More Birthday Fun

A few days after I turned 15 + 15, G-Daddy turned 30 + 30!!!  He flew in on his birthday and we spent the weekend celebrating his youthful age.  He's an inspiration in many ways at 60-years-young!

Birthday cheers!

Not only did we have fun with G-Daddy, but Aunt Kaydonna as well!  She is brilliant with kids and loved on Rooke and Gretchen so well while she was with us.

They treated us to an afternoon at the Aquarium.

It was octopus week.  What an incredible creature!

Thanks for spending your birthday with us, G-Daddy.  We miss you and Aunt Kaydonna already!

She's a Gorilla

One of the few things left on my "to do before we leave Seattle" list was go to the zoo as a family.  We had a great time!  The gorillas were Gretchen's favorite. 

Beating her chest like a gorilla

After the zoo, we headed to our favorite Seattle pizza spot to cash in on a birthday coupon for a free pizza!  I don't think a small will feed the four of us anymore once Gretchen realizes she would rather have pizza than the stuff Mom brings along for her to eat.

Across the Pond

We have some big news to share.  BIG news.  (No, I'm not pregnant.)

Last May Ryan graduated from law school.

Last October we found out that Ryan passed the Bar.

Next month the journey continues as Ryan will begin his first official job as a licensed attorney . . . 

for the Unites States Air Force!

Remember that show JAG?!  Ryan was sworn in last month and will go into active duty early March.  We are both doing our best to navigate a new world as our family steps into military life.  Especially since our first assignment will be overseas.  In about a month we are leaving Seattle and moving to . . .

ENGLAND!

It's hard to say goodbye to a city we love with friends who have become like family, but we are looking forward to a new adventure and living close to KayeK and Big Daddy!  Change is coming.

Fifteen plus Fifteen

Someone in our family turned thirty this weekend!  It's not every year that a birthday is on Saturday, so we made the most of it and spent the whole weekend playing with the McTaggarts and throwing a birthday bunco party.  Playing games with family and friends is my idea of a good time!

Snack time at a coffee shop near Pike Place

The dads graciouslly took the kids home for lunch and naps while Aubyn and I stayed downtown for some birthday shopping.  Thanks, Mom and Dad, for affording our little spree!  

I love sister time and this picture sums it up for me.  Aubyn makes me laugh - always - and, while I am the oldest, there are so many reasons why I look up to my sister.  Being around her inspires me to change for the better. 

Birthday breakfast at one of my favorite cafes

We went straight from breakfast to the bowling alley!!  Who knew that bowling alleys opened at 9AM on a Saturday?!  The kids had a great time for about 6 frames and then started to lose interest.  But the adults used their bumpers to our full advantage to the very end!

You'll just have to take my word for it that I was the first "A" and not my sister.  Yes, I won our bowling game on my birthday!  I will admit to hitting the bumpers at least twice during the game, but the final score says it all.  I won fair and square. 

Then on to the Bunco party . . . it was loud and festive and FUN!!

Jessie made this amazing cake for the party, knowing that I love anything chocolate mint.

A roll-off to see who won the prize for the most buncos

And who won the prize for the most losses?  Yep.  I guess you don't get to win everything on your birthday.  

Knowing that I really like celebrating birthdays (especially my own!), my sweet husband made every effort to make me feel special on my special day.  I'm in love with him.

The Day of Luv

My Day of Luv started with a true saint (thanks, Erin!) showing up to our house at 7:30am so my thoughtful husband could surprise me with a breakfast date!  We enjoyed a delicious breakfast together - one of our favorite things to do.  Yes, all of that food was for just the two of us!

Later that morning Jessie and Jaime came over with their kids for a little Valentine's crafty fun

Of course, candy was involved

Having introduced Rooke to Elmer's, he was excited to do a bit more cutting and gluing after naps

I kept trying to hint at another name he should put on his "love hanging", but he wasn't picking up on it. I'm not offended . . . yet.

A Little Road Trip

I'm a bit behind on posting pictures, so here's some shots from a little road trip we took over Superbowl weekend to my hometown of Eugene.  The trip was initiated with an invitation from two special friends I've known since middle school to come and hang out with them!  I was grateful, not only for the invitation, but for Michelle's hospitality in letting us stay in her beautiful home (I reminded her we have two small kids!).  It'd been too long since I'd been in Eugene and I loved our little visit.  I'm sorry we didn't have more time to stay and connect with more people, but was grateful for the visit and relaxing fun with some old friends.

"the other" Angela, "the other" Angela (yes, I still have a neck), and Michelle (15 weeks pregnant!)

Angela thoughtfully checked out books from the library for the kids.  They were glad to have new friendly people to read with . . . Grandpa Joe

I love Gretchen's expression in this while reading with Angela

Nick, Michelle's husband

Cafe Roma - Ryan's favorite cup o' jo in Eugene

While playing at a park near Michelle's house, Rooke ventured off on his own and in complete boy fashion, landed himself in a very swampy patch of mud.  At first he was bugged that he was so dirty, but after he saw Michelle and I laughing hysterically, he loosened up and was a good sport to walk home in the slosh.

Kelly (and a few other dear family friends I didn't get pictures of) stopped by to say hi before we left for a late-night drive back home.  Thanks to Kelly and Chella who both gave the kids books that kept them distracted and calm long enough to realize it was okay for them to go to sleep on the way home.

Piling on the couch with the Moores, a special family we got to know several years ago.