Santa's Village II

 

We were sitting in the family room, when we heard a noise coming from the fan,

It sounded like it might fall on our laps.

Our old Casablanca fan has been in every house we have ever lived in.

 

It's a two-(wo)man process to bring in the ladder to check out the fan.

Something had slipped and the blades were rubbing on the light fixture.

A trip to the Home Depot to buy a rubber grommet,

and the fan is good for another 30 years.  I hope.

He did dust it, while he was up there.

 

When Terry installed it, in our first house in Roselle, Uncle Dennis was visiting.

He was in high school at the time.

The first house didn't have a switch in the wall or an existing fixture in the ceiling.

As Terry stood ready to cut a hole in the wall for the switch,

Dennis asked him,   "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Our ladder is now taller.  The fan is the same.

 

Terry's family grew up with a switch in Uncle Jim's room

that had to be flipped down for ON and up for OFF. 

 Terry changed the switch to the more traditional style,

but everyone complained, because they couldn't get used to it.

 

If he doesn't fix the light switches in our house, soon,

(the switches are in reverse order of the lights,

so the farthest switch controls the closest light)

they may have to stay that way.

 

 

Jeni and the twins arrived for their visit.

It took less than five minutes for the boys to remember THE BASEMENT.

 

On our way home from the airport, Andrew and Nathan were both eager to talk to Gramma, and were both talking at the same time.  Even though I have two ears, I had to find a way to listen to both children.  So, when Nathan was in the middle of telling me something and Andrew was trying to get my attention, I to wait just a minute, so I could finish listening to Nathan.  When Nathan finished,, I turned to Andrew and asked, "Now what did you want to tell me?"  "Too late, you missed it," he responded.  I couldn't believe I was never going to know what it was.

The problem continued every time we were in the car.   Another time, Nathan asked, "What does that sign say?"  I asked which sign he wanted me to read and he responded, "All of them."  The boys are interested in reading and it can keep you very busy.  But what an exciting challenge it is.

 

Andrew was amazed to discover that Grampa can repair the pinball machine with a rubber band.

We own the Indian Chief, which is a pinball machine Grampa used to play in college.

We have had the pinball machine since our first house, as well.

We used to be able to play it with each of us using one hand.

 Terry held Ryan Joseph in his free arm, while we played.

Ryan Joseph enjoyed all the bells and lights.

 

 

Our first morning together and we went to Santa's Village

to see if it was as much fun as we remembered.

To these California boys, Santa without snow is just fine.

 

The boys are now bigger and can enjoy the rides much more.

 

Like true Goedkens, they LOVE the rides.

 

The  choice to go on the Tilt-a-Whirl was not such a smart idea.  At least not for Gramma.  Every other ride at Santa's village seems to be about three cycles long.  Occasionally, the rides are stopped early.  Such as  the ferris wheel, when a little girl stood up on the ride, until they stopped it so her father could remove her.  If I could have found a way to have stood up to make them stop, I would have.  The young man operating the Tilt-a-Whirl seemed to be determined to keep it going, until the older couple were green and crying.  I should have been suspicious when I got on the ride and asked if I should put the child on the inside or outside.  His answer was, "It won't make any  difference."

The boys were oblivious to Gramma's discomfort and seemed to love the ride.  I don't know if Grampa was worried about me or not feeling so well himself, but he did not look like the life of the party, either.  Upon getting off the ride, the boys immediately said, "Let's do it again."    We told them we had to stop for lunch first and then avoided going past the Tilt-a-Whirl for the rest of the day.

 

This is a very steep, fast slide.

Perfect for our death defying boys.

 

The boys are ready for outer space.

 

Andrew is ready for take-off.

 

Andrew is wearing Grampa's fedora for the hot air balloon ride.

 

Trucks are a Goedken tradition.

 

Thanks to Nathan, we found parts of Santa's Village we had never seen before.

Here we put out a fire from their fire truck.

Each person had their own hose.

Grampa's hose didn't work.

 

 

It was a really hot day.

We couldn't believe Frosty was still smiling.

 

The boys learned they like the front cars.

Jeni and Gramma liked them, too.

There's something about an OLD ride that increases the thrill,

as you knock about and hear the metal pulling against itself.

 

Andrew got to ride a big horse.

There are advantages to growing up.

 

Nathan rode Midnight, the dark horse.

 

Andrew always has time for the animals.

After studying for the California boards,

Jeni's expertise on large animals has peaked.

 

 

At the end of the day, we asked the boys what their favorite thing about Santa's Village was, they both agreed it was the mister, that cooled people off as they walked under it.  I'm certain Grampa could have created that at home.  But then Gramma would have missed the Tilt-a-Whirl.

 

 

 

Shall we dance?

Nolan learns to swing dance.

It's Grampa's favorite dance, too.