Ophelia's 3rd Birthday - Off to Utah

June 9th - With a quick up, up, and away, I am off to Utah for a few days to celebrate O's 3rd birthday.  My suitcase is full of fun handmade gifts and I'm ready for snuggles and giggles galore.  The bonus?  Ava is 10 1/2 months old now and I get to spend time with her too.  Is there more?  Of course.  Time with my own sweet baby and her hubby are always a special treat.  Now let's get going.

I have an afternoon flight so arrive in early evening to a car full of girls.  A drive to Provo and a few cuddles before I fall into a heap.  Time for some sleep and let the fun begin tomorrow.

10th -  Alright, let's get this party started.  Miss Ophelia is now THREE.  While I peacefully slept away the night, Cassie decorated the dining room with a pleasant surprise for her little one this morning.  It looks great and the smiles are definitely worth it.  Gifts are out and so perhaps I should get mine wrapped too.

Jared's in Town

When Jen arrived yesterday to pick up Jacob, she dropped off Jared to spend a few days with us.  These teenage boys are just so independent and sleeper inners that it's hard to find much to write about or take pictures of.  However, today we actually have a fun story.

Jared's request for the day is Jumpstreet. It is not a car day for us so that means DART and I arrange for our pickup in time to get to the train and connect to the bus correctly.  Our pickup is late, thus missing the first train.  When we grab the next one, our connecting bus has already left when we arrive at our stop.  Great.  It's about a 25 minute wait for the bus and Jumpstreet is about a mile away so I ask Jared if he is up to a walk.  He gives me a big smile and says, "Yes."  Let's go then.  We set off and I am instantly regretting my decision as I did not wear sneakers and as much as I love these sandals, they are not wonderful for walking a long ways as they always seems to rub the bottom of my feet.  Oh well, no turning back now.  We get about 1/4 of a mile when I notice the sky really getting dark and it appears to be moving straight at us.  Great.  Suggesting that we get up on the Central Expressway so that there are businesses to dart into in case of a downpour, we alter our route a bit and continue on.  As we near the 3/4 of a mile mark, it starts to sprinkle and I'm okay with that as we just kick it up a gear.  As soon as we cross Royal and enter the parking lot (of which Jumpstreet is clear on the other side), it lets loose and we are running like crazy.  Two soaked rats enter the trampoline park, but - hey - it is a memory, right?  A quick phone call to Grandpa for a 5 p.m. pickup and off he goes while I settle in to work on a project.  (Yes, I'm still soaked when Mister arrives 2 hours later.)

Front Bench Updo

Every so often things new a new touch.  Today, the front bench is sporting a new outfit after Mister gave her a fresh coat of stain.  Lovin' it.

Time With Jacob

May 31st.  What could that mean?  Well, for starters it means that school is out and the summer camp sessions are starting.  Jacob is first up and after a drive to Weatherford, in which I managed to discover that there are TWO DQ's and sent Jen to the wrong one, we are back in Dallas and off to dinner with Grandpa.  Chinese dinner is on the agenda and Jacob has ordered some fried rice.  SOME!  Hahahahaha.  What a mountain of food.

June 1st - I have been bothered by a rash on my leg for a week now and it is really starting to travel and get worse.  I am biting the bullet and heading for the doctor.

After a quick appointment which  nets me some steroids, antibiotics, and hydrocortisone cream, we are off to Central Market for groceries.  It's a pretty boring day for a grandson that is 14 and I feel bad for him, but dang --  my leg is a mess.

Dinner is at Smash Burger, as requested, and nothing has changed since the last time we were there.  I think that was their final death march for us.  No more Smash Burger.  When asked the difference between a regular and large burger, the attendant held up two cups and explained to me that one was regular and one was large because one was bigger than the other.  Honest.

Memorial Day Weekend with Mister -- Fort Worth Zoo

After a relatively calm day yesterday, we have decided to make a run over to Fort Worth and check out the zoo.  It's been awhile since we were there and walking sounds like a great activity for today.

A quick stop for a donut and some boba tea to take along and we are at the zoo when it opens. First stop is the Bonobo Chimpanzees.  They have a couple of really young ones and we are content to just watch and enjoy.

From there, we are onto the gorillas, where, again, there is a little one.  This is so fun.  Now, I will admit that I don't like their habitats here as much as the ones at the Dallas Zoo, but I am loving the wee ones.

Memorial Day Weekend with Mister - Checking out Thurber

It's time to return back to the Metroplex and before we left, we looked up a few of the small towns along the route.  Our return is later in the day than we had originally planned, but it is still light out and as we arrive in Thurber, we decide to check it out.

This place is chock full of history and it's the coolest kind.  Why do I say that?  It was the most important mine site in Texas for 30 years.  Under the ground, there is still a crazy amount of coal but it is not currently being mine.

The tower is not very stable in places but we still go and check it all out.

It's Party Time -- Bekah's Graduation

We have spent the night in Abilene in order to help with the party preparations today.  One of the things Jen is doing for it is showing Bekah through the years.  I have to stand and thoroughly enjoy each and every one of them as I make my way down the hall.