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    Great Times with Grandkids: Enjoying Mystery Trips & More
    Great Times with Grandkids: Enjoying Mystery Trips & More
    Great Times with Grandkids: Enjoying Mystery Trips & More
    Ebook168 pages1 hour

    Great Times with Grandkids: Enjoying Mystery Trips & More

    By Patricia D. Kennedy

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    About this ebook

    The old adage tells us that “everyone loves a mystery”; we found that children love a mystery most of all. Anticipation for the trips was fueled by monthly clues given before the trips began and by daily clues each morning while traveling.
    On the trips the, grandkids bonded not only with us, but with their cousins as well. The trips were self-planned and took place in Colorado and six other states. Guidelines follow the details of each trip.
    The trips, the other unique activities, and the traditions we established over the years are fondly remembered by our grandchildren. A chapter is devoted to What the Kids Say.
    This book is written by grandparents as a gift for other grandparents. We hope our stories, adventures, and guidelines will inspire others to enjoy the similar marvelous times with their own grandchildren.
    Not a grandparent? Not a problem. The trips, activities and traditions described in this book can be planned and carried out by aunts, uncles, and parents, too.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPatricia D. Kennedy
    Release dateAug 26, 2014
    ISBN9780990608516
    Great Times with Grandkids: Enjoying Mystery Trips & More
    Author

    Patricia D. Kennedy

    Throughout her adult life Pat Kennedy has been an advocate for children. The mother of three sons and a daughter was a primary teacher for 20 years. After retirement she founded a family literacy program for immigrant parents and their preschoolers.As her children married and started having their own kids Pat began to realize that "grandchildren are the dessert of life". Every day she spent with them was a joy. In retirement, Pat and her husband, Jere, combined their love of travel, and of being with their six grandkids, to create these 14 wonderful mystery trips. These good times have validated Pat's observation that, indeed, "grandchildren are the dessert of life".

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      Book preview

      Great Times with Grandkids - Patricia D. Kennedy

      The Grandparent Book:

      Guidelines For Planning

      Great Times with Grandkids

      Enjoying Mystery Trips & More

      By

      Patricia D. Kennedy

      With Contributions by

      Leslie Doran, Gayle Vaughn, and Jere Kennedy

      Copyright 2014 by Patricia D. Kennedy

      All rights reserved.

      A Sunshine Designs Publication

      No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.

      The descriptions of products and services in this book are merely part of our story and not meant to serve as recommendations of any location, establishment or brand, but are included solely for the reader’s enjoyment and to enhance the credibility of our story.

      Smashwords Edition

      Licensing Notes

      This e-book is licensed for your personal use and enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or if it was not purchased for your use only, please visit Smashwords.com and purchase a copy for yourself. Thank you for respecting this author’s work.

      ISBN 978-0-9906085-1-6

      Find Us At:

      www.GreatTimesWithGrandkids.com

      E-Book by e-book-design.com.

      "Are you looking for a creative way to bridge the generation gap? Then this is the book for you! It is an innovative way to reach out to children and form a bond with them by laying out a blueprint for creative memories that will last a lifetime!"

      ~ Kurt & Christy Marrs

      "Clues, questions, speculations and interactions are the essence of this delightful book, Great Times with Grandkids. The detailed examples will inspire other grandparents to have great fun with their grandchildren, while creating lasting educational and bonding experiences they will remember forever."

      ~ Grandparents Nita & John Bradford

      "I think this little book would be a great gift for all grandparents. The joys that will follow would be a gift for grandchildren as well. As a great-grandmother, I’m going to give it to my daughters in the hope of spreading the joy."

      ~Sally Romani

      "I thought Pat Kennedy’s idea of Mystery Trips was amazing and couldn’t wait to try it. It worked out so wonderfully for me and my little 8-year-old granddaughter. She lives far away so, over the phone every Sunday morning, I gave her hints. We both looked forward to these conversations so much. She told her friends all about it, and afterward she made a book about our trip! According to Pat’s advice, I put a lot of effort into planning the trip, and I think that’s why it was so wonderful. Now my granddaughter says, ‘When are we going on another Mystery Trip? I don’t care where, as long as it is with you!’"

      ~ Ruthy Denker

      Dedication

      I dedicate this book to Grandparents everywhere

      and to the wonderful people who made these great adventures possible.

      Our children:

      Russ and Lori

      Maggie and Phil

      Bill and Jeanine

      Joe

      Our grandchildren:

      Drew, Tyler, and Ethan

      Sam, Max, and Grace

      And, of course, Jere (Grandpa), ever my encourager and our designated driver

      Thank you for the beautiful memories.

      Table of Contents

      Preface

      Introduction

      Part I: Mystery Trips

      Parents’ Approval

      Planning

      Giving the Clues

      Where Will We Sleep?

