Visit to California

We went to visit California this past week. We got to spend some quality time with family. Here are the highlights:

One morning Emma wanted to go outside and play after breakfast. So I let her out without shoes. She noticed the sprinkler system going off and went to investigate... a couple of times.

I got her up from her nap one day and Emma wasn't quite ready to get up. When she saw Grandpa Rich she wanted to go to him and she snuggled with him for a while. Both Aaron and I were jealous.

Whenever Grandpa Rich had his computer Emma snuggled right up to him. My dad was a good sport.

Emma found Aunt Mary's ugg boots one day.

Every morning Aunt Mary would eat a big bowl of oatmeal with berries on top. Emma would cozy up to Mary and beg for her breakfast even after she had already eaten breakfast. It turns out that she really just wanted the berries.

Every lunch we would go visit Nanny. We had a great time. I got to hear Nanny stories and Emma got to play with the phone, Nanny's bears, Bitsy the ceramic dog, dance to Nanny's TV and play with the electric keyboard.

For lunch we would sit around Nanny's table with Emma sitting on Nanny's walker, named Petunia. Emma did pretty good eating but on occasion Emma would rub her food all over the table. She also liked to pour water from one cup to another and more than occasionally spill some water everywhere. Nanny was a good sport about us coming and making a mess and putting up all of her breakables.

One of the stories that I enjoyed about Nanny was that after she graduated from college in physical education she went on to teach middle school. I asked her if she liked it. She said no. I asked why. She said that because she was little (both short and skinny) the kids would try to pick her up and carry her around. I was about crying I was laughing so hard.

One story I enjoyed about my mom was that she was working in the nursery at church before she had kids and she did some research as to what kids would like to do. She read about giving kids 25 pounds of dried beans and letting them pour the in cups. So she laid down a blanket and let them play with the beans. Apparently the janitors hated her for years afterwords as they kept finding beans everywhere.

A while ago I challenged Nanny to an eating contest. To put this in perspective, Nanny eats about 5 noodles and calls herself full. Nanny was boasting that she could eat a whole bowl of olive garden salad. We are talking an olive garden serving bowl, not a cereal bowl. I decided to call her on that one. So we got olive garden soup and salad to go and had an eating contest and I will say that Nanny did an impressive job. So let it be known that I won. But Nanny did bring her "A" game. She actually ate more than my mom, which isn't normal. (A word of warning: I took these pictures with an iPad. They are horrific, but it isn't my fault. I blame apple.... just sayin.)

 This is Nanny waiving the white flag.

 Me being a stink pot.

Emma loved it when Cosmo came down with Emily and the kids. She chased Cosmo all around. One morning Emily walked Cosmo on a leash around the house after Emma. Emma thought she was being chased and just giggled up a storm. It was adorable.

We also went in the hot tub and Emma was in heaven. The next day she ran out to the pool and banged on the fence and asked to go in. Another day she saw her swim suit and she wanted to put it on. Emma would walk around the seat and occasionally try to walk into the middle and swallow some water.

I also got to take a cooking class with my dad on Indian food. It was fun. I learned that the chef's industry is quite rigid. I don't think I am that rigid, and as far as rigid goes, I am definitely up there! We made some chicken bryani, tomato chutney, a vegetable korma, mulligatawny soup, and a mango lassi. I am excited to make it for Aaron. Emma liked the leftovers. On another note I feed Emma fire hot Cheetos and she actually wanted more. She didn't even seem phased by them. I don't think I need to worry about spicy food with her. My dad said they tasted like a corroded battery terminal except crunchy.

In all Emma and I had a great time visiting with family and were especially delighted to spend some time with Nanny.