The Gift of Grandchildren…Grandsons of Our Heart

Nicholas and Dylan planting tulip bulbs

What magic of heart, soul and just serendipitous or fateful good fortune gives us the gifts that make life so abundant and fulfilling? Way back at Christmas time, Paul and I received a wonderful gift…Nicholas and Dylan (the grandsons of our heart) surprised us by planting beautiful red cyclamen in the bed by our pool. When we returned from Hong Kong, the color in the drab winter months was fabulous! Of course there was a great story that went along with their gift; Dylan (the younger, less ‘careful’ of our wonderful boys) somehow managed to fall in the pool! Needless to say the water was VERY cold back in December!

Nicholas and Dylan (in towel) after the planting and a little swim

This month we had our second ‘surprise’ gift – under the winter cyclamen the boys had planted tulips! This month they all popped up – a true riot of color!  I LOVE tulips – they are such ‘happy’ flowers! Last Sunday Nicholas and Dylan were visiting, along with my grandsons Otto and Wade.  Everyone was admiring the beautiful tulips when…SPLASH! Dylan, “never” vigilant, stepped backwards into the pool…again! Otto came in the house to tell us what had happened, but he was laughing so hard he couldn’t even talk!

When I look out my window I see bright beautiful tulips, and relive the laughter  — but, mostly, I feel enormous gratitude to the winds that blew such cherished people into our lives.

Spring tulips, beautiful and riotously colorful, just like their gardeners!

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Slip-Slidin’ Away!

My grandson Otto on the cement slide in Berkeley, CA

Ahh…spring! Even the most devoted fan of winter must smile as daffodils bloom and spring rolls around! My grandson, Otto was out enjoying a cherished Berkeley tradition – the cement slide at Codornices Park in the City of Berkeley, CA, connected by tunnel to the Berkeley Municipal Rose Garden. I think every kid who grew up in the area has memories of the Rose Garden and the “scary” tunnel under Euclid that connects to the park via the ‘infamous’ cement slide! It made my heart smile to see the look on his face, even though he lost his cardboard at the top! So what if his pants rip? It is just too much fun!

The Berkeley Rose Garden is beautiful – set in a natural amphitheater, facing the bay. It is a bit too early right now, but come May, the roses bloom and inspire kisses and weddings – both have been in great abundance over the years. Connected to the Rose Garden is Codornices Park – of course you can walk across the street, but it is much more fun to go through the tunnel under the road! The park has the normal playground equipment – but the cement slide – now, there is where the fun really starts! Grab a piece of cardboard and SLIDE!!! Fast and fun – and definitely not just for kids – I have some of my own very memorable moments from the slide!

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le•top Grandparent Love: Grandsons Meet Snow!

Wade hitches a ride with dad at first. Otto looks like he's ready to make a snowball!

I admit it — I’m showing off photos of my grandchildren again! Their parents took the boys to “see” snow for the first time! They just drove up past Baxter somewhere, along Highway 80 – it was snowing so hard they closed the road. They took a little sled and trudged around for a bit, and then came back (at their age, it doesn’t take much to entertain them!). Otto was really excited to tell me he threw a snowball at his parents!

For those of you who are just done with snow because you have it all the time, this whole practice must seem very odd. That’s OK. My son-in-law’s family and friends back around Boston think it’s weird to actually TRY to get to snow (never mind getting in a car and drive to it)…the things we do for our kids!

Wade looks a little dazed -- helped along by his pony jacket being snapped wrong!

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Mele Kalikimaka

"Peace on Earth" Chris' grandsons showing the spirit(edness) of the season

No matter what you celebrate this time of year, we at le•top wish you and yours good health, much laughter and every joy of the holiday season. Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noël! Happy Kwanzaa! Buon Natale! Feliz Navidad! Frohe Weihnachten! Buon Feste! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Holidays!

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