So where are those kitchen photos, you ask? I would say soon, but I've stopped saying that word to myself. Rather, I have adopted a new attitude toward the kitchen: "Hey, Nonny, Nonny." The countertop is being installed as we speak, but I daren't hope for a working sink by tonight.
Back up about 20 hours. We had a very, very smooth trip home. Got great seats on the plane, all together. We've adopted a new attitude toward security check-in. NO more scrambling, no more apologizing. We have a kid, we're going to take a little longer to get through the line. Sigh and look impatient all you want. The 20 extra seconds you may gain by intimidating us is not worth it. Instead, we will smile and be gracious and enjoy the fact that we too have paid for the privilege of laying bare our possessions under a microscope for scrutiny, and we will take all the time we need to have it baptized by the TSA.
Lucy closed her eyes within minutes of getting buckled in on the plane, and slept for THREE hours. For the first time EVER, I did not get out a movie on the plane for Lucy. She was a little angel through everything. The bus ride back to the long-term parking lot, the car ride home. Then, 10 feet from the door, she fell to pieces over not being able to pick flowers outside at midnight. Finally got her calmed down (decided to let her go back out and pick the flowers...wasn't worth the battle.), in her jammies, and snacked-up. Thought she was ready to go down. She finally was at 2 a.m. And up at 6:30. Very considerate... she decided to switch back to CA time immediately. What a gal!
So we are running on fumes a bit today--and I do mean that literally, in the sense that countertop is being sawed, so we are inhaling some yummy fumes from that. But while I know I've come off as complaining, All these things are a privilege. They are because we are getting a new kitchen, and because we had a vacation--gifts from God and others in one way or another, and I am very, very grateful for them all.
Looking forward to more sensible posting soon. No more kitchen/displacement whining from me!
Lucy really became a Daddy's girl this trip. So sweet! However, Daddy didn't seem to hear her calling for him in the middle of the night... Hmmm....
Can you believe it? We got all the cousins together!!
The Sugar Cane Train
The aquarium. We were really impressed with this aquarium. Packed a lot of punch for its size.
Yes, that is a CLEAN fly swatter. Lucy's toy of choice.
Our last evening with the family all together.
Don't the clouds look like little fish following each other? I'm really impressed with my little point-and-shoot camera. The nice camera didn't even get as good a picture as this!
Playing in an Indian shelter at the Living Desert.
Steve's folks have a time-share out in Palm Desert, and have invited us to come each year for as long or as short as we like. The place we stay is just amazing and comfortable and beautiful. We've discovered that there is a surprising list of very cool things to do there, and every time we've gone it has been fantastic. The photo above is from a hike we did pre-Lucy out in Joshua Tree. I'm hoping we can take her on a short hike this time, as she really seems to love hiking. 
One of the things I enjoy about coming up to my parents' house is the open wonderfulness of the Valley. Space! Imagine! I'd been wanting to go visit this wonderful pumpkin patch, located on a Christmas Tree farm, but discovered that they only did school groups during the week. However, my clever cousin called and gave them my sad story... "My cousin really wants to come, and she's only in town during the week, is there anything you can do for us?" Actually, I don't know if that's how it went, but hey, we got to go! We had a blast with my cousin and her daughter, who is 9 months older than Lucy. There were some fears--not totally excited about the bumpy tractor ride--but in all it was right up her alley.
And so off we go with our day, ready to pack up for a week of being spoiled. No objections here, except that I always feel that something missing when Steve is gone--like I've forgotten to lock something or turn something off or return something or drop something off. But I also love being apart for a few days because it is so much fun when we come home to each other.
Waiting to watch the sea lions do "Thriller." 
This looks like something out of Hilights magazine: "What's wrong with this picture?"
This never happens... clearly she had eeked every ounce of fun out of the day possible. 
This one is worth clicking on to see the original picture... I love my camera!
We ate junk all day (shared ice cream, popcorn, churros and lemonade), and then ended with burgers from Islands with Rybear and "Shaaaaayell." What a wonderful, perfect weekend. Only one more Birthday Fun item to go: The traditional birthday cookie from Mrs. Fields, free this time because our Valentine cookie was so bad that they gave us a gift certificate for the next one!
My sister's home is so amazing... she has this unbelievable way of making it both artistic and homey. It's such a beautiful place to just be.
Outside the Experience Music Project (museum) by Paul Allen.
The Sugar Cane Train
The aquarium. We were really impressed with this aquarium. Packed a lot of punch for its size.
Yes, that is a CLEAN fly swatter. Lucy's toy of choice.
Our last evening with the family all together.
From the summit... the big Island is in the distance. 
My sweet little hiker! I think she has found her first sport! She looooved hiking. She is a go-go-go girl, and having the trail to show her where to go seemed to be just the ticket for her. 
We came at the perfect time! The clouds rolled in about 90 min. after we got there.
The sunrise from our room, coming up over the mountain.
My favorite kind of snake!
Ferferfly and her lovely assistant.
Finally, after 2 years of my sister living in Washington, we get to go and see them! I'm just dying to go see where they live!
