Things to do with your Grand Kids this time of year!

One of the best things about this new stage of life is having a grandchild. Everything is new, exciting, and fun through his eyes. I can recommend visiting Lenox Mall in Atlanta, GA to ride the Pig Pink. What wonderful memories I have of this event as a child. However, this isn't the same experience of yesteryear! This train ride disguised as a pink pig is located on the second floor of the mall. Plan to dress warm because part of the line is outside. I would recommend bringing at least two adults. That way, if the line is a little long, one can hold your place in line while the other takes the children to the conveniently located bathroom and walk around in the warmer mall hall. Once inside the pink tent, you can opt to have your picture made with Priscilla (think Disney here). You can't use your own camera for these pictures and the photos are pricy, but you don't have to pay for them until after you see them (a bonus if your eyes were closed). Also, your child can just enjoy waving at the friendly pig, Priscilla, without feeling forced to take the photo or get too near her. The tickets to ride (I can recommend the game by the same name, too, but that is another story) cost $3 for most of us, but my 17 month old rode free. You can pay to ride multiple times without re-waiting in line for cheaper than $3 each trip, but for our age one trip (twice around the track) was enough. Only one adult fits on a seat, so make sure the adult riding with your Grand is sitting behind the other adults. That way it is easy to take pictures of him on the train (this is allowed). We enjoyed the pig story and watching the displays of pigs we passed while riding, but gone is the BIG Christmas tree. This was sad to me, but my grandson was having a blast. At the end of the ride, you can take as many as you want of the Pink Pig stickers. We took one to wear now and one for his memory book later. There is a small gift shop at the end of the ride where you can buy stuffed Priscilla's, but this is located off to one side and you can easily avoid it if your grand just has to have everything in sight. We left the ride and went to eat at the food court where several new restaurants have opened and our old favorite, Chick-fil-A, is still there.

IPhone: unlimited usage for only $45 per month

Very exciting news!!! Being a treasure hunter and thrift seeker, I am excited to announce a wonderful way to get unlimited talk, text, and data on an Iphone for only $45 per month. Previously, I used Verzion service, and really liked the reception I had all over remote parts of Georgia. However, my husband did not like Verzion customer service. He became so frustrated with them that he is the one who sought out a different phone plan. We kept reading that phone service companies were getting rid of the yearly contract requirement, and that idea really appealed to my husband. He found and started us using Walmart's Straight Talk (a non-contract system). Walmart has a $30/month rate that has limits and a $45/month one that is basicly unlimited. We are now long time users of Straight Talk and, I have had several of the Straight Talk phones that I purchased at Walmart...all with great success. We just have Straight Talk automatically charge our credit card for our phone useage each month. They send us a text when it is about time to pay for more service so we don't have an interruption of service, but we have the chance to cancel if we desire. They also have an international plan for $60/month that we might try out this summer when our son studies abroad....especially since we only pay for a month at a time. Recently I decided that I wanted an Iphone. Straight Talk sells one, but it is too expensive in my opinion. My sweet son found an Iphone 5C on Ebay for me. After receiving it, I went to Walmart.com to buy the smallest Staight Talk sim card (paid $7). When the card arrived, I discovered that it was too big for the 5C (it was for older Iphone models). U-tube revealed how to trim the sim card to fit the 5C. Now, I have a wonderful Iphone 5C with great reception, apps, etc....and pay $45/month to Straight Talk for basically unlimited talk, text, and data. YEAH! My son has recently upgraded to the new Iphone 5. He purchased a sim card from Straight Talk that fit the phone without trimming it, but had to pay $60.00. It came with a pre-paid $45 month of talking and texting and data, but I bet you could get it cheaper if you looked online like I did. Regardless, trimming is just making one cut with your house scissors.

Purpose: Why Next Stages

Less than 3 years ago, I was enjoying my life as normal.....in a manner of minutes everything changed!!!!

 1. I finished home schooling my last child after home schooling for 17 years.

 2. My oldest child was graduating from UGA

 3. My baby was graduating high school and trying to figure out where to go to college.

 4. My oldest child got a job at my old work place...thereby insuring I could not return there full time due to their nepotism policy

 5. My "baby" wouldn't decide where to go to college....but "knew" he didn't want to go to Princeton even though they offered money (really?!!!)

 6. My oldest announced she was getting married: outside, at home, during the Hottest month of the year

 7. My dad, best friend, inspiration, buddy, went in for back surgery....three surgeries later, we learn he has

stage 4 lung cancer

 8. Emory (more on that later), rehab, then Southwest Christian Hospice in a matter of two months...and Dad goes to his Lord and savior and leaves Mom and the rest of us in a state of shock

 9. My son chooses Georgia Tech, thereby, insuring that my husband and I each get a child at our alma maters

10.A tornado comes and destroys our family retreat....a mountain home that my dad built.

11.We begin clearing, cleaning, rebuilding while planning a wedding....

12. I TURN 50 years old!!!!

Thus...the inspiration for Next Stages.  I want to share with you all I have learned and continue to learn....from weddings, colleges, schooling, medical advice, helping aging parents...all the exciting things that make THIS stage and every stage of life worth the Living!!!!  And I hope you will share your experiences, too.

        

Okay....so here it goes again....another change!!!!  How do you start blogging?  How do you make this site cute/nice enough that others want to visit it?  How do you balance this social media and real time social?

Do you spend tons of money on Iphones....and other ways to constantly blog and check the blogs you follow?

How do I keep myself from becoming one of those "kids" I hate to hang around....you know them...the ones who would rather text, blog, FB, Tweet....anything other than really talk and look at the people they are with.  You know them...they are always showing you the lastest Utube videos in an effort to seem "connected" to you, but really they just want to watch more TV.

I want to do all the latest and greatest gadgets, too, but I want to experience real time, real life at the same time.  Any suggestions on these thoughts????

First Post

March 5, 2013  

So excited to finally begin my blog!  Yes, another stage of life.  I hope that you will be encouraged learning about all the stages that I keep experiencing!!!!  You know, changes can be scary, but I choose to find the fun in every stage of life.