Grandkids are the best!

We had a great time today enjoying Gary and Cecile's daughter and two grandkids who came for their annual Mendocino visit. We happened to be here two years ago when they came up and we were anxious to see them again. The kids have grown up since then and are 5 1/2 and 3 years old. They are as cute as they can be. Arriving full of energy, they were ready to play with us all afternoon. We enjoyed smoked salmon for dinner followed by S'mores for dessert—it just can't get better than that!

It's fun to watch our good friends be "Grampa Gary and Gramma Cecile."

Cecile took the kids for a walk in the woods to collect pine cones to use as kindling to start the fire.

C and J showing us all the pine cones they found.

Five year old "C" had drawn Ken and I each a picture which she proudly gave to us and was quite pleased to point out that she had signed them herself on the back. . . . she even "blackened" my eye because she had been told about my tripping adventure . . . little did she know that both eyes are now discolored (more of a burgundy right now, soon to be a series of colors, I'm sure!) In fact when she first saw me she gave me an odd look (well, duh!) and later I found out that she was concerned because she had only colored one eye dark.
How cute is that!

Adorable little family patiently waiting for the fire to be perfect for roasting marshmallows.

This picture was taken just after the first marshmallow for "J" had fallen off the roasting stick into the fire, and little "J" looks a bit concerned . . . but alas! Gramma to the rescue with another marshmallow to roast!

Here is Pat all bundled up and trying to avoid the smoke from the campfire.

Life is good . . . especially with kids in our life!