IHOP and Almost a Birthday

While some of the family was in California earlier this month, Nana and Papa took the remaining kiddos to IHOP. And now Jonny can't stop asking for a return visit. New family fave. The "Almost Birthday" was for poor Matteo who was too sick to even attend. That's OK, we got the breakfast goodies and he got the gifts later.

Back in Colorado

Nana and Papa recently got back from their California trip, just in time for Tracy, Matt, AJ, and Griffen to fly off to California for the weekend (see separate post). Looks like a large batch of new (some, anyway) Christmas movies this year, and we've already got two under our belts! Catering Christmas and A Christmas Movie Christmas. So far so good!

Fall is about over here in Colorado Springs.

First Friday Family Dinner in a while. McDonald's!
Tonight's topic: the Talking Donkey

Post-dinner activity...
Yes, Christmas movies have begun!

Pismo Beach, CA

Matt, Tracy, AJ, and Griffen are in Pismo Beach, CA this weekend to participate in Grace Church's Welcoming Children Home Adoption & Foster Care Conference. But that's tomorrow; first, a little playtime...

Fosters California Wrap-up

With the final braiding of the hair for school, Nana and Papa's California adventure was over. Back to Colorado Springs. All the trip photos are here.

This thing annoyed us all week!

Watched him land (SLO airport).

We waited at the end of the runway for 4 landing planes.
(I missed getting a photo of one.)

Back for sunset in Denver.

Halloween

Here are a few shots of Halloween in Colorado. (Nana and Papa were in CA for Halloween). That's Lexi under the white head mask.

The Nipomo Grands

Following the Alisal, Nana and Papa took over the grandkids while their Mom and Dad went to Hawaii for a little getaway. We started off the week with two of the grands attending a workshop to do their BSA Railroad Merit Badge (photos of the workshop). Most of the week was school stuff with occasional meals out at special places and regular evening activities like scout meetings. When the parents got home, we all headed up for a private tour of the new Norgrove Railway (see my ToShinyRails.com post about that). All the Nipomo photos start here.

Norgrove Railway

Railroad Merit Badge day at the SLO Railroad Museum

Fosters at the Alisal Ranch

All the Fosters spent the next few days at the Alisal Ranch in Santa Ynez. Very cool, all-inclusive getaway for about anybody, including families. All the photos from the ranch start here.

Our abode.