Isabel is a teenager (and has been for over a month now)

In all the hustle and bustle that was Christmas break, we barely had time to slow down and celebrate Isabel's 13th birthday!  It was pretty mellow this year.  It fell on their first day back at school after break so that's no fun.

No Isabel didn't turn 112.  We didn't have a "3" candle so Josie and Tilly did some mathematical improvising.  1 and 1+2=3.

Tilly's birthday part 2 & 3 & 4

On the night before Tilly's actual birthday she invited a friend over for dinner and a sleepover.  Her BFF Maggie came with us to Benihana.  We had such a good time.  It's always fun going to a place like that with a kid who has never been.  

The next night, her actual birthday Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Bart came down to give her presents and take her out to dinner.  She choose 3 Margaritas mexican restaurant.  I think she likes the sombrero they put on her (the glasses are fake, a birthday present).

 The tradition of birthday cereal continues.

One of Tilly's birthdays.

Chance was going to be out of town on Tilly's actual birthday so two nights before her birthday we surprised her with her presents.  Chance took her out skateboarding around the neighborhood while the girls and I decorated the house and put her presents out.  She was so surprised when she walked in the house.  It was a good surprise and she loved all her presents.

June Birthdays-a lot of 4's!

 We've had ourselves a cake and good-food fest around here this week.

It has been delicious. 

John chose a traditional icebox cake, which is a good choice since it is small and relatively light.

 We sure do take good pictures!

 Henry waking up to 14!

 I don't think I've mentioned it here, but this boy is taller than I am now. In fact, he is almost 2 inches taller. What?! 

 Traditional (not for him, last few years having ice cream cake) cheesecake. 

It was a great week filled with beach days, volleyball, surfing, slow mornings (not John), fabulous food and a very happy family. 

Josie is 10!!!

I can't believe Josie is 10!  Wow double digits.  We opened presents on her birthday before school as well as consuming a large amount of sugary cereal.

 On Saturday night Josie had two friends come to dinner and spend the night.  We went to Benihana, it was a huge hit.  We had a great time and the food was so yummy.  Candace made cupcakes for the girls to decorate themselves, but everyone was so full after dinner, we did it in the morning.  All in all it was a great four day celebration of one amazing kid.

p.s. Only 19 days of school left!!!

Lucy's second 9th Birthday

 We celebrated Lucy's real birthday in Keystone with Jil and her girls and Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Bart. 

 This was a busy day as some of us skied, some drove up from Louisville, we all ate sushi and then went home for cake and presents. Phew. 

This was a chocolate cake (no raspberries) with chocolate buttercream frosting bought from a local bakery.

Lucy -again- didn't love it, but the rest of us ate it. *

Here are the skiers wearing more clothes than they have all year combined!

For first timers (not John) they did great. A half day lesson at Arapaho Basin followed by 3 more days of skiing at Keystone was perfect.

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*I agreed to make a 3rd birthday dessert for Lucy when we got home. 

Don't worry, she ended up loving this one!

Lucy's first 9th birthday

 This was a tricky birthday year for Lucy. 

We celebrated with cake and presents the night of the 22nd before we left for CO.

 A rainbow of eye-shadow.

 Applying the rainbow.

 One of the reasons for the early b-day celebration was that I was too scared to bake at high altitude.

This cake was a vanilla sponge rolled around chocolate mousse.

 Lucy had wanted trick candles - the ones that relight after you blow them out. I forgot about that request, but luckily, the very last candle which is out in the above picture relit. Phew.

Sadly, she did not love the cake (I did!), but happily another cake was on the horizon.

We celebrated again in Colorado with Jil and the girls on her actual birthday.

Isa is 12!

About two weeks ago Isa turned 12.  I am a little behind.  I also realized I didn't put up any pictures from Utah.  That will come this week.  We had a nice quiet birthday celebration this year.  We celebrated the night before her birthday because Chance had to leave the morning of her birthday.  We had ice cream cake from Sweet Cow (the best ice cream place ever), presents and of course a game of living room soccer.  A perfect night.  The next day she got breakfast cereal and a few more presents.  It was the last day off before they went back to school after Christmas break.  Everyone just relaxed and enjoyed the day.

Mae is 12!

 Actually, she's been 12 for nearly 10 days now. Time flies!

She celebrated by choosing the meals, burning the tree, presents and cake; followed by a sleepover with a friend. I'm not sure how to punctuate that sentence.

 We did not burn the presents or the cake.

 It was quite a day. 

Eggs Benedict for breakfast, they were great!

 Tree burning was after a cold cuts sandwich bar for lunch. Also great.

That is an orange that she (and everyone else under 14) skewered and roasted.

Yes, they sort of ate them. 

Hot, smokey orange.......no thanks.

 Dinner was sushi at Edo Masa. Yep, also really great.

Followed by cake at home.

The cake was pretty good. Triple Decker Boston Cream Pie cake with chocolate glaze.

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This day was all about Mae and we all enjoyed it as much as she did.

Lucky us!

You say it's your birthday...well it was a while ago.

It was Chance's birthday a while ago - thanks for all the wishes and cards and calls.  We had presents and breakfast cereal in the morning and ice cream cake from Sweet Cow in the evening.  It was a fun day and great to have the whole family together.

Be warned.  I spent some time uploading pictures and preparing posts.  There will be a bunch of new posts coming!

Tilly's Birthday!

Let me start by saying I am the worst blogger ever these days.  I know her birthday was August 31st.  We even celebrated it a day early.  I just didn't get around to posting until today.

Well, she is finally 6!  We had a great night before birthday cake, then presents in the morning before school (Chance had to work later that day).

 Skittles!!!  I think she will always get skittles for her birthday after this reaction one year.

Her birthday night she had her friend Maggie over and we went out to sushi, came home and watched a movie and the girls slept in the tent in the living room.  Happy Birthday Tilly!