5...4...3...2...1...GRANDMA!!!!

      When I was a toddler I couldn't distinguish time in relation to days, but I did understand nights. If I was looking forward to something a few days away, I could only understand time in terms of how many nights I would have to sleep until that event came to pass. I referred to this concept as "sleeps," going to Disneyland was 4 sleeps away. Or 3 more sleeps till Santa. Well, this week we anxiously awaited Grandma Kini's arrival. 5 more sleeps...4 more sleeps... more sleeps....2 more sleeps....1 more sleep....and Grandma Kini arrived late Wednesday night! This weeks blog will cover half of Grandma's stay and our adventures so far with her. She leaves next week, so our blog next week will cover the second half of her visit. Now, before I start I have to make a disclaimer that when Nana was here in town for her long stay, she took control of the camera and we didn't get any pictures of her for our blog. So, as you see much of my mom I don't want to hear any claims of preferential treatment or grandma segregation or anything like that. I believe the 1964 Civil Rights Act made segregation among grandmothers illegal and I am a law abiding citizen.

      Our week started with some time at the pool. While I've never been a real big advocate of the pool, I have found some good family time with my girls in the sun. And since there's not a lot to do when you are a young broke college couple getting through grad school and supporting and growing a family, sometimes the pool is the only remedy to household boredom.
Look at Little Sam's expression. See how she tries to look so much like her dad?



Not a lot happened between the pool day and Grandma Kini's arrival. Kini flew on close to 11:00pm Wednesday night. Sam woke up to a familiar stranger. We figure it's been about 3 months since Sam saw Grandma last, so at 9 months, we're not sure if she remembered her. I do think that Grandma's voice triggered some old familiarity, but no one knows for sure but Little Sam. Either way though she took to Grandma right away. Within 5 minutes she was smiling and talking and pulling on Grandma to hold her.

Thursday morning we packed up and took Kini into Kirtland, Ohio to see the history of our religion offered there. The Kirtland Temple is an awesome sight to see, especially when we remember exactly what happened inside. 

We took a tour of the temple and saw all three floors, learned much about the history, and heard interesting factoids that we really didn't know

The drive to Kirtland is about 45 minutes. After staying at the temple for a couple hours and lunch, we didn't get home until early evening. Once home, the girls went grocery shopping to get some food for grandma, I don't think she would appreciate chicken and broccoli every day and night for a week. 

Today we took off into downtown Cleveland to show Kini my school, Mesia's work and the sights of the city in general. 

Awww. Look at the proud mom with her boy. This was after taking Kini through the school and showing her where I'll be living for the next 3 years. 

Then after showing her Mesia's office (which we have no pictures because I didn't go with them) we walked down to the pier and showed Grandma Lake Erie up close. Pictured here is the Cleveland Browns stadium, the science center in the middle, the rock and roll hall of fame on the left....and oh yeah, some big chains.

Oh and Mesia and Mom....

After that we packed a dinner and went to the lake by our house for a dinner picnic. 

Oh, there you are you handsome guy. You guys were starting to miss pictures of me huh?

Then we walked down on the shoreline. 

Just the girls...so fun!

Awww. Imagine me and you, and you and me. No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be. The only one for me for you, and you for me. So happy togeeethhhheeeeerrrrr. I can't see me loving nobody but you, for all my liiiife. Baby when I'm with you the skies will be blue, for all my liiiife!!! Yes that pretty much sums up how Mesia feels about the wonderful blue waterscape and sandy beach. 

And on a final note, when Nana was here she felt the need to cook, clean, sew, and do laundry. Mesia and I didn't understand this odd behavior and had to literally ground her to the TV for a while. We both said we wouldn't let my mom do the same. Sooooo, what is it with grandmas? When they visit do they feel the impulsive need to just work or something? I don't see my grandma cleaning my mom's house when she is invited up for a day. Look at these pictures...My mother flies in on vacation to see us and ends up doing yard work! Yard work! Can you believe this atrocity? In this picture there are 3 smiling faces. But I assure you, if you know my mother, she's the only one really enjoying the yard work. 

Since there is sun in their faces and you can't really see the dirt on their hands, here is a picture to prove there is real back breaking labor going on......Sam, give Dad his ice cold coke back....Good girl.....HEY! Give me my little folding umbrella back!....And the lemon.......Whew, it's hot out here, where'd we put that little mist sprayer?

Allow me to make a small personal note here that when our kids are all grown up and we visit them for whatever reason, I will expect them to do my laundry, cook my food, and clean my dishes after I use them--I'll be enjoying my vacation with my grandkids! :0) 

Seriously though, we really do appreciate Nana and Kini's help on their visits and we know they do it because they love us and they want to help. So please don't be offended by my sarcasm, but there is some truth that we do hope you enjoy and relax during your stay instead of feel the need to work...but again thank you guys for your help, we love both of you and your examples of gracious charity will indeed inspire us to get up off our duffs and clean our kids' homes as well! 

Hope everyone had an awesome week!

More from us and the remainder of Grandma's stay next week.

By the way, Kini said she wants to move to Cleveland  now. Shhhhh, don't tell her I told you.