happy birthday, aaron

Twenty four years old!

Gifts random and funny.

It was a fun night.

We love you so much.

I hope this is a great year.

Love,  Jay, Val and Everybody

happy birthday, alicia

Oh, Alicia.

If anybody could find something cute in the closet after this pandemic, it would be you.

We have been through a lot these many months, but thankfully the family has stayed healthy and been vaccinated, and are hopeful for the future.  

We live in strange times.

I hope your birthday today was splendid and the year ahead is a good one.

Happy Birthday!

We all love you incredibly much.

Love, Val and Jay and Everybody
 

these two

There was a cousin fight and people were upset.

She retreated to him and that's fine. 

Not ready for smiles.  Understandable.

Nothing but love, Grandma

 

a few more pics

The sky was bright over the swamp.  After the rain on Friday night, everything seemed greener and more lush the next day.

She's supposed to be sleeping in her own bed these days and earned this Barbie by doing so.

Last night though, I heard she was waking one after another up all night long bed to bed.

I mentioned that I don't sleep alone. I sleep with Cramp-paw.  When her mom was little, she slept with Aunt Kirsten.  (And when they were pretty big too. In a big family you don't get a whole room or even a whole bed.  It's a sleepover situation every night.)

Heidi glared.  

"Mother, you are not helping me."

I asked the child if she had a sister she could sleep with. SLEEP WITH. Not wake up and bother people.

Or a stuffed animal she really liked that she could cuddle with. We discussed that for a bit. No conclusions were reached.

This swim contraption has been quite the hit.   It's not fool proof and they keep her within reach at all times, but she loves it, paddling around, FREEDOM!

And here's our pretty, quiet back yard.  

Since pandemic, it's been silent and empty.  The grass grows, the flowers bloom.

Nobody plays with the toys or swings on the swings.

That's okay.  Staying alive is a thing we're all committed to.

July?  

You have exceeded expectations.

Sweet summer.

Love, Val

 

july weekend

Love, Mom, aka Grandma
 

happy birthday, julia!

Pretty picture, says it is the first time anyone has ever given her flowers.

Presents!
 

Cake--special request from Costco, easy enough.

It was a lovely evening, dinner at a fun restaurant, fun in the kitchen afterward.

We hope seventeen is a wonderful year.

Thank you for all the happiness you've brought us these many years.

Our little maraschino cherry on top of a big, giant sundae of family--we could not love you more.

Happy Birthday, 

Love, Mom and Dad and Everybody

a beautiful weekend

 Love, Mom

more wilderness walk

Love, Val