Grandpa Diary: Happy New Year!

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Dear Grandkids,

Kaylee’s still on Christmas vacation. Grandpa said, “Let’s go to the zoo.” So, we did! Alexis, mommy, Kaylee and Elise had a great time. It was crowded because people are out of school and many tourists are there for Christmas/ New Years, but we know all the good ways to see stuff!

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Then, Saturday, Grandpa said, “Let’s go on a hike.” So, we did! Except Kaylee and Elise always get way ahead of Grandpa!
Well, a good start for the New Year!
 Love,
Grandpa

Grandpa Diary #135

Kaylee and Elise@ Disneyland

Dear Kaylee,

You are six years old! It seems like only yesterday that you were a little baby, but not anymore. You are going into First Grade! This summer has been so much fun as you get to be a big sister twice over. You help mommy with baby Alexis and you play with Elise so mommy can focus on the baby.

You and Elise do a lot of arguing and fighting, but you are trying to get better at doing stuff without the “drama” of sisterhood. We have been talking about how helping is a good thing to do and how you are the oldest and so get the most responsibility.

Grandpa likes when you ask lots of questions like:

“Why didn’t Adam and Eve come out of their mommy?”

They were the first people who were made by God without a mommy.

“Who made God?”

God has alway been alive. With our world there has to be at least one creator who is outside of our world.  The world can’t make itself.

Then you like to find out about relatives.

“Grandpa, you are mommy’s daddy. Then your mommy had you. That’s my great grandma. Then her mommy had her. That’s my great great grandma…”

And so it goes…

I am so glad you got to go to Disneyland as a whole new family! The new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened this year. Your mommy said you followed the Stormtroopers wherever they went! The “bad” guys are usually the most interesting, but don’t follow the bad guys in real life! They end up getting zapped…

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I heard you even got to try a beignet! Grandpa ate too many of those in New Orleans! But that’s another story…

Love,

Grandpa

 

Grandpa Diary #134 Alexis Is Here!

Dear Alexis Emily-

You made it!

I am writing this for you when you are in, Ohh, say fourth grade.

Here is what happened so far (paraphrasing Psalm 139.13-14 from The Passion Translation)

‘God formed your innermost being, shaping your delicate inside and intricate outside, and wove them all together in your mommy’s womb…’

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And now, you greet us face-to-face! How exciting to have this new birth into a world of love, hope and joy! To have so many people working for your good becomes so amazing as we who claim you are under the power of the Holy Spirit working though us.

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Your first community of love is your mommy and daddy, and your sisters, Kaylee and Elise. You are going to have such an adventure with them!

Then you have the rest of your family of which I can speak for Nana and Grandpa.

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We will love and support you without any hesitation, no matter where you go or what you do. To love you is the seek your good any way we can. Your good is what God wants for you. We want what God wants for you. This is how we love your sisters and your mommy and daddy. The core of all of this love is joy. We will be glad to be with you always as God is glad to be with you always.

Love,

Grandpa

 

 

Grandpa Diary #133

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Dear Kaylee and Elise,

I took a break from Grandpa Diary this year, but need to start cranking out new entries…New sister is coming!

Your mommy will have the baby soon, but in the mean time I caught you two practicing. I was at your house, when I looked in on you playing doctor. You two were going through the whole birthing routine with some adjustments by Kaylee!

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We are all waiting and praying for your mommy and sister’s health…

Love,

Grandpa

Grandpa Diary #131 Halloween and Elise’s Birthday!

Dear Kaylee and Elise,

IMG_0813IMG_0807IMG_0796Halloween 2018 copy

 

Last week was a busy one for you and Grandpa. First, on Halloween, Grandpa came out with you trick or treating. The scariest house was the clown house where there were fake clowns playing in the yard, and then one of the clowns was real!

 

The next day I came over at night and played with you and slept over. Then the next day Elise and Grandpa played at the park until it was time to get Kaylee at school. Then we went to McDonald’s and Kaylee’s friend Sofia was there! We played some more and then we went home and your mommy and daddy got to go to a movie and have dinner. Grandpa stayed over that night, too.

Then at 4:15 am Elise comes into my room and shouts, “Happy Birthday, Grandpa!”

Except it wasn’t my birthday Elise, it was yours! Three years old!

Kaylee came into bed too and while Grandpa was trying to get a little more sleep, you were playing patty cake the covers. Then Grandpa went home, but he came back with Nana and Uncle David and Uncle Greg because we had a birthday party!

That’s four days in a row for Grandpa and you wore him out. But, I will be ready again this Friday!

Love,

Grandpa

Grandpa Diary #130

Dear Kaylee,

We had a great time last week. I picked you up at school Thursday afternoon and then we went to McDonalds for a snack. After that we went to the park. Your mommy had Elise, during this time, so she wasn’t home, yet. We met your dad at home and then we went to the store. By that time you were exhausted, so I put you in a cart!  Later we all ate steak for dinner and finally, you and Elise went to bed. So, did Grandpa! I was going to watch Elise on Grandpa Day Friday, anyway, so I just stayed overnight.

kaylee sleeping at store

It’s Friday morning and I walked with you to school for the first time. It is a very nice walk through the paseos and is only one mile. There was a small challenge, however, as you walk so much faster than I do! After Grandpa finally caught up you played at the park next to your school for a bit and then I dropped you off at the gate.

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I went home and got Elise and we started our day with breakfast at Dink’s Restaurant. Then we played and picked you up at school. The day ended with the three of us driving back to my house and you got to see Nana! After a delicious lunch at “George’s” it was time to play a bit and then mommy picked you up.

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How much fun was that? “Way fun,” as you like to say!

Love,

Grandpa

Grandpa Diary #129

Dear Kaylee,

Now you are a kindergartner and we don’t have you at our house during the week when your mommy is teaching. That’s alright…I still see you because I will pick you up some times at your school and then we do Kaylee/ grandpa stuff, anyway!

So far, we have done this two times. We have gone for food (ice cream is food, right?) and then to the park until mommy and daddy come home. Here is what I am learning…

You have gone from a big preschool, that I really like, Christ Lutheran Valencia, to a much bigger public school. You have done very well at the new school, but there is no way you know all the kids. Maybe in your class, but not in the school!

So, what does this mean? Here is what I am predicting.

Most kids will want to play with you.

All of us have tried to make sure you are the kind of kid other kids want to play with.

Also, you are the kind of kid your teachers enjoy having you around. Maybe a chatterbox, but wait until your sister get’s there!

And guess what else?

You will begin to connect with kids who other kids have a hard time playing with. Why do I know this?

Because that’s what grandpa did when he was a kid, and if grandpa did that, who would also do that? Let’s guess…Maybe your mommy?

This will take some time, but you are probably going to end up making life better for some kids, rather than worse. Most people don’t even think about that, but actually- that’s a pretty big deal…

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Grandpa

Grandpa Diary #128- Kindergarten!

Dear Kaylee,

Well, that day finally came. You started Kindergarten today…What??

My little girl reading with me will someday soon be my bigger girl reading to me?

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We went to see you off today at your new school. Your mommy cried tears of joy and some sadness for how fast you are growing up. You got in line at spot #11 and walked into your classroom.

You gave me a big kiss goodbye and Grandpa whispered, “Jesus is with you always and he will protect you wherever you go.”

You really weren’t afraid, you were walking ahead of us so anxious to get there, but it’s always good to know who is watching over you…

Love,

Grandpa