Jan 22: A Visit from Pops

Kelli’s Dad came down and spent a week with us in January to help get us through crunch time at work (year-end and audit season).  His visit coincided very nicely with Erik’s daycare being closed this past Monday for a teacher’s professional day.  Both of our last 2 babysitters are now away at college, so getting coverage for Erik during the work-week is going to be a challenge going forward.  Thankfully, Dad was available to assist.

We had a great week with Dad cooking us breakfast every morning and having supper ready every evening when we got home.  He even went out and did some of the grocery shopping during the week!  We are completely spoiled now.  Pops had a great time playing with Erik and getting to enjoy some warmer weather.  Dad sends out daily devotional emails to family members and friends and he always starts out with a comment or two about the weather.  Lately, the comments have just been pitiful with comments about how cold, windy, snowy or wet Ohio is.  Well, he got a vacation from that here in Florida and was able to enjoy 70 degree temperatures.  We did get a cold front last Friday where it got down into the 50’s, but he was still wearing shorts!  Probably just to prove that he could.  :)

While Dad was here, we took him to a nearby neighborhood park where we were all surprised to see a small black bear curled up in a tree.  We also wore Dad out playing soccer and catch with the Bergherm, Cochran, Hilliard and Zbaraschuk children (we had to let Pops use the hot tub after that!).  We spent Sunday watching football games and seeing any remaining teams that we liked get eliminated from the SuperBowl.  Stupid football.  You spend all season rooting for your favorite teams or players just to see them implode at crucial moments.  We played 3 games of Mexican Train (dominoes) where Kelli decided that Dad hides dominoes in his pockets and that’s how he wins.  Erik took his Pops on a lot of walks around the house and up & down our street.  They investigated lots of sand piles, sticks, driveways and whatever else catches a 18-month’s eyes.  Erik slept really well while Dad was here!

Look for the black bear in the branch, 2nd from the bottom on left.

  

Unfortunately, I didn’t get very many pictures of Pops and Erik playing together.  We did have a mini photo shoot the morning Pops left, so I’ve included some of those pictures.

Cute Erik story:  The first morning that Dad was here, Erik watched as first I went to work and then Kent went to work.  After Kent picked up his computer and headed out the door, Erik stared at the closed door for a moment and then ran into our office.  He picked up an old modem that was sitting in a box, tucked it under his arm like Kent had tucked his computer and then Erik headed to the door and asked Pops to let him out.  Dad tried to get his camera out in time to take a picture, but wasn’t successful.  Erik is becoming quite the copy-cat.  I guess we have to start watching what we say and what we do now!