This Joy’s Life

Today we celebrated the 4th by joining EvanJenn and family for Evan’s first birthday party on Camano Island. We were at the historic Kristofferson Farm and had a “blast”!

Clara, of course, found the tractor right away:

We enjoyed watching Evan blow out the candle on his cupcake:

He couldn’t wait to get his hands on it, as you can see:

Jack, meanwhile, couldn’t wait to get his hands on Clara’s:

And Carter couldn’t get his mom to give his to him fast enough!

Then we all went on a hayride around the wooded property over to pet the goats. All the kids and grownups alike enjoyed the ride. Here’s Jack with his Nana and Papa:

But Aaron, who was our driver wasn’t having any of our shinanagins and threatened to kick us off the ride if we weren’t careful:

Evan, better listen to your dad when he tells you “no.” He ain’t just whistlin’ Dixie! (wink

Well, girl, you made it to the “terrible twos” and it hasn’t been “two” terrible so far Here’s hoping it stays that way. Why be the rule when you can be the exception?

Let’s look back at the big birthday weekend you had: Family BBQ on Friday night and a birthday playdate with all your friends today. Who did we sing Happy Birthday to? “To youuuu!” “Cake? OK.” “More cake? OK.”

Bal-oons! On the run with Dora the Explorer Nadia and Luke at the sand table
Carter: Hmmm, birthdays = presents. Me likey.
Mason just can’t escape his paparazzi Jack and Clara in the ball pool
More ball pool, Luke? Ok. I see you lookin’, Evan.
It’s not a party until someone’s got food on their face! Right, Ava?

Last night we celebrated Gwen’s 32nd Birthday by going out for drinks, dinner and karaoke in Seattle.

The night began at The Attic Alehouse followed by dinner at The Cactus in Madison Park. As we parked the car, I looked out my passenger side window to see this:

Talk about sending a mixed message! Isn’t that a picture of a dog there? Am I expected to leash my cat and my chinchilla since no dogs are allowed?

If you are ever in Seattle and you like good Mexican food, do be sure to visit one of the Cactus Restaurants. You will not be disappointed! Be sure to wear pants with an elastic waistband, as you will be needing to make space for your muffin top to be free! free at last!

Gwen and Heidi at The Attic Alehouse:
The Girlzzz at The Cactus Restaurant:

After dinner, only Gwen, Carrie and myself were able to continue on to the best little Karaoke joint in town, a Chinese Restaurant in the International District known as Bush Garden. There you can be swindled out of your karaoke songs by the Karaoke host who thinks he’s on American Idol AND that Simon really likes him. So, he keeps telling you how there is not enough time for your song then proceeds to sing Prince’s Kiss which he’s “been working on.”

That, folks, is what being the 1st Place 2001 Washington State Karaoke winner does to you. You forget the little guys, who can’t sing but are still willing to do so in front of drunken crowds at crazy Chinese karaoke bars!

Scott, the 5th Place 2001 Washington State Karaoke winner:

agreed that 1st Place’s ego had really warped him over the years. That was too bad for us. Gwen and I only got to sing Prince’s Little Red Corvette (which we, unfortunately, had not been working on) and White Snake’s “Here I Go Again.”

The rest of the time we had to watch very cliche or weirdly bizarre karaoke videos. The best was the one for Charlene’s “I’ve Never Been To Me.”

Note to self: If ever I need to shoot a low budget karaoke video, do not forget the Ken and Barbie in Clara’s dollhouse. When you are on a budget and you’re all out of real people . . . . reach for an anatomically incorrect plastic doll.

(Dude, that is a great Tag Line!)

I mean, where did the inspiration for that video come from? Do Matel’s Board of Directors frequently “ship” champagne on a yacht? Search me.

There you have it folks – Gwen’s 32nd Birthday Extravaganza!

Hasta La Vista!

A few pictures from Clara’s first birhtday party. Enjoy!

More evidence of me getting out and having a life. Here I am enjoying Gwen’s 31st, I mean 26th, birthday last weekend. . .

Me, Jenn, Gwen, & Carrie:
Rawee (my buddy) & me:
Birthday girl, “RF” (Chad’s brother) & Jeff H. (Carrie’s Hubby):
Carrie & Jack:
– A visual Ode to Daddies –

Justin, Ch(d)ad, & the Clare-bear:
Ryan “Devo” & Jack Winston Devereux:
Sam with son Luke Russell:

I’ve got a few pictures to post. The first is of Jenn Ling in her preggers state – only 11 weeks or so to go!

You’ll see that Jenn and Jack Devereux (4 months) are in competition to see who can become the roundest:

The jury is still out on that one . . . Marie Antoinette said, “Let them eat cake!” and Nadia Hutson took that to heart on her first birthday, as you can see:



News on the Clara front you won’t find shocking – She’s fast becoming a “daddy’s girl”:

Caution! Kids at Play!

We celebrated Chad’s birthday Friday and Saturday nights. Friday night, I made Chad a fancy salmon dinner and pumpkin kiss cookies for dessert . . .

. . . Saturday night we went out to dinner wtih friends . . .

Chad & Ryan

Jenn & Gwen

Nelly & Martina

. . . Then folks came back to our house for dessert which included the trad lemon cake baked by Chad’s mom. Great fun for us old f*rts!

I was reviewing pictures from my 30th birthday this year and found a picture that I feel must be shared. I think it would be fun to have a contest in the comments section for “Best Caption” to this picture. I’ll go first:

Who are the people in your neighborhood – Bert & Ernie?

After school, some of Carrie, a.k.a. Mrs. Howell’s, students threw her a Belated Surprise Party. Of course, I was jealous and tried to steel her thunder by upstaging her in “Teacher Karaoke” to the Mariah Carey version of Mariah Carey’s Without You (a.k.a Ken Lee):

Clearly, I think I accomplished my goal:
Here’s Mrs. Howell with our school’s principal Ms. Spector:
Is it just me or is Mrs. Howell the very definition of “Teacher’s Pet”? (wink:)

Not to be outdone by me at her own party, Mrs. Howell gives lessons in the fine art of the “Walk Off”:
Then proves herself reigning right-armed Arm Wrestling Champ:
(However, it should be noted that this student schooled her in the left-arm competition shortly thereafter!)

I brought Carrie balloons and a big sign so everyone at school would know it was her BIG DAY:Gwen brought Carrie Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Starbursts on top:Carrie’s car got “Porkchopped” by me and Gwen: