HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROO! Our other daughter.

You all know Joy, or you've randomly ended up on this page - and you don't.  But she's our little kangaroo.  She isn't an only child - really.  But there isn't a picture of our eldest kangaroo over on the left.  That is because she doesn't live with us - and isn't officially ours - but in our hearts...  she is a part of our hopping family - and always will be.  No matter what.

Let me introduce you to Roo.

Roo graduated from university last year.  Hard to believe...  She first came to us when Joy was a little baby.  She came to help out and play with us for a few summers.

She quickly became part of the family and we all loved having her 'home' with us each time she returned.  

We've travelled the world together!  We've seen US landmarks...

Played in the snow...

We once took a "small" detour to see things that really meant something to her.  She LOVES the Red Sox!  She helped us develop our love for them, too.  

When she graduated from high school she came to Ireland to see us and we surprised her with a trip to Italy to track down her family line and see the land from which she came...  via her grandparents at least.  The last picture reminds me of Roo and Joy when we were in the Sistine Chapel and they laid down, amidst the groups of people, to soak in the paintings on the ceiling...  

I love watching my girls together...  then, and now.  

Happy Birthday, Roo.  

You are family.  No matter where you live - what you do - what you aspire to...  we will always love and cherish you.  You are our girl.  Our Roo.  If I had one wish for this next year in your life it would be that you would see the amazing young women we do.  That you would surround yourself with people who build you up and inspire you to be the best you can be.  You have passion and compassion.  Use them to become the woman I know you can be.  I love you, more than my fingers can adequately type on this blog!  I can't wait until we add Australian on our long list of adventures together!

(We are ever so grateful for your 'other' family that not only shares you with us, but has taken us in as theirs, too!)

Koalas, Kangaroos and Kids - Oh My!

Koala's aren't bears.  Did you know that?  So, should you say koala bear in an animal park, you'll get corrected.  I know this for a fact as we some crazy American's made that mistake and we overheard a very enthusiastic staff member give that family a long... long... lesson.

So let me introduce you to our marsupial friend, who is related to the kangaroo and isn't even slightly related to any type of bear.  Trust me.  I know.  Because I overheard!

Just as snuggly soft as you might expect, with a lovely smell of eucalyptus on his fur.  They have serious claws though, so if you find one in the wild we were warned to stay away.  This, however, is hard to do.  They hide in the trees deep in the bush - far away from the human eye.  There are these signs around the country...  but they are VERY misleading.

Let's just say that that same previously mentioned family who called them koala bears saw this sign and went back and forth up and down that 4km stretch for over an hour...  to no avail.  Crazy, crazy family. So glad WE aren't that clueless!

Anyway, back to our day.  My bff and I went with our girls and her nieces.  It was a girlie day.  Her son wanted NOTHING to do with us.  Which was okay, because he is always wanting to hold my hand in public and he's getting to the age where people look at me funny.  Don't you H?  Silly, silly boy.  So, I held the hand of this little gem instead, and it brought back so many memories of Joy!  This little gem had no fear.  NONE.

Here are the girls...

We had a great time!

We stopped at the water's edge on the way home and had some fantastic fish and chips and a play at the playground to help us get rid of any remaining energy.  We were thrilled to find very friendly pelicans!

We were successful!  We had a great day, with great girls, AND I didn't have to hold H's hand.  It was, indeed, the perfect day!

(fine print: H is a teenage boy who absolutely despises any kind of human contact with anyone over the age of 30. I get great, great pleasure from torturing him in nearly any setting.)