Hub City Times

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

logo

Hub City Times

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
Opinion
Home›Opinion›Family time: Giving memories rather than presents to my grandchildren

Family time: Giving memories rather than presents to my grandchildren

By Hub City Times
July 19, 2015
786
0
Share:
Blume

By Theresa Blume

Featured Columnist

Of our five grandchildren, the two oldest have birthdays in July. One year when he was younger, I worked hard to get our oldest grandson exactly what we thought he wanted: a Spiderman toy. Being an honest little boy, he opened it and said, “Oh, I have one of these already.”

Since that day I decided I would spend my resources giving my older grandchildren memories instead of presents. As they get older, it is a creative challenge to come up with things to do with a teenage boy and a preteen girl at the same time.

I got an idea out of a Wisconsin magazine that spotlighted train rides for families. Online I saw that the Spooner train ride has a pizza train that travels an hour and a half through scenic Wisconsin, providing each person with a half pizza and a beverage. The family rates were reasonable, so after talking to my oldest son, the father of the two birthday children, we decided to include their two younger children. He and his wife also decided to join us, so I bought the tickets, and we prepared for a great family weekend.

It just so happened that the very weekend that we planned the train ride was also the once a year Spooner Rodeo. Even better was the fact that two of my nephews were entered in the rodeo. They are professional cowboys who travel the U.S. competing, so this was a rare thing for my grandchildren to see what their cousins do.

Friday night we watched a very exciting rodeo plus spent time with my brother and two of his sons. Because of the rodeo, there were no available rooms in Spooner, so we stayed in a motel in Rice Lake. We were all exhausted and getting ready for bed when my son discovered large circular welts on his back, chest, and legs. Thankfully, Rice Lake has a nice hospital, so after a trip to the emergency room, he came back with medicine for Lyme disease. He works outdoors and unknowingly had been bitten by a deer tick earlier that day.

After a night like that, we were all ready for the relaxing train ride with lunch provided. The weather was warm, but we had a nice breeze from open windows. Our adventurous grandchildren stuck their hands out, catching leaves since the train went slow enough. We stopped on a bridge over a large river where people were tubing. We honked and waved at each other, connecting us to strangers all enjoying a beautiful Wisconsin day.

On the way back, my newest granddaughter sat on my lap to look out the window, which gave me the opportunity to bond with another “lap child.” Back at the station, we bought mementos from the gift shop before heading home. Even though we had some redirection of our original plans, this was the best birthday celebration yet. I like to think that our grandchildren walked away with a loving memory of time spent with their grandparents.

TagsbirthdayFeaturedfeatured columnistgrandchildrengrandparentsLyme diseaseopinionpizzaSpooner Rodeotheresatheresa blumetrain
Previous Article

Journey to wellness: Incorporate cilantro in your ...

Next Article

Central City Vapors, Seehafer Farm Creamery celebrate ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • Local

    Notice of rate increase for Marshfield Utilities water customers

    June 2, 2015
    By Hub City Times
  • ministry saint joseph's hospital Wisconsin Valley Lutheran High School prom Kurtis Peterson Bailey Piepenburg Jacob Piepers Alexandra Dickinson Ethan Wetmore Samantha Lutzow
    HealthLocal

    Ministry Saint Joseph’s Children’s Hospital brings the prom to a patient

    June 3, 2015
    By Hub City Times
  • From left: Marshfield High School students Ayush Shukla, Ben Donahue, and Sam Huettl attended the Badger Boys State Leadership Program this summer, and Roma Shah and Erika Roeglin participated in Badger Girls State.
    Education

    Five MHS students attend Badger Girls, Badger Boys State

    September 18, 2017
    By Hub City Times
  • EducationLocalVideo

    Meet the candidates 2018: Full video interview with Marshfield school board candidate, Jodi Meyer

    March 25, 2018
    By Hub City Times
  • Sports

    Spencer/Columbus Football Coach receives special honor

    November 5, 2014
    By Hub City Times
  • Wildwood Park & Zoo's donated statue of a crane among cattails will stand 15 feet tall and will be similar to this existing statue near Washington Elementary School.
    Local

    City accepts statue donation for zoo

    December 3, 2016
    By Hub City Times

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

About Us


Hub City Times is published by Multi Media Channels LLC, N2919 County Road QQ Waupaca, WI 54981.

Timeline

  • January 23, 2021

    MACCI turns 75: Part III Changing names

  • January 21, 2021

    DNR confirms CWD in Wood County, renews baiting and feeding bans

  • January 20, 2021

    City seeks candidates for ethics board

  • January 19, 2021

    Marshfield Clinic scheduling COVID vaccinations to those 65 and older

  • January 19, 2021

    Wood County deputy and K-9 partner recognized

Find us on Facebook

Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels, All Rights Reserved. Designed by MMC Team Awesome
×