Grandma & Grandpa visit during Allison's Jade EP release - written by Grandma Curtin

Grandma and Grandpa came over from Port Angeles to baby-sit Michael while Rachel and Anton attended one of Allison's concerts in the Seattle area.  We decided to go out for a late lunch, with Rachel and Anton leaving for the concert directly from the restaurant.  Michael was slightly concerned after arriving home when mom and dad weren't there.  He asked several times about "mama" and "dada" and was determined to climb back into his care seat.  So… grandma and grandpa decided to go for a stroll outside.  Michael got his shoes and socks for us to put on and out we went for a grand adventure.  Rachel had previously told us that they sometimes walk to the first corner, so we figured it would probably be a short trip.  We were wrong.  Mr. Michael set off down the driveway, where he immediately spotted a bunny that needed checking out.  After the bunny hopped into the bushes, we continued out to Woodchuck Lane, where we ventured only a short distance before coming to our first stick.  Michael picked up his prize, and we continued on, pausing briefly to bark at the doggies living at the house on the corner.  Next, it was around the bend and down the slope of SE Harland.  During this time, Michael chose several new sticks, discarding the smaller ones, until he found just the right lethal looking object.  Grandma found a nice straight, smooth limb, which she tried to substitute for the chosen item, but this backfired, and we were now packing two sticks.  After some persuasion, Michael agreed to let grandpa hold one and grandma the other, while he walked in-between grasping our free hands.  We then rounded the next corner to start the gradual incline up SE Harland.  We waved at passing cars, said "Hi" to other walkers, and pointed out overhead airplanes and helicopters.  All the while, we traveled at a steady pace for grandma and grandpa, which meant Michael was almost at a jog.  When asked if he needed to stop or rest, he responded by plodding determinedly onward.  Michael found a Scotch broom branch, which he thought was amazing and we were able to thankfully discourage.  We turned on to Lila Lund and soon reached Woodchuck Lane once more.  Michael enjoyed racing grandpa, but not always paying attention to where he was going.  One time, he began gradually drifting toward the sloping shoulder, his little body tilting more and more in that direction.  Fortunately, we stopped this trajectory before he ended up in the ditch.  There was a short breather to investigate a cat in a driveway and watch a skate-boarder being pulled behind a car.  A dog started howling in the distance, so, naturally, we all howled back, which Michael found quite funny.  Another race with grandpa, with Michael the victorious winner, and we were on the final leg of our journey.  Shortly after the three of us passed Bobcat Lane, Michael agreed to ride on grandpa's shoulders.  While giving up some freedom, the view was definitely better from that vantage, and he was able to point out many more items of interest.  We arrived back home, where Michael guzzled a large cup of water, replenished his energy, and was ready to roughhouse before dinner.  Grandpa and Grandma were ready for a nap.   Michael, after walking/jogging a good mile and a half, was ready for more.  What a little trooper!