Special Visitors

A very lucky little girl got to spend all last week hanging out with her great-grandparents. Mama J. and Papa J. drove over 20 hours to come see us and take care of Penelope while we were working.

It turned out to be a bit more of an eventful week than we had originally planned. Monday morning we realized that our air conditioning needed to be completely replaced (just in time for the hottest weather of the year). Thirty-six steamy hours and a pretty penny later, and we were back in business. Thanks goodness for Papa J. overseeing the whole process and Mama J. holding down the fort while we were at work!

Penelope, of course, ate up every bit of attention doled out by Mama J. and Papa J. But who wouldn't?

You can bet that she took full advantage of the opportunity to have two people to sit with her and play the same thing over and over again for hours on end.

So very many precious memories were created during this week that we will hold dear. Thank you so much for coming to visit us and for taking such good care of Little P!

We love you Mama J. and Papa J.!

Happy Mother's Day and Cupcakes too

What a better way to celebrate Mother's Day than with the husband and daughter you love! Penelope was very excited about the holiday and exclaimed "Happy Muffa Day!" over and over again to anyone (male or female) she encountered. It was occasionally accompanied by a refrain of the "Happy Birthday" song and asking for cupcakes. We celebrated by eating a yummy brunch at one of our favorite spots, going on a long walk, and doing some rock collecting. 

Some mother-daughter window shopping during our walk

P ignoring the flowers and focusing on the rocks

(Just in case I have a sudden-onset alzheimer's and forget her name)

....Now we interrupt the regularly scheduled programming for a special presentation...

A pole-dancing routine by Penelope in honor of her mother

And now for the grand finale....

Ta-da!

Zoo Escapades

A couple weeks ago was my very long-awaited Spring Break. To celebrate, Penelope and I joined some friends for a day at the NC Zoo. 

During this trip Penelope had a quick change of personality. The outgoing unabashed girl I knew was exchanged for a whimpering skittish little thing. 

Last time it was all, "Oh wow! A lion! Roaaar!" 

This time it was, "No! It'll hurt you! Mommeee!!!" 

I don't get it.

I did manage to coax her out of the stroller for this cool albino alligator, but forget about the baboons and the chimps. They were waaaaay too scary for Miss P.

After lunch and the first ice cream cone of the season, she started to ease up.

And even posed for a picture with the flamingos.

But the real animals took a backseat to the fake beehive 

and the larger-than-life sized garden playground.

Kids. Once you think you have them all figured out, they throw you for a loop.