Dear Kaylee,

Well, you did it! You are now four years old! It is such a wonderful time in your exploring life. You are having so much fun finding out about your world and the people in it. You have such a great sense of humor and you are kind to those around you, even your baby sister, Elise! So, what did we do on your birthday?

This whole last week you have been doing many fun things because your mommy’s cousin, Liz and her fiancé, Nate came to visit you. We had lots of adventures while they were here.

We went to the Reagan Library to see exhibits about one of our presidents and you got to go on his special jet and helicopter. We also saw a whole bunch of things about the Titanic.

Then on the night before your birthday, we went out to eat and you go a great big ice cream Sunday all by yourself! Your birthday party with family and your friends will be Sunday. I won’t say anything about it, yet, but will keep you posted.

Love,

Grandpa

Dear Elise,

Well, Grandpa Diary is back after a hiatus. We have been so busy living life together, I keep forgetting to pause and write about it! So, here goes.

Elise, I know you love your sister. You call her, “Sissy.” She likes to call you, “Baby.” You follow her everywhere she goes. You try to imitate everything she does. This is good…well, most of the time. Just don’t do the stuff that gets you into trouble.

It is so fun to watch the two of you play. Adults work and children play. Your play is not just something you do for fun, but plays an important role in your development. Playing together even helps your brains grow in a healthy way!

Why? By playing together you work on learning to build relationships, and the joy you share helps to grow your brains. When you have conflict you learn to deal with it…or at least until Mommy or Daddy intervenes! One of my favorite times to watch you two together is when you are playing duets on our piano. Just remember, fingers, not slamming down with your whole hand!

Another thing you are learning is there is yours and there is mine. I know it gets confusing to tell the difference sometimes. Then the tug-of-war for whatever toy or other object begins. Eventually, you will learn there is enough to go around when you play together, but in the meantime, go at it; I get a certain amount of entertainment watching you tussle for awhile…

Love,

Grandpa

Dear Elise,

Grandpa loves to spend time with you, of course! I see you every week day when mommy and daddy are at work because Nana watches you. I get to have breakfast and a little play time first.

But, what about when your mommy’s school has a free day? Well, it is Grandpa Day, after all, so I went up to have breakfast with you and go on a bike with mommy and Kaylee. We had so much fun seeing all the wonders of nature. Everything is a wonder to you!

Here is a picture of you eating breakfast. You eat anything, unlike your sister who is a bit more selective…You started eating cream cheese right out of the container and some ended up on your nose! Hopefully this picture will make you laugh when you are older…

Love,

Grandpa

Dear Kaylee,

I have been on a break from Grandpa Diary, but not from spending lots of time with you and your sister! Let me write of our latest adventure…

It was raining on Grandpa Day (Friday) so we decided to go down to the Natural History Museum. It is located downtown, right by your daddy’s old school. We loved the museum!

Dinosaur bones were everywhere and we couldn’t believe how big the dinosaur’s were. We looked up, up to see the very top. We also got to see all kinds of animals just like at the zoo, although these animals were not alive. There were in dioramas down long hallways and you would run from one to another. You especially like the wolves and the hippos. We also got to see how scientists work in the lab and you saw your hand close up in a microscope.

Then we had the highlight of the trip…you got to visit your daddy at his office! You saw he works in a building in the middle of huge buildings and construction in downtown LA. You ate a banana first, and then we walked to the restaurant and had pizza down by Staple Center. It was so cool to see a tiny coffee shop your great great grandpa used to stop at every day. He started his company way back in 1947!

What a super cool day for us to spend time with your daddy!

Love,

Grandpa

Dear Kaylee and Elise,

Grandpa loves Thanksgiving because it gives him a chance to thank God for my two wonderful granddaughters!

Kaylee, I am thankful for how you automatically hold my hand when we go anywhere and it fits perfect…

Elise, I am thankful you start laughing with your crinkled grin when you see Grandpa…

Kaylee, I am thankful you hum when you are with me, because I hum when I am with you…

Elise, I am thankful that you are so willing to be tossed and tumbled by your sister and how you just stare at her hoping to get her joyful response when you are doing something…

We will spend Thanksgiving with all of you and Grandma and Grandpa G are with us, too!

See you tomorrow…

Love,

Grandpa

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Elise,

Your mommy is back teaching school and so Nana and Grandpa get to be with you every week day! It is so much fun for Grandpa, because there are extra times I can be with you and watch you grow. You are rio much fun because you like to do everything.  I call you easy-going and full of joy and wonder.

It is a challenge being a baby sister, though. Kaylee has a hard time letting you play with her toys. Your mommy has a good rule to follow. Kaylee can’t take a toy away from you without replacing it with another toy to play with. That seems to work much better…

Kaylee is in preschool two days a week, so you get extra Nana time. I notice that hierarchy when it comes from quieting after you are upset. If mommy or daddy is around, you want them. Then Nana is next in line. Then me. Nana likes to tease me by holding you and then saying, “Do you want to go to Grandpa?” You get a real big smile on your face, reach over for me, and then you turn and hug Nana tight, instead!

That’s OK with me, because I get plenty of hugs:)

Love,

Grandpa

 

Dear Kaylee,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

You have expanded my life in so many ways. Here are five.

 

5. I am more patient now than I ever was. Interesting how you learn to take time if someone wants to tight rope walk on every curb (always holding grandpa’s hand of course).

4. I hum better. Your nanna knows I hum, and it drives her a bit batty, but you simply imitate me and so we hum our way through so many things in life.

3. I notice things I haven’t noticed in years. Different birds chirping, dogs barking from blocks away, lizards scampering and the best of all, someone who notices when her Grandpa enters a room.

2. I am constantly inspired at how great a mommy and daddy you have.

1.I am amazed by how much of a gift of blessing your nanna is to you and how it keeps growing.

 

Happy Birthday, Sweet sweets!

 

Love,

Grandpa