Birthday

I got my additional analyses run over the weekend, and now I'm just trying to get my discussion section not to suck so that I can send my manuscript back to my PI by this evening.

We'll see about getting my PI the extra analyses he wanted for his grant.  I think tomorrow may be a more reasonable estimate for that.  Hopefully it won't be too late, but I really don't think there's much I could have done about it (short of work all night -- and really, that almost always ends up being counterproductive for me, since the quality of my work sucks and I end up having to redo everything.)

I thought I'd post some pictures while my brain decompresses for a moment or two in the interim.  The weekend ended up going pretty well.  Though my parents never did figure out how to get their own water, I stopped worrying about it, and just stopped offering.  If they were thirsty, I never heard about it.  

Luca did end up finding a suitable cake.  In case you didn't know already (and if you're like me, you didn't), you can get cakes at Whole Paycheck, and they will do customized decorations for you on the spot.  Luca reports that they raised their eyebrows slightly when he told them to write "Happy Birthday Dilly-Pickle" on the cake... but oh well too bad for them.

It was a vanilla cake with a butter cream frosting, and was quite tasty.  I was very impressed at my husband's ability to avoid successfully both chocolate AND nuts. The cake was awesome.  Thank you sweetie!

Complete with "organic" candle that cost $2.50.  Thank you Whole Paycheck!

Dylan thought the lit candle was pretty cool.  In other pictures she can be seen trying to grab it.  Future pyromaniac? 

Because my parents were there, we even got to do a family photo.  I think it may be our first one.  Of course Dyls did not smile -- she was too busy eyeing the cake.  Oh well.  

My husband hates this picture of himself.  He needs to get over it.

The cake was a hit with Dylan as well.  She especially enjoyed the icing, and after a while dispensed with eating cake at all, sucking the icing off each piece and throwing the cake on the ground for the Boo to consume. 

Maw full 'o cake.

I almost forgot to add -- in addition to discovering that Whole Paycheck does awesome cakes, Luca also discovered that the dollar store that is a block from our house sells awesome party decorations.  Dylan especially enjoyed the balloons, and spent most of the rest of the day chasing them around our house. 

The red balloon. 

Fortunately, despite much effort, she did not succeed in popping any of them.  Thank God.

Luca also found some party hats.  They were not terribly popular with the Pickle, but she was awfully cute wearing them.  Haha.

My Dad brought some Amarone for the adults to enjoy during the celebration.

The tiara was even less popular than the party hat.  I know it looks like Dyls may be putting ON the tiara, but in fact she is actually removing it.  She did enjoy chewing on it, however.

She hasn't yet caught the "princess" bug I guess.  Next year, perhaps?

Miss Boo also took part in the festivities. 

You are a very tolerant dog, Miss Boo.

So overall, the party was a success!  And I managed to get some work done, albeit not enough.  But oh well.  I will graduate regardless.  I just may get some threatening emails about deadlines and responsibility in the mean time.  And you know what I think of that?

WHO CARES.

Dyls started transitioning to young toddler today (with one nap.  woo.).  The room is huge and has a ton of stuff though.  If she's not exhausted all the time, she will have a lot of fun.