the brotherhood of the drum

We just wrapped up the weekend of crazy family fun, tucking an exhausted Luke into bed and preparing to say sad goodbyes to Papa on Tuesday.

I told Dave that having Mom and Dad here makes me feel like I have my two most trusted advisors at my side at all times.

Sadness aside, I have to say we've made the most of the past few days, avoiding the freeways and just heading to the beach at every opportunity. Oh, and the drum circle. That was clearly a highlight for Luke, and the picture is going to make a good album cover one of these years.

So what did we learn:
1) That Luke is willing to walk if the carrying grandpa complains that his back hurts enough;
2) That bird poop is more interesting than diggers, shovels, buckets, actual live birds, bugs, other people, or just about anything else on the beach;
3) That a large group of perfectly mature adults will all willingly hide under pillows and pretend to sleep if so instructed by a 2-year-old;
4) That a flock of birds and ducks will eat honey-roasted peanuts fed to them and not die, or at least not yet;
5) That talking about taking out a splinter is just as bad as the act of taking out the splinter;
6) That Luke can play the piano with his toes ("Ready, toes?)
7) That the issue of what to call the spikes on the back of the pink dinosaur's back is so important that it's worth going upstairs and waking up Dad for;
8) That you don't need to carry your goofy plastic kids' drum to the drum circle because even the hardened pros will soften a little and let your 2-year-old have a go at one of the "big drums;"
9) That nothing gets a kid tuckered out more than a day at the beach, some drumming, a stroll down the crazy Venice Beach promenade, and a visit to the Mexican restaurant where the lady cooks the tortillas; but
10) That the promise of ice cream is always enough to keep even the most tired guy awake for just a few more minutes.

Lucky for us, Mom is in town for a few more days...