I honestly wasn’t sure that my very protective son would ever consent, in my lifetime, to leaving the girls with me for an overnight stay.  Three and one-half years ago it was out of the question when the first born, Ivy, was brought home to monitors in every room.  If she hiccuped everyone in the house knew it:)  Now that little sister Hazel has been around for a couple of years, having a night away  didn’t sound so bad.  The girls and I had a ball, watching The Jungle Book, sneaking cookies and milk, and diving for seahorses.  While the parents were away Mamou moved the girls’ “dining table” to a more advantageous spot to see the cartoons while dining; and let them shower in Mamou’s guest bathroom, always more fun than the usual spot.  When Mom and Dad got back on Sunday, Ivy insisted on a payback swim at the “dam lake” (Ivy’s term for Lake Travis @ Mansfield Dam).  Then we discovered the best ice cream in Austin, nitro-infused frozen delicacies.  Every kid in Creamistry was fascinated by the smoke (mist) that rises around the ice cream barista as he works his magic nitro machine.  After that experience, I recommend selling the Marble Slab stock, it’s all over for the old fashioned ice cream parlor.