ashi is 6

March 30th 2013.

What a day!

An exciting but exhausting day!

It was Ashlyn's 6th birthday...plus,oh, a few other things.

Like...

Bunny Day! 

 She awoke at the crack of dawn to hunt for her eggs and then she gobbled down her birthday breakfast.  We then headed off to a cousin's baptism and it wasn't even 10:00 a.m. yet.

We dashed home just in time for all her darling little friends to arrive for her Mermaid party, which deserves it's very own post, because it was awesome!

After we cleaned up from the party we pulled out the hard boiled eggs and got down to some serious egg coloring.  

And then finally we got around to the true celebration of our sweet Ashlyn  Elizabeth.

She was so sweet and patient as she shared her day with so many other things.  She was thrilled with her gifts, especially her books, and so happy to be having a birthday and to be turning the magical age of 6.  

My baby is 6.  

My baby.

She isn't really a baby anymore.

I love her more than words can express.

She was sent to us to fill our lives with joy and tenderness and because, come one, we needed one more, just one more baby!

Happy Birthday my little Ashie.

P.S. You look a little tired.

I don't blame you.....after a day like today, I'm exhausted!

he's 14

Fourteen.

My cute boy turned fourteen. 

Fourteen.

If he could, I think he would request and successfully eat salmon and shrimp and rolls fourteen times in a week. (That would be every lunch and every dinner!)

Fourteen.

This teenager is very loved.  So loved in fact, that a special visitor stopped by, took a break from college,  just to celebrate with us and her favorite "Fourteen" year old brother.

  He was thrilled.

Fourteen.

Close to the number of times he has a practice or a game or a reffing assignment or is just outside playing some sort of sport with his friends during any given week.

Fourteen.

How in the world can I find fourteen things to get for this boy for his birthday.  He is hard to shop for, but grateful for anything he gets, even strawberry and chocolate milk.  (which, by the way, was recalled the very next week!  Really!?!  Recalled powdered milk mix?)

Fourteen.

The number of hours he spends reading each week.  He loves books, can't get enough, always looking for the next adventure.  I love that about him.

Fourteen.

The number of times he comes into our room between the hour of 10 and 11 pm to tell us something or to ask us something or because something is bothering him or because he just wants to talk. 

Fourteen.

The number of times we tell him we love him and he needs to go to bed.

Fourteen.

Fourteen very full years of joy, of boy stuff, of wonder, of laughter, of true love for the very best fourteen year old around, and I really mean that!

Happy Birthday Brandon.

I love you fourteen times infinity.

An Old Lady

My birthday was wonderful, despite that fact that I turned the big 4-0!

I celebrated early with a wonderful lunch at the Blue Lemon Bistro with a group of amazing ladies and true friends who inspire me every day.
And then my wonderful husband, despite his very hectic work schedule, whisked me away to my beloved Monterey, where I spent my actual birthday. Roses were waiting at the hotel for me as was a spectacular view and gourmet chocolate covered strawberries.
What more could a 40 year old lady want?

We ate out 3 meals a day, (except for one morning where we enjoyed room service breakfast in bed). The restaurants were so great with delicious food and fantastic ocean views. During my birthday dinner we actually watched otters swimming around and eating their dinner right below us.

We spent our days going to the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, strolling down Historic Cannery Row, shopping in the beautiful and quaint Carmel by the Sea, driving along 17 mile drive, seeing and smelling all of the sea lions on Fisherman's Wharf and visiting all of the places that are so dear to my heart, my old house, my high school, my ward building and

good ole Denace the Menace Park.

He spoiled me.... a lot.

And I let him, because I needed it,

after all I am an old old lady,

who on her dreaded 40th birthday felt very very loved!

How SWEET it is!

When did this happen? When did this beautiful brown eyed baby.....

... grow up into an even more beautiful brown eyed 16 year old?

Sixteen words that describe Kara as she turns the oh so sweet 16:

Confident, Mature, Talented, Creative, Artistic, Beautiful, Modest, Happy, Outgoing, Talkative, Nurturing, Night Owl, Smart, Charming, Flirty, Ready to be 16!

I don't know if we (mom and dad) are ready for the boys with flowers and cards and 3 dates already lined up for this week.

("Mom, I didn't even know you could go on a date on a weeknight!")

(And we are definitely not ready for this!)

The last 16 years have been delightful and have gone by too fast. It has been an honor to have this wonderful young lady as our daughter. She constantly amazes me with her talents and choices. I can't wait to see what this year holds!

Watch out World--Here She Comes!

Happy Golden Birthday Kara. We love you so much!