After a relatively quiet Thursday, it was time for another more substantial outing. Frank took Carrie and the girls to the Oakland Zoo for the day while I stayed home. With two carseats, it really is quite a squeeze to fit in a third adult plus I was okay with a break in the action. Vivian was dressed so cute though, I just had to take this photo alongside her companion, our large scale Uncle Sam patriotic decoration who was as big as she was.
We then added Uncle Sam's little buddy into the mix. Shall I call him Nephew Sam? Or maybe Uncle Samlet?
Just before they left Frank asked, "I know I have a lot of baseball caps but, do I have a hat with a large brim that will cover and shade my ears?" So as to not delay them I dumped out his bins of hats into this jumble and dug through it. Nope. Not here. I would clean up the mess once they left. Each of these hats has a mini-memory of a place we've been or activity we've done and commemorated with a souvenir hat purchase. Why is it it takes a visit from company to reveal all those squirreled away items you've been meaning to get to and sort "someday"? Buried in that pile are caps for roller coasters, water polo, the Oakland Zoo, Make A Wish, Dublin Bowl, Indian Guides, Miami Dolphins, Redskins, Donald Duck, special train engines, Kaanapali ... even Kelly Moore Paint. The paint one is white and so the reason for keeping it is that it will reflect the heat on a hot day. Also, when they mixed up the wrong color blue for our front door, the store manager gave it to me as an apology along with a complete fan deck of paint chips. I lamented to him that my husband only gave me one chance to get the color right and their mistake had used up my chance. See? Real, valid memories folks.
He did put the tan hat to good use as he cuddles and shades Lillian in front of the elephant exhibit. It does have a kind of safari vibe to it, doesn't it?
Frank and Carrie reported back that they'd had a fun day and that they'd covered most of the territory of the zoo.
Vivian apparently liked climbing on a big red frog in a children's play area.
From the expression on Lillian's face as they headed home, I am not so sure she was as enamored with the whole experience.
After Vivian and Lillian were bathed and snug in bed, Frank drove to the Oakland Airport to pick up Dan from his 10:30 pm flight.
Saturday, July 2nd – ranch visit
After lunch on Saturday Dan and Carrie were planning on taking their daughters to visit some friends of theirs in Pacific about an hour's drive away. In the morning however, Frank and I wanted to take Vivian to an open house at a nearby ranch. She could see some animals and participate in some of the visitor activities. Per the Independent newspaper article about the Historic Hagemann Ranch,
The ranch presently consists of a ranch house, three barns, blacksmith shop, and granary, chicken coops, horse paddocks and riding ring. and The ranch house, barns, and outbuildings date back to the 1870s. Lumber from the original Livermore High School Gymnasium, salvaged by Hagemann, was used to build the red equipment barn in the early 20th Century.
We were familiar with the facility because Alex had taken horseback riding lessons there until the equine program closed a bit over a year ago but we wanted to go anyway to go for several reasons.
Then we had a sudden epiphany that we had one more suitcase and one more person to transport to the airport than we had from the airport. Since Dan and Carrie had arrived on different days it had been two trips from the airport. Fortunately Carrie is much slimmer even after giving birth to two babies than I have ever been in my life (even at my own birth I daresay) and she managed to squeeze between the two car seats in the back. Dan picked the smallest of the suitcases and held it on his lap on the front passenger side. It was cozy but it worked. Lillian was not cramped at all.
We had some final family poses before I drove them off to the airport.
It had been a great 4th of July holiday visit.
- It advertised it would have a petting zoo and Vivian would like that
- We wanted to get the scoop, meet the key players, and have a foot in the door for when the therapeutic horseback riding program resumed
- It was nearby
Vivian did engage with the animals there for viewing and petting. She stroked a rabbit who was very soft.
She went nose to beak with a hen.
Initially a bit tentative with a goat, she got braver and fed it some leaves.
She stood back, hands on hips and admired her work as the goat munched away.
Then she advanced to petting the goat.
The horse was much bigger and more intimidating. Vivian was content to bury her head in Grandmas's neck and glance sidelong at the horse.
But curiosity won out and she progressed to observing from a safe vantage point.
It was very hot and we stayed for only about an hour. When we got home Vivian contented herself with a robot puzzle. Notice how she again lines up those pieces in a straight row.
Sunday, July 3rd – bowling, train, a movie
Sunday is typically bowling day with Alex. Carrie stayed home with Lillian but five of us, Alex, Vivian, Dan, Frank and I bowled on one alley. Vivian used the dragon ramp. Alex tried to sneak in using it several times, too, even though he does better rolling the ball the traditional way. I think he likes the novelty of it and the challenge to see if he can fool us by pushing off a roll while we are distracted talking, before we can stop him.
We bowled one game only, the attention span with five bowlers rather than our normal three. Granted Alex is one frame ahead, but look who is in the lead. After bowling we shared a pizza for lunch and Vivian had a quesadilla.
After returning home to Livermore, Dan, Carrie, Vivian, and Lillian headed out to Sunol for a train ride on the Niles Canyon Railway. Although it was hot, they had an outdoor car and so enjoyed a breeze.
