Monday, December 24, 2007

Meeting Santa

Christmas festivities followed suit this year, with Christmas Eve at Grammy and Papa's house and Christmas Day at Grandma and Grandpa's. All the usual characters were present, though we did have a surprise visitor on Christmas Eve ... SANTA!

He was making the rounds that night, delivering toys to good boys and girls, and didn't want to miss Calvin and his cousin, Ava.
Ava had visited Santa a few times throughout the holiday season, but this was Calvin's first face-to-face meeting with Saint Nick. It was a little overwhelming at first.
Santa came to the front door just before dinner with candy canes and a gift for both kids. Cal accepted the gifts, but stayed on his Dad's lap for a few minutes, before warming up to the jolly old chap. In the end there were high-fives all around and even a photo op on Santa's lap.
Unfortunately, Papa missed the whole thing. He was upstairs taking a nap ....

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Photo Shoot with a Nearly Two-Year-Old

I was looking forward to our Christmas picture this year. Calvin is nearly two and adorable, and I'm pregnant but it's not obvious to the naked eye. Plus, it could be our last Christmas photo as a threesome.

However, my mental image was far from reality. It seemed that holiday decorations set Calvin into motion. He would squirm and squint every time we were near a Christmas tree, dance and groove around lighted fireplaces.

Here are the results of an official attempt at a family picture:







For the record, I love these pictures. They capture Calvin's playful personality, but don't fully represent him ... you know, for those bizarre non-blog-followers who get only one picture a year.

So I found a shot we took on a hayride this past fall. See -- without a wreath in sight, he's as calm as a cucumber. And cuter than ever.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Celebratory Lunch

When Dr. Peterson confirmed that we were pregnant with Calvin we celebrated with lunch at the Lake Geneva Pie Company. Mmm. Good sammies, good quiche, good soups and, of course, good pie! So it seemed appropriate to celebrate the good doctor's confirmation of this pregnancy with lunch at the same place.

Thanks to an especially snowy day, Calvin joined us for the appointment. It was fun -- and somewhat surreal -- to introduce our little boy (our baby-no-more) to the woman who delivered him, the first person to see and hold him, really. And he handled himself quite nicely throughout the appointment, with a little extra attention from dad.

Good thing he was there, too. Because our appointment ran long, Eric needed to get back to work for a meeting, so it was Calvin and I who shared a celebratory lunch. Cal opted for ham and cheese quiche; I the chicken salad croissant. Yum. Anyone else getting hungry?

Monday, December 10, 2007

Changes Afoot

Alright, so I'm lacking a picture that would allow this post to make sense. But since I can't seem to TAKE said picture, and it's holding up additional posts, let's do without it for now.

Question: What's different about this picture? (Imagine a pic with me & Cal)

Answer: Calvin's body isn't the only one changing daily.

Mom's belly is growing rapidly with a little one inside. If things progress on schedule, Calvin will have a sibling by the end of June.

Similar to my pregnancy with Calvin, I've been pretty sick. Though this is definitely a different experience with a toddler running around. Laying low or sneaking in a nap is difficult with an active morning and a work-filled afternoon. But we've made it through the toughest part, I think, and we find ourselves, once again, cautiously hopeful for the miracle of new life.

Monday, December 03, 2007

Lipstick Model

So Calvin found my lip gloss and put it to good use.

He has played with chapstick for a while, now, but the effects weren't quite as obvious as tinted gloss.

Beautiful, huh? I'm afraid he might have a future in modeling.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Thanksgiving 2007

We spent Thanksgiving weekend at Grandma & Grandpa's; Uncle Shane joined us.

We all enjoyed the company of family and delicious food (including Grandma's fresh whipped cream), of course, but the highlight for Calvin was a trip to the mall!

Not to take advantage of the Black Friday sales, mind you, but to pay a visit to a carosel in the food court. Ah, the simple pleasures of childhood.
Calvin climbed up with Dad and Grandma and found a comfy place to enjoy the ride. Round and round they went. But one ride wasn't enough. I think they rode six times in all, trying a different animal each time. Horses, dolphins, polar bears ... this carosel had them all.
When dinnertime rolled around we managed to convince Calvin to get down, but it wasn't an easy sell. He had a notarized promise to return before heading for the car.

Sunday, November 04, 2007

A Perfect Blend

Friends from Dad's alma mater gathered for some good, clean, fall fun in the backyard of Mom's alma mater; a perfect combination.