      The Mystery Trips

      Keeping Busy, Keeping a Record, Keeping in Touch

      What the Kids Say

      What Grandpa Says

      Part II: ... And More

      Other Fun Activities for Grandparents and Grandkids Together

      Trick-or-Treating with Your Grandkids

      Grandma Camp—The Woods and Beyond

      Adventures in the City

      Mystery Adventures Close to Home

      Acknowledgements

      About the Author

      Preface

      "It’s amazing how grandparents seem so young once you become one."

      ~ Anonymous

      Grandparents are often eager and energetic souls who seek interesting and creative ways to bond and grow with their grandchildren. This is especially true for grandparents or step-grandparents who fulfill their roles across long distances.

      Many of today’s grandparents are young at heart and are interested in expanding their experiences with their children’s children. They’re open to travel, to new ideas, and to challenging activities. These days, grandparents often view the relationship with their grandchildren as an opportunity for innovation.

      We designed three adventure formats we called Mystery Trips, Grandma Camps, and Mystery Adventures Close to Home as innovative, fun ways to enhance and strengthen our relationships with our grandchildren.

      This book provides ideas, tips, and resources for that journey. It includes a treasure trove of activities and adventures, which are sure to create exciting, lasting, and loving memories for grandparents and grandchildren alike. Opportunities abound for melding extended families, for sharing family history, and for creating new traditions. Experiencing new adventures, while overcoming the challenges of living at a distance, is not only possible, but fun.

      Introduction

      "Everyone loves a mystery"

      ~ Anonymous

      From the first peek-a-boo—the 8-month-old gleefully guessing when you might again appear—to the suspenseful glances at packages under the tree and on birthdays, we see that children love being surprised. Like all of us, children feel that mystery adds to the joy of life.

      As grandparents, my husband, Jere, and I took the idea of mystery to a new level—and, oh my goodness, how that idea added to the joy of our family’s life.

      The joy has not stopped. This is how it happened.

      As we approached retirement, Jere and I decided to combine two great loves: travel and spending time with our six grandchildren.

      A few days later, I spoke with Drew, our 7-year-old grandson about taking him and his younger brother, Tyler, on a trip.

      Drew’s eyes sparkled. Where are we going?

      Before I could answer, Drew piled on more questions. What are we going to do? What will we see?

      I opened my mouth to respond, but Drew kept asking: How will we get there? Where will we sleep?

      By the time Drew asked the last question, he was literally jumping up and down with excitement. I looked at him, and the idea came to me: part of the fun for Drew was anticipating the possibilities. Just thinking about it was making him happy. I remembered how all children love surprises.

      What if we make the vacation a mystery—and make that part of the fun?

      Drew was looking up at me and waiting for my reply.

      Drew, I said, an idea forming in my mind, I can’t tell you right now. This vacation is going to be a mystery. The answer to each of your questions is—it’s a surprise!

      When I saw the huge smile on Drew’s face, I knew I was on to something. And that’s how our Mystery Trips were born.

      That evening, at our kitchen table, Jere and I reviewed my conversation with Drew.

      What a great idea, Jere said, smiling broadly.

      Let’s start planning, I suggested. A trip like that would be fun for the kids.

      Yes, agreed Jere, and we won’t tell them where we are going.

      He thought for a second. But, let’s increase the fun by giving out hints. We can give them a clue each month from now until just before we take the trip next summer.

      I get it! I said. Monthly clues about our destination, the places we will visit along the way ... some of the things we might do ... oh, that’s perfect!

      Jere and I beamed at each other.

      By the following week, we’d gathered enough material to start planning. Notified of a Kennedy family reunion to be held in Dallas the following summer, Jere decided this would be the perfect venue for a Mystery Trip.

      We could take the boys to meet their aunts, uncles, and cousins, Jere said happily. And, my mother will be there so they can visit with their great-grandmother.

      That would be fantastic! I replied, recalling all the attractions in that area. We could go to Six Flags Over Texas ... and I think there is a wildlife park in Dallas, too.

      We might want to take them to the Texas School Book Depository Museum for the historical significance of the President Kennedy exhibits, Jere suggested.

      That first Mystery Trip succeeded beyond our wildest imagination. The kids thought the idea of monthly clues was great fun. They loved guessing, and we loved talking to them on the first weekend of each month. The actual vacation was the first of many wonderful Mystery Trips that Jere and I would take with our growing brood of grandchildren over the next fifteen years.

      Once we had the format, the sky was the limit. We got better at planning and more creative with our clues and ideas. The trips included locations that were new to the kids, offered opportunities to see and study animals, or provided access to nature and historical sites. We exposed them to other cultures. And, we were always on the lookout for hands-on activities and events along the way.

      We employed the mystery element to stretch their minds and curiosity; the

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