happy birthday my dear

The party yesterday was splendid, have not had the family together since Christmas.  Only one guy was missing, which  he would have loved this, but college is important.

 

Potato salad and a big, fat chocolate cake

It was Jay's birthday too this week, and we all got to see him and sing.

The bubbles were a huge hit, and he's a patient bubble-blower.

Gifts!

Playing school--this was Spanish class, in case you're wondering.

Your turn:

All our best wishes!  

The year ahead is looking better than great.

As always, nothing but love--the love is forever and ever.

Happy Birthday, Love, Mom and Dad and Everybody

happy birthday, sweetheart

It was a very laid back, rainy Sunday.

There were gifts

And cake

I am so proud of the woman you've become and have so much appreciation for your conscientious loving heart, your perseverance and patience.

And I hope this year is the best year EVER.

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart

Love you like crazy forever and ever, Mom and Dad and Everybody

cookies

After graduation, the next day at noon we started baking.  She's been doing this since they were so little they had to stand on chairs at the breadboard.

The woman knows how to roll cookies.  I mostly ran the oven, and we're a good team. Not even ONE pan was burned, and that's probably a record.

The frosting crew arrived in the evening and they were ready to go, capable and dedicated to the job.

About the time we were done frosting cookies an old friend arrived, in town for Christmas.   She's a former real estate client turned friend, turned excellent math tutor, and we were so happy to see her and her husband and meet this beautiful baby of theirs.

She's been a good friend to all of us.  She and Heidi had never actually met in person, so it was extra nice they were all there together and Heidi got a turn too hugging this guy.

The girls brought up some blankets from the blanket stash and one was chosen for him. He's wrapped in it there, so pretty.  When they left it was cuddled around him just right, not slippery, not too big or floppy, just right.

Sunday while Julia was babysitting for Maria's little guy, Kari and I tackled these.   Apparently there's some kind of Ritz Bitz shortage, so we couldn't make those.

Who knew?

But we dipped the Christmas pretzels in chocolate and agreed it took longer than the other kind, but not that much longer, and the results?  Delicious.

And there were are at the end of Sunday night, all the cookies put away and the whole trashed kitchen put right again.

It was a good job done.

Tomorrow the floor will be washed and waxed and we'll be ready to start making meatballs for Saturday's party.

This weekend was perfect in unexpected ways, and nothing but love,   MOM aka Val aka Grandma