Vivan fell asleep for part of the ride and then woke up crying that she had missed it.
She could not be too upset though. She was reminded she had been on a ride just two days before at the Oakland zoo, albeit a smaller train.
Sunday night was boys' night out. Dan and Frank went to an evening showing of the movie Independence Day Resurgence
It was entertaining – not spectacular, but as expected – and a welcome break, diversion, and father/son bonding opportunity.
Monday, July 4th – reunion and fireworks
Monday morning Dan's high school friends Sarah and Mike and his college buddy Ryan dropped by our house for a mini-reunion. None of them were able to bring spouses but Sarah brought her daughter and son (6 and 4), and Ryan brought his son (11) and two daughters (4 and 2). Mike's seven year old daughter Mackenzie was visiting her grandparents for the holiday. We had a houseful and despite the age range, they all seemed to get along. A few played follow the leader along a ladder Frank just happened to have out in the back yard.
Sarah's 6 year old daughter Emma and four year old son Liam and 2 year old Vivian got into a tub of musical instruments I had from my kids' days. They lined up and practiced marching round and round the island in my kitchen until Emma judged they were prepared.
Then they paraded out out the sliding glass doors onto the deck and performed for the parents. Emma directed and commanded well.
Later activities included building a barn from a 25+ year old little tikes Build 'n Play Farm construction set and playing with the barnyard animals that came with it. I believe the set is now considered vintage.
Ryan's two year old Charlotte was absorbed with the coins.
Her older sister, four year old Charlotte, liked the puzzles.
The most popular toy of all appeared to be the tall traffic light bank. Five kids mounted a joint effort intent on filling the to be to the top.
Ryan's oldest boy somehow manage to escape all the photos – easy to do amidst all the pandemonium. But 11 year old Zane was so protective and helpful toward his younger sisters he impressed me a lot. The crew left in the early afternoon. I had found it fascinating to see these young adults that I knew as kids now chasing after and caring for sons and daughter of their own.
Just before dusk Frank, Alex, Dan, Vivian and I walked the several blocks to watch the fireworks to be set off from the roof of our downtown parking garage. Carrie stayed back at the house with Lillian, reluctant to expose her seven week old ears to the loud pops. Vivian rode on her Dad's back for most of the walk.
Vivian liked the fireworks better last year when she was a 15-month old. See WanderOrPonder post for July 10, 2015. This year after the first few kapows she buried her face in her daddy's shoulder because they were too loud. Alex still loves them and clapped throughout. He slept overnight and I took him back to his home the next morning.
Tuesday, July 5th – music class, model trains
A children's clothing store downtown in the neighboring town of Pleasanton hosts a Kindermusik class in a playroom at the rear of the store. I signed Vivian up for a guest session. Kindermusik is an international research-based music-and-movement curricula. She settled right in and participated with Carrie in the class. Vivian and her mom are keeping time with sand blocks and it appears Vivian is really concentrating.
When Lillian heard the first strains of music her eyes shot wide open. She will probably join her sister in a music class before too long.
At the end of class was bubble play. What a fun way to end the session. I am going to have to check out Target for that bubble machine. The instructor said that is where she bought it. It was relatively inexpensive and it does not leak or drip when tipped. I have located it on Amazon and it is called
Little Kids Fubbles Bubble Machine guaranteed no spill.
Prim Pop is a kids clothing boutique located in downtown Pleasanton, CA. My first exposure to Prim Pop, host of the Kindermusik class, was when I bought Vivian this pair of gladiator sandals. She is a shoe aficionado and loves to wear boots. These are too big for her just yet, but she really liked them. She calls them her boot sandals. She is modeling them before her mom packs them to go home.
With a zipper up the back they really are not that difficult to put on once all the buckles have been adjusted. The brand of these particular ones are Link. I think the fringe is a hoot. It is also odd how they had been displayed in the storefront window with right and left interchanged.
After the class Dan and Carrie took the girls to lunch at the home of the parents of one of Dan's college friends. When they returned it was nap time. Lillian decided that in Grandpa's arms in the fresh outdoor air on the deck was a comfortable place to zonk out.
Later Frank was excited to demonstrate his model trains to a rapt Vivian.
She got to be the engineer and run them for a bit.
Wednesday, July 6th – heading homeAgain Frank was successful with Lillian duty during the final hubbub of packing up and the scurrying to balance weight among suitcases so none was over fifty pounds. Lillian was quite content in his arms in his office, oblivious to it all. To be 100% accurate these photos were from the morning of the June 30th but the result was the same and I was too busy racing around for morning pictures on the July 6th.
She went nose to beak with a hen.
Initially a bit tentative with a goat, she got braver and fed it some leaves.
She stood back, hands on hips and admired her work as the goat munched away.
Then she advanced to petting the goat.
The horse was much bigger and more intimidating. Vivian was content to bury her head in Grandmas's neck and glance sidelong at the horse.
But curiosity won out and she progressed to observing from a safe vantage point.
