Nona's 60th Birthday!!! — MY NAME IS COX

holy cow, and i think you girls are old, Nona is 60!!!?!? what, i mean that lady can dance circles around me, i hope i have as much energy as she when i'm her age.

monica ben and i threw together a surprise party for her the night before her birthday at Guerros patio on South Congress (free venue! live music! perfect party location, must remember for future parties..although none will compare to this). we found out the day of that her work threw her a surprise party the night before, but oh well, 2 surprises in one week never hurt anyone. Ben was already in town because we were all heading to galveston to stay at Hotel Galvez for the weekend, so she suspecting nothing. Stella, you and I drove up for the party while dad and Jane stayed home (dad to work and jane, because, well, you aren't such an easy car traveler just yet).

Monica Ben and I had spent the prior weeks scouting old photo albums and baby books to compile a "Franny Yearbook", nothing but pages and pages of photos of Nona with all her friends along the way. We pasted them in a journal so at the party everyone could write notes to mom.

The party went off without a hitch.

i've never been part of a surprise planning committee, i was so anxious the few days before.

and we saw so many old friends. so many dear close friends. it was just a really good time.

the next day the whole family headed to galveston for a few days of R & R in the hot texas sun (more pictures of that in posts to come). We stayed at Hotel Galvez, which was incredible. the pool, the food, the proximity to the ocean. we had a line of rooms on the second floor, so even though we didnt get to stay in a house together it was fun running up and down the halls from room to room. i felt like i was on my travel softball team again.

Oliver's first trip to the ocean! Momo is such a good mom. Its so natural to her. She has so much patience. I could learn a thing or two from her.

We had a big dinner saturday night, at Nonno Tony's on the strand, which Coco and Papi came to.

We also hit up Pleasure Pier before we left. I am not one to ride roller coasters but i did every ride! thanks to coaxing and pressure from Ben and William. And I made Dad get on the giant swing! 230ft in the air, on swings. tiny chains! it was fun. scary and fun. my only regret was that we did not purchase the rollercoaster photo of ben william and me. williams face...omg, priceless!

what a good weekend. this family of ours is pretty special. Happy Birthday Nona!! Cheers to 60 years!

xoxoxoxo