vacation 2018, day 2

 We had breakfast at this restaurant next to the pool.

 Eventually we made our way to the ocean.

It was a pretty beautiful Monday.

Love, Val

vacation, 2018

 Kim and Cheri invited us to stay with them at their timeshare in Puerto Vallarta, It's in the new part north of the city in a fancy resort.

They have had flight delays, so at this point we're here with their son.  He's easy company.

 This place is so fancy and the resort is so huge!

We went grocery shopping--the kitchen is a nice feature.

 There's a pool on the deck.

 Our room is a long way from the ocean, overlooking the golf course.

I hear everyone is doing fine back at home, and what a lovely Sunday evening this is.

Love, Val

happy birthday, miss o

 Gifts were opened, a fine meal was served.  It was a fun evening.

 Dan baked a fine princess birthday cake:

 Everyone sang.  It was lovely.

 Happy 3rd Birthday to you, little girl.

This whole family is better with you in it, and that is the truth.

Thank you for being ours.

Love Grandma and Grandpa and Everybody.

snowy night

 It's snowing tonight, so pretty.

 Muffled sound, big old bright pastel dome of sky:

 Here are a few more pictures of last weekend, which was a splendid time spent with kids I love and seldom get to hang out with.

 It was a laid back couple of days, loud, cheerful and fun.

 He's written something microscopic on this bit of paper and wanted me to take a picture specifically for this blog.

 They made these cut outs, kind of like snowflakes, but kind of different. They taped them up all over my house, pretty festive.

This is the dog who will not come back in the house tonight even though it's now 11:16 pm.  She loves snow, and that's great and all, but I also want to go to bed and want her inside.

 I tempted her with two Hawaiian buns, which truly are her weakness, but she resisted!  She looked a long time, but then turned away and jumped in the snow.

Okay, going back to try again. 

Oh! Well! She just appeared here and jumped onto our bed, towel in her mouth.

Okay, good night.

Tomorrow is Friday, best day of the week.

I have to take Julia to urgent care because she might have strep throat again, but that's okay.  

It's also time to get started on our taxes, and buy a birthday present for a little girl turning three.

Love, Val

president's day, 2018

 They were all over the house playing, but when I actually snap a picture is when they are here.  There was a hide and seek game that went on and on, which one energetic kid called Hide and Seek in the Guitar Version, and there was an old plastic toy guitar from a garage sale 100 years ago involved.

We didn't ask a lot.

Sunday night Dan's kids were here with Alicia's parents for supper, and it was a great time. We haven't spent an evening with her parents since the lake last summer, and the evening went by in a flash, happy kids running all over. Heidi was here too, and it was a lovely evening.

 They played their little hearts out. Dan and Alicia's daughter loves to play baby, and they were taking care of babies all night.

 Some people were a little wound up, hard to get non-blurry pictures.

 But this was this morning, five cousins waking up--one on the couch, one on the love seat, and three cross-wise on the air mattress.  They didn't wake up until after 8:30, they were so tired.

 This is a great story though.  John and Dannell also left their sweet old dog here, Sophie. She's a rat terrier, so friendly and hilarious.  I honestly do love that dog.

Well, during the night there was some kind of bodily function situation.  Maria came to tell me and said she had covered the situation up with towels.  At 6 am, that sounds perfect.

A little bit later, Jay was at the foot of the bed, wanting to talk about it.

See, I have my priorities.

I asked, "Are the kids awake?"

He said no.

I said, "Then just leave it how it is. There is no way in hell I am waking up five kids over it. I'll get the shampooer out later."

Perfect.

 I also looked at the situation when they did wake up, but I decided to make breakfast first.

Who wants to deal with grossness and THEN cook?  No, no, no. That's disgusting.

I heated up the monkey bread, cooked sausages, scrambled eggs. They all ate, cute in pajamas. Except for that one kid who fell asleep still dressed, wearing a Power Ranger costume. The dog shit situation could wait another half an hour.

 I did not even realize that finger was in her nose.   Whatever.

 The aunts were home today, which was nice.    After lunch Jay took t.c. and Tim along to a plumbing job to carry out rubble, (Jay jackhammered and dug and put in the pipes a few days ago.) and carry in bags of concrete, mix, and pour.  They were gone a couple hours and came back laughing their heads off.   I was surprised when t.c. said he wanted to go along, but sure, yeah.  It's not a dangerous job or anything, just a cement situation where more hands are quite useful.

 Anyway, it was tacos for supper and then packing up and heading home.  Jay's staying overnight at their house and doing the morning routine over there, getting them to school while I receive Heidi's kids here and then go to a real estate closing first thing in the morning.  Heather is coming to stay with them while I'm gone.

And that is that.

This weekend has been a blast, so incredibly much fun.

All made possible by kids and the people who love them.

Also--their parents all appeared to be having a superb few days in paradise.

Love, Grandma and Grandpa