At Grandma's House in California -

We spent about three weeks at Steve’s mother’s place in California. To help compensate for all the chips we ate from the top of her refrigerator, we spent quite a bit of time walking the dog…

and hitting the two nearby playgrounds.

We used to bring her here when she was little. Sniff sniff. Slow down, Time!

This thing is torture…for the pusher.

Wheeeee.

California parks usually offer shade—shade! Nice stuff, that.

Big sister is kinda little, don’t you think?

Grandma has two spare bedrooms, perfect for watching a movie and eating the rest of the Random Day in October cookies.

A friendly neighbor delivered a bundle of recently picked California pomegranates…

which we enthusiastically devoured.

Yum!

And pretty.

Do you like my hat?

The kids like looking at the pictures on Grandma’s walls…

although Ellie prefers looking at herself.

School doesn’t stop just because we’re…well…anywhere!

Here are cells the little scientists made out of jello.

Cell-eating time!

This is our apple mummifying experiment. Cool.

For you other homeschoolers, we are faithful Apologia science curriculum users. We currently have kids in four different books, some doing two at a time. Love it!

The Stationary Bags popped over for some lasagna and a visit.

Coloring with Cousin Jordan.

Uncle Dave made Marissa play her new song.

This child likes music. Good thing.

Cousin Amanda trounced Elijah in a game of cards.

Marissa listening in on the guy talk with her Daddy, Uncle Mike, and Cousin Jordan.

Uncle Dave—always encouraging—admiring Marissa’s artwork.

Family…and crazy little Binky dog.

Marissa and Steve were the entertainment, and that little half-naked blur on the left is the dancer. She doesn’t dress up for company.

Hannah’s turn to be interrogated.

Uncle Dave’s a good sport.

Lottsa laughs.

Steve helps out however he can while we’re here…and Ellie pretends to help out.

She steals chapsticks…in this case a lib balm ball.

Hannah transitioned from her liquid diet to broth and jello. Woo hoo!

Remember this, Hannah, when you get tired of your restricted diet that isn’t this restricted in the future.food. Wink wink.

Bonk. Ouch.

Chores continue everywhere we go, also.

In all honesty, we do dress this child, but she undresses almost as fast. If a church service lasts more than 75 minutes, she’s half naked by the end of it.

Isn’t everybody?

What is that, Big Brother?

A frozen cell, Ellie. They’re in your body, gazillions of them, but not frozen, and not this big, and not edible, except alligators might eat them.

That blows my mind.

Wait, did he say edible?

There is always a variety of cereal at Grandma’s house…

and lots of cooking to do.

Ellis knows exactly how to dress when she works in the kitchen.

Being in your skivvies all day makes a body cold.

Cousin Ashley (under the blanket) and her friend Marissa (against the couch) from Mississippi popped over for an evening of cards.

They are good sports. They ate the cookies Elijah and Becca made out of a variety of baking ingredients and leftovers, including peas and “just a drop of gray.” They even asked for the recipe and made some themselves later.