Grandma's Travel Tricks

I spent approximately 17 hours in long-distance travel this past week - over half of them with young children.  We played the typical travel games:  20 Questions, finding the ABCs on billboards, and finding NUMBERS on signs and license plates (This was kind of fun, too!  For instance, we found "17" in a phone number on the side of a truck - 3xx-217-4130...).  The "retired" cell phone that retained its camera function also provided hours of fun both on and off the highway.  Of course, the boys discovered its annoying ring tones and residual alarm clock features.
We met three cousins at a McDonalds and got some of the wiggles out on the indoor playground.

Another trick involved using a wooden table leaf as a desk.  It sat across the boys' car seats and they played some card games, worked in some workbooks, and created some pictures, etc. using crayons, scissors and glue that I'd put in a basket to try to contain all the pieces with minimal success.

When we arrived an hour early at one destination, I quickly compiled a scavenger hunt list for WalMart:  Granny Smith apple, box of shredded wheat, tennis shoes, hot pad, Pepsi, a Hot Wheels car, and a football were some of the items.  One child had the list and the other a pencil to mark them off as we found them! I tried to let the boys figure out where the items would be found by reading the directory signs.  They did pretty well.  All-in-all, it was a brilliant success!

While on the way home in an empty and quiet car, I spied a sign announcing a Church Rummage Sale (Grandma therapy at its finest)!  I stopped and found some goodies.  Here are a couple of my purchases--Christmas postcards sitting in a fish-shaped wooden bowl.  The rest can be viewed on my Thrifty Style blog.

18 comments:

  1. Oh how cute the cards and Kids were Rebecca! You were very clever with your travel games for sure! I have to tell you, the other day while Katie was driving, I spotted a yard sale. I said "Stop, there's a yard sa..."
    Before I could complete my sentence, Katie stepped on the gas to get away from it. Something she picked up from her father! See I'm all alone her with rummage stores and yard sales, HELP!! Love Di ♥

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  2. The Walmart scavenger hunt is a great idea Rebecca. I will have to try that the next time I am with my grands. The wooden table leaf is also another idea that I bet my daughter-n-law would like. It is good to see you having some happy grandma time. :)

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  3. You are so creative, it sounds to me like you find a lot of joy and pleasure in your grandchildrens company. What a blessing for them and for you!!:)

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  4. Di, I need to come over (down?) and rescue you!

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  5. Colleen, I DO find much pleasure in their company. Sure wish I had energy to match!

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  6. Dee, Some of my most creative ideas are born of necessity!

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  7. Hi! Good to see you. Your grandkids are adorable too. Hope ya'll are doing well!

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  8. I love the scavenger hunt idea! I will have to try that next time I am with the grands! Not I am off to see your thrifty purchases! ;~P

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  9. Creative, fun ideas! You were well prepared, and I'm sure the grands think you are grand!

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  10. Very creative, Rebecca. My daughter in law had a whole bunch of toys and books and stuff planned for the recent 20 hour trip to Colorado Springs with her two little ones. I admire you folks that think that way. I never did. I do remember however, when the kids got older I used the travel time (when I wasn't driving) to read to them. We loved reading together and completed a lot of books by me reading to them.

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  11. Oh, Lori! How could I have left books off the list?! My older grandson read a kid's biography of Billy Sunday on the way...and interestingly enough, we drove through the outskirts of Winona Lake (IN) and saw the sign advertising the Billy Sunday Museum! Next time they visit us, I think we'll try to visit it! Our grandson is a big baseball fan and I thought he'd be intrigued by Billy Sunday's brief baseball career....

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  12. wow you are one brilliant and energetic grandma! The kids will be talking about this for years and years to come! Nice Christmas postcards! Now I'll go over and look at what else you found!

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  13. Wonderful travel games, Rebecca....makes the traveling much more fun for the children (AND the adults!)
    I love yard sales... love LOVE LOVE them!!!
    Have you seen the bumper stickers that say, "Caution: This car stops at Yard Sales"...
    Lets drivers behind know that we can (and will) whip our car over in the blink of an eye...(unless my hubby is driving.....sigh.)
    Love to you,
    Jackie

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  14. That's a GREAT bumper sticker, Jackie! I actually don't "do" too many garage sales - preferring a church rummage sale or visit to a local thrift shop where "old garage sales" go to retire :)

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  15. These are really great creative ideas!
    I know the kids had so much fun. They
    are all sooo CUTE! Going to go over and
    check your other blog now.

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  16. I want to give a little testimony. Today we had our church bazaar. I had been given a box of "stuff" a year ago. I chose out what I could use and sent the rest on. There was a 7pc set of the old embroidered "day-of-the-week" kitchen towels. My mom and I washed and ironed them and put them away for the church sale. They ended up auctioned today. (I didn't know which table they'd have belonged on so it was decided to put them in the auction portion). The bidding was vigorous, much to my surprise, and the towels went for a whopping $50!!! Not exactly church rummage sale prices! But we were thrilled as the money was going to various missions! Love those church sales!

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  17. I love the way you entertained your grandchildren, who are so cute by the way.....very creative! So nice that you were able to reward yourself a wee bit with the rummage sale.....:-) Hugs

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  18. As always, you look like you had a wonderful time with your lovely family.

    Being around your grandchildren was a precious time, I am sure. And you have some very nifty ideas to keep them busy :)

    Thank you for sharing...and praying that you arrive home safely and are able to rest after so much fun :)

    M.

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Writing a Song a Week #3

Writing a Song a Week #3
♪ I wait for the Lord; my soul waits and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning ♪ (Psalm 130:5-6)