Child of my Child...Heart of my Heart

Child of my child
Heart of my heart
Your smile bridges the years between us
I am young again
Discovering the world through your eyes
You have the time to listen
And I have the time to spend
Delighted to gaze at familiar loved features
Made new in you again
Through you I’ll see the future
Through me you’ll know the past
In the present we’ll love one another
As long as these moments last
-Author unknown

I reread my last blog post to see just exactly what I had in mind before the Archibalds arrived on March 21st. Happily and sure enough, I think we did all those fun things and more. Now the dust has settled, the loads of laundry done, the floors washed and carpet vacuumed, the miscellaneous toys put away, and most of the extra food eaten. The Easter eggs were used in potato salad. The remaining candy is up on a shelf. The crayons and markers are back in their buckets. The tiny blue outfit of Juliette’s and one pink sock found under the co-sleeper have been mailed to Minnesota. And I’m left with memories and photographs.

The morning after they’d flown back to the Midwest, Sawyer and I looked around for Annie and Jake, hoping we’d still find them jumping on the Aerobed or hiding on the back porch or diving off the livingroom sofa. And oh how I miss the delicious cheeks and babysmell of Juliette. It was a little bit of a sad and lonely 48 hours with the sound of their laughter and giggles and screams and tears still filling the air. It’s a funny thing how sound waves work. They seem to linger beyond the guest.

I washed and filled with gas the borrowed van that transported all 8 of us around. But I’m not quite ready to take the special artwork off the walls (and no, not crayola marks)—felt pen drawings of rainbows and sunshine and action heros that were creatively attached with blue masking tape and displayed in my entryway art gallery. Forgive my nostalgia. I don’t like this part of the plan of happiness where some of those you love more than anything in the world live so far away.

First we explore all of the toys

Nannie Joy, what's happening here?

On Monday, 3/22, we fly to Granite Bay to visit my folks and my sisters, Marlene & Sandy

On the 22nd we drive to Auburn to see my parents' razed lot--then we stop at the duck pond


Marlene and Brittany and kiddies tossing bread

On the 24th Brittany gets to see my folks' new digs at Sunrise Assisted Living

Sandy, Sawyer and I snuggle with our folks. Aren't we fortunate to still have them?

Gallachers bidding adieu after 2 nights of Mexican Train

Annie & Jake LOVE Cami & Briggs

Uncle Kelly taught Jake how to shoot a bow and arrow

Holly came up to drive Britt & kids to the Bay Area for a visit. Sawyer and I flew back home to Orange County that afternoon

When they returned Friday night we celebrated with brownies

On the 27th we drove to Carlsbad for Kid's Day at The Flower Fields

Poor Sawyer got dust in his eyes in the parking lot--it took awhile for his tears to clear them up

Now he's feeling better which makes Chelsea feel better

I love this picture of my daughters with their babies

On Monday, the 29th, we spent the afternoon at Crystal Cove--it was a perfect beach day

This is so much better than Minnesota think Annie & Jake

Wheeeee!

Annie, a girl after my own heart

Baby Juliette, how you doin'?

Just one of those days that stays with you forever

Juliette's finally got California dreaming figured out

All perfect beach days require a stop at Ruby's for burgers, fries, and chocolate malts

After Jordan arrived, on Friday morning, 4/2, we went to Aliso Creek for a photo shoot of their family. My photographer friend, Clark Smith, did an amazing job

I know what Brittany's laughing about but I'm not telling

Sawyer's a good sport since his babysitter, Nannie Joy, packs him around everywhere.

After the picture-taking we went to the petting zoo in San Juan Capistrano

Annie's asking the REAL Easter bunny to please step forward

The little train reminded me of the one I grew up on at Tilden Park in Berkeley (sort of)

That night I had a surprise planned for Chelsea, Brittany, and Jordan with 4 tickets to the above event at the Santa Ana Embassy Suites. The food was lousy but the entertainment fun as we figured out the whodunnit. Unfortunately, I'd left the lights on on the borrowed car, so it took awhile to find someone to help us jump it. The good Samaritan that stepped forward was a former NYFD captain who'd participated in 9/11, and having lost many friends in the tragedy, left the force, moved to TX, grew his hair out like Willie Nelson, and happened to be staying at the hotel on business. He was a short wiry guy who said he would kick anyone's *** who complained that he "borrowed" the jumper cables out of the truck parked next to his.

On Saturday we went to the Dana Point Ocean Institute.

Annie was fearless when it came to dissecting the squid.

Yuck!

Saturday night we dye the eggs

So much excitement for the next day

Good news to children everywhere! The Easter Bunny knows where you are even on holiday!

Easter morning, Juliette, Annie, & Jake

My sister, Cheryl and her husband, Jay, and their 6 grandchildren joined us for Easter dinner.

A great Easter feast. Our other guest was my neighbor, Merrilyn

Morgan and Maddie Munns at the Easter Egg hunt we held outside the church (seemed as good a place as any).

Morgan, Jay, Samantha, Ian, Stephanie, Cheryl, Maddie, and Melanie Munns

And Monday morning, it's off to Disneyland after a hearty breakfast of Cheerios

Enthusiasm is Jake's middle name

Chelsea had to take a business call so she met us coming out of It's A Small World

Sawyer's first time to Disneyland--Chelsea's first time to see it through her son's eyes

We all love that tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff

This is my lame attempt to have a little family reunion with matching shirts. The picture on the front of the shirt is with the kids and me and it says "Nannie Joy Loves Me"

Oh, Juliette, this was your first Disney experience, too. Wasn't it truly the happiest place on earth?

Brittany, Juliette, Annie, Jake and Jordan showing off their treasures after our final stop at Main Street

Brittany, me and Chelsea

Taken a few days earlier, but this is what the back of the car looked like almost every evening.

Any guesses as to what I'm doing now? Yup, that's right, I'm planning my trip to MN in July. But meanwhile, we All want to fly, so here's to the magic feather.