We all piled (comfortably) into a house on Lake Michigan with games and food and campfires on the beach -- delightful! I love weekends away! And though the lake, the yard, and our companions were enough for all of us, it was an afternoon on a farm in Holland, MI was a highlight for Calvin.

Sunny and warm and surprisingly comfortable, our gang thoroughly enjoyed a hayride through the country. I mean, c'mon, we were being pulled by a tractor! For Calvin there were laps-a-plenty and shoes hidden in the hay to untangle.

Calvin was definitely the country kid among this group of city slickers. Seeing a petting zoo on every corner this fall, he's quite comfortable around animals. He'd grab a handful of food and stride up until he was face to face with the sheep. One 'bah-ed' at him and he responded in kind: 'bah!'

If that wasn't enough, this farm boasted a hay maze. Familiar? It's a maze of hay bales fully covered over by more hay bales. This means that you crawl through darkness; enough to turn off more than a few adults. Calvin? Nah. He went through once with Dad, came out smiling, turned on his heels and went back in by himself. He surfaced again quickly,still smiling, and went in again! This continued until we were ready to go. Even then, we had to go in for him. We're thinking about a new theme for his bedroom; anyone know where we can get some hay bales?

Sunday, October 28, 2007

It's Potty Time!

Inspired by our friend Wil during a visit a few months back, I bought a mini toilet seat for Calvin and we began half-heartedly, occasionally introducing him to it.

Every 10 days, or so, I'd remember to set him atop it as I drew the bath; hoping the trickling water would inspire ... audience participation. I had been warned that this might take a while, so I wasn't disappointed when it didn't amount to much; and I was thrilled when it did!

Cal didn't do much before the bath but quickly found inspiration afterwards. So after watching our product find its way down the wrong drain a few times, Calvin found himself on his throne straight out of the tub. (dry and wrapped in a towel.)

"All done, Mommy", he told me as I brushed my teeth. "Just a minute, honey", I responded. "Wait until Mommy's done brushing her teeth, please." And then -- there it was -- a trickling of his own.

I didn't respond right away for fear I'd scare him, but I did celebrate afterwards, explaining what he had just done, scooping him up in my arms and sharing the happy dance.

We've continued with a once every ten days routine, not terribly committed to the process, and we're hit and miss with results, as expected. Tonight, however, we had a breakthrough.

After the bath I asked Cal if he'd like to use the potty; he didn't. So we moved to his room to dress for bed. Before he was out of my arms, though, he said, "Uh, Mommy" and pointed to his pants. Back to the bathroom we went. He held it while I fumbled to set up the chair but once he was in place, he let it go. Bulls-eye! He was in control of this process.

This seems like a bit of a breakthrough to me. One that means I might need to get a little more serious about his interest and ability. Should I be more excited about this than I am?

Trick-or-Treat

Yes, it's already Halloween around these parts. Little ones in costumes flocked our neighborhood today, and our little guy was among them.

Calvin didn't help pick out his costume this year, but he was definitely more involved in the holiday. He greeted kids at the door and was excited to dress up and get out there himself.

A hand-me-down costume from Cousin Ava was a natural choice for Calvin. Pooh Bear would go everywhere with Calvin, if permitted, so transforming his own belly to a plush pillow is the best!

We branched out this year, going to four houses instead of just two. Our neighbors love every chance to see Calvin, especially if he's dressed up.

We even took along a plastic candy collector -- we had to, it was a Pooh pumpkin, it matched the outfit. Unfortunately this meant that our neighbors answered Calvin's "tick weat" with something to take home. And he followed in his mother's footsteps -- stripped immediately from the costume, dumped the pumpkin, and started eating.

He hasn't been a big chocolate / candy guy yet, but was pretty excited about M&Ms. We shared the bag so he wouldn't eat the whole thing (a trick I use with his father, too) and he pretty much lost interest when they were gone. We "cheers-ed" the last two to celebrate.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Denver, Colorado

Sometimes being one is a good thing. Life is an adventure for a one year old, with new experiences every day. And yet, a one year old doesn't feel the full effects of tragedy when the adventure ends.

Sadly, Calvin's Great Uncle, Dennis, passed away in Denver, CO, and the family went forth to celebrate his life. Fortunately, there was a delightful, mood-elevating one year old with them.

