It's Jake's 34th Birthday and our last full day in Virginia. Nicole likes to make surprises so she didn't tell everyone what the plans were for this special day. She is a thoughtful and kind person who is also generous. I am so happy she is my daughter-in-law! I was given a little hint earlier about the event but the boys only knew that we were going into Washington, DC again for the afternoon.
The morning was again very relaxed and comfortable in their lovely condo. My gift to Jake was his refurbished
Janosik figure that my mother had given him when he was a little boy and he kept in his childhood room. Hanging on the figure's arm was a flash drive that contained several hundred scanned photos of Jake I made from the day he was born until he was going to school at age six. I also made three music photo albums so he could view all the photos pleasantly with three different songs; two from the time periods. We all watched the music photo albums together and I'm sure Jake and Nicole will come back many times and revisit Jake's early years. I also included the Slovak folklore story of the Janosik and a video about
Vienna, Austria where my father was born. I hope Jake will get to know more about his mother's side of the family by learning about the past history through folklore and about his grandfather through the eyes of a man making a video for his children about the history and culture of Vienna.
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| Keith and Jake on Jake's Birthday Morning |
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| Jake and his Janosik |
Keith's birthday gift to Jake was to take everybody out for brunch before Nicole's big surprise. I don't recall the name of the restaurant but it was very popular and had an art atmosphere with poetry readings and literature and art objects all around. The food was very good and we all ate well. We got to experience a new concept in transportation I had never heard of…
Uber Ride Sharing Service. What I know is that Nicole got online and within 5 minutes a driver showed up both to and from our destination! The location of the surprise was across the street from the George Washington University in Washington.
So it was now time for the big surprise! Nicole treated us all to an event called
PaintNite. This is where people get together and drink creatively! Nicole thought of everything when she even arranged to driver service so we all could partake in the wine. There is an instructor and materials provided to paint a subject chosen by the instructor for the occasion. The wine and the acrylics flowed freely. It was such a unique concept and so much fun! I am happy we have this wonderful and creative memory to share.
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| Keith and Jacob take a break. |
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| Keith, Nicole, and Jake in progress while I take the photo. |
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| Jake and Nicole having a good time! |
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| Keith is happy with his creation. |
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| Nicole has a fine painting. |
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| I like my water the best. |
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| This is the painting by the instructor of the US Capital Building we all were painting to our own interpretation. |
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| Here is all our group with our masterpieces and with the instructor in the middle. |
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| Here's all our masterpieces side by side |
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| Nicole, Jake, and Keith afterwards across the street at the statue in front of George Washington University. |
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Beti and Keith
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Time for another meal so I treated everyone to dinner at another new place that Jake and Glencora had not tried yet in the area. Toting our masterpieces in hand, we walked into
Founding Farmers restaurant and had wonderful down to earth meals and desserts.
We got back to their condo in Arlington very quickly through the Uber service again. It was a memorable day for Jake's birthday and we all were full from food and festivities once again. I am so happy and thankful to have shared this day with loved ones!
The next day we all were up early as it was a regular work day for Jake and Nicole and we were packed and out of the building all at the same time. The two-day drive home was a repeat of the trip out and we had no problems. Bobi Kitty was settled in his special place in the back seat and he knew we were on our way back to Missouri this time! It was a grand experience full of family and fun but there's no place like home!
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