Sonoma County October 15-18

I made the trip to Sonoma County for my grandson Shadwic's 5th birthday party. A few hours prior to the party Shad had a soccer game. I was glad I got to see him play. 

After the soccer game was over we went to his Grandma Kim’s house where the birthday party was held. It was no doubt the best birthday party I have attended yet. He's such a 'little man' with the best ever manners. I watched him unwrap his gifts and immediately walk up to the gift-giver and thank them. Most kids that age would simply put the un-wrapped gift down and proceed to the next gift.

Here he is going to thank someone and he hasn't even opened the gift yet. I overheard the 'gift-giver' remark that they thought he was just walking off to open the gift and were quite surprised that he was actually coming up to them to thank them before even opening the gift! His 'Nana' was so proud of him.
The kids played 'pin the moustache' on Mario, bean bag toss, pop the balloons, air hockey and etc. They all seemed to have had a really good time.

Shad’s sister Kaihla seemed more interested in taking my Sheltie ‘Kesä’ for a walk then the festivities of the birthday party. She loves little Kesä and just wanted to be with her all the time.

Kesä was a big hit with all the children, no doubt because she is so little and just 'their size'.

I spent 3 days at my son's house and had the opportunity to see my other two grandchildren, Jeffrey and Skylar, also. The best part of my entire visit was driving Shad to school (kindergarten) on my last day there. It was a very surreal experience for me. I walked Shad into his classroom so that I could meet his teacher. I stayed and watched him play with the other children until the school bell rang and he had to go into class. He kept looking my way and smiling at me. We have such a wonderful bond between us, it warmed my heart that he was so happy that his Nana was there. Tears were welling up in my eyes. At one point he grabbed one of his school-mates, pointed at me, and said “That’s my Nana!”. The school bell rang and all the children got into line to go into the classroom. Shad kept looking my way to make sure I was still there. When he finally went into the classroom I realized that the tears were now falling down my cheek. He was in class and I had to leave. By the time I returned to his house to pack up my stuff, gather my two pups, say goodbye to his sister and mother I still had tears in my eyes. It brought back so many memories of taking my own children to school. It was a happy yet so emotional experience to watch him enter the classroom, knowing that I would not see him until they came to my house for Thanksgiving. All in all it was a great trip and I'm back home now, missing my kids and grandchildren.