happy birthday, miss O

 Look at you, back when you were first born.  I told someone you had eyes like sapphires, and I wasn't even exaggerating.

Five years of YOU.

How is this even possible?

It feels like you've been here the whole time.

We love you like crazy.

Happy Birthday, beautiful girl.

Love, Grandma and Grandpa and Everybody

and finally a birthday party

 Our little Miss O is five this week, and today was a great birthday party.

 The pinata was great, even though it was shady in the alley, it was still warm out. They kept creeping closer and closer and we kept hollering to get back, get back from the bat!

 Cake time!

This was a very specific cake she instructed Dan to bake: white with white frosting and a chocolate cat.

Okay then.

When the cake was cut the child said, "I just want ice cream."

???

!!!

Nevermind.

Oh my little darling, I love you so much.

Happy Birthday!

Love Grandma and Grandpa and Everybody

basketball happened on saturday

 It was their championship game and they won. 

What a great day!  Love, Grandma and Grandpa

more things happened

Love, Grandma

while we were gone

 There was a school dance, and Julia and her friends went, all fancy and gorgeous.

Aww, what a great night.

Love, Mom

back home again

There was a medical emergency on a flight ahead of ours, diverted to Dallas, which bumped every other flight on down the line. I hope the person is okay, because this is obviously not a small thing. 

Maria finally picked us up after 9 pm. Jay's suitcase was apparently left behind in Dallas with 25 other people's luggage. 

In Dallas, I went to the bathroom, and there was a box on the wall behind the toilet, full of soap or something to clean the toilet when it was flushed.  Okay, cool.  I did not notice that the tube going from the box into the bowl was not in the toilet.

It was outside the toilet, and when I flushed it, my shoe was filled with soapy water, pants leg wet, just a lot came pouring.

As I dumped my shoe out I had the thought, "I gotta go home."

And I laughed so hard I was in pain while telling the others. Oh my goodness.

Long day, but we made it here and the Welcome Home banner is gorgeous.  Each letter is a separate panel done with watercolors, and it's lovely. 

Truly, one of the best parts of vacation is coming back home again.

Love you all, MOM

last day of vacation

It was fun.  We had a great day. What is up with this margarita though?  Good Lord.

In the morning we'll be on our way home.   Love, Val

a few pictures

Love, Val

today in pv

 How does anyone balance rocks upon rocks like this?  I put a tip in that box, truly amazed. She saw me do it and when my camera came out she posed with her creations.

The hearts up and down the boardwalk are an arts and tourist attraction, new this year, and they are beautiful, each one unique.

The view at lunch as the para sailors flew away and came back again.

Oh my goodness.   Love, Val