Birthday Bean

Last year was party year for Lauren, so as per our family rules, this year she was just allowed to invite a friend over to spend the night. Lauren was VERY excited for her birthday and couldn’t wait. She invited her friend Kacey from school. Her dinner request was ribs with corn on the cob. She picked out her cake and ice cream flavors and even designed and helped decorate the cake herself. She asked for a piñata filled with candy and a movie for later at night. Hmmm… sounds almost like a party to me! ;)

She had a really fun time and it was an easy night for us to pull off for her. I can hardly believe how grown up she is. My sweet little bean… 11 years old!

Mother’s Day Bike Ride & BBQ

Mother’s Day this year turned out to be a gorgeous day! Since I have committed to doing the bike leg of a triathlon in July with Terra, I have been thinking about ways to get in some training time. I use the term “training” lightly, of course. ;) This day seemed like a great day for a bike ride, so we loaded up the bikes in our truck and headed down to Seaward Park in South Seattle.

They have a bike trail that is about 2.5 miles long. We all rode around the loop one time together and then Kurt let me go again on my own and timed me. The trail was pretty crowded so I’m not sure how accurate it was, but he thought I made decent time and that I should be able to do the 12 mile bike in July in a little under an hour. I sure hope so!! :)

After our bike ride, we went home where Kurt barbequed up a salmon dinner for us and we ate out on the patio in the backyard. The girls decided to turn it into a ‘party’ for me, so they made posters and streamers and hung them up around the backyard. They even made a sign for the front door that read, “Don’t bother knocking, we’re having a party. Come on around to the back!” I felt very blessed by their sweet gestures. :) While Kurt was cooking and the girls were decorating, I enjoyed a nice conversation with MY mom on the phone.

It was a really great Mother’s Day. I love my family so, so much.

Bummin’ Around in the Backyard

This post will really have nothing more to it than some fun pictures. Kurt got the Quad out in the yard when Ashley and Lauren had their friends (MacKenzie and Raychael) over. He took us all for a ride. For me it was my first time on the thing! It was fun… I can’t wait to go for a real ride sometime. :)

Look at that ponytail fly!!

We never got a picture of Ashley on her ride. We’ll have to get her next time.