Week in Germany

We have now completed our first week in Germany. We have been to Marburg, walked from Geissen to Treis a 12 mile hike. We have visited with countless relatives. Please be kind about the photos I have done minimal weeding and editing of them. I thought my first effort would be to get them out to all the people who are keeping track. We are having a wonderful time, eating and drinking to much and laughing a lot about the poor English relatives bad German. It has been a wonderful trip and we are off to Italy tomorrow.

First pictures from Germany

I have posted the first pictures from my trip to Germany. There are a lot from family functions as my Uncle Abi just turned 75 the main reason for this trip. It has been fun driving around with my sisters and trying new things. We are having some fun with language differnaces and getting laughed at a lot. It has been a great deal of fun. I will post more when I have a better computer with a full sized keyboard.

A few miscellaneous things before I go

My mother celebrated her 84th birthday on Sunday. We took her to dinner (a must routine for Edward) that evening. We gave her the much talked about, much longed for and not very much of a surprise, Kindle II. She loves it! I had loaded a newspaper and one book on it. She promptly purchased another book that Dorothy recommended right there at the table. While she has some more learning to do it seems to be a very easy thing to pick up and learn. Nathan really enjoyed the dinner as you can see but I think the food was actually very good for all of us.

For those of you who follow this blog I hope to be adding new entries while on my vacation in Europe next week. I will be gone for three weeks to Germany and Italy with my mother and sisters. Elda has offered to bring her laptop and if we can get a wireless connection I will do updates as time permits. I have a new Blackberry storm for keeping in touch in Europe but I think blog entries from it a lot to ask.

I will miss my daily routine here in Santa Cruz. Especially since the weather has started to turn clear and bright again. After 7-10 days of rain we very much needed it is really wonderful to see the sun again. I will get Email on the Blackberry while in Europe so stay in touch and I will try to keep you abreast of our ramblings.

Gavin is Two!

The Ramblings of a Proud Opa.

On March 7th Gavin turned two. It is almost impossible to believe that it has been two years since we moved Amber in and started helping to raise this little boy. For those of you who haven't seen him much lately he is a handful. He gets into everything. His favorite activities include playing with Opa's shoes, putting rocks into Revel's water trough, watching Yo Gabba Gabba, and drawing on everything. He gets along very well with other children and talks all the time.

His ability to understand what you are asking for is impressive. We play a game where I put on one shoe and he has to go pick out the other shoe that matches and most of the time he is correct. It amazes me that one he understands what I am asking for and can complete the task. The other game which he has picked up on quickly is counting to ten. We have two flights of stairs each with 8 steps and we all count with him as he descends the stairs.

For his birthday Gavin received many nice gifts and clothes from Amber and Teddy's many friends and relatives. (Thank you to all of you for your love and support). It has been wonderful that most of their friends have stood behind them and helped out in whatever way they can. It really does take a whole community to take care of a child when you are as young as they are and have so many things of your own to do.

Dorothy and I dusted off and fixed up the Brio Train set that I build for Edward 20 years ago. It cleaned up very well and we bought new track and cars for Gavin. Amber rearrange the room to give him the ability to play there more effectively. She did a great job and the train is the center piece in the room. This morning when I got Gavin up for toast, our morning ritual, he stopped for several minutes to play with his train before coming down to say good morning to the doggy.

While it can be trying and difficult to live with multiple generations in the same house. Gavin is the reward that makes it all worth while. He is such a little sweet heart.