we're back...

papa ray's was a blast as always...

and the kids love all the classic 70's equipment...

also known as the "playground-o-death"...
i kid.
it scares me far less as the kids get a bit bigger.
but still, there are moments when they're hanging out over the air
after their feet have slipped and you just have to take a deep breath
and walk back inside.
cause so far, no one's been hurt.
and you have to work really hard as a parent to just let kids be kids.
it's tough stuff,
but you do it -
for their own good.

anyhoo, the weekend was a cousin filled romp
that took us all over the hillside at papa's house,
in and out of the house...
and all the way downtown for a screening of tin-tin...

and the next night we finally had our belated "christmas dinner" -
the brothers and sisters and families...
kathy and ben were amazing hosts and we enjoyed ourselves and the game thoroughly.
and kathy made an oatmeal cake that i'll have to post.
amazing.

okay, off to bed i'm going.
i hope your weekend was wonderful as well.