Birthday Surprise

I hope you all had a nice Memorial day weekend! I sure did. On Saturday I flew home to Appleton, WI to surprise my mom for her birthday. My dad was in on the surprise, and told my mom he was off to the grocery store when really he was off to the airport to pick me up. When we got back to the house, he went in first and told my mom to come see what he got on special at the store. Surprise! We've never pulled something like that on her before, and it was a lot of fun.

I had a great weekend relaxing with my parents. Lots-of-pictures-alert:


* Who knew Paris was right in the backyard?*



* the little old lady who rules the roost *


* Little Lake Butte des Morts *



* old railroad bridge *


*Mom and Dad crossing the Friendship Trail, Menasha, WI *


* warehouse on the trail *


* plenty of irises ready for their close-up *


* "Treasure" found in the backyard (it's a deer skull) *


* chairs always getting a new paint makeover *


*homemade strawberry-rhubarb ice cream with the last of the garden rhubarb crop *


*snapdragons *


* half shade/half sun combo is the best for a snooze *


* Testing out Dad's Christmas present on the creek *



* Dad was in on the plan*



* the birthday girl *