The other day I was driving to San Diego with my grandkids.  I wanted to take a few pictures for my blog, and especially I wanted one of the Camp Pendelton sign.  Well, for some reason I kept going down different streets, and had no idea at all where we were.   The kids were sure we were lost.  

I didn't act lost though, and we played "Real Estate".  When we turned down a dead-end street, it became a lesson in vocabulary.  "What do you call this circle street?"  Yep a cul-de-sac.  What's the name of those white wooden window coverings..."Plantation Shutters."  And we would drive back the way we came.

 One of them finally asked me, "Granma if you don't know where you are how will you know how to get back?" Oh, that's easy I said....just wet your finger and put it out the window.....we came with the wind, so we just have to follow it.

But Granma ~ we don't have windows back here....(they were in the back of a SUV)....so after a good laugh we just kept driving, pointing out houses we liked, and not caring very much that we didn't know which way to go.  After all we had the whole day to just drive around looking at Real Estate and taking blog pictures> :) :)

Real Estate can be a fun activity with the kids, even if you are working that day get them involved by:

• helping pass out fliers
• vocabulary and spelling- spelling street names 
• older kids can help with faxes and filing
• younger kids can help with cleaning the outside of a listing....sweeping off a proch of a vacant listing, picking up newspapers, etc.`
• licking envelopes and putting stamps on are one of my favorites~ saves me time and a ucky tongue
• make everything into a game, or an activity
• have them give you blog ideas

So even when us Grandparents have the kids for the day we can still do our jobs, and enjoy the kids.  Oh, and don't forget to go get ice cream or a treat when you're done :) :)

By: Kathy McGraw