V Pays a Visit

Dear George,

J and V flew up from New Orleans last Thursday for a long weekend.  We see V every 3 or 4 months, so she has always changed a lot.  This time, at 20 months, it was verbal development.  She could identify “donkey” and “squirrel” and just about everything else in the picture book and was busy learning to say an endless array of names (including “Kentucky” and “caterpillar”).  When we went to the zoo, I watched all the doting grandparents with their little grandchildren. I concluded that all babies and kids are wonderful, and all grandparents are a little loopy about them.  So it is with us.  I thought I would share some of V’s visit.  I know I’m a little excessive, but it’s hard to restrain oneself.

Meeting at the airport is exciting.  V was shy for one minute, but soon was giving hugs to Katja and myself.

I’d been to the thrift shop, and there were many treasures waiting at home.  V quickly started filling her castle with little creatures, and soon it resembled our overflowing attic.

We took V to Dunore Park down the street, and the little playground seemed ready-made for her.  She climbed up the slide herself and then came tumbling down.  

V bonded quickly with her grandma (Na-Na) and began calling for her urgently when Katja left the room.

She seemed to like her grandpa (Boppa) too, though she wasn’t always quite as comfortable.

We went to the Japanese butterfly exhibit at the conservatory, and V was fascinated by the brightly colored flying things.

The zoo was also a big hit.  Here V and the little owl are staring one another down.

V took a liking to this kid’s soccer ball, so he tried to escape (that’s daddy J rushing to the rescue).

Donna came over and gave V the second hair trim of her young life.

Playing with Eleanor and Calvin was a highlight of V’s trip.

Goodbye kisses are always sad.  But we knew we would be seeing V, J, and K again soon in California.  We were left with a lot of happy memories and feelings.

Love,

Dave

G-Mail Comments:

-Jennifer M (5-25): Great pictures of a great girl!

-Linda C (5-25): Wonderful story with pictures, thanks so much. Looks like every one had lovefest time.  It is hard to not feel loopy about her when she is so wonderful  see you all soon