To Grandma Livvy's House We Go

I promised my grandma we would go see her some time in January. (On our way to her house the week before Christmas, Lucia started throwing up and we had to turn back.) So, with the end of January approaching, I loaded us up and we headed her way. Like a terrible granddaughter, I took No pictures of my children with my Grandma. We must go back soon so I can.
The three and I did go into the big city for a day and had a great time. My aunt went with us to the children's museum, Centennial park, and to get a frosted orange. We had a fantastic time.
H and I took the babes to the children's museum when they were much younger--probably at least two years ago. It was fun to take them back and notice some of the differences in their interests and skills. This trip they were not into the food area or the dress-up area like they were before.
There were some new stations that we enjoyed--like moon sand* and milking a life-size cow.



For the first hour we were there, a lot of school children were there. It was loud and busy. I really noticed a difference in my three once the commotion filed out. Elliott especially was able to concentrate on a task much better. He spent about 90 seconds at the moon sand when the museum was rocking. Once it cleared out, he sat there for 30 minutes working on building the tallest tower he could.



The painting area was new too. The Girls especially enjoyed it.

Elliott loved the crane and balls and gutters and pulleys. He spent most of his time there with my aunt.
Lucia enjoyed working in her garden.
Mazie stopped to enjoy some gears. Maybe she has a little Grandpa in her?

*We have made moon sand since we've gotten home. I had seen a recipe on the internet and tried a batch one day when we had a little friend coming over. All moon sand is is 8 cups flour to 1 cup baby oil. It feels great. We played with it outside, so I am not sure how the clean-up is on it. It doesn't stick to your hands though, or make them oily.

Holiday Joy

The children had fun making rugalach for Santa. Tia Karen had lots of fun ingredients for them to put inside.
They also loved playing dreidel with their Tia and Cousin Avery. Everyone ended up winning lots of chocolate coins.
Santa did indeed find us at Grandpa and NanaLin's.


Documenting the Two Photographers, or Dueling Cameras.
Grandpa with the grandkids.


The gift of the day--the AlumaWallet.
Thank goodness for Grandpas because this Mama does not enjoy opening and unpacking and assembling toys.
Look at our handsome little cousin. He's ready to drive his new car.
S&S&K were super sweet to all the four-year-olds. Below they are playing Magic Keys on the iPad.
Thank you to Grandpa and NanaLin for making Christmas so special this year. We loved our time with y'all.

Memories

Some times when I am in the moment I consider how it will look years down the road. Trying to commit something to memory before it is gone. One of my favorite memories will be when Mazie and I reunited with H and Lu and Bubby after being away a week.

The terrible picture above is of the flowers my darling son handed me in the airport. Oranges, pinks, and yellows. Colors of a mama's happy heart.

And More...

After I posted the previous California pictures, I realized I had not included some pictures that are important to me. The one above is of my sweet sister with her sweet son. I love it. I snapped it right before we headed to the airport. I assigned it to her contact on my phone and now get to look at it every time she calls me. It always makes me smile.
We did a few fun activities with Mazie and Avery while they were together. We made watercolors. We played color & number games with M&Ms. We watched a princess movie that Mazie still talks about. One day after we got back home she told Lucia, "You can go with me to Avery's and we can watch the princess movie."
Avery has fantastic hair. One morning, after putting Avery's hair in a ponytail, I decided to try Mazie's. She looked so cute and so grown-up.

One of our favorite things we did while we were together was attend Avery's art class. Her teachers were great. They set up several different stations. The students get to move around as they like. The week's theme was pom-pom art.
I learned lots of neat tricks, sources, and ideas from Avery's teachers. One was to put a little drop of paint in the glue to give it color. How simple is that?

We also got a recipe for the play dough they use. If I am successful making it, I will post it. The picture below is of Mazie cutting her hot dog.
I also had a few more aquarium pictures I wanted to share.

Below is a picture of the eel that Mazie fell in love with. She thought it was an amazing creature.



I love seeing all the flowers when we go to California. Geraniums that grow huge in the ground. Jacaranda trees, purple and splendid (though not this trip). Birds of Paradise (below) and Lilies of the Nile, which I have promised myself I will grow one day. And Jasmine. A house we passed on our twice daily walks had jasmine growing all along their fence on two sides of their house. It was so fragrant and had the sweetest pale pink flowers. And those are Camellias growing up the side of the house. I had never noticed camellias in California before, but they are definitely prevalent.

Mazie loved getting to know Baby Landon. Below she is putting the pacifier in his mouth. He is such a good, good baby. So good, at times I forgot he was there. He is in a good routine, feeds like a champ, and has such a happy disposition. Mazie and I loved our time with him. The other three are still jealous that they have not met him yet.

Two other fun things we did were Shrinky-dinks and cake pops from Starbucks. One of my sister's best friends, Deirdre, whom I happen to adore too, came over one day with two of her children. She bought the Shrinky-dinks. I had forgotten all about them. Isn't it wonderful how simple things can bring so much magic to children?
Jon and Karen were mighty good to Mazie and me while we were there. Adios from California.