Beach Celebration
I have been on hiatus from the blog again, working hard on my dissertation. This is a little trickier than you might think. See, I have these samples I need to run in the lab. But I am a guest in the lab I need to use, so I am low on the totem when it comes to access to the machines I need to use. So I have to go in on evenings and weekends when the other folks aren't there. This means that Darrell hangs out with Griff, but that is also the time he would normally have to grade and plan for teaching. It is a tough balance, and Darrell has bent over backwards and lost a lot of sleep trying to make the time for me to get in there and run the samples. In all honesty, I am usually tired by the evening and what I really want to do is spend time with my family. But I have had a push to get them done before we leave to visit his father, stepmom, and sister in Cabo this week for Thanksgiving. So I have been in the lab until midnight some nights and all day on some weekends. And I just might meet my self-imposed deadline (not that I didn't have an original self-imposed deadline of June...) I have only 2 plates left to run tomorrow (ie 3 hours of work), along with laundry and packing. Hopefully I will have this accomplishment to celebrate over Thanksgiving! Thank you so much, Darrell, for all of your support in getting over this monumental hurdle.
For my birthday earlier this month, I really wanted to get friends and family together at Black's Beach for a mid-day gathering to enjoy the sand and last of fall. It rained for the first two weekends, but the third weekend was glorious, so we sent out a last-minute email inviting folks to make it if they could. The weather could not have been more gorgeous, warm enough to play in the water a bit, enjoy the sand and sun. People brought yummy munchies and kids and it was a really nice time. What a wonderful way to celebrate another year!
Simon and Hannah
Griff with Josie, Neal, and Ayla
Exploring the hill
Conquering the "wall"...like mama (and papa), like daughter!
The water was really cold...
Ayla, Will, and Paco
The Fletchers with a quick glimpse of the "big" boys that were mostly blurs running by during the party. I think they had fun.
Ayla doing her yoga scream pose
Cracking up at the dog playing
Ayla coming down to play
Griff sharing bread with Ayla
Griff and Ayla Playing on the Beach
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Thanks for taking so many fun pictures!! And, hang in there...you are so close!!