Back in Wyoming - Fun With Grands - Day 4

Good morning!  I walked into the living room to discover "cool Grandpa" letting Caleb have breakfast on the coffee table.  Hmmmm.

There is a bit of hustling going on as we need to be at the soccer field in time for Raef's 9:15 game.  We arrive and locate the field only to discover that the game is not until 10:30.  Wonderful.  Mister takes the boys over to the playground to kill some time while I try and figure out how to work out the schedule for the rest of the day as we had planned on being able to go home after the morning game and have lunch.  Now what's a grandma to do?

Soon it is time for the game and we all head back to the field.  Ryan and Caleb settle in to watch Raef play and Grandpa runs to Verizon to try and get my phone fixed (another thing we had planned to do between games -- grrr).  It is a good game and I get to watch Raef score a goal.  Woohoo.  (Ryan, please note that Raef's T-Shirt is tucked in -- the whole team was told to do that.  It didn't stay that way, but at least the ref tried.)

Mister returns sans a fixed phone and a really happy camper.  We hurry to grab some lunch at Subway and then Ryan, Caleb, and I are dropped off while Grandpa takes Raef to his second game.  He gets to watch the game quietly without anyone to keep track of.  I am betting he is enjoying it.

Meanwhile, Ryan's game is about to start.  I have forgotten the rubber band that his mom brings to games to cinch up his shirt in the back.  Who ordered these shirts -- I think they are men's sizes.  Since we are without rubber band, I tell Ryan to tuck his shirt in.  It is incredibly bothersome to him and he is very worried that he looks silly.  I try and explain that this is how all the big boys and men wear them, but I am pretty sure he is not buying it but he leaves it for the first part of the game.  When he takes his first rest, he says that his stomach is hot and so he needs to untuck.  I tell him to go ahead and he goes back out onto the field and within moments he is tucking it back in because it is long enough to be a dress and very hard to run in.  He has a great game and scores several times.

After the game his team is scheduled for their group picture.  Here is the team waiting patiently for their turn in front of the camera.

Mister and Raef are back from the game and the Verizon store.  A new phone is on the way to Dallas for me and it is time for Ryan's second game.  Caleb and I settle in to watch.

Again, it is a great game and Ryan plays beautifully, making several goals.  He reminds me of Matt when he was that age.

We have been away from the house since 8:30 and Caleb has been the absolute best.  He found a Schleich cow at the first game and has been carrying it around every since keeping himself amused.

Our day is almost finished -- the last game comes to a close and we are able to head home.  We made it.  Time to go cook dinner and relax a little.  Four games and pictures -- that's a lot for a couple of old folks.

We let the boys stay up a little and watch a movie.  Ryan doesn't make it and is carried upstairs to bed by Grandpa.  Pretty sure he never woke up.  Time for some shut eye.

Back in Wyoming - Fun With Grands - Day 3

It is a beautiful morning in Wyoming and we are in kid mode this morning.  All the chores have been met including showering all the stinky boys.  The naked dance has been done and we even have some time left over to dance fully dressed.  I love this Wii game -- it makes me wish I owned one.

(Yep Amanda -- this is the "pants" day I told you about.)

Raef and Ryan are off to school and we have another morning to explore Cheyenne with Caleb in tow.  Where should we go?  How about the Capitol Building?

When we arrive, the Alzheimer's Association has a display out front and the first thing Caleb spots is a bench to climb on and then he checks out the flowers before we enter the building.  Stairs!



"Follow me guys."  With grandparents in tow, Caleb leads the way to explore the second floor first.  His little voice echoes all through the building even though he is speaking softly.  We can look right into the Governor's office from the balcony and a nearby bison grabs the attention of our little charge.  He also has quite a time with the bust of Abraham Lincoln.  He just keeps pointing and saying, "big head" over and over.  It makes both of us giggle quite a bit.

What a view from the 3rd floor.  Love it!

I love the way Caleb always knows what is beyond his capability.  Every single set of stairs was walked down until this set.  It is really steep coming back down and he sits down and scoots on his bum the whole way.  Trouble is, then he thought he needed to do that for the last stairway as well.




Several workers came out during our visit to tell us how sweet Caleb's little voice was as it echoed through the halls.  They said it brightened their day.  Even the guest desk attendant had to stop and talk with him.  He was definitely a big hit.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the building and loved the Senate and House chambers.  What I REALLY loved was being able to go and see it all without security and background checks.  Sooooo nice.

