He'll be comin' on the Cal Train when he comes...

Nan and Grandpa have been great about visiting the circus lately. They come the day that Daddy's away the longest at class, arriving midmorning and staying until late afternoon. These visits are great for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the girls are about over the moon every time their grandparents arrive. They stand watch at the front window, waiting for Nan and Grandpa's car. When it arrives, they broadcast the news of the arrival at the top of their lungs, punctuating their joyful shouts with jumps. (Or in Madeline's case, by throwing her hands above her head and saying "Hop!") Once inside the door the grandparents are pressed into service, reading stories, snuggling grandchildren of all sizes, dressing dolls, and watching "dance performances." But Nan and Grandpa's visits are also great for getting little chores done, the ones that sometimes fall by the wayside. Grandpa's hung the pictures that were propped on the stairway for heaven knows how long, watered the garden (and the wilting hydrangea by the front door), carried out the trash and more. Nan's pitched in with laundry folding and dish washing when things have been hectic. And although Mama has made countless successful solo trips to the commissary, Costco, Target and the like with three children, when Nan and Grandpa come to town, Grandpa stays with the napping girls while Nan and Mama run errands with John David. (It's amazing how much you can get done with only one baby!)

Last week, Grandpa needed to go into work in San Francisco before he could come to visit the circus. Nan drove down by herself and then a few hours later, we all made an outing of meeting Grandpa at the Cal Train station. The girls were predictably excited about seeing Grandpa. Seeing Grandpa on a train? Extremely exciting.

Here's the circus (sans Daddy, of course) waiting in the sunshine.

The girls were surprised by how loud and how big the trains are. (They don't seem nearly so large when you're sitting in your carseat in a minivan on the road while the train races by on its tracks.) Kathleen made sure Indy didn't get scared.

The sweet boy seemed neither scared nor excited. I think sleepy describes it best.

And then the train arrived. Nan held Madeline up to see in the windows and to give her a better chance of spotting Grandpa (or Bampa in Madeline-speak, which greatly amused the Cal Train workers).

When Grandpa finally emerged, he got a royal welcome.

Of course, now anytime we drive past the Cal Train station (which happens frequently, I'll have you know), Madeline shouts out, "Bampa!  Train!" and we have to explain that while Grandpa does sometimes visit us on the train, he's not always on the train...