Cape May

Here are some of my favorite memories from this vacation:

What my mom says to Allison Clare: "You make Grammy laugh and laugh. You make me so happy!" My mom crept into the living room every morning like it was Christmas, eyes alight with the excitement of seeing the munchkin for the whole day.

Walking out of the house holding hands with Sam and knowing the munchkin was in good hands, my parents armed with rice cereal. Then, deciding to get lunch out on the spur of the moment and having the freedom to do so.

Listening to my mom play patty-cake with Allison Clare ("Patty-cake, patty-cake, baker's man! Bake me a cake as fast as you can! . . .") just like my grandmother did with me, and seeing the little one show her new teeth in big smiles in return.

Watching Sam and my dad work out my dad's computer questions.

UPDATE: Getting to celebrate Joan's fiftieth birthday with her in person! How serendipitous that our very good friends would happen to be vacationing in the same place at the same time, on one friend's birthday?

Putting Allison Clare's feet into the ocean for the first time. (Clearly not her favorite moment of the vacation, but one of mine.)

Seeing Gramps brighten on sight of his great-granddaughter. They were quite a pair: he needed something entertaining to watch while he relaxed in his chair, and she needed an appreciative audience for her jumping skills while she dangled in her Jumperoo. His most lucid moments this week were with her.