Grumpy the Gator

In Grumpy the Gator, a group of children playing encounter a grumpy alligator. The story teaches children to always keep a safe distance from animals in the wild, and to find an adult if they see an alligator.

Grumpy the Gator

Its Always A Story With The Hendersons

Fried Eggs and Melting Ice Cubes

“Mimi, what projects do we have today?” This is one of the first questions four years old Rowan asks when he walks into our home. Rowan and I enjoy working on things together. From filling a bowl with ingredients to make cupcakes to planting marigold seeds to checking on the one tomato on the vine, there is always excitement in the air.

Last week, the lowcountry of South Carolina was hit with heat index warnings and calls for everyone to be alert of the air quality. The neighborhood was quiet as no one wanted to be outside to play.

After considering what type of fun project we could have for the day, I settled on experimenting with eggs on a hot sidewalk. All outside fun would have to be done before the heat arrived.

What a fun time! Rowan and I gathered two eggs from the refrigerator. We carried a small bowl and a fork outside to the front sidewalk. Placing the bowl on the sidewalk, Rowan then asked if he could break the eggs open with the fork. Yes, yes.
He was super excited to watch the yolk come out of the eggs. Next, came the fun part of pouring the eggs onto the sidewalk. Rowan and I laughed as the gooey mess wiggled out of the bowl and sat still on the walkway. The heat had already warmed the area enough to fry eggs.
After watching the eggs solidify, we returned inside the house to have a drink of water.

Cool and ready for another adventure, we opened the freezer and filled a cup with ice cubes. The cold squares stuck to our fingers. Heading back to the sidewalk, we emptied the cold cubes on the sidewalk, side by side. This experiment was to see which ice cube would melt the fastest. Cheering for the melting ice, we called out, “Go, buddy, go. Melt. Melt.”

Laughter, learning, and a bit of sticky stuff on the sidewalk. These are the kind of messes that bring smiles. The rain will wash away any residue from the eggs. The ice cubes have melted and the sidewalk is dry.

Another fun day with Rowan. The Lord reminded me that big fancy projects are not needed every day. Sometimes the simplest of activities brings the most joy.
I thank God for showing me how to be a child at heart. Wonder what projects we will have this week?

Blessings,
Mimi aka Melissa Henderson

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38 Comments
  • Bettie G
    Posted at 13:44h, 03 August Reply

    I love this thought, Melissa: “I thank God for showing me how to be a child at heart.” What gifts of wonder He brings right there! Thanks for sharing the gifts with all of us too!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:14h, 03 August Reply

      Thank you Bettie. I pray I will always be a child at heart. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • JD Wininger
    Posted at 13:56h, 03 August Reply

    I love the wonderful lessons you are teaching little Rowan. What a wonderful gift you are giving him. “Mimi time” is the best! 🙂 God’s blessings sweet friend.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:15h, 03 August Reply

      Thank you J.D. I am thankful to be able to share time with Rowan and his baby sister Eden. They are precious and I certainly do learn a lot from them. I look forward to when Eden is old enough to help us with our “projects”. She’s 8 months old now. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Cathe Swanson
    Posted at 14:01h, 03 August Reply

    Precious!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:16h, 03 August Reply

      Thank you Cathe. What wonderful times the Lord provides! Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Jill Weatherholt
    Posted at 14:35h, 03 August Reply

    What wonderful memories you’re creating for little Rowan…and for you too! Thanks for sharing, Melissa.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:16h, 03 August Reply

      Thank you Jill. There’s always a project and a story at Mimi’s house. haha! Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Melinda Viergever Inman
    Posted at 16:50h, 03 August Reply

    I think that being a grandparent is one of God’s greatest blessings! Making these types of “messes,” cheering for the chosen egg, looking for lizards and butterflies—all are such a blessing! I love you escapades with Rowan! Thank you for sharing!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 18:57h, 03 August Reply

      Thank you Melinda. Life is fun here. God gives us many opportunities to share His love. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Carol Round
    Posted at 17:35h, 03 August Reply

    I love doing simple things with my grandchildren and making memories: blowing bubbles, baking cookies, going for walks in the woods, etc.. My grands also love creating things with cardboard. I save cardboard of all kinds and have a stash of masking tape, markers, stickers and crayons for them to use. Being a grandparent is a blessing from the Lord. Nothing better on this side of heaven. I am sure Rowan will look back on these simple times and treasure them. My older grands (teenagers) still remember those special but simple times with me.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 18:59h, 03 August Reply

