Visit from Grandpa Brian

At the beginning of February, my dad caught Amtrak up in Eugene, Oregon, and took the over-24-hour train trip down to Los Angeles.  This was a pretty big deal, because I hadn't seen him in person in over seven years!  (We talk on the phone, but distances and finances and timing had never cooperated quite right for either of us to visit.)  He spent a week with us, and we had a great time watching the Superbowl, watching Connor play video games, goofing around with the kids, running errands (hey, I like doing that,) visiting the La Brea Tar Pits, hiking, and eating at all our show-people-from-out-of-town favorite places.  My dad even made me his legendary 1-pound yogurt granola fruit salad, which he swears keeps his immune system healthy.  (It was good, but I couldn't finish it!) 
  

  
The Tar Pits were awesome, but smaller than I remembered.  The older kids actually learned a lot, but Evan mostly just wanted to hold the stuffed animals and swing on the railings. 
  

Evan wouldn't put the stuffed animals back.

Evan's "Funny Face"

The saber-tooth and sloth were animatronic.  I think it freaked Evan out.

  
We were able to convince the kids to go on a hike Saturday morning, although Elise was not in the mood.  She started complaining two steps out the front door.  She snapped out of it eventually, though, when we started looking for a geocache.  This was Connor's first official find.  We dedicated it to Evan, since his birthday was the next day. 
   

  

Green Pepper Toy (Evan's Choice)

   

 Then we celebrated with a picnic, including oranges off our tree.  Ryan bragged about the oranges a lot, that's why I'm mentioning them.  I have to admit they were pretty awesome, for oranges.
  

  

Grandpa Brian's Emergency Whistle

 

    

  When it was time to head back down, Elise remembered she was grumpy, so Grandpa Brian volunteered to give her a lift.  She liked hiking after that.
     

The hillsides were filled with these white-flowered trees.  Turns out they're "Big Pod Ceanothus"

  
It was really nice to see my dad again after so long. We told him he's welcome anytime!