The weekend actually started on Friday, June 30th with a little trip to downtown San Antonio to see the touring play, HAMILTON. Tickets were purchased quite awhile ago mainly for Michael's birthday. It was a play he was eager to see for a year and a half, but was delayed by COVID.

So, five of us went: Michael, George, Cynthia, Jennifer & Destiny! We started with some drinks and dinner at ACENAR because of it's proximity to the Majestic Theater downtown.

The play was delightfully fun. Michael had literally memorized the play by listening to the soundtrack, but the rest of us had to catch up. Unfortunately, a woman seated directly behind Michael and Cynthia also knew the play well and apparently recited every line during the show. But the cast was truly fantastic and deserved the standing ovation that they got at the end of the play.

Then next day, July 1, my girls and I went to the Kona Grill at La Cantera for my birthday dinner! I asked that it just be a smaller group rather than our usual big-group production and it was a great night with my kids and grandkids!


I found out that Kevin really likes oranges! I had a crispy chicken sandwich with spicy lobster Mac and Cheese.

The hostess kindly took this group photo at the end of our meal (right).

As usual, after the meal, we all came back to my place for cake and presents. I had asked that no one buy me any presents, but also, as usual, my kids never listen to me! But it was a "cannoli" night since we had cannoli sent from BOSTON by my sister Debby from Mike's Pastry shop in the North End. If you google "THE BEST CANNOLI in BOSTON", Mike's pastry shop seems to always come up in the top spot on the list. The pictures, left, shows the cannoli made from the kit sent to me. Those went fast.

Of course, they went down easy with a variety of cocktails for the evening!

The cake was a 'Cannoli' cake from Carlos' Bakery in La Cantera. By this time, we were in pastry overload but it was all delicious. Here are the grandkids singing, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to me and helping me blow out the candles.


(strange creature Jordan brought back from Roswell, NM)

Then it was "present" time. My kids bought me all my favorite stuff. In the first picture, I am holding a box of jello shots. THEY WERE STRONG! The weirdest (and most precious) gift was this Alien that Jordan brought back from Roswell, NM. I have added it to my collection.

Below are a couple of golf hats that I was surprised with... I was expecting a hat from the Alien Museum in Roswell, but it never materialized... until now! Sneaky kids. And next to it, Cynthia had another hat made for me. It is a clever Star Wars-twist on the famous line: LUKE, I AM YOUR FATHER, which was uttered at the end of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK by Darth Vadar to Luke Skywalker. This one says: GEORGE, I AM YOUR DAUGHTER. (Yes, I know. Just as scary!!!)

C

But I was showered with my favorite snacks and pastries. In the last picture (above), we are toasting to Mom with our jello shots! Erica is toasting with water, because she just revealed to the family earlier at dinner time that she was pregnant and that she was having a girl!

The night proceeded as usual with conversation, a few dart games and dessert!

The grandkids had a blast. Cynthia and the kids played 'catch' in the backyard... well, until the kids wore Cynthia out (those kids seemed to have boundless energy)! Also, they found some make-up and had fun applying it to all of the adults in the group. I got my fair share. Here Cynthia is patiently having make-up applied by Stella... AND THEN, by Kevin. I think we are going to have a couple of more beauticians in the family!

It was a great birthday! I got my wish which was to spend time with my kids and grandkids. Precious small moments that seems to get more special the older I get.

The next morning, Sophia and I enjoyed some cereal and much-needed, early Sunday morning quiet time.

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