California, Here We Come

 

Grampa is one of the smartest men I know.

Even smart men do dumb things.

 

Only ONE of these legs is actually resting on the step.

 

California Day 1

I was worried that the boys might be a bit shy, when we arrived. 

I wanted to be careful not to overwhelm them the minute I saw them.

When Ryan Joseph pulled up, I thought he had come without them,

but then I heard Nathan yelling, "Gramma, Gramma, Gramma!"

I jumped in the back next to him and we picked up where we left off.

It will be a moment I always remember. 

Our connection bonds our hearts together.

 



 

There can never be too many super heroes in our lives.

 

It's a challenge to remember not to address them as Andrew or Nathan.

They prefer to be referred to by their alter-ego names.

There's Peter Parker, Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne and Steve Rogers.

 

Looking to the top of the redwoods gives you a sense of wonder,

similar to contemplating God's heavens.

 

We went to see the redwoods in Santa Cruz. 

Because we are older, we didn't remember we had been there, before.

But then we recognized this tree, which grew into its own cave.

 

It's not an official woodland walk, unless you have the perfect walking stick.

Here are the wood nymphs of the forest.

 

These benches are designed for resting.

They take hundreds of years to make, though.

 

We could hear the seals on the pier.

We couldn't figure out how they got up on these supports.

 

We watched and waited for them to slip off into the water.

They waited even longer than we did.

 

Andrew and Mommy "sealed" a deal to go to the boardwalk after lunch.

 

The boys were excited about being able to ride the cars by themselves.

In twelve more years, we'll see that excitement all over again.

 

There were some impressive wax figures at the boardwalk.

Which one of these is alive?

 

You can see why the boys like this place.

 

 

Is that a wax figure or Grampa?

 

 

The boys are carousel connoisseurs.

 

This carousel had three different organs they alternated between.

And a brass ring to reach for. 

Once you grabbed the brass ring you had to try to hit a target. 

We actually saw someone hit it.

 

We put a lot of effort into filling our days with everything they could hold.

 

 

This time Grampa has all four legs on the ground.

Nolan is holding the ladder for Grampa.

 

Now there are four legs ON the ladder!

 

All of sudden, Terry was on the ladder searching the yard frantically.

"Have you seen Nolan?" he asked.

"Yes, he's right behind you," I reassured him.

 

Nolan loved playing outside at our house for the first time.

He went for a wagon ride, chased birds, and rode in his little coupe.

 

Gramma and Nolan went shopping and came home with a hat for Nolan.

He would be much happier wearing it, if Grampa would wear HIS fedora.

Where's Grampa?

 

When we moved into the house, we found switches that did nothing.

We found wall lights that had wires that were not connected.

This project has met it's match.

 

Grampa says he's working, but he may just be hiding in the attic.

 

The success of the project hinged upon running the wire from the attic to the switch below. 

My job was to grab the wire when it appeared.

Equipped with a needle-nosed pliers and a flashlight, I never saw a wire.

After making the hole larger three times, I was no longer needed.

The lights and switch now work.

The trees in the backyard show spring has come to Chicago.

 

 

Nolan prefers to fly in reverse.

He hasn't passed his flight test, yet.

 

For a change, we decided to have lunch in the basement. 

Nolan felt great sitting on the adult chair.

 

Nolan likes to use the watering can as a kazoo.

He is working on getting a better tone.

 

Nolan's toy box also functions as a mobile.

 

This is where I found Grampa hiding,

after searching the house for him.

 

This is where I next found Grampa,

 after searching outside for him.

 

 

News from the California Crew

 

 

 

That's a very happy boy.

 

Don't even think about lighting a match,

or I'll have to soak you!

 

It takes a pair of big shoes to be a superhero.

 

 

A super cowboy wears a cape, instead of chaps.

 

 

Ready to eat.

 

Here's looking at you.

 

The fountain of youth.

 

Best friends.

 

The new California cars don't use gasoline.

 

Fire busters!

 

 



Three Little Native Americans

 

The magnolias are in blossom at Gramma's.

They're not good climbing trees, but for one week out of the year,

they're so extraordinary they take your breath away.

 

 

Grampa is never idle. 

You can walk barefoot in our garage and not get your feet dirty.

 

 

Micaela loves the turkey sausage balls Grampa makes for Nolan.

 

Nilah concurs.

 

Nilah is wearing Gramma Deb style shoes.

 

The girls discover Nolan's cupboard.

Nilah is holding the phone Grampa made so the boys can hear themselves speak.

Granted this generation will never use a phone like this.

 

This is Grampa's idea to be sure there's peace and quiet

until EVERYONE wakes up from their nap.

 

Nolan isn't fond of stuffed animals.

 

And he certainly doesn't want them to get too close to Daddy.

 

Naptime's over.  Come and get us.

 

 

I hope they've got our snack ready.

 

Friday includes dinner with everyone.

Grampa is serving honey mustard chicken, drizzled with a little rain sauce.

 

I found someone else to play with.

 

"Thank you, Nolan for sharing your plane."

 

 The maintenance crew checks out the plane from wing to wing.

 



 

"Do you have a reservation for this flight?"

 

 

There's a whole lot of dancing going on.

Nolan performs in the background on drums.

 

 

This is the teepee Grampa made for Meghan and Meredith Maddock.

The design on the teepee is courtesy of them.

It then went to Jim and Andrea's boys,

before coming to the twins and now to Nolan.

The design has been updated with PVC pipe.

The Native Americans would have had an easier time, if PVC had been around.

 

 

News from the Califonia Crew

 

 

 

I guess Nathan won't need me to help him on the monkey bars anymore.

I'm sure at this point, I'd be the one needing help.

I used to do the monkey bars so much at our school, I had callouses on my palms.

I was much older than four years.

 

 

Riding horses goes hand in hand with living in the west.

 

The boys are sitting taller in their saddles these days.