::50::

I surprised him with his bandmates in the backyard.

They surprised him with a new guitar.



The hip kids posted it on instagram ;)



The hip grown-ups joined in on the fun ;)



There was a taco stand, mexican coca cola, cerveza, watermelon, and (of course) cake.



Sweet 50!

{summer} reading list

we are in the groove of things now. camp has begun. (we are trying out an every other day option this summer. i think enough time for me to work - and enough time for us to play.) and we are looking ahead to hitting the road and escaping to our paradise. one birthday is in the pocket - and another right ahead.

in an effort to supersede requests for screen-time, we hit the library yesterday. the girls' love of books always makes me smile.





on their starting summer reading lists:

K

Misty of Chincoteague, by Marguerite Henry (a beautiful vintage gift from my mom!)
Amelia Rules! by Jim Gownley
Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, by Judy Bloom
More Sideways Arithmetic from Wayside School, by Louis Sachar
The Bobbsey Twins' Mystery at Meadowbrook Farm, by Laura Lee Hope
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E. L. Konigsburg (we are reading this aloud. I never tire of it!)

E

Trixie Belden The Mystery Off Glen Road, by Julie Campbell (another gift from my mom)
Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret, by Judy Bloom
Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself, by Judy Bloom
Ten Things I Hate About Me, by Randa Abdel-Fattah

and on mine:

Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold
Dear Life, by Alice Munro
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith
Furious Love, by Sam Kashner & Nancy Schoenberger

any suggestions?

we are all keeping reading logs. will let you know what transpires...

campout '13

an earlier start to summer vacation and a devastating wildfire brought changes to our annual campout. we spent the last two nights at leo carillo state park with june gloom in full force.























but no one minded at all. (bonus! no one came home with a sunburn!) and the important stuff. the memory making and time sharing with these peeps who are such a part of our lives. that was all the same. and it grows and grows. xo

::9::

tomorrow my baby turns 9!

yesterday - we celebrated with K's four closest girlfriends. on horseback of course.



followed by a dip in the pool and whipping cream filled chocolate cupcakes. by request.



she is amazing. not a mean bone in her body. a natural leader. loves anything to do with horses. her favorite color is purple. and her favorite meal home-made pizza. she loves to sing. and swim. and skateboard. and read. she adores her big sister.

she makes me smile every single day.

happy birthday k. i love you to the moon and back.