Belated Birthday Bash

Celebrating family birthdays with a get together at grandpa and grandma's house is total tradition - and one that is never outgrown. The twins know this and were very anxious to finally have their turn from their birthday last month.

This past Saturday we miraculously had all of our sporting events in the morning, and in the afternoon we were able to head down to spend the rest of the day in Laguna with the extended family to celebrate. Abbie's birthday was just the past Thursday, so we were getting two parties (and cakes!) for one. Also half of The Halls were in town so were getting some face time with them as part of the bargain! Yeah!

After a delicious and also totally traditional beach house dinner of grilled fish, rice, rolls and veggies, it was time for the real fun to begin!

all the usual suspects at grandma's birthday parties:

delicious homemade birthday cakes with even better homemade icing

vintage animal candle holders

Dreyer's Ice Cream (who brought the Haagen Dazs?)

hawaiian shirt dish/bowls

dining al fresco on the back patio

Here's Abbie's cake

with sweet pink birdie candle holder

and fifteen pink candles!

Here's Abbie with her cake

and unlit candles...isn't she lovely?

and here's Abbie's expression when

Jed prematurely blows out her candles for her!

She was very gracious and we just re-lit them.

Penguin and Mouse candle holders

and twin rows of eleven candles

for the twins

(click photo for a close-up of cute candles)

Jack and Harriet making a wish

birthdays are nice and Laguna is beautiful and all,

but here's the real draw for my kids....

cousin Taylor (and his parents Carrie & Matt) visiting from Australia!

total cutie

(next time bring your siblings!)

Our birthday dinner and dessert is sunny and bright,

but just down the block at the beach

an ominous mist is rolling in.

Here's some of our gang heading down there anyways.

Don't they ever read Stephen King?

Yes, Laguna Beach is foggy and mostly deserted today,

but that doesn't stop the boys from playing in the sand

or Jack from catching a wave or two

the tide is waaay out so Harriet and I explore some tide pools

on the rocks we usually can't get to

crabs trying very hard not to be noticed

appreciating the water crashing through

the crevice which usually makes this

spot so dangerous and unaccessible

exploring never grows old

Henry with some passing pelicans in the background

foggy Laguna is very scenic and atmospheric

What a great way to spend a Saturday

I just can't quit you Pete.