Business Attire

Ready for a day at the office. Now where's that briefcase?

Paging Dr. Nico

Dr. Nico loves checking blood pressure, wearing a stethoscope and giving shots. Just don't ask him to write you a prescription.

Entrapment

As you carefully examine this home-made trap, ask yourself if you can tell how you might fall into the trap. How would this trap hold you? And how could you ever possibly get out? Can't answer a single one of those questions, can you?

That's why Spencer is smiling. The Super Secret Trap Maker strikes again!

Band Practice

Spencer has been obsessed with the song "Crossfire" ever since he saw the video featuring Charlize Theron fighting off ninjas to rescue the extremely handsome Brandon Flowers. Each time he is rescued, Flowers flashes his devastating smile. It is a pretty perfect video. Whoever came up with the concept is brilliant as it has something for everyone.

In any event, Spencer has been singing the song daily, acting out the video and setting traps for us all over the house. He sings his own interpretation of the lyrics. In Spencer's version, the chorus goes, "And we're covered in the crossfire of Beverly Hills," with Beverly Hills substituting for "heaven and hell." Both are true.

A Goodbye Tale

Grandpa made time for one last tale before leaving for the airport. During their visit, Grandpa and Grandma patiently read Nico's favorite stories: The Circus Ship, Flat Stanley and Curious George over and over again. It's hard to say who enjoyed these story times more: the grandson or the grandparents.

The Crashing Waves

No trip to Los Angeles is complete without a drive to the beach. It seemed a fine way to spend the last morning of the grandparents' visit. Spencer skipped preschool so that he could accompany us to the Del Rey Lagoon and playground where he climbed this rock structure.


Nico checked out the view from the tunnel underneath. He walked through with only a slight tilt of his head. Soon he will be too tall to manage such a feat.


The two brothers dug in the sand together for a few moments before rushing off in separate directions.


Grandma showed Nico how to dig with a bulldozer.


The lagoon sits right across the street from the beach. As we approached the ocean, Nico paused, looking at the waves with trepidation. "Crash," he said. That's been his favorite word of late. He would go no farther. I picked him up and walked a little closer but Nico made it clear he wanted to keep his distance. We sat and looked at the waves for a while. "Crash," he repeated. Nico seemed to sense the ocean's power.

Before we left, we snapped a family portrait with the ocean as a backdrop. This visit has flown by but the memories will last us until the next trip and beyond.

Round and Round on the Merry-Go-Round

The Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round dates from the 1920s although it wasn't installed in its' current location until 1937. Although the horses and paintings are beginning to show their age, the ride still has an undiminished elegance and beauty.

The merry-go-round whirls surprisingly fast which seemed to take Nico aback. According to Grandma, half way through the ride Nico wanted to dismount but he changed his tune once the spinning stopped.


Spencer, a merry-go-round veteran, picked the fastest and biggest horse with Grandpa's help. He enjoyed the original, vintage pipe organ music just as much as the ride.

Trains and Ponies

The Griffith Park miniature train ride has been chugging along since 1948. Over 60 years later, children still jump up in down in anticipation of climbing aboard. We grabbed a spot in the front of the train right behind the conductor, the better to see the scenery and the ponies.


Speaking of ponies, Spencer and Nico both took a slow trot around in a circle.


Grandpa taught Nico to throw his hand in the air and say, "Yee haw!"


Spencer was hesitant about riding the ponies at first but changed his mind soon after he discovered that Nico would be on a horse too. Once in the saddle, Spencer became comfortable quite quickly, gently patting the mane as they rode along. He was glad in the end that he faced his fear and went for a ride.


Our two little cowboys!

Movie Night

Puff goes the Jiffy Pop. The smell of popcorn fills the house. It's movie night! Grandma and Grandpa were kind enough to buy us Toy Story 3 on blue ray. Woody, Buzz and the rest of the Toy Story 3 gang entertained and delighted adults and children alike. We look forward to watching the film for years to come!

Nico's First Haircut

Nico's hair had finally reached the point of general shagginess. His bangs were beginning to cover his big, brown eyes. Time for a trim!


Although much squirming ensued, Clinton, owner of Oakley's Barber Shop, is a patient man who knows his way around a pair of scissors.


The two boys, newly trimmed, look very dapper.