Happy 6th Birthday Max!

After a busy week of basketball camp, activity day girl camp and a fun crazy weekend of camping, I neglected to put much thought or planning into Max's birthday. He kept saying how excited he was for his surprise party ( he clearly misunderstood what I meant when he asked me what he could do for his birthday and I said, "it's a surprise"...not realizing that was code for "I have no idea"). Needless to say, I needed to come up with something fast. Soooo...this is how it went down...first off we went to ToysRUs to spend his birthday money and he picked out...you guessed it...a metal detector. Apparently this is the hottest item for 6 year old boys these days...who knew. He is counting on the moment it will lead him to his fortune. He also decided to get a newer fancier marble race to replace the older shabbier one he currently owns.

After he took all of fifteen minutes to make that purchasing decision, it was lunch time at his favorite restaurant...you guessed it again, ...Sushi Town...such a conventional kid, right? So predictable right? I mean sushi and metal detectors...whatever happened to legos and McDonalds?And then it came part for what Max later told me was his least favorite part of the day...his haircut. I know, kind of boring, but he desperately needed one and when they found out it was his birthday, he not only got his cut for free......he got the VIP treatment. Not too shabby, eh? We stopped for a little refreshment of Jamba Juice after that and then off to...

...the Park! I had previously called a handful of Max's closest friends and had them meet us at the park for fountain, sandbox, playground fun and cupcakes!

I haven't had a chance to ask him how he liked his "surprise party" since he slept all the way home and is still sleeping now. For a six year old, I'm going to take that as code for, "mom, I had the greatest time ever!"

Max, I love that mischievous, yet cheerful disposition, that scrawny, but oh so squeezable body, your enthusuasm, your tenacity, your strong will and your ever so charming personality. Max, I love you with all my heart. Happy Birthday kiddo!

Memorial Day weekend

Jason and I took the kids to Lincoln City for Memorial Day weekend and had a great mini family vacation complete with a trip to the aquarium, Ripley's Believe it or Not, Mo's, PigNPancake, the park, Devil's Punchbowl, Yaquina Head Lighthouse, the outlet stores and sea lion viewing and ice cream cones at Tillamook. The weather made it difficult to actually get to the sand and play, but we really had an enjoyable time...here's a few pictures...

Procrastination

In true Rachel form, I have managed to postpone all of my "spring blogging" until today...June 21st...the official first day of summer. If it doesn't get done today, it never will...so here it goes...(deep breath in)...
spring break, made my first skirt, celebrated a great 60th birthday party for my mom, planned and executed two big RS activities, fabulous Memorial Day weekend at coast, watched Mary play spring basketball, wrestled with the locals over the politics of local baseball, watched Max graduate from Kindergarten, watched Mary in her piano recital, watched Jaykob improve his guitar skills and perfect his Justin Bieber impersonation, celebrated a relaxing Mother's Day, did NOT do an ounce of spring cleaning, ran a 10K in my personal best time, unwillingly decided to raise chickens, planned my summer, planted a garden, had a relaxing anniversary trip to Bend with hubby and listened to Clara sing the ABC song at least a million times...(deep breath out).

And today starts our summer ...(deep breath in)...