Kody's Visit Week One

We got into town on Saturday and we haven't stopped since! On Sunday Kody and I went over to Tammy & Jim's to visit for awhile. As Jim had homework to do Tammy joined us for a hike in the Conejo Botanic Gardens. Luckily Tammy remembered the Kids Adventure Garden so we went over there first.

Tammy & Kody having High Tea

There is a table set up with a Tea set and Kody settled down and made tea for Tammy and me. He had a great time. I guess before the freeze this year the table was under a honeysuckle vine but most of that was killed off so the table is out in the open now. We sat there for awhile while Kody "made us tea" . He thought it was great fun. Next we came across a large dragon but luckily it was friendly!

Kody taming the dragon!

After that we hiked though the main gardens for awhile. We got home in time to see Beach Gramma come and visit us. That rounded out the day and it was time for sleep!!

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we went to the park! We would walk Beardsley down to Glenwood park and then come home and drop him off and go over to the park at the library or Conejo Park depending on what he wanted to do.

At the Library Park

At Conejo Park where his mom and Uncles used to play!


Parks are great places. Most of the time there were other kids there that he could play with or at least near. Kody really needs to have people around to talk to and play with. This worked out great for both of us! There are so many things to climb on and under and swing on etc that the "all tired out fairy" comes to call.

One of the many Potty breaks!!


On Friday Gramma Carolyn or as they call her "Beach Gramma" and I took Kody up to the Santa Barbara Zoo. It was a little overcast and cool when we got there but it turned out to be a perfect day in all ways. We had a great time walking around and seeing the animals. They even have a playground there that he wanted to stop at twice! Yes, I would say he loves parks!

On the firepoll at the zoo

When we got there they told us that the penguins were going to be fed in a few minutes so we went right up there thinking that would be fun to watch. We got there a couple of minutes early and Kody watched them get a couple fish and then he was out of there! Oh well, you never know what will interest kids. Here are a few of the animals we saw.

Elephant of course

Humboldt Penguins
River Otter
Lion sleeping right next to the glass



On the toy train waiting for our turn on the "big" train

The Big Train that goes around the outside of the zoo. It seemed to go faster this time then I remember. Maybe the kids are so used to Disneyland little rides just aren't good enough. But then again maybe I just don't remember it correctly!

Kody very carefully "driving" at the zoo playground.

All in all it was a great day!!

Kody's Summer Visit 2007 #1

One of our grandsons, Kody is visiting with us for two weeks. I flew up to Utah on Thursday, May 17th to pick him up and then we flew home again on Saturday the 19th. It was Kody's first airplane trip and first time he had been away from his mom and dad for more than a weekend (without his sister) so we were wondering how he would do. We didn't need to wonder.... He is doing Great!! He has been a very good little boy and has had his "listening ears" on most of the time. We are having a fun time even if I'm a little tired most of the time!!!!! It is Hard Work having a kid and don't let anyone tell you it isn't!!

I was a little worried about getting though all the lines and then making the very long walk at Salt Lake Airport in time to make the plane. I was rushing everyone out the door so we would have plenty of time and of course there weren't any lines at all!!! I think we made it thought the security line by 11:30 am for a 1pm flight!! Now what was I going to do with a four year old all that time. Of course it was Salt Lake so what is there right near the gates? A wonderful kids play area!! We spent 45 minutes happily playing there so we had almost no time to just sit and wait.

Play area in the Salt Lake Airport

Sitting eating snacks in the preboarding area.

One of the good things about traveling with a young child was the fact that we could preboard!! It was a good thing as Darcy and Scott were out of ink in their printer and we forgot to get some when we went down to the store. I really like Southwest Airlines but I sometimes think that the first come first seated is a pain in the seat area. So far I haven't had a problem as I get there so early and always get my boarding pass the day before but.....

We stood by the windows and watched our plane come into the area and then watched as it hooked up with the walkway. He enjoyed watching all the workers helping the plane come in, unload the trash and fill up the gas tanks and load the suitcases on the plane.
We got good seats near the front and he got to sit by the window and watch all the houses and cars get little as we flew higher and higher.

We had fun looking out and finding roads and swimming pools and desert areas. There is a lot of desert area between Salt Lake and Las Vegas our first stop. We sat next to a very nice Gramma who took our picture.

All in all it was a wonderful experience. We flew into Las Vegas and had about an hour there and then we flew the 40 minutes into Burbank. On the first plane he talked the whole time! It don't think he was quiet for more then 4 minutes the whole hour and 40 minute trip. I had bought him a new coloring book with toy dinosaurs and a few new cars so he played with them for awhile but most of the time he was talking about the plane trip and what was out the window and who was in the plane and what they were doing and how we were going to take two planes and then he was going to California and that he was four years old what we were going to do when we got to California who was going to pick us up etc. etc. I think you get the picture!! We got on the second plane in Las Vegas and he was asleep before we took off and didn't wake up until just before we landed. Thank goodness, I didn't know what else I could talk about!! That flight is short, just 40 minutes.

After we landed we had to wait for another hour for a second plane from Las Vegas to get in with our carseat and suitcase. I was sure it wouldn't come in but it did. The airline gave us a $50 travel voucher for having late luggage so that helped!!

That is the first part of Kody's visit and hopefully I will get the rest about the Zoo we went to the parks we have seen and all the people we have seen since he has been here very soon. Right now it is off to watch Shrek and get a little boy to bed!!