm back. It has been a long time since my last post. A lot has happened, I had surgery and got a new job but most important, I have figured out how be a long distance Grandma. I live in Pennsylvania and our grandchildren live in Illinois and Florida. More than anything, my husband and I want our grandchildren to know our faces and voices. We use to own The Children's Bookshelf, a bookstore just for kids. Reading to kids is so important-doesn't matter how young they are. I bought a favorite picture book and a bell. I read the story into the recorder in my laptop, when I came to the end of the page, I would ring the bell and the child knew it was time to turn the page. I then burned it into a CD, made a label, placed it in a clear CD envelope and taped it to the inside of the back cover of the book. Mailed it out-kids love to get mail! For Christmas, we gave them a portable CD player. It is fun to follow along and listen for the bell. Both my husband and I had fun recording these, something they will always have. Electronics has come a long way in just the last couple of years, we can now read them a story face to face. My son sets up his iPad on the bedside table in his daughter's room. I use our iPad and read them bedtime stories by using Face Time.. We can see and talk to each other!! Our 7 year old is now reading chapter books, we buy 2 copies one for me and one for her. We take turns reading chapters.

The Journey

I always thought I was so lucky to have three healthy, happy children. Raising our children was a journey for my husband and me. There were bumps in the road along that journey but the kids successfully arrived to adulthood. It seemed like a quick trip. First came college, then careers and marriage.

Now we have five beautiful grandchildren. A whole new world!

Suddenly there are feeling that you didn't know you had. I started doing things that I had never done before. As soon as I received the call that the first grandchild was on the way, I decided that it was time to learn to knit so that I could make her special warm gifts that could only come from Grandma.

Sadly, our grandchildren live far away, but with the help of their parents, my husband and I have found ways to stay in touch and they do know us. I will go into that on my next post.