Just around the corner from the Capitol is the Wyoming State Museum.  All three of us walk over and are delighted upon arrival.  It only takes Caleb seconds, literally, to find a display that he can enjoy.
They also have a hands on area for children to work puzzles, touch furs, and dress like a pioneer.  What a wonderful place -- and everything is free.

After the museum, we make a very quick stop at St. Mary's Cathedral because if there is a beautiful church and I didn't stop, I would be unhappy.  It does not let us down.  It has beautiful stained glass windows, and incredible arched ceiling, and a magnificent pipe organ.  Wow.  So glad we stopped.

Sadly, our little one is getting hungry (even with his occasional snacks to tide him over) and tired.  It is time to return back to the base for lunch and a nap.

The boys return from school on time today with an extra hoodie in Raef's possession.  Yay!  We settle in on the porch for a fun little visit and shadow play.  I teach them both how to make a bat and yes siree, I am a cool Gammy.  They are thrilled.  The sun is cooperating with us and everything we do is amplified.  Awesome.




Both boys work hard to see what other animals or items they can create and I know this will be one of the first things they show mom when she returns.  I gotta say -- this was pretty fun.

Alas, I have to stop playing and make dinner as tonight is pajama movie night and we are going to see Planes.  Caleb will be ecstatic.

After dinner, everyone (yep, even Grandpa) puts their jammies on and we head over to the base theater.  There is a small line, but within moments we have our popcorn and soda and after much row changing are actually in our seats.  Whew.  I want to take a picture of everyone all ready and excited so I take my  phone out (yes, two other cameras on trip but not at the movies) only to discover that it is broken.  Ugh.  I know this is going to be awful, but I try and put it out of my mine and enjoy the movie.  Movie starts, previews, and soon  PLANES!  Caleb's face is lit up like you cannot believe and I don't have a camera.  Double Ugh.

We get about a minute into the show and it stops -- an announcement is made that there is still a long line outside and so they are going to pause the movie to let the others have a chance to see it.  Wonderful.  I already have a 2 year old that is getting close to bedtime and becoming demanding.  Now i have to contain him in the seats.  Yay.  It is half an hour later by the time it starts and this time is not nearly as exciting.  Drat.  Everyone settles in to watch though and I have to laugh as about 10 minutes in Caleb says to me, " this is just a plane ka-chow."  Even at 2 years he knew what was going to happen.

We have a brief scare after the movie as Ryan goes into panic mode cos he has forgotten his skateboard jacket.  I don't remember seeing it on him, but he is adamant so him and I go back into the theater to look for it.  Nope --- now he is really upset cos someone took his jacket.  Goodness, the highs and lows on this trip.  We get home and he opens his backpack to give me his schoolwork and guess what?  Yep, skateboard jacket.  The relief from him is intense.

Time for bed.  Yep, it is a Friday night, but we have early soccer games and I am beat.

Back In Wyoming - Fun With Grands - Day 2

We are up and moving.  There is breakfast to make, lunches to pack, backpacks to ready, and boys to get out the door by 7:30 to catch their bus.  We manage to make it all happen and then I get some pancakes made for Grandpa and Caleb.  Caleb gobbles his down first and has to wait while Grandpa finishes his in order to go downstairs and play trains.  He stands beside Mister saying, "Eat Grandpa, eat."  I cannot help but laugh as he does it so sweetly and in a very soft voice, pointing the whole time.



After breakfast is finished, the dishes done, beds made, trains played with and everyone dressed, we head into town for the morning.  We have been to Cheyenne many times, but have never truly played tourist.  Today we are going to take a trolley ride that includes a narration of the history of the area.  Fun.

Once the tickets are purchased, we walk down the street to board the trolley.  Along the way we come upon a lady with a cocker spaniel puppy.  Caleb is all smiles and wants to check it out but is a bit hesitant until I sit down and help.

Minutes later, he climbs up into the trolley, heads straight to the back and chooses his seat.

As we travel along, he is such an angel.  He discovers that he can see the road going by and watches for awhile before deciding that he needs to sit with Grandpa.  We have snacks at regular intervals and he makes the entire 90 minute tour without any troubles.

One of the funniest moment occurred when the trolley stopped at a light and Caleb yelled, "Donuts."  Apparently we were right by the donut shop dad takes him to on Saturday mornings.  The rest of the guests on the trolley got a good chuckle out of that one.

Also pretty good as we stop at the train and he says bye over and over to the driver even though we are getting right back on.

The train is a Big Boy Steam Engine.  Old Number 4004 is one of the world's largest steam powered locomotives and one of only 8 remaining on display in the United States.  Cheyenne is lucky to have this beautiful specimen and both Mister and Caleb are fascinated. I am pretty sure that both of them would like to climb aboard and really check it out.

