Surprise!

It was Mark's 64th birthday and for months I have been keeping the secret that kids and grandkids would all be joining us.  Keeping secrets for me is really hard work, not because I want to tell, but because I forget and am very apt to give it away.  I almost did several times but always recovered.....

and in the end, he was very very surprised.  I told him of an outing I had Saturday morning to visit friends, but assured him I'd be back to have lunch with him (it would have been very anti climatic if he decided to go out!)  We had all these elaborate plans for saying surprise, but I forgot the Maya was going to announce any visitors to the back veranda.....So as they all snuck up and Maya was making a ruckus Mark came to find out what all the fuss was about, and of course we all yelled surprise!  It took him a few minutes to regain his composure, he was so stunned.

It's rare when we can all get together....so we spent a fun weekend barbecuing, playing in the pool, hot tub, visiting the zoo, and playing Sam's all time favorite Rummy-O.  A friend gifted us the set years ago and Sam's visits are never complete without multiple games of Rummy-O.

The traveling bracelet went along, so here a few photos ....  Showing the beautiful Carribean fish!

and the turtle, in front of the turtle exhibit at the zoo, how fitting!

And here playing with beads in Grandmas studio!