It was very hot and we stayed for only about an hour. When we got home Vivian contented herself with a robot puzzle. Notice how she again lines up those pieces in a straight row.
After lunch our home was eerily quiet, Dan and Carrie and the girls were off to visit and have dinner with friends in Pacifica and they had dinner while out.
Sunday, July 3rd – bowling, train, a movie
Sunday is typically bowling day with Alex. Carrie stayed home with Lillian but five of us, Alex, Vivian, Dan, Frank and I bowled on one alley. Vivian used the dragon ramp. Alex tried to sneak in using it several times, too, even though he does better rolling the ball the traditional way. I think he likes the novelty of it and the challenge to see if he can fool us by pushing off a roll while we are distracted talking, before we can stop him.
We bowled one game only, the attention span with five bowlers rather than our normal three. Granted Alex is one frame ahead, but look who is in the lead. After bowling we shared a pizza for lunch and Vivian had a quesadilla.
After returning home to Livermore, Dan, Carrie, Vivian, and Lillian headed out to Sunol for a train ride on the Niles Canyon Railway. Although it was hot, they had an outdoor car and so enjoyed a breeze.
Vivan fell asleep for part of the ride and then woke up crying that she had missed it.
She could not be too upset though. She was reminded she had been on a ride just two days before at the Oakland zoo, albeit a smaller train.
It was entertaining – not spectacular, but as expected – and a welcome break, diversion, and father/son bonding opportunity.
Monday, July 4th – reunion and fireworks
Monday morning Dan's high school friends Sarah and Mike and his college buddy Ryan dropped by our house for a mini-reunion. None of them were able to bring spouses but Sarah brought her daughter and son (6 and 4), and Ryan brought his son (11) and two daughters (4 and 2). Mike's seven year old daughter Mackenzie was visiting her grandparents for the holiday. We had a houseful and despite the age range, they all seemed to get along. A few played follow the leader along a ladder Frank just happened to have out in the back yard.
Then they paraded out out the sliding glass doors onto the deck and performed for the parents. Emma directed and commanded well.
Later activities included building a barn from a 25+ year old little tikes Build 'n Play Farm construction set and playing with the barnyard animals that came with it. I believe the set is now considered vintage.
Ryan's two year old Charlotte was absorbed with the coins.
Her older sister, four year old Charlotte, liked the puzzles.
The most popular toy of all appeared to be the tall traffic light bank. Five kids mounted a joint effort intent on filling the to be to the top.
Ryan's oldest boy somehow manage to escape all the photos – easy to do amidst all the pandemonium. But 11 year old Zane was so protective and helpful toward his younger sisters he impressed me a lot. The crew left in the early afternoon. I had found it fascinating to see these young adults that I knew as kids now chasing after and caring for sons and daughter of their own.
Just before dusk Frank, Alex, Dan, Vivian and I walked the several blocks to watch the fireworks to be set off from the roof of our downtown parking garage. Carrie stayed back at the house with Lillian, reluctant to expose her seven week old ears to the loud pops. Vivian rode on her Dad's back for most of the walk.
Vivian liked the fireworks better last year when she was a 15-month old. See WanderOrPonder post for July 10, 2015. This year after the first few kapows she buried her face in her daddy's shoulder because they were too loud. Alex still loves them and clapped throughout. He slept overnight and I took him back to his home the next morning.
Tuesday, July 5th – music class, model trains
A children's clothing store downtown in the neighboring town of Pleasanton hosts a Kindermusik class in a playroom at the rear of the store. I signed Vivian up for a guest session. Kindermusik is an international research-based music-and-movement curricula. She settled right in and participated with Carrie in the class. Vivian and her mom are keeping time with sand blocks and it appears Vivian is really concentrating.
When Lillian heard the first strains of music her eyes shot wide open. She will probably join her sister in a music class before too long.
Little Kids Fubbles Bubble Machine guaranteed no spill.
Later Frank was excited to demonstrate his model trains to a rapt Vivian.
She got to be the engineer and run them for a bit.
Wednesday, July 6th – heading homeAgain Frank was successful with Lillian duty during the final hubbub of packing up and the scurrying to balance weight among suitcases so none was over fifty pounds. Lillian was quite content in his arms in his office, oblivious to it all. To be 100% accurate these photos were from the morning of the June 30th but the result was the same and I was too busy racing around for morning pictures on the July 6th.
It had been a great 4th of July holiday visit.
Great part 2 recap. We had such a wonderful time and made done good memories!
ReplyDeleteMade some GOOD memories!
DeleteMan - Dad/Grandpa is seriously the baby whisperer! Seeing these pics makes me so excited to come out! I bet Autumn will have a blast watching the trains, and I wonder if Fairy Hollow (name?) is still around. Vivian looks so adorable in her little pigtails, and Lillian is so wide-eyed when she's awake! It looks like a ton of fun, and I'm glad everyone had such a good time.
ReplyDeleteChildren's Fairyland is still around! I've been wanting to take Viv. Maybe we can do that in Dec. I think it will be fun to do some Christmas activities at that time, too (lights, Santa, etc.).
Delete