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.
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