What Goes Up...

 

Grampa has taken charge of the kitchen. 

Here he is refilling the old box of dishwasher soap.

He couldn't believe you could buy a 10 lb. box.

I like to keep the number of trips to the grocery store to a minimum.

 

 

Nolan is Grampa's assistant in charge of the kitchen.
Here he's helping Grampa organize the baking pans.



Mom usually puts something delicious on this.
 

 

Remember Nolan, what goes up must come down.

 

Look what Grampa put in my drawer!

 

 

And this is Cousin Dan, winning a competition for eating the most Saltine Crackers in 60 seconds.

He followed the example of his brother, Mike.

At one time, the prize money was up to $500.

Many families get together and play cards or board games.

The Goedkens prefer competitions with high finance involved.

Uncle Terry considered joining in, until he saw how challenged the young people were.

That's a sign for the old people to stay away.

Do NOT try this competition at home.  There is a lot of clean-up involved.

 

 

Daily Double from California

 

 

 

There's Monkey Business wherever they go.

 

 

Cleatus, their elf on a shelf (seated in red on the mantle), likes to play pranks on the boys,

as he checks if they've been naughty or nice and reports back to Santa.

 

 

Cleatus has been here, spelling the boys' names with Cheerios.

 

 

 

An educational trip to the aquarium.

 

 

The look of wonder on a child's face, reminds us to see things as if for the first time.

 

 

The look of joy on a child's face reminds us to seize happiness, wherever we find it.

 

 

As the waves return the sand to it's original state,

the boys are free to make their own impressions on it.

 

 

A beach can make you want to dance,

or move slow and contemplate.

 

 

On your mark get set, GO!

Andrew is positioned to ride the wave.

 

 

A street musician in the making.

 

 

We all must make our own stand.

 

 

And climb to our own heights.

 

 

And rejoice when we get there.



Mastering New Heights/California Christmas Carols

 

We would do anything to make Nolan laugh.

ANYTHING!

 

 

 

 Nolan has his way of playing with Legos.

And Grampa has his.

 



 

I left Grampa alone for just two minutes and look what he's done.

I'm coming as fast as I can, Grampa.

 

 

You don't have to show me what to do. 

It's instinctual.

 

 

Grampa couldn't take it anymore.  The pantry was next on his list.

He really gets close to his work.

When Matt saw the finished pantry,

he asked his dad if he had taken all the shelves out before painting.

Terry looked horrified and said, "Of course."

 

 

The hardest part of painting a pantry is taking all the food out and putting it back.

When I saw the table I asked if we would be allowed to use the pantry anymore. 

Or would everything remain on the table to keep the pantry pristine.

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 It's not alphabetized, but it's organized according to the aisles in the grocery store.
Or the way he thinks the aisles should be organized.  The only aisles he's been down at the grocery store are the peanut butter, cereal and orange juice (which doesn't go in the pantry) aisles.
 

 

The twins warned me about this.

 

The old blockade is back.  Nolan is very good at climbing steps. 

He did them at least six times on Friday.

We are working on going down the stairs, which he does very well, too. 

But he hasn't learned it's not a good idea to turn around to check his progress.

 

 

Daily Double from California

 

 

There are two new frogs in California.

They come out when it rains.

 



 

And one new monkey.

He comes out when it's cold.

 

 

I hope he's bringing his superhero costume when he comes to visit Gramma.

She could use one.

 

 

He's got style to burn.  Of course, he fits in Califonia.

 

 

Lions, Tigers and Bears - Oh my!

 

 

Santa must know these two are very good boys.

Just check with their Gramma.

 

There may not be any snow, but the Christmas tree lets children know the time is near.

 

 

Season Greetings from my angels.



It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

 

Grampa has been repeatedly suggesting that it's time to replace my computer.  I have emphatically refused to buy a new one.  I knew it would require time to learn.  Time, I didn't think I had. 

 

My attitude changed when my computer died, and I thought my hard drive would be lost forever.

At first, I was suspicious that he was trying to scare me into a new one.