The trip was a big adventure for this little guy. He joined his dad, Papa, and Uncle Ryan for a road trip out west. They made it safely, and now Calvin asks to watch a video whenever he gets in a car.
Upon arrival, they spent a lot of time at Dennis' house. Calvin took particular interest in toys left behind. And spaghetti.

He met some extended family members, including Great Uncle Dwayne and several of Dad's cousins: Linnea, Peter, Andrew, and his wife, Timi.

This trip also allowed for a visit to Great Grandpa, Elom's grave.

When the work was done out west, Cal jumped a train with Grammy and rode home in style! They got a sleeper car and enjoyed the countryside passing them by.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Fall Fest in Wisconsin


I love the fall. I love the weather, the colors, and especially all of the farms that open their doors to us "townies".

Our Meetup group took advantage of more farm festivities at Von Bergen's. Four moms brought their boys out for a morning of climbing tractors, picking pumpkins, and petting (or at least looking at) farm animals.

Of course, my favorite part was the wonderful farm market with delicious baked goods, including pumpkin doughnuts!! Calvin seemed to enjoy that part, too.

I love living so close to such natural beauty, and having friends with whom to share it.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Little Climber


He's back at it. Calvin's climbing the hammock again.

I can honestly tell you that in all the time I've spent on this thing (and believe you me, I'm always looking to log more hours) I've never thought to climb it.

What's with this kid?

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Daddy's Tractor

Calvin loves to help his dad mow the lawn, though I can tell you truthfully that I wasn't as excited by the idea. Even Eric paused before taking our little tyke onto his lap.

See, we have a riding mower, and hilly ground to cover. But the chance to sit on Dad's lap and ride a moving tractor is just too tempting for Calvin to just ask once. Now it's nearly standard procedure for him to ride along with Dad for a while each week.

He generally hums along with the sound of the bumping engine or chatters about things passing by. And it's usually a good half-hour before he accepts an offer to get down. His ride has ended early just once because he fell asleep!
Some people fall asleep while riding in cars ... some on lawnmowers.

Sunday, October 07, 2007

More Fun With Wil

It's a good thing that Calvin's and Wil's parents get along, because I think we'd have to hang out regardless; it's just not right to keep these two apart.

With his picture on our fridge, Wil is a familiar name around our place. And the word from Michigan is that Wil calls Calvin whenever he gets his hands on a cell phone.

They picked up where they left off, filling each other in on their latest antics, swapping tips for avoiding the naughty chair -- you know, the usual. Then they put arm chair covers on their heads and marched around the house.

We have fun playing at neighborhood parks, but did make a trip to Robinette's for some cider and doughnuts. They boys romped with the other children and were mistaken for twins (by a mother of twins!)

It was a quick weekend, as usual, but fun to see these guys continue to enjoy each other.

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Behold, The Naughty Chair

As Calvin reached a year and a half we found it necessary to introduce boundaries.

It's not okay, for example, to ram one's tractor into the bottom step while complaining wildly that it doesn't miraculously transport itself to the top. I understand his frustration, but there are more acceptable and effective ways to communicate it.

So we implemented the 'naughty chair', AKA 'time out'. We have a kid-sized chair in the corner of the dining room and another in a nook of the upstairs hallway. Both are away from distraction / entertainment, but within view of most points of interest surrounding it.

The first time I sat Calvin in his chair, he screamed bloody murder. I got down on his level, told him why he was there and that he would need to sit there until he could calm down. Then I turned around and folded laundry while he wallowed in my betrayal. But after about a minute, he stopped, and I returned to his side (and to his level) for a recap.

I told him, again, why he was in the chair (excessive whining and crying for juice) and that I was proud of him for calming himself down. I asked him to tell Mommy he was sorry. "Saw-ee" he repeated (to my knowledge this was the first time he used this word) and I told him that I loved him. "Uv-ooo", he repeated and we hugged.

Aha! Success!

Two hours later, when he rammed the tractor into the stairs, we returned to the chair and to the screaming. This didn't last long, however, and when he stopped crying he said, "all done?". We recapped the offense and talked about a better approach, he apologized, and we confirmed our love for each other before returning to life as usual.

We've had many unhappy returns to the naughty chair, averaging maybe once a day, but the concept makes sense to him. A warning to stop the bad behavior or you'll need to sit in the chair seems effective.
It didn't take Cal long to find the rhythm in the routine. Now when placed in the chair, he immediately starts shaking his head and saying, "noooo", as if to kick start my correction, and his release!

