Menlo Park Swim and Wild Animals in Point Arena

Jack spent Thursday and Friday with Anne in Menlo Park. It was hot! So Thursday evening, we went to Burgess Park for a swim. As you can imagine, getting Jack and Nana both into suits was a challenge, so when Jack fell asleep on the drive, I did not give up. I carried Jack into the pool and sat down on a bench. Then I noticed people lying on the grass looking more comfortable, so I walked over, slepping both Jack and our bag on towels and equipment. Lay Jack down and he woke up. He immediately wanted to get into the pool. We had a great time, first in the competition pool where we could jump up and down and swirl around in a large area all to ourselves. Then we tried the baby pool with its mushroom shower and its foot and a half of water. Jack sat on my lap for a while and then stood up to walk in the water by himself. Of course he fell down and got his face wet, but it was no big deal. He wanted to go back to the big pool. I thought I'd just get into the teaching pool, but forgot that it is six feet deep at the end near the baby pool. So I got my hair wet and Jack was shocked to see my head underwater. He was still standing on the deck, however, so no harm done. We went back to the competition pool and its shallow end.
We swam for over an hour and Jack kept saying he liked it. He also loved playing with a noodle, so the next day we bought a noodle for him to use at Sea Ranch (but we didn't make it to the pool this trip).

Also in Menlo Park we had lunch with Papa and went to a toy store to buy a present for Jessie, whose birthday is coming up. We got Daddy some presents too. Jack wanted to dig in his MP dirt pile and play with his new toys--oops, Jessie's new toys. Friday afternoon we drove Jack up to the city and had dinner with Greg before the grandparents continued on to Sea Ranch.

Of course at Sea Ranch, the first order of business on Sunday was digging a new dirt pile in the side yard. It was hard work for Nana and Jack because there were some thick tree roots and a big rock. Then we went downhill on Compass Close to see the four machines where the association is repairing the hill that collapsed. Jack got to sit in two Bobcats, one mini-excavator, and one bulldozer. He was thrilled and could have stayed in the driver's seat forever.

After a nap, we took Jack to the river, stopping to view a huge stag on the way. Jack walked right into the river, ultimately sitting down in it. He was really muddy by the time we set out for the wild animal preserve in Point Arena.

Anne and Alex bought a tour for four at the last RCMS auction. The preserve is the private property of Dr. Frank Mello and his wife Judy. Dr. Mello is a Ph.D. in something related to wild animals and Judy is a hard-working, hardy woman whose father founded a little bakery in Mississipppi that ultimately became Sara Lea! The preserve is three years old and comprises 100 acres. They have two Hartman zebras, a kudu, several kinds of rare antelopes, and three Gravie zebras. They are soon to have a giraffe. It is amazing what they have built in three years. We walked around some of the enclosures and then got to ride in what Jack called an "old timie truck," an old land rover they bought on eBay. Not only did they have these hoofed animals, but they have two tractors and a chipper and some chickens. Judy asked Jack to help feed the animals, which he did with great care, spreading the grain around in the troughs and topping it off with selected handfuls of hay. Dinner was at Bones where Jack ate as though he were starved, which he has learned to claim. It was my best Father's Day ever.

Haircut and charcoal adventures

Jack and I made it on time to Dalere's Beauty Salon for Nana's haircut. Jack was a little shy and sat on my lap for a while. Marian is very sweet with him; first she gave Jessie a trim and later she trimmed Jack's bangs. Jack helps her sweep up my hair and does a thorough job.

When we got home, Jack ate half of my turkey and avocado sandwich and some of my pineapple, strawberries, and yogurt. He also had about a half of a mozzarelli stick. Not long after, Jack asked me to take off his diaper so he could poop on the potty. And he did! Now to make this a regular happening. My goodness but it makes things easier! We called Daddy and Mommie who each reported that they jumped up and down with delight.

Now it was time to go to the park. We'd been planning a long hike to the back of the park so we could look for the coyote. The weather was beautiful, perfect temperature, blue skies, gentle breezes. We stopped by the creek to listen carefully being very quiet so the coyote wouldn't be afraid. Several people came by and reported that they had not seen a coyote. We walked back past the school and across the bridge, through the little glen and over the long duckboard bridge. Jack got out of the stroller and we continued over the little bridge and into the trees. We climbed over rocks and around to where the path goes back towards the school. Birds and damselflies, but no coyote. We did encounter a four-year-old named Raidan and his nice mother. We walked back to the school with them and Jack decided we should go to the fire pit.

Soon, Jack and Raidan were exploring the fire pit and I was explaining what you could do with charcoal. Jack and Raidan tried drawing with the charcoal on the stones and on the nearby Eucalyptus logs. The charcoal crumbled easily, which the boys found interesting. Then Jack found a foot-long charred log and began using it to draw on the logs. He covered an entire log with black soot and started on another. Poor Raidan really wanted that foot-long log, but we were only able to find a thinner, smaller stick for him. But even it was enough for Raidan to get hands nearly as black as Jack's. Jack resembled a chimney sweeper, black hands, black face, charcoal on his new Gama-goo shirt and pajama top and his jeans. Fortunately, I had a box of moist wipes in the stroller and was able to clean up Raidan and Jack pretty well. Jack wanted to take his precious charred log home, so its now sitting next to the stroller downstairs.

We walked (and partly ran) with Raidan and his mom back to the Rec Center where they went off up hill to their car. They live on the 300 block of Chenery, next door to a little girl named Coco who will be a Billygoat this Fall.

Jack and I spent another hour or so in the sandbox, where Jack mostly dug, but also did some climbing and sliding. Jack did not want to leave and to some degree, neither did I. It really was an idylic afternoon in the park. We were in the shade most of the time and wore our hats most of the time. Tomorrow we'll look for the coyote again.

Ripley's Bed Becomes Construction Site

This week Jack took over Ripley's bed, declaring that he was rebuilding it and that a big, gigantic backhoe was on the way to work on the project. In the photo, he is pulling off his socks to get down to work. Next he turned the bed over and folded it in two. I was told to go get his drill so he could take down the wall between the living room and the dining room to make way for the backhoe. Poor Ripley kept showing up and trying to get into his bed. Then he would wander out and lie down in the hall. Jack had no sympathy for Ripley, who was just expected to stay out of the construction site.

Jack creates back stories for his little people. Jessie has a house near here where a spider pooped in her kitchen. Jessie stepped in the poop. She also bopped her head. Jessie can drive most any machine and is a skilled construction worker.

Of course the highlight of the week happened Thursday when Jack peed in the potty. He had not let me dress him although by 11:00 a.m. I had gotten his diaper and pajama bottoms off. He just went into the bathroom and sat down on the potty. Imagine my surprise when he stood up and sure enough a good amount of pee! Jack instructed me to put the pee in the toilet. Then we high-fived and called Daddy and Mommie with the news.