Grampa Blogs

Gramma went to the Illinois State Music Teachers' Conference,

so Grampa and Nolan decided to have a special adventure.

It began at the Prairie Crossing train station.

Nolan came dressed for their adventure.
One sock.

Two socks.

Red socks, blue socks.

Nolan keeps an eye out for the train.

The train captured Nolan's attention.
He could not be distracted.

This is the same train your Daddy takes.

But we're getting off in Deerfield for a surprise.

"What does a train look like on the inside?

It looks much bigger up close."

"Aren't there any seatbelts on the train?

is this safe?"

"I heard the train whistle blow, Grampa."

"I didn't know trains went so fast."

"Who's driving the train, Grampa?"

"Now the engine is pushing the train away."

"The children at this park, don't move much."

"Could I have a turn on the see-saw?"

"She really jumps high."

"How did they get up that high?"

There were three parks by the train station.

Grampa and Nolan tested all of them out.

"This way, Grampa, I can see a slide up ahead."

"I go really fast."

"Aren't you coming in with me?"

"I love this car.  The doors open and it's the perfect color.

"And the steering wheel works well."

"Look, I can be the engineer on this train."

"I love to climb.  You picked the perfect park."

"Everything looks really big in these binoculars."

Grampa and Nolan had the park all to themselves.

"Am I going really fast, Grampa?"

Grampa's job was to put sand in the bucket.

Nolan's job was to raise the bucket.

Grampa had to be careful when it was lowered.

Snack time at the park.

Grampa packed lots of food for Nolan.

Good thing, since Nolan was very hungry.

Why does food taste so good outside?

Another park area to explore.

This has a wiggly-wobbly web bridge.

After this slide, I'm going to climb the tower.

This climbing tower is four stories high.

Grampa was pretty nervous at the top.

This was Nolan's favorite slide.
He went down the slide fifteen times.
Grampa lacked the courage to try it.

This is a neat merry-go-round.

It took Grampa awhile to figure out that it turned.

Merry-go-rounds are fun to ride and

fun to push.

Nolan has his own way to enjoy a merry-go-round.

After he figured out it turned, 

he pushed it from the outside.

If Gramma was here, she would have wanted a ride.

She LOVES merry-go-rounds.:)

"Is Billy Goat Gruff under this bridge?"

This is the look out tower.

"Look out!"

Grampa said it was time to go.

Nolan looked so sad, he told him they could stay 

for a couple more minutes.

When Grampa reminded him it was time to go,

Nolan climbed inside one of the playhouses and hid.

Grampa had to climb inside to retrieve him.

The train that will take us home again, 

whether we're ready or not.

 

"Do we really have to go home?"

We rode home on the upper level of the train.

It's really fun looking down from the upper level.

Maybe I should start taking the train with Daddy.

"Do you think Daddy is on the train?"

"We're back.  Let's go again next week."

News from the California Gentlemen

Playing duets can be twice as difficult.
But it can also be twice the fun.
The hardest thing is staying together.
I think Mommy got tired of being the conductor.
Conductors get little respect.
She got the boys a metronome to be their boss.

July 1989

Ryan Joseph and Matt enjoyed doing duets 25 years ago.
But only half as much as their mother enjoyed hearing them.

July 1990

The following year it was Rebecca's turn.
They're a team right to the final bow.

Halloween Here and There

Nolan has decided to go into business with Grampa.

They share an office.

Nolan carried his chair into the office and brought his computer.

I was allowed to move the table.

Seth is following in Kevin's footsteps.

He loves his body and the mirror.

With good reason; they're both very cute.

Seth is getting ready to climb to new heights.

"Should I walk first, or just start climbing?"

Nolan understand that the Lincoln logs need to alternate 90 degrees at the corners.

Now he builds towers non-stop.  

Here he adds a roof, since he's out of logs.

My Paul Bunyan woke up in the morning and said, "I think I'll cut down a tree."

Being me, I asked, "Just one?"

He cut our 25 foot dead tree down to size.

The 35 foot dead tree awaits.

For my birthday, we went to see Maurizio Pollini.

It was my idea of a perfect start to a celebration.

Then we went to dinner at Ruxbin's, a trendy restaurant with uncomfortable seats.

Rebecca and Patrick joined us, after champagne at their apartment.

Matt and Megan even went to see Pollini with us.

My favorite things are family and music.

Good wine is up pretty high on the list, too.

My children surprised me with a box of memories from over 70 of my family and friends.

They were aiming for 60, but I have very special friends.

Ryan Joseph suggested they throw the extras away.

I'm glad Matt didn't listen.

It was a very special gift.  Kind of like the opportunity 

to attend your own funeral and hear the eulogy.

After reading Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, 

I always thought that would be wonderful.

While reading them, I laughed, I cried 

and felt such love for all who took the time to remember me.

I have been very blessed by my family and friends.

An international Happy Birthday!

PIano teachers have the unique opportunity to change a child's life; 

both by sharing a world of music with them 

and also by the bond created from sharing an exciting life adventure week after week.

In addition, music teachers receive a gift back from their students

since they are able to transcend words and communicate with music.

I was overwhelmed by the responses from my students for my birthday.

Grampa and Nolan decided to carve an Angry Birds pumpkin.

Nolan liked holding the flashlight to help.

He was willing to leave scooping out pumpkin guts to Grampa.

And he loved the power carver.

There's nothing like a power tool to make you feel like a "big boy."

"Just a few more cuts, Grampa.

I'll let you know when it's perfect."

Nolan likes to cut with his scissors.

He also likes my "art wall,"

 with pictures from Nathan and Andrew,

 as well as his pictures.

He decided he would fringe Nathan's picture.

I told him he could have his own paper to cut.

He didn't want any paper other than Nathan's picture.

I even offered orange paper.

He put his chair right next to the picture to keep an eye on it.

I don't know if he was waiting for me to look away or what.

He had a scissors.  I kept a close eye on him.

"Can you do this Gramma?"

"I love my life."

Seth and I know; there's such joy in moving.

Grampa and I were going to help put the boys Halloween costumes on,

so they would be ready to Trick-or-Treat when their parents arrived.

I turned Seth into a crab and thought Grampa was turning Nolan into King Triton.

I heard Grampa calling, "How do I get this on him?"

I thought the merman tail must be unfamiliar to Grampa, 

so I told him to put the muscle shirt on first.

When I arrived with the crab to help, 

he told me the tail was too small.

I knew Mommy had worked very hard to create the merman tail

and didn't want to ruin it.

When Mommy and Daddy got there, we explained the dilemna.

We opened the seam of the merman

 tail and put King Triton inside.

We put on his wrist bands and crown.  

King Triton took his trident in hand and looked ready to rule the seas.

But the beard, was not in the game plan for Nolan.

He cried so hard the tears were squirting from his eyes.

We removed the beard and eventually the wrist bands and the crown.

The promise of candy, plus Daddy wearing the crown, 

were thankfully enough to save the tail.

I suspect when Nolan chose his costume, he was thinking of the trident, 

and not the rest of the costume.

"As soon as Mommy and Daddy come, we can Trick-or-Treat.'

"Nobody told me anything about an itchy, scratchy beard."

"When Seth grows up, are you going to make him wear the beard?"

In Grampa's arms, the world looks better.

News from the California Gentlemen

Two special pumpkins in a pumpkin patch.

Even Ninja Turtles like to Trick-or-Treat.

Checking out the loot.

Gramma and Grampa used pillow cases to haul their loot home.