46th Birthday Celebration

Oh how the time is flying by....I'm so behind on my blogging life.

Working, plus this busy sports family is keeping me from my chronicles here.

December is a packed, busy, celebratory, fun, stressful and crazy month.

I think the next thing to post about is my birthday. Oh! I LOVE my birthday. It will be fun to relive it here today.

Early in my birthday week I got to spend an afternoon with my mom. It was SO FUN! My mom had just retired and so we had a double celebration. We went to a long leisurely and delicious lunch and then browed the shops nearby. Loved this day!!

On my actual birthday we attended church. I truly love to stand in church holding hands and hugging my loves while singing and worshipping.

After church we stopped at my fave cupcake shop. Yummy!

Happy Birthday to MEEEEE! A pink champagne cupcake!

I have been wanting to visit a nature preserve near our house. I seized the opportunity of a captive audience and we headed out for a rainy adventure. Hey, on your birthday you get to choose!

The scenery was beautiful and the falling rain on the water was music to our ears. 

I love all the moss that grows in our area. 

After our walk we came home, warmed up, dressed up and headed out to dinner. 

We love our dinner tradition! 

Lots of time to chat and eat yummy food...and make funny faces.

I think this pic is after the boys were done eating and very full! 

Birthday number 46 was great! I'm already looking forward to my next fun day. 

Two Decade Tuba!

When you are turning 20 you help cook your birthday breakfast. Kielbasa and eggs and toast. Tuba's faves. 

Did I forget to say....20....what the heck?! 20!!! How can that be?! 

Tuba's friend sent him a bouquet of fruit. He loved it!

We spent the day at the beach then home for dinner and dessert. Pudding with loads of whip cream was a big hit. 

Once Cam got home from work Tuba got to open his gift. Two sets of grandparents pitched in with us to buy Tuba an outdoor propane fire pit. 

When Amazon delivered it Tuba saw the huge box and yelled, "FIRE!!". He's such a stinker...he knew what it was. 

Once it was opened he started bossing Cam around to get it set up and lit. 

Hot weather doesn't matter when you are a fire lover. Tuba was so happy. 

Happy birthday Mr. 20! You are such a joy and light to the world. You delight in small things and the beauty of the world. I love it when you call me to look at the sunset. You never miss it and you make sure the rest of us see it too. You love new shoes...just check out the new orange birthday shoes from Nana. You ran all over the house showing us how cool and fast they make you. Thankfully you love going to all your siblings' sporting events. You are the best cheerleader...and you even cheer the other team too. Everywhere we go you wave to people and say thank you to them. You love to help stir whatever is cooking. And oh yes you love to eat yummy food. Tuba you are a joy to us and we are so glad you're ours. Happy Birthday!

George Turns 8

The baby of the family turned 8 this summer! 

Birthday breakfast request was waffles and bacon. Oh yummy!

Then we hit the road for a ferry ride and fun day on our favorite island. 

The weather was clear and sunny but not too hot. A perfect beach day. 

Throwing rocks and swinging sticks are some of our favorite activities. 

Making a birthday wish. 

We hiked up the hill to enjoy the beautiful views. 

Stunning magnificent views. 

Oh baby boy George. You are smart. REALLY smart. You are voracious reader. You've already read all of the 5/6th grade novels that we own. You've read several of the libraries series such as 39 clues and Kane Chronicles. You are curious about the world. You especially love science and want to know how things work. You want to hang with the big boys. I want you to be my little boy a bit longer..and you are tolerating my hugs and kisses for now. I am excited to see where your interests take you. The sky is the limit so aim high! Happy Birthday sweet George. 

Mr. P is a Teen

Mr. P is officially a teenager! 13!!!! Woot!!

He celebrated a few days early with his best buddies. The nicest group of kids. And I can tell you that as boys get older the parties get easier. I fed them dinner and dessert and breakfast and then rarely saw them. They played outside and played video games into the wee hours of the night. 

Brother love. 

On Mr. P's actual bday I took the kids to a local burger place and went to the park for dinner. Cam was working. Boo! 

