08/02/14

Tom with his Grandson, Dash

excerpts from DashMartin.net

(click on pictures for larger)

October 28, 2005

Gee it's been a week. After about four days "going it alone" at home with Dash, I said to Leigh "I'm not smart enough for this. Let's bring in some help. Bring in some experts." So we brought in Mom and Dad Stokes on Monday night. They have been a tremendous help, even though Grandma Stokes doesn't "gush" quite as much as I think would be appropriate.

Monday, September, 11, 2006

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa Stokes

We visited Grandpa and Grandma Stokes in Elk Rapids over the Labor Day weekend.

Dash was good on the plane on the way out. He slept the last half of the four hour San Diego-Chicago leg. The Chicago Traverse City flight "Final Boarding Call for Traverse City" caught us a bit off guard as Dash was pantless and I had perhaps the biggest and best Gyro sandwich of my life in one hand. Leigh "held the door" at the gate while I managed to get Dash in his new umbrella stroller with one hand. Unable to strap him in one-handed, I had to pop a wheelie to keep him from falling out; my face covered in Taziki sauce as if it were shaving cream.

Dash flirted with the flight attendant in the last row of the second leg. Grandma and Grandpa were waiting at the airport. Yeah!

The next day Dash continued his walking practice in the Stokes' lake house. Not being very baby-proofed (little need) Dash was like a bull in a china shop, a clumsy fragile bull negotiating hard unyielding china. We were about to rename him "Bash." His forehead lost its new moguls soon enough.

Of course, we were all thrilled to be together, but it was also the first weekend of college football season, so you know what Dad and I did a lot of.

Gus joined us to meet his nephew (the Stokes get a new family member every 26 years).

July 2007 Traverse City Airport

our typical "oh, yeah, forget to get a group shot"

April 2008 Grandma & Grandpa Stokes Visit

Grandpa and Dash in a helicopter mockup on board the USS Midway.	Dash sitting in a trainer jet!
Grandpa and Dash at the very tip of the aircraft carrier.	Grandma and Dash at Legoland.
Kili sacking out with Grandma...	Bye-bye at the airport.