Sometimes we change our minds in degrees and sometimes, we wake up in an instant,

looking out a new window.

 

Grampa, quickly did his research, and after two days of shopping,

came home with a new computer and spent days setting it up. 

 Then he discovered the USB ports did not work and called the support line. 

After deciding the problem was the computer,

 he packed it up and returned to the store to get a replacement.

At the store, they discovered the computer did indeed work. 

Embarrassed, he said it's the first thing he always asks his wife, "Did you reboot?" 

Then he came home and complained about the support person failing to ask that all important question.  They didn't ask him if it was plugged in, either.  He usually asks me that, too.

 

Did you know there was another level to this activity table?

 

 

How are Gramma and Grampa going to get me out of here?

 

 

Gramma may be feeding me but I have to keep an eye on Grampa at all times.

 

 

Let there be lights!

 

 

Camera and action!

 

 

Grampa, do we have replacement bulbs for these?

 

Nolan now points, usually at Grampa.

 

 

Grampa just turns this thing.

 

 

Nolan discovered raspberries make a messy, but delicious finger food. 

He was so excited about feeding himself, he didn't want to eat anything else.

He doesn't know how to stick them on his fingers, yet, though.

 



 

Gramma and Nolan play duets.

 

 

California Daily Double

 

Waiting for a new report from our California correspondent.

We have no knowledge of any California earthquakes or power shortages.

 

 



Thanksgiving

 

Grampa paints his last closet.  He's been eyeing the pantry.

 

 

Grampa loves to grill, even inside.

 

 

Grampa is famous for his pumpkin rolls.

 

 

Nolan is happy to be heading to Minnesota. 

He's riding between Grampa and Gramma, to keep them from fighting in the car.

 

 

Nolan likes the Reader's Digest books.

He has a real appetite for reading.

 

 

Nolan has a monkey on his back. 

A lot of people have that problem.

 

 

Nolan enjoys a drink with Daddy.

 

 Amanda and Nolan enjoy a duet.
 

 

Kevin takes his culinary skills seriously. 

It's more dangerous without a "cut" glove.
Good thing he's Chipotle trained.

 

 

After 10 hours of sleep the night before,

Mitch is exhausted and sleeps a couple of more hours.

 

 

A view from the top.

 

 

A great way to check on the baby in the middle of the night.

Or to find your way to the bathroom when you're staying at someone else's house.

 

 

Feed the birds, tuppence a bag.

The black thing is to prevent the squirrels from getting to the feeding dishes.

They have the fattest squirrels I have ever seen.

 

 

Nolan begins bird watching at an early age.

 

 

The cold Minnesota weather calls for a warm hat, a scarf and gloves.

 

 

Grampa offers to watch Nolan,

while the rest do Black Friday shopping.

This old high chair wasn't designed to be able to recline the back.

 

 

Grampa, the engineer, made a few improvements.

 

Matt inherited the luck of the Irish from his mother.

We were at the Half-Price Bookstore before 7:00 A.M.  13 degrees and snowing.

One lucky customer, out of the first 100 gets a $100 gift certificate.

Knowing it would likely be Matt that would win, I suggested the winner split it with the rest of us.

Matt would not agree to it.

Here he's pictured with last year's winner,

who did not want to have her identity revealed, because of the IRS.

 

 

Has anyone seen the leftover broccoli-cheese casserole Aunt Linda made?

I know there was some left.

 

 

Nolan reads a Christmas story to Grampa,

while wearing his reindeer pajamas.

 

 

Heading back to Illinois.

It was an exhausting Thanksgiving.

 



 

Grampa is exhausted too.
And he didn't even go shopping.


Daily Double from California

 

The whole family skyped with the twins on Thanksgiving.

As soon as they have an audience, they like to put on their Superhero costumes.

The weather was nice enough for a Thanksgiving picnic lunch.

The boys have a collage on their wall; made up of all the people they love. 
As a part of their bedtime prayer ritual,
they shine a flashlight on all the people who love them and pray for us.
This could be the backbone of my Irish luck.