I am pretty sure I already posted this photo that Carolyn took this fall. She entered into an art contest at school. It was selected as the winner from her school and was forwarded on to the regional level. She did not win at that level to go on to the state level, but it was still fun to go to the art gallery the other night and see her work.
Whenever we get a monetary gift, we immediately deposit it into the girls' bank accounts (where we carefully log every gift, giver, and reason. We plan to give this account to the girls when they go off to college). Nevertheless, we always want to honor our gift givers by providing the girls with some memento to recognize their generosity and thought. Given that we are fortunate to have just about any toy or game the girls can imagine, we often provide the girls with "memories" instead of more stuff.
As our final holiday treat, we all went to high tea at the Grand America Hotel. It is a fancy tea party and a "first" for Elizabeth. We all practiced our best manners, while snacking on tea sandwiches, scones, berries and cream, and many fine pastries and deserts. The girls could not believe that we allowed them to eat all of the deserts. Elizabeth really liked the toy store in the hotel, and enjoyed all the special little sandwiches cut into beautiful shapes. Carolyn continues to be amazed by sugar cubes. How do they get them in the shape of a square?
Thank you, Grandma Carol. This is the memory we chose for the girls this year, in recognition of your Christmas gift.
Carolyn was away at Girl Scout camp. Steve was in bed with a cold.
Lizzie and I invited her friend Ava and her mom to come with us for the EVE party downtown. We went around 4 before all the kids and partiers arrived. The girls enjoyed a huge room of inflatable fun, the drum circle, and the "ball" room -- thousands of clear beach balls with lights and dance music. After a beer for us and cotton candy for the girls, we left by 630 and went back to their house for a champagne toast and lots of glow braceletes. Steve rallied and joined us there. We were all cozy and tucked in bed by 10pm.
