Grandma Tappa's

There are lots of nice things about living where we live. An abundance of parks within a 15-minute drive. Pizza at the Wheel House and ice cream at Scooper's. Football games at the field just beyond our backyard.

One of the best, though, is that my grandma lives just 10 minutes away. Being able to see her on a regular basis is such a treat for me, and I think the feeling is mutual.

Especially since Jana and I had the boys. Charlie and Will are my grandma's first great-grandchildren, and it's nice for them to be able to spend quality time together.

Take Saturday morning. Charlie was Charlie, giving Grandma some smiles and cuddling, but eventually he got cranky and needed a nap. While he slept on my chest, Grandma spent a good hour one-on-one with Will.

They played hide and seek, which is always a hoot to watch. At one point Grandma was down on her hands and knees behind a chair, hiding. Will found her quickly, because he saw her feet and "bumper."

They read books, including one about firemen. Grandma was able to tell Will about his great-grandpa, who was a fireman, and the picture of me on a fire engine. They also talked about fire safety and smoke detectors. At one point during this discussion Will asked Grandma what "shrill" meant. Oh, the irony.

Later they went for a walk around Grandma's apartment complex, meeting her neighbors and checking out their door decorations. For some reason, Will just loves going in the parking garage in the basement.

Hopefully the boys will remember these times when they get older. I'm sure she will.