      Thank you Carol. I love your ideas. I have some cardboard in the recycle bin. Rowan will be excited to create something new. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Yvonne Morgan
    Posted at 17:37h, 03 August Reply

    Thanks for sharing these wonderful ideas. I hope to try them with my grandkids once we get another extra hot day in our area. You are a blessing to me and so many others

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 18:58h, 03 August Reply

      Thank you Yvonne. You are very kind. Hope you can try these fun ideas soon. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • June Foster
    Posted at 20:48h, 03 August Reply

    Melissa, what a blessing you must be to your grandson, as well as the rest of the family. I love your projects, and you’re right, They don’t need to be fancy or expensive. Rowan will always remember these fun times with his grandma.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 21:29h, 03 August Reply

      Thank you June. Alan and I are glad we made the move from VA to SC so we could enjoy these special moments. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Ava Pennington
    Posted at 22:13h, 03 August Reply

    I have to admit, I’d always heard the adage, “hot enough to fry an egg,” but I always thought it was a figurative phrase! 🙂

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 22:27h, 03 August Reply

      Haha! Thank you for reading and commenting. Today, we are enjoying rain and cooler temperatures. Lots of hummingbirds visiting the feeders. Tomorrow, Rowan and I will change the sugar water. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Books for Spirit & Soul
    Posted at 01:19h, 04 August Reply

    What a fun grandma you are! I will include this in my next “what to do with the grand kids list.” Thanks for the idea. Rowan is very blessed!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 11:58h, 04 August Reply

      Thank you so much. Rowan will be here today. I am excited about our new adventures. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • karentfriday
    Posted at 02:34h, 04 August Reply

    What fun experiments and adventures with Rowan! You’re a great Mimi to come up with these fun activities to do!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 11:59h, 04 August Reply

      Thank you Karen. I’m glad God gives us lots of unique ideas to share with the young ones. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Lynn J Simpson
    Posted at 03:58h, 04 August Reply

    Oh my gosh, what fun! I’ve heard it being so hot you can fry an egg on a sidewalk, but never seen it! So glad you got to try it out with Rowan!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 12:00h, 04 August Reply

      Thank you Lynn. We have a lot of fun together. Today is cloudy so we’ll have to think of some cloud activities. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Jessica Brodie
    Posted at 18:34h, 04 August Reply

    The simple pleasure are often the most fun… and the most meaningful! Thanks for the reminder, Melissa!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 21:09h, 04 August Reply

      Thank you Jessica. Yes, the simple things are often the most meaningful. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Jeanne Takenaka
    Posted at 02:42h, 05 August Reply

    Melissa, I love how you teach Rowan joy and keep that sense of anticipation about adventures and learning and science. You’re making life come alive for him. What a gift!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 12:10h, 05 August Reply

      Thank you Jeanne. Rowan teaches me something new every day. 🙂 Have a blessed week!

  • Karen Jurgens Harrison
    Posted at 05:27h, 05 August Reply

    You are such a wonderful Mimi to little Rowan! What fun activities you do together. Just think how your fun will be doubled when Eden is bigger. Can’t wait to hear those upcoming stories. Blessings, my friend. xoxo

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 12:10h, 05 August Reply

      Thank you Karen. Yes, when Eden is old enough to participate, we will show her all kinds of fun things. Rowan is a very good big brother. 🙂 Have a blessed week!

  • karenruhl
    Posted at 16:15h, 05 August Reply

    Melissa, this is such a fun article and I know Rowan will remember this forever! I bet he even takes his children out on a hot day to fry eggs on the sidewalk. Love, hugs, and blessings. Karen

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 20:45h, 05 August Reply

      Thank you dear friend. Rowan and I have lots of adventures. I’m looking forward to when baby sister Eden can join in the fun with us. Have a blessed week! 🙂 Love you, too.

  • Diana Derringer
    Posted at 11:52h, 09 August Reply

    What an intriguing title and what a fun day.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 12:23h, 09 August Reply

      Thank you Diana. Yes, a fun day. God provides wonderful ways to learn and have fun. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Barbara Latta
    Posted at 00:39h, 10 August Reply

    What a creative way to have fun with kids, and also help them learn. I love this! Thanks for sharing.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 12:22h, 10 August Reply

      Thank you Barbara. Learning while playing is truly a great blessing. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • debwilson2
    Posted at 20:07h, 29 August Reply

    Melissa, what sweet memories he’ll have of his childhood times with you. I cherish the memories of when my grandmother willingly entered my world.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 00:29h, 30 August Reply

      Thank you Debbie. We enjoy sharing time together. Lots of fun and laughter. Have a blessed week! 🙂

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