My parents flew in on Wednesday 9th.
I took Eliza to collect them at the airport, and we had dinner at the Olive Garden near Pittsburgh airport before heading back home.
Next morning, Frank and I headed out to pick up a rental car, and immediately thereafter, we hit the road for West Virginia.
My grandmother (father’s mother) turned 90 on Thursday, and my uncles/aunt put on an absolutely terrific birthday party for her.
Not knowing when I’d see either of them next, I requested that my aunt take this photo.
Frank and I returned home the next day, and my parents drove back up on Monday.
Monday was Valentine’s Day, so I was creative in the kitchen and made a three-course meal (all from scratch, naturally).
1) Broccoli soup w/ breadsticks
2) Aubergine (eggplant) Lasagna w/ a side of salad
3) Fruit sorbet
Yesterday was Eliza’s first birthday.
I had to work in the morning, and spent the afternoon preparing a large dinner for some family friends who drove up to see my parents.
Rather than a conventional birthday cake, I chose to go for a fruit ‘cake’.
We bought a watermelon, carved the front to say “Eliza One”, added a couple ‘fireworks’ on the side, and then filled it with balled melon (water and honeydew) and strawberries.
Just before bringing it to the table, we put a banana on top (Eliza’s favourite fruit).
Frank had bought some cute star candles to put around the watermelon, but the wick that they put in the candles was pitiful, and they’d very disappointingly gone out before the melon even made it to the table!!!!
Oh well.
