Grampa Gets a Shadow

My boys are on the prowl.

"Gramma, it's time to let me coast down this hill."

"The world is so lucky to have me!"

"The hat makes me irresistible."

Mr. and Mrs. David Hamilton!

Eventually my students grow up and get married.

They have the best music at their weddings.

The pharoahs.

My student, John Bonham, and his wife Gretchen.

They now have a son, who is the same age John was when he started lessons.

"It could be a trumpet."

"It could be binoculars."

"Come on Frankie, let's dance!"

"Gramma, show me that Twinkle song."

"Why is this doll sitting in my desk?"

"The best part of every dinner is dessert."

"Who wants to share another cookie with me?"

"A man's gotta do, what a man's gotta do."

"Grandma, it's time to pick this flower,"

"What are we doing now, Nolan?"

"Do we look like brothers?"

"I've got to get this done before Grampa has all the fun."

"Do you need a taste tester?"

"I volunteer for the job..."

"Grampa, you need to pick me up."

"Grampa, you MUST pick me up!"

"What do you mean, you don't have enough arms?"

"If I stay here I can be sure dinner gets done right."

Nolan likes to play Honeybee with Gramma.

He plays the rests.

Working on our trio.

"I think I've got this Grampa thing down."

"Grampa, are your eyes going to stay shut?"

"Grampa, how long before your nap is over?"

"I'll just sit here, until you're ready to wake up."

"I"ll just take my nap here while I wait."

The California Gentlemen

Fun before going back to school.

Nathan's autobiographical story.

Andrew's self-portrait.

Nolan Starts Preschool

Nolan started attending preschool, so he's not with us in the mornings on Fridays.

At first Seth seemed to miss him.

Then he discovered he could have Gramma and Grampa to himself for the whole morning.

He loves playing rough house with Grampa.

Gramma set Seth into his crib for naptime.

He found his old friend "Froggy" and grabbed him up.

Gramma knew Froggy will disappear again, 

so decided to let Seth have a reunion with his friend.

He really enjoyed their "visit."

Seth looks cool in his/Gramma shades.

Gramma has a humming bird feeder 

that she's been trying to photograph a hummingbird feeding at

with no success.

Perhaps it's because the hummingbird has been hiding out in her garage.

Here he comes!

Finally, success!

Nolan started at the Montessori school near his house.

The school looks just like the one my children attended.

Their director was actually consulted when Nolan's school began.

I pick Nolan up at school on Fridays before lunch. 

He moves quickly to fit everything he usually does into half of a day.

Gramma moves quicker now, too.

Can you guess what Seth is up to?

He's still working on it...

He's working on his magic trick.

News from the California Gentlemen

Here's the package I'm waiting to receive.

I think he may have his own ventriloquist show by now.

This is our tree hugger.

Becky, David and Amanda Visit the Gentlemen

Grampa decided it was time to replace our bulbs with LED bulbs.

It requires carrying our two-story ladder up from the basement, 

outside around the house and in the front door.

After replacing the bulbs, he announced we wouldn't have to do it for another 15 years.

I don't plan to do it then, either.

It would look silly for a 75 year old woman to be carrying that ladder.

Uncle David came to help with the gentlemen.

The beer and wine on the table have nothing to do with the help.

Amanda is back from Nottingham.  

Nolan can't wait to have her read Robinhood stories to him.

Nolan shows Uncle David every manhole cover on the street.

He knows the locations for all of them.

Nolan is drawn to exporing any grass taller than himself.

Or any body of water.

Or any rocks.

Or mud.

Seth doesn't know or care where the manhole covers are...

yet!

Nolan plays a game of tether ball

against Uncle David and Seth.

The tree Grampa started to cut down is growing leaves.

Grampa halted removing the 16 foot stump.

He insists the tree is trying to live

and he wants to give it a chance.

He's become a nature lover.

David Crisler came to rehearse with Gramma.

Seth was drawn by the beautiful sound of the oboe.

We might have another woodwind player in the family.

We went to eat at Sweet Tomatoes.

Nolan and Seth love eating there.

There are so many choices.

And no waiting to eat.

Gramma is a fan of fresh real food.

We used to read the paper in the morning.

Times change and we read our Ipads in the morning,

while we drink our Keurig coffee.

I love Fridays.

Nolan challenges Uncle David in basketball with only one hand.

I think it was a tied game.

"Let me help you, Seth."

"Shouldn't he put that in MY mouth?"

Seth has learned the trick Grampa has taught all four boys.

Grampa and Nolan are repairing toilets today.

Nolan loves being Grampa's assistant.

Nolan and Grampa change the lightbulb in his kitchen.

I'm not sure if it's an LED bulb.

"Grampa, I thought you were going to help Nolan take his nap!"

"Oh, there he is!"

"Seth wants to help Nolan replace light bulbs."

Seth is confused by the window in the kitchen set.

He thinks it's a pass through to the other side.

He likes to use the seat from his kitchen set to reach new places.

We have told him it's not a step stool, but he thinks he knows better. 

News from the California Gentlemen

Gramma sent Ninja garb for her Ninjas.

Good looking beach boys.

Siraca fans - too hot to handle.