The big event this past weekend was the celebration of Matt's 34th birthday. We started the day with a giant pack of cinnamon rolls, and a hike on the Hewlett Gulch trail. It was sunny and hot. We lathered ourselves in sunscreen and hoped to find shade on the trail. There was very little to be found... but we discovered a much greater way to stay cool. Details below.
What a view to have during breakfast!
Silver Grill makes the best cinnamon rolls. And we had cream cheese frosting to top them off.
I've fallen in love with my sunhat. (Let me remind you...I bought it for $1 last year...)When no shade can be found...you make your own. Kale was able to benefit from the large brim of my hat as well.
Of course... he had his own brim to work with too!
We've hiked this trail once before. It was a year ago...on my birthday. When I was pregnant with Kale.
Above: May 2014
Below: July 2015
Space flowers.
(At least that is what we called them!)
So here's the thing about this trail. Something very important that we totally forgot about. It's riddled with streams and rivers. It's a wet trail! In the beginning we tried to keep our feet dry by using sticks and rocks to cross the rivers. But that technique didn't get us too far. Eventually we had to commit to getting our feet wet. And looking back on it...I'm not sure why we waited so long. It was exhilarating! Cold water rushing around your ankles. It's really the best way to keep cool. Our body temperatures dropped instantly.
Above: July 2015
Below: May 2014
World' largest dandelion.....
Kale and I took lots of selfies.
This was our turnaround point. A big tree. Perfect for climbing. Perfect for snacking.
Same tree we stopped at last year!
Above: 2015
Below: 2014
Then it was time to head back to the car. Roundtrip, I think it took us two hours.
Above: 2015
Below: 2014
And eventually little Kale fell asleep. He was so comfortable in the Ergo carrier. I was too. This baby carrier is superior to everything else I have ever used. Like I texted my mom after the hike...magically designed.
Some sections of the river were rather deep. But we didn't mind. We were expert waders by this point.
We made it back to the house shortly after noon. We had Fiona's for lunch. Then mixed up some mojitos using mint from the garden. Sage felt left out. So we made him a virgin one.
Then we headed to the backyard to waste away the remaining hours of sunlight.
My god. Kale is a large boy these days. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, and I'm not sure if it's Sage or Kale who is next to me... They could easily wear the same shirt. It might be a bit snug on Sage and bit wide on Kale...but it would be the same shirt. And considering they are more than two years apart. That really says something!
The biggest bromance of the century. These two are obsessed with each other.
Do you see Sage out there in the distance? That's his favorite part of the backyard... The dirt.
Finally, I mustered up the energy to do an "emergency-style wrapping session" for Matt's birthday. What can I say... I got behind in birthday prep. All the gifts were sitting willy nilly in the utility room. Not a single one in birthday paper. (I hate wrapping....)
But I did it. (Rather haphazardly.) And then asked all the boys to join me in the dining room.
We only got a present or two into the pile, when there was a surprise knock on the door.
It was Sam and Alison! Stopping by with birthday wishes. We shared a round of beers on the patio.
Matt finished his gifts later that evening. And we eventually got the little boys off to bed. But much later than normal. I'm finding it's tough to stay on schedule in the summer. Naps and bedtimes just don't seem to fit in well with all my summer adventures.
Below are some random shots of outdoor fun in the days preceding Matt's birthday...
Come Monday....we were all pooped.
But lucky me... It was day one of my week-long STAYCATION!