Then to assert his independence as a teen he went out of town for five days on a trip with his buddy. We really missed him but boy did he have fun! 

Happy Birthday Mr. P! You are smart and hard working and your recent report card is proof.....3.95 GPA with English/Literature and Math honors classes. I can hardly believe you passed me up in height this spring. You are growing like a weed...or a teenager. You are a beautiful boy...handsome and stunning. I cherish any one on one time I have with you to chat. You are compassionate and loving and that shines through in discussions of world matters. Your future is bright and I am enjoying watching it unfold. 

Cam's 46th Birthday

On the second day of our vacation it was Cam's birthday! Woot! What better place to celebrate than at our favorite place on earth!

We started our day with exercise on the beach. Cam headed out first on a run and then I went out for a brisk walk. As I was walking on the beach I notice that I was walking in Cam's footprints. Literally. Well, except that his stride is much longer than mine.

Anyway, as I was walking I started thinking of ways that I should be more like Cam. You know...ways to walk in his footsteps.

Cam is an amazing person and there are many things about him that I admire. I decided that I would spend his birthday trying to be "more like Cam".

I already had a good start on my plan since I was exercising. Cam is devoted to exercise. You see, he truly loves. He calls it his medicine. Actually he LOVES it....can't get enough of it.

After my brisk walk Cam and I lifted some weights on the beach house deck and then did our stretches.

I already told you how Cam and the kids were boogie boarding like crazy. Well, if I was going to spend my day being more like Cam then I decided I should boogie board too. I don't have a wetsuit so I borrowed Cam's. The boys were all excited for me to head out with them.

Once in the water I took direction from Mr. P and Cam. They would tell me when to catch the wave. It was SUPER fun!! I yelled and laughed just like Cam.

I got rolled once. By rolled I mean that the ocean swamped me and threw me off my board. I couldn't tell which end was up or down. I swallowed half the ocean and the other half was lodged in my nasal cavity. Whew! I stood up sputtering out the sea water. Cam laughed and said, "welcome to the club". Okay, since I was in the club now I laughed it off and headed back out...Cam style.

Boogie boarding was a blast. My Christmas list is also full of wetsuit items and a boogie board. Next year is going to be so much fun!

For Cam's birthday lunch we headed to our favorite place for fish and chips. We got to sit at our fav table too!

After lunch it's our family tradition to climb the dune. Most of the kids and Cam climb it every year....maybe even two or three times! I've never climbed to the top. But, if I was going to be more like Cam....then I would be summiting! So, off I headed. It's STEEP! I mean it....and windy....and exhausting....and STEEP. But, I persevered. And rested. And climbed. And summited!

The view was amazing! And the wind was whipping! I do not recommend putting on fresh lip gloss before climbing a sand dune in windy weather. Lesson learned. Although all that sand acted as dermabrasion and I now have no wrinkles on my lips.

The kids and Cam love to run down the dune at top speed. I reserved the "be more like Cam" and trotted down.

Back at the beach house we baked up a yummy pie for the birthday dessert. We found a nice local made organic pie! We searched for a candle and came up with one. Well, it worked.

Happy Birthday to my love! You are smart, energetic, friendly, kind, impulsive, athletic, driven and funny. And I want to be more like you!!

Mr. P is 12!

One more year until he's a teenager! I'm going to enjoy this last year of the Tweens. My baby!!

Mr. P's birthday was celebrated in two parts. He had a party with a few friends...they went swimming and then had pizza at our house. It was a slumber party so the boys naturally stayed up REALLY late playing video games. It was really a fun time....and easy! 12 year old boys don't require much...outdoor space and food and they are good!

Then on the actual birthday we had some family fun. The day started with B-day breakfast pancakes....and coffee. 

That night it was off for a fancy dinner at our favorite place. It's always a love fest and a great time to take pics. 

Cheers around the table!

Makin' a wish.

Then after dinner we were off to the park to walk and enjoy the weather. Ummm....the birthday boy is  definitely showing his pre-teen self. 

A great opportunity for a family selfie!

Happy Birthday Mr. P! You are a delight to us and we can't wait to see what the next year has in store for you.