Wordless Wednesday - Hot Summer Day at Grandma's House



Having fun with Mommy

Zach and his Mom, Fran, had fun throwing this beach ball back and forth about 100 times in the two pools in our backyard.



Time to towel off

And on to new adventures - taking a ride

A Giveaway for Girls and Collectors - Jackie Evancho Doll

June 21, 2012 - Sharon in Texas is the winner of the Jackie doll.  Congratulations, Sharon!  There were several ways to enter this contest and we had entries from all of them.  Subscribe to the blog - see form in the sidebar - or check back soon for more summer giveaways coming soon.  This giveaway is now closed.
--Marion

Most of my giveaways are for children but this one will also be of interest to some of you adults.  It is a Jackie Evancho Collector’s Edition Doll.  I have been a Jackie Evancho fan since I first heard her sing on America’s Got Talent.   Well, I wasn’t the only one impressed, since she came in second on the summer long competition.  She is now a star singing both classical arias that are amazing and pop classics.  She is currently on tour promoting her newest album, Dream with Me.  This video clip from her PBS Great Performances concert with David Foster is one of my favorites (You have to go through a 25 second advertisement first):

At Toy Fair 2012 in New York in February one of the very first things I saw that day was the Jackie Evancho doll.  I knew right away that I would love to offer one as a giveaway.  I also wanted to time it around now because Jackie will be in concert in my hometown, Newark, NJ at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on June 8^th.  Just a few days later she will be recording a live performance for her next album in LA.

I am so glad that The Bridge Direct (Makers of the doll) is sponsoring this giveaway at the Grandma Chronicles.  The doll is wearing a performance dress, earrings, bracelet, cape and shoes.  Other accessories include a purse, hairbrush and microphone. The doll sings a very short clip of  “When You Wish Upon a Star” and the arms move so they can extend as Jackie would when singing.  I do wish it was a longer clip.  All you doll collectors – you will want to have this one. 

The box is also appealing and will be of interest to both the girls who want to play with the doll and adults who collect her.

Here's the back of the box

A girl who collects dolls will love this doll as will collectors of all ages. Jackie is at the beginning of her career and will most likely be singing to large audiences for years to come.  This doll, representing her early career many be the first of many in your collection.  

In case you don’t win the giveaway… the doll is available at Amazon and Toys R Us.  It is priced at $24.99.  In the fall, when her next album is released this will be a hot item.

Giveaway Details
It is easy to enter.

Please complete any of the following entries and email me your email address so that I can notify you if you win. Send your email address to marion@grandmachronicles.com.  I promise not to use it for anything else except to notify you if you are the winner.

Leave a comment here on the blog.

Additional entry –Like The Grandma Chronicles on facebook  
and post comment here that you did.

Additional entry – Like The BridgeDirect on Facebook and leave a comment here so I’ll know about it.

All entries posted by June 19th at 11:59 PM are valid.  Sorry - I know that there are readers of this blog around the world, but this giveaway can only be mailed to a US address. The winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on this blog.

Thanks to The Bridge Direct for sponsoring this giveaway.  I received a sample for review purposes but I was not paid for writing this review.

Wordless Wednesday - Zach Gets Candyland for His Biirthday

Zach loved all of his 3rd birthday presents and he can't wait to play Candyland.  He enjoys a bunch of games on the internet - especially the Bob the Builder games and we are looking forward to playing an actual board game.

Zach's 3rd Birthday Celebration

On Sunday we hosted Zach’s third birthday party in our yard.  Well - due to “isolated showers”  we were outside-inside-outside-inside-outside.  Everyone – young and old – had a great time and I just had to share some photos with the highlights.  I am so happy that my daughter is a fan of the kind of birthday parties she always had – at home with crafts, creative play activities, homemade cake and ice cream sundaes.  When it comes to children’s birthday parties- I definitely lean to the old fashioned.  This one was classic.

The party started with free play and a craft project.  The boys enjoyed the craft – making crowns with stick on foam sports items.  Fran, my daughter, had a bunch of small beach balls in a pool – no water  - and the boys enjoyed playing with them and each boy got to add one to his goody bag when he left.

Zach’s other grandma, Doris, created the most amazing birthday cake. Like many little boys Zach loves matchbox cars and she frequently gives him one for his collection.  She created this masterpiece – it a cake PLUS cupcakes each with a matchbox car on top.

Zach’s other grandma, Doris, made this cake and cupcakes 

The cake in the shape of a car is realistically iced with windows, doors, wheels, etc and sporting the number 3 on the doors and roof.  It is set on a road bounded with green grass.  But wait there’s more.  The tray is trimmed with cupcakes in cars wrappers and each topped with a matchbox car that the guests can also add to their goodie bags. 

Zach and his cousin Sam show what they think of the cake

The cake was subject to detailed inspection and amazement.  The bonus was that it was also edible – and delicious. 

Although the cake looked great, Zach and his friends couldn't resist the cupcakes with the matchbox car sitting on top of the icing. 

Made to order ice cream sundaes were popular too

When things quieted down Zach finally opened his presents and he liked them all. The presents included Candyland, a magnetic construction set more trash pack trashies,Bumblebee rescue bot, books, and more.

What a wonderful way to launch your third year.  And then grandma needed a nap.