Our stop there is short and it is soon time to get back on the trolley and finish our tour.  Caelb loved the train so much and told the driver when we returned that he had been to the train -- over and over again.  Incredibly cute.  Just before we reboarded the trolley, Mister had Caleb and I sit for a picture.  I told him to look at Grandpa -- I think he thought that I had asked where Grandpa was.

We return to the depot and decide to walk around downtown a bit and check out some of the shops.  It will be good to let the little man stretch his legs a bit after sitting so still like he did.  What a champ.  

We stopped in at a quilt shop and Caleb found a play area with planes.  Is this a good day or what?  I get to look around awhile and check out the fabrics while Mister looks at the vintage machines.  Such Fun.  It's been a great morning, but time to return home for lunch and a nap.  

I fall asleep on the front deck about 1/2 an hour before the boys are due home on the school bus.  I wake at 4:00 and go into the house to see Grandpa getting Caleb a snack since he had just waken from his nap.  I inquire as to where the boys are and he says they were not home yet.  I am very confused since they are quite late and decide to walk over to the neighbors to make sure they aren't there.  I find Ryan sitting at the bus stop upset because he can't find Raef.  Raef has missed the bus and as I wonder how to go about locating him and the neighbor calls the school for me to see what they can do, another bus drives up and drops off Raef -- their only remaining passenger.  He explains that he had been searching for his hoodie and missed the bus.  He never did find the hoodie and was put on another bus.  He shares how he has been all over the city before being dropped off.  He handles it all well, but is pretty upset over the hoodie.  I tell him that it will be okay -- he can look for it again tomorrow.

We ask the boys if they would like to go to a park and they jump at the chance.  We had seen several good ones on our journey this morning and within moments we are loaded up and heading back into town for some play time.

The boys hit the ground running when we arrive and are soon trying to "beat" every piece of equipment there.

I love that Caleb challenges himself but doesn't try to do everything the older boys do and he does things at a level he is comfortable with.  He is such a smart little guy.  But, IF he thinks he can do it -- there is no stopping him and sometimes Grandpa and I are not so comfortable with it.

He spots the lake nearby and asks if we can go over there, so off the two of us go.

What little boy can resist the chance to throw rocks in the water?  Certainly not this one.  We stay for a short time and as we are walking back to join the others, he trips and scrapes his palms.  I wipe them off, kiss them, anything to make him stop crying, all to no avail.  When we arrive back -- he shows them to Grandpa and then is perfectly fine.  Ugh.  I think I am a bit jealous.  (He is crying in the picture below as we walk)

I see the boys near a piece of equipment that they don't know how to use so I go running over and demonstrate (thankfully, Mister did not catch that on camera) and soon they are giving it their best efforts as well.

We switch to another park close by (due to a much needed restroom break) and start this process all over again.

This area has rocks to climb -- who needs equipment that costs thousands of dollars?  We've got a rock wall.

I love it when I catch Mister at work with the camera and always wonder what he sees.  Well this is it.  No fear Caleb climbing the stairs to the high slide.

Raef flies off the end of the slide as he comes down backwards on his back.

We are near the train and Caleb wants to check it out again.  I take him but have a bit of trouble keeping up.  He is on the move.  Grandpa and the boys join us shortly and the fascination with this train continues.  Ah boys - big and small.

The day is getting late and our tummies are grumbling.  Off to Chili's we go.  There is a chili coloring contest going on and the boys get their sheets and start creating.

Everyone orders and they deliver my salad first.  Caleb wants some so I tell him that I will share.  Each time I take a bite he moves the dish closer to him and pretty soon he is bending over it trying to shield it from my fork.  Way too funny.  He also grabs my lemons and starts chewing on them, making such funny faces afterwards as expected.

After dinner, dessert is required.  Well of course it is when grandparents are around.  We drive across the street to Culvers and everyone is soon enjoying their own creamy custard although Caleb is a bit worried about how quickly Grandpa is eating his.

We look out the window and spot a beautiful full moon. Ryan says, "It can't be a full moon because it is not time yet.  Something is wrong."  Grandpa says, "When should there be a full moon?"  Ryan's answer is, "In the middle of the night."  Okaaaay.  Soon it is time to return to the house for homework and bed.  It has been a great day.

As we are coming back onto base Ryan asks us if we have to salute.  We explain that we are not in the military and so it is not required.  His response is, "So since you are not in the military, you are innocent and that is why you don't have to salute."   Yep -- great response.  Gotta love their perspectives.