Let's Go to Grandma's House

Heather went back to work in mid August.  I take care of Maddie and Reese for her one or two days a week when she is at work.  Mostly, it is at their house (easier).  My house seems to have hazards of all kinds like pointy corners, glass table tops, knick knacks and the usual "Grandma" type things.  So, this week my tour of duty included Tuesday and Wednesday.  Went to their house on Tuesday and did the usual playing school and chasing balls.  But, we made up a new game using three bean bags, and we all played it together (a major feat.)  I would set up a box to throw the bean bags into, Maddie would stand behind a half wall in the entry way, then throw the bean bags (hopefully) into the box.  For a while, Reese wanted the bean bags all to himself, but then we showed him how much fun it would be to retrieve the bean bags and give them to Maddie.  Piece of cake for me who sat in a chair until it was time to move the box to a bigger distance from the half wall.  He raced around with a purpose, and it was a joy to see.

This picture isn't of the bean bag toss, but it gives you the idea of how determined each child is to get their way.  So, Tuesday turned out to be a "normal" day at the Garcias.

Not so, Wednesday.  I got up at my normal 5:00 am to get ready to drive to their house.  Being a Los Angeles travel veteran, I listened to the news to pick up on any potential traffic jams.  Sure enough, at about 5:20 am two big rigs collided at the juncture of the 60 and 57 freeways.  This juncture is never easy on any day, but guess what one of the trucks had in it?  Right!  Oil!!!  Made for quite a mess of the freeway, not to mention the parking lot of cars trying to get through on either the 60 or 57 freeways.  So, I called Heather and told her that since the freeways were closed, and any other routes were jammed, that I could not come to her house.  So, she popped the kids into her car and drove to her school, and I met her there at 8:00am.  The kids were transferred to my car and "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we went!"  During the first hour, Reese had pulled out all the toys and books he could find and then yelled, "eat eat eat."  That kid is always hungry.  Maddie set up her new little girl Legos on a tall table out of Reese's reach.

She's so adorable, and well mannered that it almost makes me cry.  Reese devoured any tidbits I put on his high chair tray, then announced "All Done"--- Another of his favorite phrases.  While Maddie played quietly, he proceeded to dismantle whatever he could----but I love him to pieces.  After a trip to McDonalds for lunch, I decided to brave the pool, so into our bathing suits we went, slathered on sun tan lotion galore, then out to the water.

Reese would have been in this bathing suit picture if he would have stood still for a second, but he was somewhere around the corner finding new things to get into.  The pool was fun for a while and took up some time.  I wonder why I'm always looking at the clock to see how close it is to Heather's arrival?  Needless to say, Reese did not take a nap this day since I didn't have the Pack and Play to put him in.  So, he got more and more wound up.

This is the capper----or should I say the hatter.  Duane and I roared when we saw him in my gardening hat.  Isn't he just adorable too?  By the way, he pointed to his shirt earlier and told Duane BITE!!!  At least he hasn't tried that yet.  Kisses and Hugs to my precious grandchildren.