Alex and Vivian

This past week Wednesday October 22nd through Monday October 27th we spent in Southern California combining a trip for Vivian's baptism with a Disney outing for Alex. Wednesday evening, Dan, Carrie, and Vivian met up with Frank, Alex, and me for dinner in Downtown Disney at Naples restaurant. The weather was balmy and very pleasant and we ate outdoors.

Naples is in Downtown Disney and specializes in pizza and Italian food.

I brought along the Counting Monkey cloth book I'd sewn for Vivian, inserting crinkly paper within the pages. She was really into it and also loved the monkey I'd bought to go with it.

Vivian absolutely loves those infant toys that make a crinkly sound
so she was a real live wire reaching for and turning the pages of her new book.

Vivian is loving her new monkey. Alex is loving Vivian. I am a happy bystander.

We reintroduced Alex to Vivian. He had paid minimal attention to her this past June when she visited at two months old and again in August when she visited us at four months old. At dinner tonight at six months when she was very lively he showed more interest and attention and gave her "loves".

Alex reaches to hug his niece, Vivian.

Alex is content with a nose to nose kiss.

On Saturday we reunited with our southern California clan for Vivian's baptism. Carrie's mom, dad, and brother had flown out from Ohio, too.

I love the scrolls and tiny pink cross on Vivian's baptismal announcement.

Vivian was as good as gold during her christening. She was quite interested in the deacon's prayer book and the candle absorbed her gaze. She flashed the deacon a huge smile several times during the ceremony and actually seemed interested in tasting the holy oil on her lips. She made not a whimper when the water was scooped up and dribbled over her head.

Vivian is reaching for the prayer book.

Hmmm. I wonder what if this is what they mean by
"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine."

Not one peep out of Vivian... and that holy water from the baptismal font was cold!

Alex on the other hand was not quite as cooperative. There were several minor skirmishes where we needed to intervene so he did not blow out the small hand held candle or the tall church pillar candle. After the ceremony the deacon kindly took the tall candle from its stand and lowered it to Alex's eye level. He patiently held it while we all counted "One, two, three...", and Alex gleefully blew hard.

Dan, Carrie, and Vivian pose near the infamous candle that Alex repeatedly tried to blow out.
Vivian is wearing the same christening gown that her father wore
when he was baptized over three decades ago!

Carrie, Dan, Vivian, me, Alex, and Frank gather for a post-christening family photo.

Alex was quite happy to hold Vivian on his lap. Vivian seems to be OK with it all, also.

Afterwards we gathered for a celebratory brunch at the Sapphire Laguna Restaurant on its patio with a view of the ocean. It was a gorgeous, balmy, day and the food was great! It felt good to be with family on such a happy occasion.

Yes, that is a view of the ocean straight ahead beyond the palm trees.

Robin's Weekend Visit

Robin spent Friday Sept 26th afternoon until Tuesday September 30th morning with us  last month. We had a great mother-daughter crafty bonding weekend and I did share a bit of her time with Frank. Our busy schedule consisting of a craft festival where Robin and I both bought fabric of course, a tree sweater installation where I also received a certificate of appreciation, a quilt show where I'd entered my Grinch Quilt, bowling with Alex, and shopping at Gymboree.

Mother-daughter bonding. I share sentiments with Tony the Tiger. It's Grrrreat!

But why is this post three weeks after her visit you ask? First her birthday two days ago reminded me I had never published it. Second, since a lot of her activities were quilt related I'd already written in detail about them in my other blog DianeLoves2Quilt. Here are those links below along with a pictorial summary of a few activities and photos not included in those quilting posts.

Friday
noon – arrival at airport
afternoon – Pleasanton Craft show Oct 1, 2104 post of DianeLoves2Quilt

• We drove directly from the airport to the craft festival. We did not pass go. We did not collect $200. Rather we spent it.

Saturday
morning – Sweater Tree installation Oct 2, 2014 post of DianeLoves2Quilt

• We spent a pleasant morning not only sewing my sweater onto its tree but touring the other tree sweaters along First Street. For photos of other tree sweaters see this Dropbox link. 

Robin and I peek out from behind a tree in downtown Livermore. She has just finished helping me install the tree sweater I knitted for the fiber art display.

Frank and I pose behind the clothed tree. What a way to spend our 39th wedding anniversary!
Note the stitch holder hanging from my necklace and the crochet hook in my hand. Be prepared!

Here is my certificate of appreciation presented to me by the mayor.

Saturday

afternoon – Alden Lane quilt show Oct 3, 2014 post of DianeLoves2Quilt

• Frank, Robin, and I strolled around the nursery looking at all the quilts hung on clothes line among the tree branches.

I'd just finished quilting this in July so I entered into the Alden Lane quilt displays.

There is my name, No. 7, on the same program as the featured artists Diana McClun and Laura Nownes.
The very first book I bought on quilting was by these two famous quilters.

Here is Frank horsing around the buxom beauties on this sign.
They are named Penny Cushion, Bernina A. Biasbottom, and Longarm Lucy.

Robin is noting that fabric and chocolate can both be habit forming.

Sunday

morning – Alex bowling

• Frank picked up Alex and met Robin and me at the bowling alley. We bowled a few games, girls vs. guys, and had lunch there. Frank took Alex back to St. Denis while Robin and I went on to Gymboree to shop. 

Robin, Frank, and Alex are captured during a pause in the bowling action
 at Earl Anthony's Dublin Bowl.

Sunday

afternoon – Gymboree shopping

• At Gymboree Robin and I got down to serious shopping. I had $125 in Gymbucks to spend on my two granddaughters and the outlet had a 40% off sale. Combining discounts was allowed!

These are some clothes bought for California granddaughter Vivian.

Monday

daytime – quilt class at Alden Lane Oct 4, 2014 post of DianeLoves2Quilt

evening – toy sorting in attic

• After a full day of learning "intuitive quilting" Robin rolled up her sleeves and tackled those boxes of toys kept for decades in the attic for grandkids one day. She texted photos back and forth with brother Dan and got some choices settled. After she left we shipped two small boxes out to Oklahoma and have a few more to go. I am still unsure if we have a net reduction. We are now storing a pack 'n play, a bouncy chair, a car seat, a car seat base, and a changing table foam form that we did not have before. Oh, and we have breast milk in our freezer. It is all worth it!

Tuesday

 morning – departure

• Robin missed Autumn and Jeremy. Jeremy was very glad to have her return after he'd been in charge of their 2-yr old for just over a week. Robin had been in Los Angeles area for her job Monday through Thursday before the weekend she visited us. Autumn had been sick and out of daycare too, so Jeremy really got a workout single-parenting it during Robin's absence. Robin felt very much wanted both places. We managed to keep her exhausted both places too!