There's no place like home

Trips to visit California are never long enough, but I'm grateful to have BOTH sides of my family living so close to each other. This trip in particular was quite relaxing for me (due to resting/recovering since my Valley Fever diagnosis) Calvin, on the other hand, had a blast playing with friends and family.

Hanging with the Roberts

Calvin and Seth are best friends in the making.

I got to meet baby Karlee!! She is so precious.

It was so great to meet up with Cherise (and Matt!) and have our sons play together. 

They soon found similar interests: SWORD FIGHTS!

These boys are two peas in a pod.

They are so much like their fathers :)

Playing at the Beans

Grammie's house is always about playing whatever Calvin wants to play. He's quite spoiled. I blame it on being the first grandchild.

Nick took Calvin to the park and explored the neighborhood together. Grandpa and Cal played frisbee until the sun went down. And Grammie introduced Nerf guns! They were battling each other at all times.

Calvin's favorite spot to play was at the top of the stairs where he could launch the bullets and watch them soar.

Interviewing Bonding with the Scotts

There's never a dull moment at the Scotts. Especially when there's a newcomer. All the epic stories from childhood start pouring out like a broken dam and the evening fills with laughter. Since Becca was bringing her "boyance" (boyfriend + almost fiance) home to have the family meet him, all the stories were about Becca's childhood. I've been around the Scott family long enough now where I could tell you all the stories myself, maybe I was even there.

Calvin and I were in California a week before Jake could arrive, so we were already getting to know Andrew. This particular evening was the first time Jake met Andrew. We ate at a tasty Japanese restaurant called Mikasa. That place was so delicious! I want to go back each time we visit home.

This is the Mr. Tough Guy look that Charlie gave Andrew. The look didn't last long when it came to telling hilarious stories about Becca.

Overall, we think Andrew is pretty great and we'd love to have him a part of the family. We approve!

While the parents were at work each day, Becca and Rissa spent LOTS of time playing with Calvin and helped out taking pictures so I could rest (Thanks guys!).

Calvin is at the stage where he loves to help. Even though it often adds more time to getting the task done, I love his enthusiasm for helping out.
Calvin saw Jake mowing the lawn, so of course Cal wanted to help.

Calvin loves nothing else more than BUBBLES! Especially when the bubble wand is in the shape of a sword. Throughout our stay, he was always dragging someone outside to play with bubbles or to play soccer.

No one minded playing with him :)

Since we've been back in Arizona, Calvin prays for his family in California each night. It goes something like this:

 "Faader, dank you Momma, Daddy, Baby Oddie....hmmm lemme dink...Papa, Grammie...hmmm let's see...Papa, Gramma....hmmm lemmme dink...Becca, Rissa...hmmm let's see...Tico (Tio Nico = Uncle Nick) an Jesus. Name Jeeesus Chriiiist. Amen." 

Adorable, right? We help him with all the other names in our family, even Uncle Justin and puppy Mia, but he remembers to pray for the CA family each night all on his own. That's how I know that he loves his family and misses them. 

'Til next time California!