To Grandma and Grandpa

Sarah drew up a picture for Grandma

Sarah Proudly Holding Her Monkey Drawing

Close-Up of Sarah's Monkey Drawing

Sarah then wanted to record a video message to Grandpa (with a few added words from Stephen, too):

Sarah 5th Birthday Opens Gifts

Thanks To Grandma And Grandpa For The Gifts!

A Place For Pirates

The scene: A park in NY state wine country, next to an ice cream stand:

Sarah (talking in low voice): Papa - can I ask you something in private?

Papa: Sure!

Sarah (low voice): Is this a place where pirates come?

Papa: I don't know ... Why?

Sarah (low voice): Because I saw some people wearing one of those things like a pirate. (moves hand over head to suggest a headwrap)

Later, we go over to the headwrap-wearing biker guy.

Papa: My daughter asked me if this was a place where pirates come, since she saw people wearing pirate-like clothes.

Sarah (eyes wide, to biker): Not you! Not you!

Sarah Talking To Really Nice Biker Guy, Who Was Taking A Picture
Of Stephen's Ice Cream Face To Send To His Sister

Stephen's Ice Cream Face

Memorial Day in Chardon

Every year there is a special Memorial Day ceremony in Chardon to honor and remember war heroes who have fought for our American freedom. The Pilgrim Brass play songs, someone recites the Gettysburg Address, and the veterans stand to be honored. When I was little I think that there were still a few WWI vets, but now even the number of WWII vets is dwindling.

Chardon Courthouse on the Square
(Tree in Front Has Historical Significance)

Flag Flying On Square in Front of Fire Station

Grandpa Playing In The Rube Band!

Grandpa helped recover and save the old Rube Band bandwagon that was in danger of being destroyed, and managed to have it ready and placed in the Chardon Maple Festival parade with just a few weeks notice. Here he is. (We think he is the one behind the trumpet player in the blue shirt.)

Easter Eggs

On Easter Mama hid some Easter eggs that Grandma so kindly sent us in the mail, and filled them with chocolate M&M's and jelly beans that Grandma also sent.

The kids had a blast looking for the eggs in Sarah and Stephen's room.

A couple of days later, Mama did it again, and a few days after that, we had Sarah hide eggs for Stephen, and then Stephen hide eggs for Sarah.

Grandma also sent some very nice clothing for the kids that I will try to photograph soon.

Garden Drawing

Sarah drew this picture of Grandma and Grandpa's garden. When you know where to look, you can see the shovel, watermelon, and other vegetables.

Grandpa In The Workshop

Trip To Ohio, Christmas 2013

We are very excited about travelling to visit Grandma and Grandpa (and others) for Christmas 2013! Our flight will be a red-eye where hopefully the kids can sleep. We were going to drive (36 hours each way) but scored some cheap airplane tickets so got to fly instead! The kids are very, very excited for the trip.

"Auto-Awesome" Pics

So my Android phone uploads the photos I take automatically, and recently they started sometimes automatically converting into animations, many of which are pretty cool. Here is a collection of some of these automatically-generated images.

Climbing At Park By Tia Evis' House

Relaxin' At Wal-Mart

Playing With Nana Near Tia Evis' House

It's Raining, It's Pouring,
The Old Man Is Snoring ...

Park Time At, Like, 6am-In-The-
Way-Too-Early-Why-Does-Stephen-
Wake-Up-So-Early, Morning

Playing In A Basket At Grandma
& Grandpa's House, Christmas '12?

Work, Work, Work

With Aunt Anne, Christmas '12

Eating Delicious Play-Doh Watermelon,
Christmas '12

Can't Remember Where This Was

Silly Monkeys Christmas 2012

Riding The Bread-Seller's Bike,
Bacerac, Sonora, Spring 2013

Internet

We finally got Internet at our house. This means that we can now video chat with Grandma & Grandpa, Uncle Bo and Aunt Anne, which we have now started doing. "Yay!"

Motorcycles

Sarah relates all kinds of things to Grandma and Grandpa. We were driving at night and saw a motorcyclist and Sarah started talking about how dangerous they were.

Sarah: When I was little I was riding on a motorcycle with Grandma and we feel down but no sangre* came out. So that's why you should be really careful when you are riding a motorcycle at night.

(Just one of many stories she comes up with.)

*(Sangre = blood)

Rain

On a rainy day in Scottsdale.

Sarah: I like rain, because it makes me feel ... Wet!

We did get a chance to go walk around in the early morning rain, splash in the puddles, walk in the soft grass, let rain run over our toes, and use the kids' rain boots that were gifts from Grandma and Grandpa.

Congratulations Grandma!

Grandma has finally taken the much-deserved and long-deliberated step of retiring. She worked for several decades cleaning teeth, most recently in an office in our home town for something like 25 years. Her patients and coworkers were like a second family and it was not an easy decision to make, but I was informed that she seems to be happier now than ever before. Now she can do whatever SHE wants to do all day.

(Hope I don't have to wait until I'm years past retirement age in order to do the same).

Love you Grandma!!

Fireflies

Papa and Sarah are reading a book about fireflies.

Sarah: Look at the butterflies!

Papa: These are FIRE flies, not BUTTER flies. They do sound similar though. We saw fireflies at Grandma and Grandpa's house, you remember? Little lights in the air in the dark?

Sarah (thinks): Oh yeah! And then they go Boom! Boom!

Papa: Oh, those were fire WORKS, that is something else!

RIP Kitty

Grandma and Grandpa had two little black kitties, Max and Lil' Bit. Max died a few years ago and Lil' Bit was showing some age. During a visit last year, Li' Bit was not feeling well or acting normally, and then a few days after we left, he passed away. Grandpa insisted that we talk to Sarah about it, even though I was hesitant because I thought she would not understand, and both Mama and Papa were concerned about how she might take it.

Papa: Sarah, remember Grandma and Grandpa's kitty? He got very sick and went to sleep and won't wake up again. They are going to put him under the ground in the back yard.

Sarah (thinks) (laughs): Silly kitty!

Congratulations Grandma!

Congratulations today to Grandma, who is enjoying her first day as a newly retired person. Yesterday she had 150 people out for her "surprise"  retirement party at her office, which filled her work and surrounding parking lots to overflowing - people could not find a place to park. Also someone even came all the way out from Cleveland to celebrate with her. We are excited for Grandma to have some more time to relax and explore hobbies like her loom in the basement that she has wanted to set up for so long.

We wish Grandma and Grandpa a long, long, and happy retirement together and hope that they will come for a visit soon!

The Cat

Papa: Stephen, do you remember Grandma and Grandpa's cat?

Stephen: Hhhhsssstt! (Swipes hand and makes anguished face)

Papa: Oh, you do remember!

(The cat swatted him in the face a few months ago on our visit.)

High Five

Sarah is really enjoying her subscription to High Five, the little sibling publication to Highlights for Children (the children's magazine found in dentist's offices nationwide since 1946).

We have read each issue almost daily since it came and she likes every feature. I think that with the repetition, she is slowly learning to read.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!

(Just as I finished writing this, Sarah walked into the room carrying one issue in each hand.)

Sarah: Ok! Who wants to read one of these! (Sits down and starts reciting a Peter Rabbit-like story while looking at the cover of one, then reciting pretty accurately parts from inside it)

Sarah On Obedience

Sarah: Papa, I like it when you obey!

Sarah: Papa, you need to obey me!

Sarah (to Grandma): Obey!