So…want to know what kind of fun things we do up North to amuse ourselves while we are freezing out butts off?  I’m sure you will be glad to know what they are and will be anxious to try some of them yourselves.

#1 – Watch a video on how astronauts poop up in space

Watching a video

The little guy looks enthralled, I know I learned a few fun facts.  Leave it to Grandpa to teach the little ones important life altering facts ;).

#2 – Play with play-do

It’s good for the concentration

How long has it been since you played with Play-do?  It is so much fun to squish that dough between your fingers.  Work out those frustration!

And the finished product not MY finished product

all I could make were little balls or snakes 

#3 – Babysit the grand kids

Keep em corraled

This is how we keep the grandkids from escaping.  The Captain stands, or should I say sits, and watches the entrance and then we get the super heavy hockey bag to block the rest of the opening.  We were mostly trying to trap in the little one.  Cause he is fast and we can’t catch him.  So you just put on a good cartoon and the kids are set.  At least for a few minutes.

#4 – Decorate a ginger bread house

All the fixings

See the Captain amuse himself with SnapChat?  Something else we learned on our trip up North.  Such fun!

Finished Product

Pretty!  But messy when you smash it.

Then the next fun thing was taking a potato masher and smashing the Ginger Bread house.  Make sure you keep your vacuum handy.

#5 – Watch a sick kid for 3 days

I can hear him…

We watched one of the munchkins for three days.  When it was nap time, I took a nap downstairs and Gary said he lay right here so he could hear the little guy cry when he woke up.  Guess what?  The little guy was crying, I heard him in the basement, I came up and took this picture and asked Gary if he could hear the little guy crying, He’s Crying, he says.  Maybe it’s time to see that audiologist?????

#6 – Bake cookies you can eat

I’m a good cookie baker!

Once you pick out the fur, they aren’t half bad.

#7 – Read educational books to your Grandchildren

A good read

Can you read the name of that book?  It’s called “What is Poop?”  Ya see, we have to start them young  .

#8 – Then there is the ever popular, visit to Santa!

How do we get ready to visit Santa?  We go to Caribou a coffee and then make ourselves look like cute reindeer.  We don’t even have to wait in line because we made an appointment!  So we sit down and have a little chat with Santa

Telling Santa what we want for Christmas

Then we pose for pictures

Someone’s not happy 😦

Santa looks like he is posing for a magazine Mr. Hefner owned, doesn’t he?

#9 – Walk around Mall of America

Lego Land

And while you are there you might as well visit Lego Land and have some lunch.

#10 – Go visit another Santa – just to make sure he really knows what you want

Still not happy with that bearded man but at least Dad is here to protect him.

#11 – Do projects around the house

A little bit more to the left

And teach the Grandkids how to hang things

#12 – Watch the cat shoot lasers out of his eyes

Look into my eyes…..

#13 – Teach the Grandkids how to watch TV in a box

Nice and comfy

#14 – Go visit Family WAY up north

Two Dog night…

where it is so cold they have to use their dogs to keep them warm during nap time.  Then you get to go to see your big brother’s latest past time

GMC Motorhome

He’s having a ball fixing it up and we can’t wait for a camping trip.

#15 – Watch white swans sit with their butts in the air on a partially frozen lake

Milacs Lake

Doesn’t take much to amuse the feeble here in Minnesota, don’t cha know…..

#16 – OPEN PRESENTS!  FOR THREE DAYS IN A ROW!!!!!

You got how many gifts?

The Grand kids, not us  

The dog got so tired, she just found a place to take a nap

Sweet Dreams

Lucky dog!

#17 – Introduce the Grand Kids to Honey

Jim Beam Honey

Just kidding….don’t get your undies in a bind.

#18 – Watch an adult hold up a kids taco truck

Gimme all your tacos

#19 – And last but not least

Cape Coral Santa

Be glad you are not if Florida to witness this…..my eyes!  My eyes!