Un viaje a North Carolina

The weather was magnificent, the plane flights tolerable, and Hannah was her entertaining self--in two languages. We've been chuckling over her preference for three-syllable Spanish words that have a single-syllable English equivalent, such as (z)apato/shoe; cabeza/head; arriba/up. Here is la chiquita Hannita showing us her cabeza.

The movie star shades fooled the paparazzi every time!
Sliding was big this weekend. Larry/Paco/Grandpa and Hannah enjoyed using flickers together.
Here she is, studying Grandpa's technique.
We had lunch with Cousin Linda, Dad/Grandpa/Lar's first cousin, and Hannah's first cousin twice removed!

Kiss or burp? You decide!

I'll add some video soon...or as soon as YouTube will let me!

One more time

October is here, arriving about the same time as last year. I'm tired, tired of work, tired of being tired, but not tired of seeing pictures of Hannah and Miles. Miles stayed overnight on Monday, when it was still September, and played all day on Tuesday while Annie went to a meeting in St. Paul. Tanner is on a business trip making money for Al, so Miles had a Grandpa and Grandma Grimmius day on Wednesday while Annie returned to St. Paul for another meeting. Enjoy this video of Grandpappy Paco and Miley. Miles had already begged Larry/Dad/Paco to play this game at least ten times before I began recording the fun.

Sunday drive

And here we are again...nearly two weeks since the last posting. Now there's consistency for you.

On this lovely late September Sunday, we picked up everyone we could fit in the Pilot and hauled 'em down to Spring Valley to see Grandpa Charlie, a.k.a. Grandpa C. Reps. While Tanner was flying across the country on a work trip, we were driving across Southern Minnesota with our passengers: Charlie, Angie, Annie, and Miles. Grandpa Charlie was in fine form--he even played on the floor with Miles. He's closing in on his 85th birthday and can lie down on the floor and stand up again with less effort than it takes me to do the same. Amazing.

After lunch, a trip to the cemetery to visit Grandma Bene and a tour of Spring Valley broadened Angie and Miles' SV experience. We skirted the edge of Dogtown, which was a disappointment for those who wanted to drive through. Watching the Vikings lose topped off the afternoon. That's the end of the Sunday report...

Miles, ready for a nap in the car on the trip to SVMiles can do two things at once. Here, he's sticking out
his tongue and also helping GG Charlie clap.

Tongue clicking is a new pastime for Miles.

GGCharlie and Miles: Miles got distracted by the camera almost immediately, dang it. He and Grandpa were clapping and playing, but then Mr. Miley got the wiggles and wanted to get down and stand up!

Airport fun

A short but fun meeting with Evan, Elisabeth, and Hannah at the Mpls/St. Paul airport this morning got the day off to a happy start for Larry/Dad/Paco and me. The Dellon trio met us at the Starbucks cafe near the baggage pick-up carousels for a little over an hour, and we were entertained by Hannah's explorations, giggles, and antics. They were on their way to Seattle, where Elisabeth is attending a conference this week. It was hard to say good-bye, but we'll be seeing them in a few weeks on Hannah's home turf. The only pictures we managed to take today are of Hannah off in the distance as she toddled around looking out the window and investigating patches of sunshine on the carpeting. She's cute, even in miniature!

Hannah ignored Ira, who napped while she explored

How did those squares of sunshine get there?

And there she goes!

First day of school for the 58th (?) time

I sent Dad/Paco/Larry off to the U of MN for his first day of (post-doc) school this morning. He's got new underwear and socks, he remembered to pack his toothbrush, and because Sven says the air can be nippy in the morning even in the big city, Dad grabbed a lightweight jacket to protect himself from potential chill. I hope Sven continues to advise Dad/Paco/Larry in the days ahead as he (Dad) faces the challenge of making grown-up decisions on his own.

Thanks, Evan, for your advice yesterday when we talked to you on Skype. Evan, concerned for the temptations Dad/Paco/Larry may encounter on a university campus, gently reminded him that some seniors might try to offer him beer. Hannah and Miles, if you read this, please understand that Grandpa will do his best to be a good role model for you at school. But, if he falters from time to time, don't judge him too harshly. It's all a part of growing up.

Tanner is a year older

Family photoMiles plays heads

Drugs and a dog

I ventured out this morning to pick up a prescription I'd ordered several days ago, only to find out that my favorite pharmacist, who shall remain nameless, said the drugstore hadn't received the request. It's possible, since I sent it through an online order form, however this is the latest in a string of lost, misplaced, not-received, forgot to contact the doctor for the refill order experiences over the past few years. That's really all I have to say about it.

Next stop on my outing was the bank drive-through. I happened to pull into line behind a huge Ford 4 x 4 truck with a mammoth English mastiff dog riding in the back. It's not much of an exaggeration to say that the dog was the size of a horse. A Clydesdale, even. The dog got his dander up over the sight of a woman who was on foot, in line to go through the drive-through in an adjacent lane. His throaty bark startled her, and she backed up about 20 feet and immediately discontinued eye contact with the beast. Then the dog caught sight of a pickup truck whose driver was holding a little fluffy dog, probably a peek-a-something-or-another, and let out another menacing bark. The pickup driver tightened his grip on the little dog, realizing that one false move could result in a mid-morning snack for the mastiff.

The bank teller witnessed all the fun, and
when I pulled up to get my check cashed, she asked if the dog had licked my windshield clean. I'd actually had a sense of dread while in line, thinking the mastiff might leap onto the hood of the car and dent it, like that insurance commercial on TV in which an elephant sits on a car, much to the delight of the kids inside.