On an Outing with Gramma

 

Nolan came with a shirt on, but blueberries stained it.

Grampa is extremely good at getting out stains.

His secret is using the best cleaner for the particular stain,

and having patience to persist until perfection is reached.

 

 

Nolan enjoys his blueberries au naturele.

 

 

Gramma and Nolan went to the library to choose a few books.

Gramma makes at least two or three trips to the library each week.

The same as when she home-schooled her children.

 

 

The library put the drinking fountain at the perfect height for little boys.

And even put a step stool in front of it for the really little boys.

"Grampa needs to put one of these in my play kitchen."

 

 

Next we were off to Gramma's market.

?I think she likes all the colored fruits and vegetables."

 

 

I think I'll pick this apple from the bottom.

 

 

Gramma wants a pair of pajamas with Frankenstein on her rear.

Grampa said her rear isn't big enough for Frankenstein.

 

 

Gramma has had Matt's pin impression toy in her studio for years.

Many students have left behind mystery impressions for others to figure out.

Nolan enjoyed most of the impressions he made.

He doesn't want to do his ear again, though.

 

 

"Now if I can just get the impression without tickling my toes."

 

 

 

Nolan is getting better at the Toilet Paper Race on the Xoom.

Gramma is always there to cheer him to the finish line.

 

 

California Gentlemen

 

 

 

Andrew at his first Giants' game. 

(I think that's the right team.)

 

 

Hanging out together.

 

 

Be careful when superheroes go into a phone booth.

Something big is happening in California.

 

 

I wonder what the boys will be for Halloween this year?

 

 

The Giants might want to sign Nathan up,

since he got his first major league ball at his first game.

 

 

 

Our tree hugger.

 

 

Our twin huggers.

 

 

Watch out for the bats in the woods!

 

 

This boy rarely has his feet on the ground.

He flies heads above most.

 

 

 

 

 



Friday In the Park

 

Is that someone peeking through the hole?

 

 

How did Nolan get up there?

 

 

Nolan was constant movement. 

Gramma noticed the sticker that said the area was for 5 years and above,

but Nolan couldn't read the warning.

 

 

If it's there, Nolan will climb it.

 

 

No, Nolan, you're not ready for that, yet.

Save something for next week.

 

 

"I said, higher, Gramma."

 

 

"That's what I like?"

 

 

 

Notice the progress on the deck. 

There will be steps on two sides, instead of one, as before.

 

They work on it on the weekends.

Grampa isn't one to wait around,

so he went over to the construction site during the week.

Shortly after beginning work, Matt arrived back home and found him.

Matt had to go back home to take Nolan's lunch to his daycare.

Not one to give up, Grampa went back to the work site on another day,

only to discover Matt was home with a sick Nolan that day.

 

When he left I asked if he could even get into the house. 

He said he could get into the garage and that was all he needed.

He had his lunch packed and a jug of water.

I asked what he would he do if he needed a bathroom.

He was counting on the above 90 degree temperatures to make that not necessary.

 

I'm looking forward to the deck party.

 

The California Gentlemen

 

 

Who says the sour things in life can't be enjoyed?

This is proof that having a twin can make the sour, oh so sweet!

 

 

 

 



How much is the boy in the mirror?

 

Nolan is too hungry to wait for lunch.

While I'm preparing his entrée, he's nibbling on grapes.

He likes to keep an eye on me, to be sure I'm focused.

 

We're working on the concept of one bite at a time.

Somehow it translates to one handful at a time.

 

 

Office hours are until naptime.

 

 

Grampa love storms.

Of course, they're electrical.

He took Nolan out to experience the wind and clouds before the storm.

Nolan knows something is brewing, and wants to stay close to Grampa.

 

 

Nolan enjoys seeing the boy in the mirror.

He especially likes the boy's taste in pajamas.

He'd like a pair just like them.

 

 

Nolan is trying to practice so he'll be able to play like Uncle David.

Gramma is willing to pump the pedals, but Nolan feels he has it covered.

 

 

 

 

Nolan has discovered "upstairs." 

His parents have taught him he needs to have an adult with him.

Now, I know why he looks to see if we're there and heads for the stairs,

no matter what we say.

I've never seen him go up the stairs without us there,

but then how could I?

 



 

 

Grampa spent hours working on deck plans for Matt and Megan's deck.

The first part of the project is to dismantle the old deck.

That's when they discovered all the things the previous owner did incorrectly.

 

 

 

Matt is ready to put a lot of power into the project. 

 

Matt has to enforce quitting time for Grampa.

But the Bears' game takes precedence.

 

 

Our California Gentlemen

 

 

 

Andrew wants to be sure the repairman does it correctly.

