Wordless Wednesday following Baggy Saturday

Two weeks ago the Hansen's showed up for Spring Break, which also means, Baggy Saturday - helping Grandpa prune the trees and shrubs. This year we set a record with 16 43-gallon trash bags. I'm not sure the boys will be looking for another year, but we are getting quicker each year. It only took about 3.5 hours to do this and it only represents 2 trees!

click on the photo to enlarge

A Day at the Park

It finally quit raining in Las Vegas. Normally we would say that after a 30 minute rain, but 5 days of rain is unheard of in Las Vegas. We have green popping up in all of the wrong places. The end of the rain also meant that we could get out to the park with Joshua who brought his parents along from Iowa for a Winter Solstice. It was an absolutely busy day at the park as Joshua discovered lots of new play devices and in the meantime wore all of us out.

Josh made his first slide attempt down the vaulted locomotive slide and while he thought it was cool, when he got to the bottom he saw a mountain of slides and one in particular caught his fancy. He quickly decided that this little slide was for beginners - and he is no beginner.

So, with a little help from Mom and Dad he was off to the big slide. To get to the slide, however, he first had to cross the trembling bridge, which required the help of Mom. This was the first crossing and he progressively got bolder as he crossed it time and time again.

The first time down the slide was a real rush as he came out headfirst, but quickly, as any real boy, recovered, sat up and said, "Wow, let's do that again, and again, and again."

Tim quickly figured out that the slide looked like a lot of fun, so he said to Joshua, "Let's go buddy!" and off they went to do the slide a few more times. Of course the device is "age appropriate" and Tim was doubled over,  just getting to the slide, but it was worth the view (at least from us spectators).

Once the slide became busy with older boys and Josh saw the swing was open he conned his grandma into doing a little pushing.

After we got home everyone left - Grandma to the Temple, Mom and Dad to the basketball game and dinner, and Grandpa and Josh had a Thomas the Tank movie festival. As the evening wore on he became more relaxed and just before bed he resorted to the prone position for watching Grandpa's iPad and Thomas the Tank.

Many thanks to Lonita for the excellent editing.

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Birthday Calvin!

Dad Is 90 Today (yesterday by the time I got this blogged)

My dad is 90-years old today. It is a major milestone. What's more he is in moderately good health - he can get around, still drives, and loves to be with his daughters, who all live close. JoAnn and I debated coming to the celebration since it is an 8 hour drive and we have to be in another city on Sunday. However, we had no compelling argument for not coming and so many compelling arguments for being where we belonged. So, at 4 AM this morning we left Las Vegas drove southwest to Barstow and then over the Techappi mountains to Bakersfield and north to Modesto. We arrived in time to surprise Dad - and surprised he was. He had no idea we would be here.

There is nothing better than a lemon cake - at least according to Dad!

One of the great blessings of moving west 3 years ago is the opportunity we have to see our children, my sisters and their families, and my dad and his wife on a more regular basis. It means a lot to us to have the opportunity to see all of them. We have reduced the 2 to 3 day drive time from Indiana to not more than 12 hours. The end result is our ability to spend more quality time with each family. Okay, we still have family in the midwest and may soon have 2 families back there, so our travels east are not over.

You realize of course it is not an official McLean function without food!

I never thought I would see my Dad turn 90, much less that I would be 64. I recognize the influence he has had on my life over those years. I think over the last 15 years I have come to appreciate that influence more and more. All too often we don't apprecite those we love until they have passed, in part because we need to see our own famliies grow in order to truly appreciate the impact our parents have on us. I wish my mother could have lived to see how all of our families have grown, although I know she knows.

We had a light lunch, games of dominos, lemon and chocolate cakes, and more dominos. I also found time for a nap. Even at 90 my Dad is still sharp enough to beat us at dominos and cribbage.

Enjoy the photos from today. There will be more on flickr later.

Dad & Marti looking over the birthday cards.

Checkers & cribbage is the official family game.

Dad & Linzie enjoying the moment.