miss seventeen

Ah, yes. It's Maria.

Many characters were here for supper tonight, to celebrate.





Here's James working on an insane school assignment. He'll get it done, wade through the b.s. and yet why, but this isn't even a teacher-assigned bit of work. It's some government standard. Yeah, let's not talk about it.

Here they're laughing because Dan's dog jumped up and snatched food right out of John's hand when he wasn't looking. Dan said he shouldn't be dangling it down by the dog. John denied any dangling said the dog is a thief. Oh dear.

Oh, the gifts, which were mostly clothes, which she loves.

Here's a cute guy in my room.

And another cute one in Tim's room.


Here's m.c. still in her school uniform, looking sharp.

And there's b.g. helping Maria with her gifts. He actually was found in the office in the basement at one point. The lights were off in the stairway, but he wasn't scared.

I suppose he could see the lights on in the office, though Dan says dark doesn't scare this child.

He was standing on Grandpa's desk chair at the desk, looking around at all the papers and trinkets and junk. He had a lot to say when we found him. The giant bottle of aspirin on the desk has a child proof cap, so that's good.

(Grandpa lives on aspirin, no joke. He pops aspirin like some people do Vitamin C. But he hurts, and Vitamin C does nothing for his neck.)

Maria, Maria, you spectacular girl. As you informed me, yes, you are old enough to read Seventeen magazine now.

(I was appalled by some of the articles! How to kiss to turn your boyfriend on more? He does NOT need to be turned on MORE, believe me. Heroin overdoses? Aaaagh! Anyway. Maria laughed at me, said I was nuts.)

Sigh. Okay. But still.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart. We have loved you since you were tiny and toothless, and we still absolutely adore you now. This whole darn family is lucky for you. Thanks for being our girl.

love you always, Mom and Dad