Culinary Institute at Gramma's

Seth is taking drum lessons from his big brother.

Nolan doesn't mind having an audience.

Grampa and Nolan are baking cookies.

Nolan learns, when cooking with Grampa, 

measurement is very important.

The only thing better than eating Grampa's cookies

is making Grampa's cookies.

He also learns from Gramma, 

it is important to test the chocolate chips for taste.

Fortunately, this batch passes the test.

I think we need to add a few more chips?

I was right.  Now they're perfect.

Nolan is using his binoculars to check on his cookies in the oven.

It's Epiphany and the wisemen have arrived.

What's that?

A few of Nolan's miniature farm animals have also arrived.

The plastic sheep joins the porcelain sheep.

The cows and horses are also sorted into their correct places.

But where is Baby Jesus?

Nolan put him down in the buffet, 

where he can keep a closer eye on him.

Seth found a piano seat that fits him perfectly.

Gramma believes in starting piano lessons as early as possible.

Usually, she holds off a little longer on sight reading.

Seth, like his cousin, Andrew, 

discovers how to push Grampa's buttons.

Nolan comes to help Grampa teach Seth to be a good boy.

Seth thinks he found a room that is just his size.

Gramma doesn't give Seth his pacifier unless he's napping.

He found his pacifier connected to his jacket.

He thought it was so funny,

I wondered how long he was going to stand there.

Fortunately, he likes playing with Gramma even more.

Caught in the act.

Now I know how those fingerprints get there.

Seth figures out he can make the plant wave.

Gramma just wants to get Seth to wave.

If Nolan hears water running, he, like his cousin, Nathan,

comes running dragging his stepstool behind.

If Seth sees Nolan running, 

he's running right behind.

Literally, right behind.

News from the California Gentlemen

Nathan had lost his friend, Mousie.

So Gramma sent hers to help him look for his old friend.

Mousie had gotten lost in Andrew's bed.

Can you tell who is the REAL friend, Mousie?

Andrew took his certificate and composer statue

for passing Suzuki Book 1 to school on Sharing Day.

Happy Birthday Mozart!

Congratulatioins, Andrew!

Presence Is the Best Present

Rebecca is ready to open presents.

Andrew still enjoys the boxes.

When overwhelmed, Grampa's lap is the safest place.

Seth gets the idea of opening presents.

Andrew demonstrates for Nolan how much fun a traffic rug can be.

Matt is ready for the Chicago cold,

or a bank robbery.

Nathan enjoys the traffic rug.

Seth was watching him use the car on the rug.

He picked up the same car and started to drive on the roads of Rugsville.

Grampa could hardly wait for Nolan to open his present.

All of the Goedken boys have had a set of blocks made by Terry.

He even makes a wooden case to hold them.

Putting them away is like putting a three layer puzzle together.

Megan's reaction when she found out Nolan's blocks are all bright orange.

Terry also built a unique scarf hangar for Megan.

The little cousins enjoy the big cousins.

Years ago, our children enjoyed Dennis and Jim this much.

Ben impresses Nathan and Andrew with his technological skills.

The Goedkens are all designed the same.

Nolan fits right in with his cousins.

Michael is so patient with the little guys.  

No wonder they love him.

Early morning feels cold to Andrew.

He has developed California blood.

Ryan Joseph's old race track needed a little repair.

Of course, it's close to 30 years old.

Only in an engineer's family would it still be working.

Notice who keeps control of the tools.

Andrew remembered enjoying this old toy.

He might have been a bit smaller then.

Seth wants to do anything the cousins do.

He's just happy being near them.

Nathan is very interested in strategy games.

Besides Backgammon, he also plays checkers, chess and Parcheesi.

When I was little, the neighbor girl had a Parcheesi game.

We played it just like Sorry.

I had no idea it was so much more complicated.

This is definitely the next generation.

I have no idea how to read email or get to the internet on my phone.

The boys are impressed by Ryan Joseph's technological skills.

Nathan and Andrew's Book 1 Recital

They wrote a story that included all the titles in Book 1.  

Each one read the story for his brother.  

As the title of the song came up in the story,

the one at the piano would play that song.

The boys felt the support and love of family members who attended,

as they performed.

They took it very seriously and felt proud of their accomplishment.

Gramma was the happiest one of all.

Nathan - Little Playmates

Nathan - Allegro

Andrew - London Bridge

Andrew - Cuckoo

The boys created their own ending.

Duet - Twinkle, Twinkle

Duet - Honey Bee 

Everyone went to the Amazing Mirror Maze in Gurnee.

It's especially entertaining, if you have a large group with you.

You have to wear plastic gloves, so you don't fingerprint the mirrors.

Gramma's going to get a box of those for her house.

Seth was bundled up for Chicago weather.

Nolan loved the mirrors and barely slowed down

while in the maze.

At least until he ran into himself.

There may be a forehead print on one of the mirrors now.

What would New Year's Eve be, without a whoopie cushion?

It's nice to watch another generation enjoy such simple pleasures.

It brings back many memories of little boys' potty humor.

It's great they have sons to relive it with.

And they're off!
Too many Christmas presents?
Poor Jeni has to have a suitcase on her lap.
Or perhaps it's her defense against airbags.