Amazingly, he stays put. If he's particularly spirited, he'll spin around in the chair, or turn around, putting his legs through the back. But he doesn't get up and leave ... yet. He tends to sit quietly, often with his hands folded in his lap, until I return for him (a minute or two later). Such a good naughty little boy.
Lately he's even taken to confessing before God ... at least when I point the camera in his direction.

Friday, October 05, 2007

Assume The Position

We've started intentionally praying with Calvin. This translates to folding our hands before meals and at bedtime and really dumbing down our conversations with God.

There's probably a better way to say that ... we've been praying with childlike enthusiasm?

I'm surprised by how quickly Cal has taken to it. He'll have his hands folded before we do and has started to repeat what we say, sentiment by sentiment; especially at bedtime, when we list everyone for whom we're thankful.

Come to think of it, we'd better modify that practice before the days of delaying bedtime begin. Instead of getting out of bed for a glass of water, he'll be finding us to add someone else to the list! I suppose there are worse things ....

It's such a joy to see him enthusiastic to talk to Jesus, and he's so cute when he prays. He generally peeks with one eye, making his face all squinty. Even with pancakes half-eaten (and syrup on his face), he returns to pray for one more thing.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Bad Dream, Good Night

Calvin awoke tonight as if from a bad dream. I found him sitting up, clutching Pooh Bear almost as a shield. Poor thing.

I picked him up and he quieted right down, put an arm tightly around my neck (with the other holding Pooh) and rested his head on my shoulder. I held him and hummed, "Jesus Loves Me" a few times before deciding to sit down in the rocking chair. Why rush this?

It's a different experience to comfort a 20-month old than it is a baby. For one thing, he's twice the size that he was when we spent nights in this chair, nursing. Now, instead of cradling him comfortably over my shoulder, his knees touch the seat; he kneels over my shoulder! And he's quick to change positions on his own, settling onto my lap as if we were going to read a book ... or as if I was Santa Claus! Still, he's able to find comfort from my touch, and Pooh's, and I'm grateful.

After a while I put him back in his crib, but he wakened and stood up crying. Happy for the chance to comfort and cuddle with him, I offered to lie down with him in Mommy and Daddy's bed. He accepted the offer and snuggled right in with his head under my chin.

Oh. I remember this feeling. I loved snuggling with Calvin when he was just home from the hospital. We had the Moses basket by the bed and I would bring him in with me to nurse at night. It's rare, now, to have any quiet time with him. It's a treat to have him on my lap for a story or to tie his shoes!

Just as I'm getting used to this, he flips like a pancake and his feet are in my face. Literally. His big toe is touching my nose. This is not nearly as lovely at first, but as I remember my connection to these little feet that used to reach out for me from within, I take hold of one and kiss it. Calvin's feet. I love these feet.

Then he's back again, this time lying diagonally from the top right corner to the bottom left. It leaves little room for me, much less for me and Dad, but he settles into a deep sleep here; his hands are open and relaxed, just like Grandma likes them.

I'm not sure how I'll bring myself to move him back to his crib, but I have time to figure that out. I'm not tired, anyway.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Dirty Feet


Okay, so I don't want you to get the wrong idea. Calvin isn't always barefoot and dirty when he's with Grandma. But he definitely has a lot of fun -- with or without shoes.

While we were in town we crashed a surprise party for Grandma and Grandpa's friend, John. He thought he was in for a family dinner but was joined by a few close friends, too. ... and their daughter and grandson.

We all had fun since there were contemporaries for everyone; even Calvin had a friend to play with. Calvin ran around the backyard with John's grand-daughter, and even joined the party at the friends' house next door. Hence the dirty feet.
After dinner we threw the two kids in the bath to wash up before bed. But Grandma didn't wait for clean feet to snuggle up with Cal. Her lap is available for a little R&R and a good cup of milk any time of day.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Weekend With The Girls

Covenant Women hold a retreat at camp every September. Women from our church and others in the conference escape from responsibilities of daily life -- and from family, as there are no kids allowed. No Cheriths allowed, either, (since Calvin was born) as retreat weekends are busy times for camp, and therefore for Eric. So while Eric had a weekend with the girls, Calvin did too; we went to my mom's.

