Born in 1955

The Sunday of last weekend (the day after Heather returned home), we drove down to Venice for a visit with my mom, Aunt Debbie, and cousin Molly and her kids. We planned to do a little birthday celebration for my mom that day—she turns 60 years young next week!

My Aunt Debbie suggested a 1950s themed party, which seemed quite appropriate. Aunt Debbie planned all the food, and I put together some decorations. We hung some various 1950s-themed items, and I printed out some pictures of things "born in 1955" and strung them up on a banner: microwave ovens, McDonald's, Disneyland, Scrabble, Play-Doh, etc. Everything looked cute!

The "Born in 1955" banner

More festive decor

Heather and I (and the kids, of course) arrived at Debbie's house a little early to help with setup as much as we could, and then we all just waited around for my mom. She and Gary arrived a bit later and she was very surprised at the festive atmosphere!

Checking everything out with E.J.

We also had cateye glasses for everyone to wear, and we decorated them with stickers.

Rock those glasses, E.J.!

Look at this sweetheart at the soda shop!

Silly!

Glasses girls!

We all spent some time hanging out, drinking champagne, chatting and playing with the kids.

Ellie showing Milena some love

Santiago and Ellie reading with Gary

Heather and Milena

Hanging out

Then, it was time for lunch. Aunt Debbie organized a fine meal consisting of BLTs, potato salad, a Jell-O mold, deviled eggs, fruit salad and chips and dip. For dessert, she made some delicious peanut butter cup cheesecake cups. They were so rich and delicious.

Lunch!

Dessert!

Ellie helping with candle duty

After lunch, my mom opened her presents.

Showing off Ellie's drawing of her Grammy and a flower in her card

It's wine! Surprise, surprise!

Then, we all got changed into our beachwear and set off for the Gulf!

The big kids riding in style with Aunt Heather

We spent some time at the beach, taking turns sitting and chatting and chasing after children. E.J. found the water all too soon, though we all did get a good chuckle out of his drunken sailor stumbling through the surf. Milena dozed on her Nonnie, and Ellie and Santiago played together quite a bit. It was a very nice time!

Santiago and Ellie walking hand-in-hand

The grown-ups

E.J. hitting the water

VIDEO: Little drunken E.J.

Ellie and Santiago playing in the sand

E.J. joined in!

Smashing sand castles!

Sleeping Milena

Awake Milena!

The little kids taking a turn to play!

Ellie and her Grammy looking for shells

Doing gymnastics in the sand

VIDEO: Future Olympians!

E.J. bonding with Aunt Heather

When we went back to Debbie's house, the kids did a little skinny dipping in her kiddie pool to rinse off, then we had dinner and snapped a few more photos.

The Cousins Club!

The whole gang!

Then, it was time to say our goodbyes. It was such a fun day! Of course, my kiddos passed right out in the car, as is the norm after a day with their cousins!

Cousin hug!

Thanks so much for a fun day, family!

The Florida Aquarium

The kids and I have gone down to St. Petersburg for the last two weekends (and Eric joined us this past weekend). The first weekend was for Heather's great return, as well as a visit with my cousin Molly and her kids, who were in town from Illinois. We also had a little birthday celebration for my mom, but that is coming in the next post.

The Saturday of that weekend, while Heather was still en route to the U.S., the rest of us ladies and children (Molly and kids, my Aunt Debbie, my mom, and me with kids) all met at the Florida Aquarium for a fun, fishy afternoon. It was a gross, rainy day, so an indoor activity was perfect, although the kids and I did get caught without an umbrella in a pretty decent little downpour on our way into the aquarium. (Fun fact: in the last two weeks I have run through torrential rain with one or both of my children on three separate occasions. Yes, I finally put my umbrella back in the car so I can stop doing that.)

We had a great time at the aquarium! The kids (and adults!) loved looking at all the marine life.

Ellie was thrilled to see a "soft Florida turtle" (Florida softshell turtle) right off the bat!

Molly and Santiago watching some fish

Santiago times two!

Lobster!

Milena and a stingray exchanging smiles

Happy little puffer fish

Ellie getting a closer look

Santiago and Ellie admiring the octopus

E.J. is excitedly singing "fish!"

Eel hug!

Shark, and the eel all intertwined in the coral

So cute.

Other major aquarium highlights included the big seashells they were able to play in...

Cuties in a seashell!

They also enjoyed climbing on this mermaid!

...the stingray touch tank....

Santiago was so brave!

...and, the hands-down overall favorite attraction: the photobooth.

Ellie and Santiago probably could have stayed in here all day.

Photostrips!

One of my particular favorites. What goofballs!

I'm also obsessed with these two. E.J. is just sweet as pie in the top one, and Milena kills me in the bottom one: "OMG THIS SHARK YOU GUYS"

Of course, the best part of the whole outing was the cousin bonding time!

Ellie and Milena playing together

Cousin love in the photobooth

Our original plan was to wander through the aquarium itself for a while then hit the splash park there at the end of the day, but we had so much fun in the exhibits, we closed the place down! We'll have to save the splash park for next time!

It was a great afternoon! Thanks for sharing it with us, Grammy, GAD and MSM!

A fun day at the aquarium!