Taking Care of Business - And Those Grandsons!!

March 8-21, 2017
Santa Clarita, California

We've already been back where we started as full-timers for two weeks. Mostly we've been getting our doctor and dentist and veterinarian and home repair appointments done, and we've managed to visit with family and friends. Time has flown by.

On arrival day both grandbabies came by to visit with their parents and one uncle. These little humans just steal our hearts.

Maximus and his Pop Pop

Getting a good grip on that beard - just like his daddy used to do.

Ezra looking like a big boy at 18 months

Stop growing up so fast!!

Uncle Richie and Maximus' daddy, Nick

Dad happy to see his youngest.

Speeding by Momma Shalise

Shalise and Ezra have been taking care of her mom and grandma over 100 miles away and they have to go back again on Sunday. So we get together with them as much as possible before they leave. For many months Brian and Shalise have taught Ezra signing in addition to all the verbal words, animal sounds, etc. What an advantage to be able to communicate with this little boy who can tell us exactly what he wants, where it hurts, if something scares him (and what it was), and what movie he wants to watch :-))))

Black beans are the best!

A first for Grandma - kids consignment sale!

Ezra handles it like a pro - pointing out the really important things like Star Wars :-)

Hanging out with Grandma and Pop Pop one afternoon.

Ready to be our driver - such a good boy.

Playing with daddy at Sunday brunch.

Love this precious little family.

Happy us.

Our usual mooch-docking isn't available this time so we're at Valencia Travel Village for the month. The first 10 days we're packed in pretty tight with only a small grass strip for our space. This is a nice park with a lot of residents and a lot of activity. As one of the only RV parks with access to the Los Angeles area, they are consistently full. They have a waiting list for monthly sites, so we pay the weekly rate for each of our four weeks. Two swimming pools, large laundry, a couple showerhouses, and a softball field and batting cage at the back of the property.  Sitting on Highway 126 there is some road noise, but it's not bad.

Very busy park, packed in tight in this section.

One night we meet Travis (Bill's third) and fiance' Emily for dinner then come back home to visit for a while. So fun that these two are getting married next year. They're an adorable couple, but of course I don't get a pic this time.

Shamelessly stolen from her FB page - Travis and Emily

Number two of Bill's crew, Corey, comes over one evening to get caught up. With all their crazy schedules, we never see any of them enough when we're in town :-(

We have an appointment at our local Camping World to get a list of small items repaired. Most important are finding the leak from the ice and water in the frig so we can turn that back on - and fixing or replacing the front blind motor. After our tech has everything entered in the system we head south to Rancho Santa Margarita.

Our good friends Steve and Lori are our "address" so there's 16 months of paper to go through. All but six pieces go in the trash. I can't believe I went to the mailbox everyday for my whole life!!

We take them out for dinner and spend the night at their lovely home. Most of our time is spent getting caught up and playing with the dogs. They have three and Tessa is overwhelmed. Still, they all get along fine, and we have a great time. I manage to only get pics of the dogs (except for Willy who is very shy).

Java getting her pets in first.

The rambunctious Razzle calms down long enough to get her own lovin'.

A walk to the park tuckers out the pups.

Not surprising by now, we have high school friends who live in southern Orange County, so we meet up with them for dinner in Oceanside. Michelle gets the credit for getting Bill and I back together after 40 years so it's always very special to see her.

Sarah (Michelle's daughter), Jimi, Michelle and Bill

We get back to Camping World about 10:30 PM and just crawl in our bed for the night. Nothing on our list is covered by our extended warranty, but everything is completed except for the window crank which has to be ordered. We opt to not replace it this time. So nice to have it all done in two days.

Unfortunately overnight I come down with the stomach flu. Once we get back to the park, I spend most of the next three days in bed. 

We are pleasantly surprised with our new site, at the back of the park and a much larger space. If you ever find yourself here, ask to be in Section K - definitely the best of the park.

I have a "borrowed daughter", Megan, who I adore, and who I must see when we're in town. She and husband Chris meet us at Spumoni's in Sherman Oaks. It's one of the those wonderful little eateries with delicious food and friendly staff. The owner recognizes Chris and Megan and comes to check on us often. He has the most delightful smile. I keep expecting Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan to walk in the door - it's that kind of sweet.

Chris and Megan

Down in Temecula, Ezra is fighting a high fever. They make him a doctor's appointment for Wednesday morning and I offer to go pick he and his mom up so dad doesn't have to make the crazy round trip when he gets off at 7 PM.

Afternoon traffic is always crazy on this route, so I just listen to music and appreciate that unlike everyone else on the road with me, I don't have to do this every week. 

Oh yeah, and it's raining.

It's dark when I arrive and we quickly get everybody and everything loaded up for the return drive.

Ezra sleeps all the way home and is feeling pretty good when he wakes up to find himself in his own house. Fortunately he continues to improve after his doctor's appointment as well.

We're here another two weeks with a few more appointments and hopefully lots more family.