Back In Monroe

We made it home safe and sound from our trip to Butte Montana. I am happy to report that a good time was had by all!

Auntie Suse looks incredible at 50 and seemed to enjoy her birthday celebration. With the exception of the Southern Griffiths' and Jesse who was down with strep throat - all the brothers, sisters and kids were there.

We also celebrated cousin Seth's 20th birthday, we really have a wide spread of ages with the cousins. We got to listen to Seth and his girlfriend Emily play their instruments (Seth on fiddle, Emily on guitar) while Emily sang. It was very impressive as they are both quite talented. The scene was kind of idyllic. The whole family sitting around, snow on the ground outside (yeah I said it - snow!), two people playing beautiful folk music, children laughing, adults smiling... well, you get the picture.

Auntie Janet let eliot sit on the kitchen counter wearing nothing but a diaper to eat her birthday cake and icecream, something I would NEVER allow, so eliot was in heaven!

Turned out eliot had a double ear infection and probably a sinus infection, so we spent our nights comforting her and trying to get her crazy fever down. Monday we ran her to the Quick Care in Butte where they diagnosed her and gave her some amoxicillin, and recommended tylenol and ibuprofen for the plane. The flight went well and after another 24 hours she seems fever-free and ready to start playing again. I must say, a major infection really mellows her out on the plane!

We did have enough turbulence on the flight home to make me so nauseous that I cried. How sad. eliot adores turbulence and fell asleep almost immediately after it started, kind of like a giant rocking chair I guess.

We're looking forward to the week vacation in Montana in July, and glad it won't be such a long stretch before we see the family again.

side note: Evan processed his Disneyland pics so I will post a couple in the next couple of days.