botannical garden

Very beautiful place--spent half the day here.

These memorial benches, so sweet.

Okay, good night.  Love, Val

pretty morning

Love, Val

dogs barking on a roof

Love, Val

puerto vallarta, 2017

We made it--left early in the morning in a cab to the airport going 20 mph as the snow flew.

The flight left over an hour late--de-icing and plowing the runway, but a few hours later, we landed in this sweet place.

The hotel we stayed at before was right on the ocean, and that was the best thing about it, but since we were there it was sold and went to an all-inclusive and the price increased accordingly.   We don't want inclusive anyway, prefer to eat elsewhere, so we're trying this place instead.  

Seems okay, basic.  It's also right on the ocean.

We've heard the kids are hunkered down in the snow back home.

Love you all, Mom and Dad

january weekend

Heidi gave me this little light, and it might be a Christmas decoration, but it has enough hearts that I'm leaving it out for Valentine's Day.

These kids came to be babysat last night and we had a lovely evening--a Pokemon show, a few video games, a little art and playing, some snacks, and a lot of fun

This was taken on Friday night's sleepover.  Her asleep in the bed her mom and Kirsten shared, up in their old room, always kind of gets me by the heart a little.

 These two buddies, wrassling fools:

Onward to Monday.

Life is good.

Love, Val

january? hello!

 We had a couple of guys here early in the week, nothing but fun all around, in every way.

 She's just little and energetic, figuring things out.

 The vet came to our house today.  She's up to 37.5 pounds, the happily size of a usual Kindergartner.

And all that sassy and cute.

 Artists at work:

 Other artists, distracting and deflecting a wild puppy:

 Yes.

Meaningful characters to people I know:

Getting on with that?

Nothing but love.

Love, GRANDMA, aka Val.

I love you all so.

hey, 2017

 Some pictures from the Birthday Party last night, where they did the New Year's Eve countdown:

 Back home again, cluttery house, tree dry as toast:

 She's been here many New Year's Eves. First time she made it all the way to midnight.

 In the morning she was in my bed with me and Grandpa, tucked against my chest to watch Curious George, sweetest moment of 2017 so far.

 The gang arrived today, and I was so happy to see them all, to eat a New Year's dinner at my house and have fun together, welcoming the new year.

 In the office, watching TV:

 He could not stay awake, and they took this opportunity to bury him in stuffed animals.

 Yeah, the hair:

 And a couple-a sisters:

2017?

We are definitely a bit weirded out at your arrival.

love, Val, aka MOM, aka GRANDMA