Again with the pretend grandchildren

Thursday we drove up to Davis again.  Friday was Grandparent's and Special Friends' Day at Hall's school.  No real grandparents were able to come out, so Marty and I had the privilege of attending. We took Hall to school and then signed in for the morning's events.  There would be a Mass, a reception, time in the classroom, and an assembly.

Now the Mass is always a problem.  We are not Catholic. We don't know when to stand or when to sit down.  And we don't know 90% of the responses.  Also Catholic services last longer than our protestant service.  Marty and I tend to tune out after 45 minutes.  We did OK, and didn't embarrass Hall.

This is Hall reading part of the prayers.  He was very composed.  Several hundred people were in the church.  My knees would have been knocking.  Amazing, he is only 8 years old.

              This is Marty and Hall in the classroom.  They are playing a math game.

Look at that evil grin on Hall's face.  He thinks he has beat Marty at the math game.  Guess who won.  That would be Aunt Janet.

This is the next project we did with Hall, a word search.  This thing was really tough.  It took all three of us to find the words.  They were up, down, frontwards, backwards, and oh hell on a slant.

 

Word search is finished.  Now he gets to color the picture.  We wore a picture of Hall as our visitor's badge.

I have three wonderful videos of the assembly.  For some reason none will load.  I have tried emailing them to family, that hasn't worked either.  I will have to call 1-800 Erik.  He posts videos on his blog, so surely he will be able to help me.  It may cost me cooking dinner for my son, but he will help Mom.  If we figure it out, I will post them later. 

After all the events, school was out around noon.  We had told Hall he could pick where we would have lunch.  He picked Subway.  He was so funny when we went in.  It was very clear he had been there often.  He went to the soft drink cooler, grabbed his drink.  Then he grabbed chips and got in line to order his sandwich. He knew the people standing behind him would pay. Everyone was ordering by name, the spicy Italian, turkey club.  Not Hall, he ordered the type bread untoasted, cheese, the two meats he wanted,tomatoes, onions, then the condiments he wanted.  He was precise.  The sandwich guy commented on how Hall knew what he wanted.  The sandwich he ordered sounded so good that I ordered it.

Thank you, Hall, for letting us be your grandparents for a day.  We love you very much. 

On the road again. . .

Yesterday Marty and I drove up to Davis to see our two week old great niece.  She is the daughter of my nephew Lt. Colonel  Daddy and his wife Dr. Mom.  My sister in law is here to help for a couple of weeks.  My brother was to fly into Sacramento on Wednesday for business and then go to Davis for the weekend.  But corporate life doesn't always work out.  The trip was canceled. So Little Brother missed yesterday's party.  We did call him at midnight his time (house and cell)  so he could join the party.  He didn't answer and missed our fun.

And fun was had.  Marty and I brought champagne and pate to celebrate the birth of Ava and her Daddy's promotion to Lt. Colonel.  They had jalapeno poppers, guacamole, and lots of wine.  We also brought wine. As I said, a fun party.  Of course we had to stay very late so Marty could legally drive.

           On the Benica Bridge on the way to Davis, which is just across the causeway from Sacramento.

Looking at the Mothball Fleet.

Marty is so good with babies.  He stood and rocked the beautiful Ava for at least 30 minutes. She wasn't crying.  She just likes to be held.  And who could resist this child?

            More of Ava. She leans into you as you hold her. She wants your warmth and keeps getting closer.

           Is that not a little face to love?  She looks so tiny, yet is 8 pounds.  A big baby for 2 weeks old.

       She grabbed my finger and held on.  Loved it.  This is such a feel good moment.  Babies, wow!

         On the left Grandmother Ann.  On the right, Dr. Mom, Casey.

                                         Dr. Mom has just fed little Ava.

I just realized I have no pictures of  the Colonel.  I took pictures all afternnon.  Nearly all are of Ava and of whomever is holding her.  I know Tres held her.  I guess I was just admiring Ava and didn't take pictures.  Next time Tres, next time.