Well, we’re back from New Jersey. Diane and I arrived back at Sky Harbor International Airport Monday evening, Sept. 15, after a five-day visit to the Garden State.

We had a great time visiting daughter Tammy, her husband, Brandon, and the grandkids. The weather was almost perfect, with highs in the 70s and low humidity. We did have a day of rain, but it was light.

Toni, our daughter in Las Vegas, came to stay at our house for the weekend prior to our trip to New Jersey. She brought our newest grandson, Camden, who had open heart surgery 2-1/2 months ago. He is now seven months old and his visit to the cardiologist the week before showed his heart repair is healing nicely.

They flew back with us to New Jersey and little Camden slept almost the entire way. In fact when we landed and were getting off the plane, the people behind us were amazed to see a baby.

“Do you have the perfect baby? We never heard him at all,” a couple asked us. Camden just smiled in his mother’s arms.

Toni and Camden are still in New Jersey and will return to Las Vegas later this week.

The rest of the grandkids are doing fine. Brandon, is now six years old and in the first grade. We went to his soccer game on Sunday, but were unable to attend his ice hockey game on Tuesday night.

Four–year-old Brody’s first Tae Kwan Do class was on Thursday.

Three-year-old Brylee wasn’t quite sure about this guy every one called Grandpa. I guess she’s shy because I haven’t been around much.

The newest of Tammy’s children is Brielle, born 8-1/2 months ago, is a cute little butterball.

Our 15year-old grandson, Hunter, and his mom, daughter Dani, moved from Fountain Hills to New Jersey last June. He is adjusting to his new high school and he is anxious to experience his first winter with snow. (I wonder if he will feel the same way next April.) Dani is looking for a good career job, while working nights at the Appian Way restaurant, owned by Brandon’s family.

Hunter had Diane and I try out his favorite diner our first full day there. The food was good and the menu was extensive.

On Saturday, we went to a mall for a family portrait. Getting all the kids to smile at the same time proved to be a monumental task, but overall they did well. I was also impressed at how well-behaved they were at dinner afterwards. We went to Jose Tejas, Dani’s favorite. It specializes in Tex-Mex and Cajun dishes. The food was very good and the restaurant was packed.

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At the beginning of the first Historical Society dinner meeting of the season, President Debbie Skehen announced a new membership benefit has been added for members of the society. As memberships are renewed this fall, members will receive a special card that when shown at participating museums, will gain them free access and a 10 percent discount in their museum stores.

The museums are the Cave Creek Museum, the Gilbert Historical Museum, the rim Country Museum and Zane Grey Cabin in Payson, the Rosson House Museum in Phoenix Heritage Square and the Superstition Mountain Museum in Apache Junction.

That program should be beneficial for everyone.