Uncle Alu

Vivian's been racking up the frequent flier miles this summer with trips to Florida, New Orleans, Arizona, and Nebraska. Airports, airplanes and rental cars are like her second, third, and fourth homes. So she happily jumped into the Jet Blue flight to go visit her Uncle Alu.

Aunt Michelle and Uncle Alu spoiled her as usual and in return Vivian ate all their cookies, peed on their furniture, sang and played on the piano, picked mushrooms in the yard, watched Loony Tunes, and had a jolly good time. We celebrated Alu's August birthday a bit prematurely and Vivian got to blow out the candles on the tiramisu. Then she invited Alu over ("Uncle Alu - come to my house, I cook dinner for you") and made him imaginary pancakes and tomatoes.

There were beach visits and a trip to Mystic Aquarium ("squar-ium") and parks and swan boat rides and barbecues and walks on the sea wall. Vivian went on her first ever carousel ride and loved it. And we snuck in the Annual Family Summer Portrait for the third straight year - under the prominently displayed signage of the Hotel Dolce Villa in Federal Hill, Providence.