Fall Is In the Air and On the Ground

 

The weather was warm enough for a stroll outside.

But Daddy didn't bring any mittens.

Being experienced problem solvers,

we decided to substitute a pair of socks.

Nolan, not understanding our purpose, shook his head, "no." and

tried to put the socks over the pair he was already wearing.

 

 

Nolan has a new pair of shoes that light up when he walks.

At least the right shoe does.  The left shoe has an electrical problem.

His shoes have orange (his favorite color) on them and Nolan loves them.

He decided to ride in the back of the two seater stroller we got for the twins.

He keeps his feet up high, so he can have a view of his shoes.

Gramma understands his enjoyment of his shoes.

 

 

Gramma's flaming bush is starting to lose it's leaves.

Nolan loves hurrying the process along.

 

 

I was surprised to see how easily he climbs our rocks.

And also how easily he does a summersault into the leaves.

 

 

He has as many leaves stuck on him,

as the bush has left on it.

 

 

Gramma and Grampa are still trying to encourage Nolan to give up his bottle.

Today we're trying a straw.

 

 

He's willing to put up with it.

As long as the coconut milk inside is the same as usual.

 

 

Nolan likes puzzles as much as Gramma.

He studies the shape of each piece and does very well.

I'm looking forward to our first jigsaw puzzle.

 

 



 

 

Nolan understands that an organist has to use his feet.

Uncle David will be proud of his natural abilities.

 

 

This is Great-Grandma Lynch's rocking chair.

It's was made by her Grandpa Froehle and repaired

by my Grandpa Froehle for us when we were little.

He must have done a very good job.

It's still working well.

 

 

Nolan is taking over Grampa's office.

Grampa just uses it to hide from Gramma.

 

 

 

Nolan was interested in trying the little boy's potty chair.

He wasn't interested in actually using it, though.

Baby steps!

 

First snow of the season in Chicago.

Wish Nathan and Andrew were here.

Grampa is much heavier to pull in the sled.

 

 

 

The finished deck!

 

 

 

 

They even put lights in the steps.

 

 

California Gentlemen

 

 

 

I can't wait to exercise with these boys.

And Bogie will supervise.

 

 

Love that t-shirt.

"Grampa's Little Helper - No Job Too Tough"

 

 

 

This boy can walk on the moon,

as far as Gramma is concerned.

 

 

Everyone wants to put their arms around these two.

 

 

 

 

Cycles of Life

 

Grampa decided it was time to unveil the Closet of Fun for Nolan.

He was introduced to Matchbox cars

and was spellbound at the sight of them.

And the fact they were in a toolbox made them perfect,

since they could be carried around.

His Uncle Ryan and Daddy carried around the same toolbox of cars.

They had many of Uncle Jim's old cars to play with.

 

 

He also found a box of tiny Legos. 

The world of miniature is a dream world for children

and a nightmare for their parents. 

Within moments, Nolan found the easiest way to get Legos out of the box.

 

 

Grampa told Nolan he needed a warm hat, in order to go outside.

He loves his straw hat and wanted to wear that.

He finally consented to wear one of Auntie Becca's.

He's trying to open the front door and get going.

 

 

After a check in the mirror, he realized he looked adorable in his hat.

 

 

Nolan managed to carry his toolbox of cars up from the basement.

 

 

We took Nolan to the toystore to pick out a few things.

I asked which area they had children's kitchen sets in. 

I was told they were in the girls' section.

I asked them not to tell Nolan that.

 

 

"I prefer my own straw hat."

 

 

"Do you mean they have special toys for girls?"

 

 

"You must be kidding.  Boys make the best chefs."

 

 

Nolan loved his new dishes that make cooking noises and glow red hot.

 

 

Having an engineer's curiosity,

he checked to see what makes them work.

 

 

Gramma and her friend, Karen, went for a hike.

We found lots of fungi.

This one looked like a deflated volleyball.

Maybe it was.

 

 

The trees were showing off their colors.

We sat on a log to eat our lunch.

Why does food taste better when you eat it closer to the dirt?

 

These are puffballs.  They blow out puffs of spores when you touched them.
Of course we touched them.



 



 

This tree has a touch of dermatitis.

 

 

These looked like wood that had been varnished.

 

 

These looked like large ruffled plates.

 

 



 

These looked like the lambs' ear plant.

They covered about three feet of a fallen tree.

 

 

One of the more fragile looking specimens.

 

 

This was very large with lots of colors from green to red.

Each one was about a foot long.

 

 

 

A day of hiking is great with a friend.

Especially when she knows where the bathroom (port-a-potty) is in the woods.

I did not wear high heels hiking.

Even Grammas can do selfies.

 

 

 

News from the California Gentlemen

 

 

 

Gramma's twin pumpkins.

 

 

I want to do this with the boys.

I think it would be a lot easier than the Tilt-a-Whirl.

 

 

This would hurt my tailbone.

But it creates a nice vibrato.

 

When we were in Germany with our children,

they rode the luge with sleds on wheels.

Ryan Joseph lost his sled part way down and used his own body the rest of the way.

When he got to the bottom we made the first aid station our next stop

.

 

 

Is he coming of going?

 

 

They'll be coming round the mountain.

 

 

The boys are at home wherever they are.

 

 

The boys are up (or is it down?) for spinning.

 

 

I guess he has his learner's permit now.

California is such a progressive state.

 



Measure Twice, Cut Once

 

Nolan is getting better at pinball. 

He is starting to get the idea of using the flipper to make it light up.

He concentrates on one flipper.

Gramma operates the other flipper for him. 

 

 

 

Sometimes Nolan sings as he swings.

When he hears Grampa moving upstairs, he wonders if he should go help him.

Nolan still reduces most of his words to one syllable. 

Spider is "spi," organ is "O" but Grampa rates both of his syllables.

 

 

Nolan is getting creative with his snack.

He's putting his big boy glass on his upside down plate.

Then he checks to see if I'm amused.

Grammas are the perfect audience.

 

 

 

Nolan likes to microwave his ice cream cones.

He's a bit heavy on the spices when he's cooking.

But then his Auntie Jeni likes her food very spicy.

 

 

 

Grampa decided it was time to make a door for Nolan's refrigerator.

I asked. "How are you going to do that?"

"We can make anything," was his reply.

Well if that's the case....

Nolan would like running water in his sink.

 

 

 

Grampa and Daddy continue their work on the deck.

It takes extra time, when you have to order a replacement board for one that was cut too short.

Grampa blames Daddy for ordering the exact amount of boards required.

He was expecting more competence than Grampa could deliver.

 

 

News from the California Gentlemen

 

 

 

Andrew still specializes in his silly faces.

 

 

Life for a child is full of anticipation and surprise.

But then, they spend their time looking for the joy in life?

 

 

Hanging at the ocean.

 

 

California requires dressing in layers.

 

 

 

The temperature doesn't determine how much fun you have.

 

 

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

A man's mountaintop experience is feeling your child in your arms!