Bogie (the cat) is making sure he doesn't take eat any cat food.

 

When I grew up, we had an English Bull dog, Paddy.

At that time, no one locked their doors.

When we needed a washing machine repaired,

 we arranged for the repairman to come while we were gone. 

He was concerned when he opened the door

and saw Paddy sitting in the kitchen.  But Paddy's wagging tail soon put him at ease.

Paddy didn't feel his job was to keep people out. 

He thought his job was to make sure no one took anything.

When we returned, we wondered why the repairman had left his toolbox

next to the washing machine. 

Later he explained the dog growled and bared his teeth

whenever he put his hand on his toolbox. 

If he put the box down, Paddy resumed wagging his tail.

 

In lieu of a violin, Nathan has begun to play Mommy's viola.

 

 



 

Our karate kids

They don't look like they would ever hurt anyone.

 

 

 

Our nature boys.

Which one is Tom Sawyer and which is Huck Finn?

 

 

 

 

The Party's Over/Daycare Credentials?

And Then They Said Goodbye!

 

 

Before Jeni and the boys left, we made a trip to our old park.

This used to be scary, but Andrew's longer legs reduce the challenge.

 

 

We checked out all the old equipment.

Nathan used to caution me not to go too high.

We pushed caution away.

 

 

We still loved digging in the sand.

 

 

And death defying climbing.

 

 

Nathan encouraged me not to be afraid.

 

 

Nathan has gotten faster on the slide.

Gramma has gotten slower.

 

 

After our morning at the park, they gave us hugs and kisses to last for months.

Grampa and I went home to listen to the echoes of laughter

that filled the house for a precious few days.

 

 

Meanwhile Nolan keeps us busy!

 

 

 

It's Danny's birthday and the torch(to light the cake) is passed down three generations.

 

 

That's no ordinary birthday candle.

And no ordinary birthday cake.

Danny and Matt agree on Moon cake for their birthdays.

This is Gramma Ann Goedken's recipe.

 

Moon Cake

 

 Ingredients:  1 cup water

                        1 stick butter  (her recipe says oleo)

                        1 cup flour

                        4 eggs

                        1 large + 1 small package instant vanilla pudding

                        4 cups milk (for making the pudding)

                        8oz cream cheese

                        1 container Cool Whip - original size (there was only 1 size when she made it)

                        Chocolate syrup (for serving)

 

Directions      Boil water and butter together
                       Add flour and blend well
                       Add eggs one at a time and beat well
                       Spread on ungreased half sheet cake pan.

                       Bake at 400 for 25 to 30 minutes
                       (It will be browned and look like the craters on the moon.)
                       I then put the moon layer in the fridge to cool.
                       Prepare pudding by mixing the 4 cups of milk into the powder.
                      Add cream cheese and beat well

                      Spread over the lunar surface.

                      Cover with Cool Whip. Refrigerate
                      Drizzle with chocolate syrup over individual pieces, when serving.
                      (Otherwise the chocolate starts to run.)

 

 

 

Danny concentrates on his wish and

prays he'll be able to blow out the spinning candelabra.

 

 

Nolan racks up the pool balls,

but cannot understand why the cue ball doesn't fit in the triangle.

I have to catch it, when he decides to toss it and get rid of it.

 

 

 

 

Those feet are WAY above the chair.

Starting to worry about the daycare credentials.

 

 

He's working on his slam dunk.

 

 

 

Nolan enjoys his latest trick;

looking through his kitchen set window.

 

 

 

 

When Gramma first saw him do this,

she wondered how he could be that tall.

Not wanting to lose our daycare credentials,

I decided for safety to remove the seat and put it in another corner.

A little while later, I found it back by Nolan's kitchen set.

I asked Grampa if he had moved it.

Nolan doesn't like things out of place.

 

 

Gramma and Nolan explored the yard.

He can nearly get lost in the landscaping.

 

 

It's Picasso time.

 

 

Nolan's car needs new floor boards.

Nolan gets tired making his car go,

so Gramma tries to help,

but his feet drop down and trip on the pavement.

Grampa is working on a patent for his new design.

 

 

Nolan is very pleased with the improvement.

 

 

He figured out he can stand up on his new floor boards.

 

We didn't know that Nolan could put on his own shoe,

and Velcro it.  He even got it on the correct foot.

He was so impressed with himself that he walked around

with just one shoe on.

"Diddle, diddle dumpling, my son, John."

 

 

 

 

Nolan's entertainment during his diaper change is Gramma's Ipod.

He's now listening to Essential Yo Yo Ma.

 

 

 

No children were injured in the making of this film.

 

But where did we hang the daycare license?