Meredith Carson... Across the Pond and Back Again...

It shouldn't be this easy or this fun to deceive a loved one especially after we've done it so many times, but after pulling off another flawless surprise for my father in law, we realized that we laughed just as hard this time as we did the first time. The first Carson Surprise (that included me) happened at the Greensboro airport.  Pawpaw was coming to visit us and our first, new baby for Christmas.  His other son, my precocious and adorable brother-in-law David,  was already at our house but had spoken to Pawpaw several times previously and apologized about the fact that he would not be able to come for Christmas.  Before we left for the airport, David got dressed in a full-on Santa suit complete with beard and hat.  During the drive he practiced disguising his voice.  Seated in the backseat next to my clueless seven-month-old, he drawled in a gravelly voice, "Hey Buddy, can I bum a cigarette for the road?"  Over and over he ...

What a great weekend we had!  On Thursday we were joined by Pawpaw, Barbara and Uncle David, and we were all geared up to help George ring in his fourth glorious decade on this earth.  But, first things must come first... Lili enjoyed meeting her Pawpaw for the first time ever.  She agreed with the rest of us.  That Pawpaw is one funny guy. On Friday, George had the day off, and the gang spent a sunny afternoon playing softball and croquet in our big old Michigan yard.   At some point I sneaked inside and decorated the house with giant posters that the kids and I had made earlier in the week.  They looked something like this... ...and here is one created by Sophie... Somehow I managed to successfully deceive my husband, and he was completely caught by surprise when about 15 of his friends showed up to help with the celebrating.  Yay me!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GEORGE!!! Uncle David and I did a little cuttin' up and attempted some sal...