happy birthday, sweetheart

The day you were born is one of those special landmark days. There's never been anyone like YOU.

These are pictures from the friends birthday party on Saturday, which looked like a wild old time.

Here's hoping the year ahead is just as splendid and fun as you are.

This whole family is better because you're in it.

Lucky, lucky us.

Happy birthday, Sweetheart.  We could not love you more, Grandma and Grandpa

 

ruby

This little puppy came home today, and what a delightful little morsel she is.
 

Oh, here's to all the fun and adventures ahead!   Love, Grandma and Grandpa

the weekend

Saturday night we went over to Schuller's where they have live music.  The band was called Drink 182, so expectations low, but they were great--funny, told jokes, played old 90s music, totally enjoyable evening.

Today we took advantage of the warm sunny day and walked around Como Zoo.  It's always the same old thing there, not like there's anything exciting to see, but it was nice to be outside.
 

This room in the conservatory must have had new glass installed in a renovation along the way because the whole room now has a blue cast to the light, which I've noticed on some previous trips there, but today without any kids with us, could take in the situation undistracted.  Yes, the light is blue and honestly it isn't an improvement.  The room was always amazing and still is.

And then we came home and wrapped up the day, and tomorrow is Monday again.

Onward.

Love, Val

last monday

Last Monday we had this guy.  He didn't really understand the pool, but he did like it.

At one point I asked him for the remote, and he ignored me.  I was a little more stern, "Give it to me."  He looked at the remote and then put it behind his back!

Lunch!

After he went home, that guy in the middle performed at a special invitational concert. They did really well.   Had not been in that school for many years, was fun to see it again too.

Then later in the evening when I went in the room to check email, Aspyn seemed awfully still.

Really super still.

I texted Julia and asked Jay to come and look, couldn't detect any breathing.

Yup, indeed, and no idea why.  Everything seemed normal--food from the night before had been eaten, some water had been consumed. There was the usual amount of poo in the cage, but not more or less.  She looked quite perfect.

It's a mystery.   We went to the U and got Julia so she could deal with the body.

And that was an odd, sad way to end a Monday night.

RIP Aspyn Mae Chun-Li  Styles-Nordstrom.

Love you all, MOM aka Grandma

45th anniversary

We realized a short time ago that this marks 45 years, a milestone anniversary.

We talked about ways to celebrate, but honestly?

This is what I wanted most, to have supper together on a random Saturday night in February, and they were kind enough to be here.

My parents were able to come too.

Julia and Hailey--who have survived the dorm room together at the U quite well this semester.

We sang happy birthday to this guy:

Kirsten couldn't make it--she's in Hawaii for another week.  Pretty sweet.

John's little girl picked out this fancy hand soap and  told her mom because I like my hands to smell like roses.

Interesting.

That sounds wonderful. Who wouldn't like that?  

And we didn't get one single picture of the two of us together, so this will suffice.  Bruce, an old friend of Jay's from high school is standing with us, and his wife, Corrina, took the picture when we saw them in Mexico a couple weeks ago.

Happy Anniversary, Jay.

Love, Val