Birthdays, Beatles & The Beast

This Labor Day weekend served several important purposes. First things first, it was the annual August birthday celebration, since we have FOUR family birthdays in August. That's right -  Josie, Jack, Tia & DD all turn another year at the end of the summer! And this year was extra special for DD who turned the big 6-5!   This weekend was also a great opportunity to re-do our super soggy 4th of July weekend that the rain tried to ruin.  We were REALLY happy that despite rain chances all weekend, not a single sunny plan was spoiled.

We spent Saturday at the pool! It was the PERFECT pool day!

Then, we celebrated the big birthdays - Beatles style!!!

On Sunday, we headed to Kings Island. It was our gift to my dad - a "you're only as old as you feel" day to celebrate his 65th birthday. A day to go back to the days when he was the daddy and not the grand-daddy. The days when Amanda & I were the daughters, and not the mamas. So, with the help of my sister's marketing crew, we gave dad personalized tickets to KI, coupons for funnel cakes and hotdogs, and tickets to ride his favorites with us. Daddy-o got a day to ride roller coasters with his be-bops.

It was AWESOME.  This proves it:

We had a blast remembering and recreating family memories (like the time we had to put napkins in Manda's shoes so she'd be tall enough to ride The Beast for the first time).

It was all just how we remembered it - the signs, the sounds, the smell of the wood....

We rode the front car, because why wouldn't we!!?!

Then, a new first - The Diamondback. That one is FUN!!!

We also rode "The Windseeker." They should rename it "The Panic Attack." As it turns out, 300 feet is about 275 feet too high to ride in a giant swing! Not. Fun. At. All. (All 3 of us hated it.)

Even though it was mostly DD's day, everyone had a great time! Grandma kept the kids happy in Snoopy Land while the rest of us rotated in and out. (Thanks Grandma!)  The Littles took turns conquering their own fears. We sure do have a brave bunch. Here are some more highlights.

Josie added "The Beastie" and "Backlot Stunt Coaster" to her list of roller coasters!

Sweet Lyla wasn't sure about a few things, but really conquered some fears. GO LYLA!

As the sunset and the day wound down, we played some games, fed the kids cotton candy & funnel cakes for dinner, then headed home and delivered three passed out kids to bed. (Little Jack, who snagged a KI stroller nap, still had some party left in him.)

All in all, it was the PERFECT weekend. Great family times. Kids growing up, others of us staying young. Good stuff. Just really really good stuff. 

Washington (4): Mt. Rainier

There were A LOT of really special things about our 10 days in Washington (and to think you've only seen days 1-3 so far!) but one of the big highlights for Lou & the girls was their day trip to Mt. Rainier.

"Please take our picture or my wife will never forgive me."

Many of you are lucky enough to know Lou personally, and when his daughters read this one day when they are older, I want them to know this about him. Lou's up for just about anything in the name of experiencing something new.

• Spend a summer in Costa Rica? 
• Move in with people he barely knew above a Bagel Shop & end up marrying one of them? 
• Convince his wife to take up scuba diving in preparation for a two-week trip to the Kingdom of Tonga? 
• Take the aforementioned wife snorkeling with humpback whales? Cage-diving with sharks? Why not?
• (Don't get me started on all of our Phish show adventures over the years.)
• Spend weeks of classes and hours of practice learning "Hypnobirthing" to help the aforementioned wife through two pretty insane natural childbirths? Of course!
• Take two kids under 6 hiking up a mountain, flying totally solo? You bet'cha!

So, while there were no text updates or instagrammed moments of this epic journey, there were lots of happy memories accumulated.  And, I was THRILLED that a certain someone took my advice and wrapped the camera around his neck, even though that meant carrying a camera AND a two-year old up a mountain.  But, alas, he survived. And alas, we get to glimpse into that special day.

"Pose on the mountain"

"We hiked all the way to SNOW!"

Next time, Mt. Rainier. Next time. Can't wait to meet you.

Washington (3): Day with Daddy

On Monday, it was work time for "Smart Mommy."  I reported for duty at the global Getting Smart headquarters with the best colleagues a gal could ask for, while Josephine & Beatrice did some exploring with the best dad two gals could ask for.

Funny thing actually, the following things happened on Monday while I was at work:

• Lou took the girls to the Point Defiance Zoo. 
• Josie realized her dream of zip-lining! And tackled a ropes course.
• Josie & Bea rode a camel.

Guess how many photos there are of this big day? Guess how many text updates I got about all the fun that they were having?

ZERO. ZILCH. NADA.

#epicdadfail (only to be excused due to the fact that, ya know, Lou took the girls to the zoo to zip line and ride camels while I was at work)

But, don't worry. There are still a couple "Day Three" photos worthy of sharing, although there are no camels involved.

Vacation Treats

Vacation Sunsets

I think the whole 'purple mountain's majesty' thing is about this.

Washington (2): Pine Lake

On Sunday we got to spend a few hours with one of our favorite families on the planet. It took about 2 seconds to determine how we'd spend the afternoon - at Pine Lake - this absolutely blissful park and crystal clear lake among GIANT pine trees that just do not exist in the Midwest. It's such a peaceful place that feels absolutely timeless.The kids had such a fun time in the lake!

SNAIL