Ohana

Grandaddy and Grandma Donna came all the way from Hawaii for a great visit. They were here over our anniversary so Dave and I actually went out on a date. We had a great dinner at a local restaurant and rented movies. The next day we went to a movie ... in a theater! We saw "The Dark Knight" which was awesome - and would have been even better if the people (2 of the 6 people in the theater ... including us) in the back row had stopped talking for even one minute. Either way, it was great to get out.

On the last day of the visit, we took a trek down to the Toledo Zoo. Ellie LOVED the carousel and the safari train ride. She was much more interested in the ducks than the elephants. The polar bears entertained her, too.

Dave went running ridiculously early the next morning (Saturday) and Ellie and I snoozed - so sacked out we didn't have a chance to say goodbye to Dad and Donna! When we got up, we immediately got to work baking a cake and making cheezy bean goo for Dave's reverse surprise birthday party. Even though the actual day was the 12th, he only had one available Saturday on which to party. It worked out perfectly. Melanie, who lives about 35 minutes away, stopped by "having just dropped the husband at the UM game." Dave didn't think anything of it until he saw the Provenzola brood walking up the driveway. He looked at me and said "are people here for me?" You betcha buddy! A lot of great friends were there to celebrate ... and he was genuinely touched and, surprisingly, surprised! Of course I neglected to take out the camera, so you'll just have to close your eyes and picture the sights (and sounds) of no fewer than 10 children aged 6 and under taking advantage of the ball pit (or ball launching pad, as it were) and numerous other toys. Hooray for the basement and watchful friends.
















What a surprise! Ellie chose to ride a cat on the Africa-themed carousel. Daddy helped!