HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAIRD!

Laird is 15 today!  The years have gone by so quickly.  In my mind, this young man of mine is still five.  He has a great sense of humor, I love his laugh, he is a hard worker, kind, loving and a ray of sunshine in our lives.  

We love you Laird!  Happy, happy birthday!

WE HAD AN EARLY FAMILY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

for Laird. He is turning 15 on Tuesday.

Laird wanted to decorate his birthday cake this year.  I showed him how to make fondant and let him be creative.  He was going to make his cake look like an iPod.

During the creation process, he changed his mind and made a deconstructed sandwich.

One of the best parts of the party was that my aunt and uncle have been in town this week.  These two people are incredible - I wouldn't be who I am today without them.
The best part of this photo though, is my brother, Ivon, photo bombing it.  I love it!

FRIDAY NIGHT

Larry and I went to see Chicago play at the zoo.  It was a perfect summer's night and middle school and high school memories were flooding back, as we sat there with my cooler toe elevated on my purse, swaying and singing along.  Without Peter Cetera, I was wondering if I would be disappointed, nope, I wasn't - it was wonderful.

It was a sold out concert and when we got there the lawn was PACKED.  We found a tiny patch behind a bush.  We thought it was so funny where we were sitting.  We didn't care a bit - the music was fantastic and we were surrounded by really fun people.

We weren't completely deprived of a view, we could see a smidge of the stage.

As the evening went on, some people moved spots, so we were able to move over and up.  Larry and I love people watching, and it was so fun watching people, of all ages, having a great time swaying, dancing and singing along to great tunes.  It was a beautiful, beautiful evening.

FIRST ANNUAL YOUNG CLAN CAMPING TRIP - PART 2

It was a foggy day and a bit chilly, but that didn't stop our clan from enjoying the lake and the sand dunes.

Super duper fun afternoon!

FIRST ANNUAL YOUNG CLAN CAMPING TRIP - PART 1

We decided to have a family camping trip this weekend.  Not all of the family could come, unfortunately, but three out of us six siblings came with our families.  Lots of food, wilderness yoga, longboarding and family fun.

90% of the camp out was super fun.

5% of the fun zapper was my trip to the ER with a broken toe.  Bah humbug.

The other 5% of the fun zapper was that the three little boy cousins bickered almost the entire time.  Most of the bickering was about imaginary forts, imaginary backpacks, etc..  It was hilarious after the first few times, but lets just say there were a lot of time outs for those three knuckleheads.  BUT when you ask them what their favorite part of camping was, they will tell you playing with each other.  If they can forget their bickering, so can I.

I'm already looking forward to next year.  I have a few camping items on my wish list, I'm just sure that the little cousins will have matured and will act older than their young age, and most importantly, I'm not bringing flip flops.

THE SAD, SAD TALE OF A PINKIE TOE

Last week, I thought I broke my pinkie toe. It hurt and the toe bruised, but I could walk on it with only a little discomfort, so we taped it up just in case.

This weekend we went camping.  I took the tape off because we were going to a lake and the sand dunes and it was feeling better, plus I didn't want it to get all sandy.  Big mistake.
As we were getting in the car to leave the lake, my pinkie toe stubbed the cooler.  It snapped and was facing East.  I was wearing flip flops, so I'm not exactly sure how it happened.

Larry took a photo while we were at the ER, as it was facing North East, before my two injections into the toe that hurt just as bad as the break.
My toes are now taped and I'm in a ugly shoe for 6 weeks.  I'm in pain and pouting.

Here is the culprit.  Boo, hiss, boo, hiss.

PS - I feel like I'm being punished for something.  Good luck, where are you?

OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO - A BETTER PLAN

My cousin, Lundyn Rae, just released her music video - A Better Plan.
This song was inspired by her wanting to spread awareness for the option of adoption.  It's beautiful.
Her goal is to spread the message to one million people. So please like her video and share it.

IT'S A WONDERFUL DAY TO CELEBRATE

Lach's birthday. He's 5!

Have some cake, be happy and dance gangnam style.

LACH IS TURNING 5 AND HE WANTED A HALLOWEEN BIRTHDAY PARTY

and that's just what he got.
Hot dog mummies for dinner - skeleton cupcakes, rootbeer floats and presents at the party.  We had one happy, happy birthday boy.

I SAID GOOD-BYE TO MY SISTER

Steph left early this morning to move to Hawaii, for two years, to go to school.  I'm so happy and excited for her.

Me and Stephanie - 1980

Skyping, phone calls, blogging and facebook will keep her up to date on the happenings in our lair and us up to date with her paradise adventures and schooling.

We had a fun goodbye party for her this weekend.  The theme was Avatar Party.  We had a backyard bbq with lots of side dishes, avatar tribe representation, laughter, games and shenanigans.

Here are the particulars:
Fire Nation - bbq station
Earth Kingdom - muddy buddies and rock candy
Water Tribe - drink station
Air Nomads - popcorn

The funniest game was Pin the Crazy on Azula.  Hilarious.

PS - It wasn't until the next day that I realized I didn't get one photo of Stephanie.  Not one.
Bad sister, am I.

MOTHER, DAUGHTER, SISTER DATE

We went to Mor Art to make fused glass coasters today.

It was a Mother's Day gift that was being redeemed and it was so much fun being creative and giggly with these gals.  We had the best afternoon.

PADDLING ON THE WILLAMETTE THREE DAYS A WEEK, RAIN OR SHINE, IN A 40 FOOT DRAGON BOAT

with 20 paddlers is fun, hard work, fun, exhausting, fun and did I say fun?

Larry and I joined a paddling club!  It's been a whole lot of awesome, topped with awesome sauce.  It makes me happy with a capital H and SORE.