Because Dave and Jan’s California grandkids have birthdays just a week and a half apart in April they drove to California to take part in the joint birthday party for Ryan and Erin at the home of Dr. Bruce and Connie Seymour (the other grandparents) in Long Beach. Those in attendance included the Seymours, Ryan and Erin’s parents, Stephen and Meagan, Meagan’s sister and family (Chip, Heidi, Zerlinda, Benjamin and Amos Clampitt). The Seymour’s back yard became the party scene.

Ryan had just turned seven, and he was happy to be reunited with Jan’s dog, Lola on the occasion of the party.

Erin, who turned four a few days after the party, was quite enthralled with a bubble machine on the day of the party.

With two birthdays to celebrate a little creativity can make the birthday cake serve for both of the celebrants.

And with two birthdays to celebrate there was an abundance of birthday gifts to be opened by both Ryan and Erin.

And what kids’ birthday party would be complete without a chance to hit the pinata, so cousin Benjamin took his turn as Stephen looked on and Benjamin’s father, Chip, made the process more challenging by keeping the target moving!

On Sunday evening, the day following the birthday party, Dave and Jan joined Stephen and family for a visit to the Glendale Galleria, a popular shopping center in Glendale, not far from Stephen’s family’s home in Burbank.

It’s fun to watch grandkids as they develop over the passing of the years. What directions will their lives take in the years ahead if the Lord’s return is delayed long enough to see them into adulthood? Only the Lord knows, but perhaps Ryan will turn out to be another famous artist in view of his re-creation of one of the works of Picasso!