Sebastian sings….we dance

We always tell our grandchildren to stay little grandchildren and not grow up.  But they seem to ignore us and continue to get bigger, smarter, and more talented.  

We still get to play with our littlest grandchildren, but several of our grandchildren are now teenagers.  We now get to see them playing sports, competing in Rubik's cubes competitions, dancing, acting, rollerblading, and singing.  

We are so proud of all of them, and we celebrate all of their accomplishments—whether it is a grandchild first time rolling over, walking, starting to talk, learning to swim, rollerblading, riding a bike, performing in a show, or graduating.  Anything that our grandchildren do is amazing to us….after all, we are their loving grandparents!

A few weeks ago we watched Sebastian’s Art School performance.  It was a celebration of Black History Month. The children acted in plays, drew murals and pictures, played musical instruments, gave speeches, danced, and sang songs. It was educational and also a very moving show.

All of the children are talented.  To be admitted to this public charter school they have to apply. Each child is required to provide a portfolio, to be interviewed, and to perform an audition in their area of art.

Sebastian’s focus is singing, so for the Black History Month celebration he with his fellow singers performed two beautiful songs.  (Sebastian is on the right in the middle row.)

Dan recorded the songs so we could dance to our grandson’s singing.  It is very special for us to dance while hearing Sebastian’s voice blending in sweet harmony with the other children.

YES….I’ll be your Valentine!

Below is Dan’s comment in the New York Times in response to an article titled “Love or Hate Valentine’s Day?”

What he didn't say in his comment was how much fun he has hearing my excited surprise when I unexpectedly find another Valentine he has hidden for me. 

 

Obviously, we love Valentine’s Day!

For the last seven days, I have been finding valentines in the most innovative and unexpected places…my bicycle helmet, the washing machine, several drawers, an egg carton, the shower, taped to the inside of the toilet lid, my granola bowl, inside a Tupperware container filled with ham, rolled up inside the kitchen blind, in the fondue pot (which he had to search for, since I had the pot stored in the garage deep in a cabinet)….and every time I find another valentine I am surprised, again, and so very happy!

We both laugh at Dan’s clever new hiding spot.  Then I read the Valentine message on these sweet and innocent 50s children's Valentine cards to Dan and give him a hug and kiss.   It has been a marvelous Valentine’s Week—filled with fun, laughter, and love.

Every morning when I wake up Dan holds me, and when I turn on the light I see him  looking at me with a big smile on his face.  This morning, on Valentine’s Day, he had a Valentine card taped over his extra big smile! We’re both still laughing….

The cards are very old and fragile, and the messages are clever and sweet.  Each card is unique and beautiful.  I wanted to see them often every day and be surrounded by all the love that flows from every card, so I have been taping them up in my kitchen all week long.  I have run out of room!

 

Aren’t they lovely?  Every card asks me to be his Valentine.

 

YES…my love, I’ll be your Valentine!

Dan surprised me once again on Valentine’s Day.  The Leisure World News had sent out an announcement two weeks ago asking for residents' stories about their "secret sauce" for keeping their love alive.  The announcement stated that these "secret sauces" would be published on Valentine's Day.  To keep it a surprise to me Dan deleted all the Leisure World emails asking for residents’ “secret sauce,” before I had a chance to see them. Then he sent our story in two weeks ago, to surprise me. Boy, was I ever surprised!

This is what he wrote and what was published on our Leisure World Facebook page:

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I am the luckiest girl in the whole wide world, because I have the sweetest, most loving man possible, and I am the woman who he loves.  Thank you, Danny, for your love.

I made a Valentine’s cake for my sweetheart, my husband….Danny, will you be my Valentine?

(Danny here:  YES....I'll be your Valentine!)

We are now Baba and Deyda

Those are Hannah’s names for us.  Grandma and Grandpa in Russian is Babushka and Dedushka.  Hannah lived the first year and a half of her life in Russia.  She immediately started calling us Baba and Deyda. We are honored.

We met Mila and Hannah for the first time yesterday.  Hannah held us so tight, and she wouldn’t let go…we loved it! 

Over two weeks ago, Owen and Mila started off on a road trip with little Hannah in their 17’ travel trailer.   They left Spokane, Washington, in the dead of winter and headed south through Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas.  

Mila, Owen’s wife, is from Russia, and he has been showing her and Hannah this magnificent country that is now their home.  And he has taken his bride and their child to meet her new family.  They are now headed back home to Washington.  But first they swung west to meet Baba and Deyda in Arizona. 

We had an endlessly wonderful day together.  It was like a dream come true.

Dan says that the reason to have a child is so you can have a little playmate.  I will add to that—and then years later your child will have a baby, and you’ll have another little playmate.  

Hannah is a GREAT little playmate.  She is observant and curious and finds everything interesting and fun. She joins right in with the conversation using a mixture of Russian, English, and Hannah-speak.  

She tried to jump in the pond with the ducks and geese, while quacking at them the whole time.

We never realized that we should stop and play on the railings….now we know.

A particular delight for her (and all of us) was feeding the giant Koi!

Deyda showed her how to throw the fish food far out into the pond.

Hannah was mesmerized by the swan.  She needed to sit down and watch it.  And the swan watched Hannah.  After a bit, we were all amazed to see the swan furl it’s giant wings, catch the wind, and sail downwind across the pond.  The most unique and beautiful “sailboat “ we had ever seen.

It pays to be a child again and stop and look.

  

Hannah wanted to ride a horse, so she rode on Baba’s shoulders.  We trotted and cantered home.

She turns two in a month, so of course, we celebrated her birthday, and spoiled her with a lot of gifts!

Her new kitty robe—she insisted on wearing her “dress” the rest of the day. 

She was thrilled that we gave her baby a bunny sleeper.  It is her favorite doll, and she won’t sleep without it.  Talk about rewarding—this is the doll that we gave her for Christmas.

Now she is in Papa’s lap modeling her first swimsuit….or maybe just cuddling with Papa.

Dan spread his collection of  1950’s Dolly Toy wall decorations on our patio.  Mila and Owen chose several for Hannah and her (hopefully soon) brothers and sisters.

Hannah said her prayers before dinner.

Then she helped Baba light her two birthday candles.

She needed no help eating her birthday cake!

Hannah took Deyda’s hand and led him around.  She showed him our yard, the neighbor’s yard, the road in front of our home…

In fact, Deyda had a little playmate for the rest of the day.  Then it was time to pick lemons and oranges.

Her bag of fruit was almost too big, but she is a strong and determined little girl and carried her own lemons and oranges!

She really liked Deyda’s model cars.  Hannah roared “rmmm rmmmm” as she patted the glass and looked into the display cases.  And then on a low windowsill, she discovered our vintage Avon bottle glass camper and truck…..

Sadly, all too soon the sun began to set, and it was time to say goodbye.  

There were hugs and kisses for everyone….

Saying goodby was painful, but was also so very sweet. 

 

Hannah didn't just let Deyda pick her up and hug her, but she grabbed him and hugged him. 

 

Look at that hug….Hannah could not let go, and neither could Baba.

As they drove away, we could see Hannah waving goodby to us out the back window until they were out of sight.  

This was a day filled with loving, sweet memories that we will remember forever—the day that we first got to see and hug our dear new daughter, Mila, and our precious granddaughter, Hannah.  Thank you Owen for bringing them into our lives.