Celebration! – our primary reason for the NY visit – Willa’s 5^th birthday.  Cake baking and decorating is the first order of business.  It’s a rainbow this year.  Three batches of cake and an unbelievable amount of brightly colored buttercream icing.  Check it out.

As part of a compromise (Willa asked for poop shaped cake) Willa helped decorate “poop’ cupcakes.  I’m not sure it’s a great idea…..we shall see.

The party is at the kids’ house and is a big hit.  There are lots of kids and their families, grandparents, and extended family Uncle Brian and Great Aunt Carol.  A huge unicorn balloon greets the guests, another one makes an appearance as a pinata, and the rainbow cake is a hit.  Cool looking and tasty.

Willa just had to share the “Poop” cupcakes.  The kids loved them….

Happy Birthday, Willa.

Much of the rest of our visit was grand daughter time.  Tracy is out of town on business and we jump at the chance to spend time with them.  Walks, bike rides, wagon rides, a little baking, projects, reading, and a lot of pretend play.  Kent and Willa challenge Mike to a pretty competitive game of chess.  Mike one; Willa, next time.

It is Spring concert time for the pre-k class and we are all invited.  What a fun program.  We love it Willa.  We sneak a few no grand-kids moments. I get an evening out with just “my” boys and Kent and I have breakfast out with our guys.  All too rare and cherished get-togethers.

We fit in a hike at Black Creek Preserve.  Willa is on foot and Mike has Hazel in the carrier. The trail crosses a number of bridges and there are great huge old trees so there are lots of troll and ogre encounters.  Good time had by all.

We squeeze in a little home remodeling work.  Kitchen counters have already been replaced, some great looking white plus marbling quartz.  The next real step is back splash but there was a bit of electrical work to do behind that section of the wall first.  Done!  We reset the stove to add insulation and dishwasher to fit the new countertops.  Always something…..

Bye guys, we head back west to Colorado.  Next visit, the whole Kingston family with us at Tetons National Park.  Can’t wait to see you then!!