Grandpa was out of town for most of the weekend, so Calvin really was with just the girls. We played around the house with Grandma's good friend, Julie, but a highlight was a trip to the Morton Arboretum. They have a children's area that is out of this world! They've created a play land that highlights the natural wonder of the outdoors with ponds and streams and a suspended walkway up into the trees, Swiss Family Robinson-style!
As expected, Calvin was drawn to every water feature. Whether it was a giant marble sphere brought to life by its water base or a rock pond with spitting frog fountains, our little guy was all in. But it was a stream that actually drew him into the water. We could hardly get his shoes off before he waded in with Grandma, and the two went "creeking" for the first time.

A word about creeking: Grandma is a (capital "C") Creeker. She, too, gets her feet into any body of water nearby, as if a life source. So when we learned that we were pregnant with Calvin, we gave her a pair of kid's boots, encouraging her to share this passion with our child. Turns out she didn't have to work hard at this. Calvin finds these boots on his own when he visits Grandma's house, and even puts them on to walk around the house. They might have come in handy for this first creeking expedition if we had thought to bring them along.
Yes, this was a weekend with the girls, but the Caldwell girls. No shopping. No primping. Just good, old fashioned, boot-stompin' fun.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Gotta Scoot!

Alright, so this barely qualifies for Calvin's blog, but it's noteworthy news for these parts, so here you have it: we bought a scooter.

Eric has wanted one for years, now, finding it especially appealing for his 2-mile commute to work. This week, he took the plunge and signed on the dotted line.

We opted for one with enough umph to require a motorcycle license, but it still doesn't go above 65 mph. But, like our neighbors who have gone before us, we hope to beetle around town on it, and someday take Cal to school on the back, or who knows, maybe these will be Cal's first wheels when he's old enough. (In which case, look Cal, this is what it looked like when it was new!)
For now, he just calls from the sidelines: "Bye bye. Daddy. See ya."

Cal's word for motorcycle: "coe coe coal"
Cal's word for scooter (when I correct him): "tooter"

Monday, September 17, 2007

Back to the Farm

After working for two week straight, Eric took a day off from work. And since I have mornings off, too, the whole family went to Royal Oaks Farm to take in this beautiful fall weather.

When Calvin and I went earlier this summer, it was mostly closed. But now in full swing, they've added a little train, a carousel, and a whole bunch of fall decorations.

Cal went straight for the playground to run around on the big trucks, train, and boat. And from there, he cooed over to the roosters, sheep and goats in the petting area.

But then there was a train whistle ... and we were off to see what it was all about. Cal and Dad did a few laps in the caboose before we found our way to the carousel. Mom got to ride this time.

Then it was time for lunch, and a quick trip through the shop for a sugar and spice donut and a (heavy) jug of cider to take home.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Sir Mix-a-Lot

I try to involve Calvin in kitchen work as often as my patience permits. (Truly, it's easier without him.) This usually means that he splashes along beside me as I wash dishes. But tonight as I threw together some strawberry-rhubarb crisp, I thought Calvin might enjoy the process, too.

The ingredients (oatmeal, wheat germ, flax seed, quinoa, brown sugar, flour, nutmeg, and some chopped pecans) don't require precise measurements, especially since I've added half of them on my own, and dry ingredients allow easy clean-up for spillage.

It was a short-lived adventure, (dry ingredients don't take long to throw together), but it was long enough to take a couple of pictures for posterity, and nearly dump the bowl twice.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Ahoy, Ye Matey!

Anja and Lukas have been important friends for us. They are the two (non-related) kids closest to our family.

Theirs was one of the two houses to which Calvin trick-or-treated last year, and Calvin can always count on having Lukas as a playmate in the church nursery.
So it was appropriate that Calvin's first non-family birthday party was for his good friends, Anja (5) and Lukas (3).

In honor of "talk like a pirate day", it was a pirate school party --argh! The invitation was a letter in a bottle, so cute!

This being our first party, I wasn't sure whether Calvin should dress like a pirate before the party, or whether he would don the proper attire as part of the festivities at the party. So I put him in pirate stripes beforehand and was pleased to find that the hosts provided bandannas for all the kids.

The party was pirate school for the kids. They were each tattooed before learning how to speak like a pirate, shoot cannonballs, fish (for ducks), and follow a treasure map for gold!

