Staycation Time

So our niece, A, came to stay with us for a week - her first-ever flight, her first-ever long week away from family, her first-ever time to stay alone with us.

Good times.

Really - it was good times. We only had one bout of homesickness, no preteen meltdowns and a remarkably sunny attitude from both niece and aunt despite incredibly hot and humid weather.

We did all sorts of things around town, like get photobombed by a giraffe at the Dallas Zoo:

Ordered our own customized-pizzas:

Played around with new hairstyles:

Rode the trolley:

Got a 500-foot view of the city (that one was a little scary):

Got pedicures (and manicures!):

Helped Papa Holiday feed the catfish:

Got a princess-for-a-day makeover:

Had nail art done - twice!

And went swimming - lots and lots of swimming.

But my favorite part of A's trip happened this week - long after she'd returned home.

She sent me an IM, saying:

I hope you will be as fun as you were this time next time.

I hope so too, sweetheart.