Della: I used to think Daddy cut open your tummy and put me in there so I could be born.

Me: If you thought that, then where did you think Daddy got you before he put you in my tummy?

Della: From the hospital.

Me: Where did the hospital get you?

Della: From the orphanage.

Me: Where did the orphanage get you?

Della: From the heart bank.

Me: What’s the heart bank?

Della: It’s where everybody loves you.

In between bites of Laffy Taffys for breakfast…

Della is six!

Her birthday theme was seapunk.

Rock star + mermaid.

We did a birthday treasure hunt. 

Della is a special girl. Kind and empathetic. Teases her brother only a little bit. Thoughtful. Never silly.

She took her time learning to ski, just like when she learned to walk, but now that she’s ready, she makes lots of good turns and never falls down. Caution is underrated. 

She has long hair, which was a longtime goal. She is funny because she talks about looking forward to the day it turns brown. I showed up at daycare one day and said, “There’s my two little blondies!” Della gave me a dirty look, and Miss Maisie said, ‘She prefers ‘light brown.'” 

This is just a good picture of Steve at Grumpy’s in Sun Valley.

And this is a deer that watches TV with us. 

This is Della doing a magic trick for George.

This is George and Pancake hanging out on a rail.

This is a game you play at the birthday after-party where you hide in the bathroom closet and laugh when someone comes in to use the facilities.

Love you, Della.

It doesn’t make me sad to see you grow. It makes me happy. I like you more every day.

In Celebration of Bappa’s Birthday and Retirement: Our Sun Valley Ski Vacation

Here is a video of George skiing backwards. Also wearing his coat backwards. 

Here is a video of Della dance skiing.