Calvin was the youngest of the 12 children present. He played each of the games, but a modified version. He wasn't blindfolded while fishing, for example, and he was first in line so he had the best shot. He kept up well, though, traipsing around the neighborhoods and sitting on the ledge with the big kids as they divided the booty.

Now we're ready to hit the party circuit, and definitely have some good ideas for our own parties to come!

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Big Kid Shoes


Since he outgrew his sandals and big kids everywhere got new shoes for school, Calvin got some new "kicks", too.
I can't believe how big they are (6.5). They come in shoe boxes now, not bins!

Just look at the soles on these puppies! No more smooth leather. And no more toddling around holding on to furniture; now we climb hammocks!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Word Coupling

I've all but given up on trying to keep track of Calvin's developing vocabulary. But I thought I'd make note of his word coupling. He combines two words, but keeps them separated in delivery.

For example, from his crib one morning, I heard, "Diaper. Pees." (Diaper, please) with a full stop between the two words.

Calvin likes to boss Jake, the cat, around so we hear a lot of "Geek. Down." (Jake, down) as he wanders the house, whether Jake is in the room, or not.

Adding an apostrophe introduces a third syllable. For example, "Daddy. Ss. Soos." (Daddy's shoes) Or "Nalnin. ss. Gook". (Calvin's book).

He hasn't moved on to a three word combo, yet. His attempt at "More juice, please" gets jumbled. All three words, individually, are as clear as crystal. "Moor. Joose. Pees." But strung together, it's "pee pee pees". Go figure.

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Struttin' His Stuff

Calvin has discovered his pockets, and with them, the fast-forward button. He's suddenly a teenager, or at least he looks like one.

I know that these expressions are just clicks of the shutter and not his intended look, but I can't get over what they've captured.

Friday, September 07, 2007

It's Not Over 'Til ...

... the toes poke out of the sandals.

Yes, summer is coming to a close, and it's not the dropping temperature that telling us; it's Calvin's increasingly prominent big toe.

When Calvin outgrows his sandals, it's time to find a good scarf and a vest ... or at least a pair of closed toe shoes!

Monday, September 03, 2007

Labor Day Weekend with Grammy & Papa

Eric and I were excited about our trip to Duluth for our good friends, Aaron and Aimee's, wedding. But we weren't thrilled at the thought of keeping our little guy captive for an eight-hour car ride, nor entertaining him while we were at the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, and wedding festivities. We thought he'd be much more comfortable with his grandparents. And right we were.

I took Calvin to Grammy and Papa's to help him adjust to new surroundings and the festivities began immediately: dinner starting with his first calamari and coconut shrimp! The appetizers were intended for the adults, so we watched in amazement as Calvin dipped his squid in cocktail sauce and chewed it up. (Then took it out of his mouth, dipped it again, and chewed some more.)

But that was just the beginning. Friday morning meant a trip to see Grammy Great along with Cousin Ava, Uncle Ryan, and GA Deb. The six walked the grounds, lunched in the dining room, and made their way to a nearby zoo-ette. Then home for naps -- and a jump in the crib afterwards!

On Saturday, Grammy, Papa, Uncle Kurt, Aunt Denee, and Cousin Ava gave our little guy a tour of Brookfield Zoo. We caught them here when we called to say good morning and Calvin growled at us. Grammy assured us that he was looking at lions, and wasn't mad at us.

Calvin and Ava had a great time together, walking hand in hand and practicing staying in step. Left, right, left, right. ...

Our home church was happy to host Calvin on Sunday morning. Cousin Ava has moved up to the toddler room, now, so Cal joined her and kept up with the best of the big kids without trouble.

Then they were off to the big city to see Uncle Ryan's place. Cousin Ava went too, and even Pooh Bear! A walk along the lake by Montrose Harbor rounded out the afternoon, then the group dined at the restaurant where Cal's parents ate as they announced their engagement to family and friends.

Monday was a great day to be at the Petersen's pool. Our little fish splashed with Papa and his cousin. Then he wrapped up Labor Day with a little manual labor, helping Papa move some plants around the yard.

Grammy and Papa met us at McDonald's to give Calvin back. They showed pictures and told stories of the weekend over ice cream cones. Then Cal climbed back into our car for home. "Home." he said, as we drove away. "Home."

We thought we'd leave Calvin behind while his parents were off for an adventure, but he did us one better. He had a ball with Grammy and Papa. Check these out:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AYtHDlu4btmHs&emid=sharshar&linkid=link2