happy birthday, kirsten

 It was a fun day, spent together, Chinese food and crazy kids. 

 When I went looking for pictures of you tonight, I did not have to look far:

 I love this sibling costume from a few years ago.  Meta C. commented about James with the cheap win. 

My Price Is Right children would understand without explanation.

 Here's a pretty picture of you and your buddy:

 Your best girl:

 Living it up in Florida:

 A pic from the time Dan's family spent with you in Florida:

 This old favorite picture of my girls on Barb and Mark's jet ski:

 Oh  yes, from that fine wedding:

 And this character, this challenging and beautiful rescue pup, gentle, nervous and sweet:

 You and Tom on a Christmas a while back:

Oh, Kirsten.

Thank you for all the love and happiness you have brought this whole family.

We're lucky  having YOU.

Happy Birthday and love forever, MOM and DAD and Everybody

oh my

 That's Elin.

Yesterday I tossed a treat out the back door and it went under that tall fancy patio table that Jody gave me a couple years ago.

That's fine. She went under there to get it.  I went back inside.

 A few minutes later I heard some weird noises and after another long minute, went to check.  That table was out in the middle of the back yard. The palm tree lanterns were on the ground. The other picnic table was knocked crooked and plants had fallen off.

Elin was standing there in the yard with the tall table on its side.

I went out there to talk to her and bring the table back. That's when I realized it was stuck to her. Her collar caught on one of the curlicues and she must have had a moment of panic and ran off with the whole works!

I took off the collar and brought the table back. No harm done.

Except later last night I realized she was missing a tooth.  There was a sore red spot on her gum where it had apparently been ripped right out, and it had to be in this incident.

Poor darn dog!  Oh Elin!

 Okay, good night.

Love, Val

cold saturday

 It was cold. Though it was warm in the cabin, they kept this fire going all day outside.

 The water was choppy and cold, even whitecaps at times.

 We made a few trips to the Tooth Fairy House.  As the kids and I crossed they yard in the resort next door, Charlie, who owns the resort looked at us like, "What's up?"

He was busy winterizing cabins. I could hear the air compressor at intervals blowing out the water lines.

I said, "We're heading to the Tooth Fairy House."

He nodded deeply and kept going, all bundled up in a winter coat and a hat with ear flaps pulled down.

 There's Dan on Jay's old motorcycle, giving his kid a ride.

 There's the diving dock stored away for the winter.

 Games!  Dannell and I played One-Card Poker until we all couldn't take it anymore. People came and went from the game.

There were issues with shuffling the cards and dealing.

But that's ok. That's how they learn.  They're smart. They're getting better.

 And there was a fierce game of Dominos that went late into the night, so much fun.

Nothing but love.

Thanks to all for a great Summer, 2018.

Love, Mom, aka GRANDMA, aka Val

funny guys

Yes, they've been put to work!

Love you both, Mom, aka GRANDMA