Spring Breakers?!?! ...not so much.

Spring Break was a particularly mellow one this year.  We agreed to rein in any extra spending in favor of saving it for our trip to Italy.  I really missed our usual snow shoeing excursion up Bear Pass in the blazing spring sun.  The drippy grey weather did NOT lend itself to much outdoor fun.  And outdoor fun is what's FREE in our world right now....
I did take Willa out for a promised blueberry french toast breakfast at our favorite cafe to start the week off.  On my work days she came in with me and had fun hanging out.  But mostly the week was spent relaxing at home, finalizing trip stuff-getting all that info plugged into apps on my phone, reading, and puttering while Willa got in some good hard imaginary play time.
We did cram a lot into our last weekend before school started, though.  A fast but hardcore 5k run in 10 inches of new snow-uuuuugghh, dinner at our house with friends who ran the race, too, a nice family skate ski the next morning, and celebrating Miles's birthday.

Breaky at the Middle Way Cafe

We've switched to all-grain beer brewing....

....and it's a LOT of work!!!  But when the sample from the first gravity reading tastes great, you know that beer is gonna be PHENOMENAL!!!!!

Beautiful handmade mash paddle Miles's friend made

Snuggle time with kid and cat



Witness the FITNESS, yo!!!  I'm thrilled that Willa can join us for short runs now! Plus, her fitness fashion is to die from for!!!

She's horse-crazy.  Doing some leather-working on a saddle she made for one of her Breyer horses.

I love when Miles comes home from work early to run with me! 

Shopping day.  Having a little hot cocoa and a cookie at Jitters

She got to pick out a special outfit for Italy

Deep into world-building

BAM!  And then the snow hits.  Saturday's Shamrock shuffle race.  

Tostadas and margaritas with good friends!

And an uproariously funny game of Cards Against Humanity!  ALWAYS is!

Miles's birthday!  Willa gave him the raku trout- the 5th to finish off his collection.

There won't be many more days of this this season!  Taking it all in while we can!

Love to play with my hunny!

Extremely tall peanut-butter-cup cake that Willa and I made

The Birthday Boy chose homemade mac-n-cheese and filet mignone for his b'day dinner.

Oh, hi, sun.  Thanks for making an appearance on the last afternoon of Spring Break.  

Yay! My Birthday Days!

44.......feh.

Anyhoo, the only thing NOT fantastic about my birthday this year?  It fell on a Wednesday, Dylan wasn't here, and we had already cut down our Christmas tree a week or two prior when Dylan was home.  Other then that, a very great 2 days!  On my actual birthday,  Miles and I took off work and spent the day at Willa's school helping the kiddos bake all things delicious and holiday-like to supplement their fractions unit!  I LOVED it!  We made vegan cup cakes, gingerbread folks, buckeyes, pumpkin pies and pecan pies.  The next day we came back and helped them divvy up the yummies, make icing, decorate their stuff using fractions and clean up.  I was amazed and so proud of how natural Miles was with those kids when it came addressing the class and talking about math.  It was like he was meant for a classroom-at least when it comes to math.  He was relaxed, fun, knowledgeable and truly seemed to enjoy himself.  I really lament the fact that his chance to return to school later in life to pursue a degree in education or engineering was ripped out from under him.  While we would not be as well off financially....I know his heart would be full to the brim at the head of a classroom.

It was a lovely way to spend my day......and Miles and I topped it off that night at Crush Wine Bar and Bistro.  I enjoyed a flight of Italian wine...to get primed for Italy!

Busy and happy hearts and hands

yum!

A little pre-dinner shopping at Nordstroms.  Just say NO to this shirt.

The Classico was FABULOUS!!!!

 

Cheers

This mac with a kick is to die for!!!!

For the weekend portion of my BDay, we celebrated on Saturday.  Miles made crepes with a nice choice of fixin's- lemon curd, chocolate syrup, peanut butter, maple syrup, powdered sugar, etc.  I had s'meach.  Later I napped it off while Miles and Willa made a huge batch of butter spritz cookies.  It was nice to get some cozy couch time and snuggles with Willa.  Once my crepe and cookie hangover subsided, we worked a little of it off on a snowshoe in the woods down to the river.  We stomped a new trail, singing carols, making up winter haikus, and goofing around. 

For din-din we made my once yearly allowance of Steak-um sandwiches.  Junky, terrible, delicious, horrid comfort food.  Damn straight.  A movie and Ben and Jerry's for dessert.  It's good to be the mildly ripening Birthday girl.

 

 

 

Chatting....planning....dreaming.....

 

Fukinlovem

 

 

Gentle white snowfall

Blankets our twilight journey

Woods and wonder. Home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miles's 50th

 

After our 5k, picking up the keg of IPA, and heading home for a shower, we closed off Miles's first half century with a 12 hour oft-packed-house bash at our place!  I know it filled his heart to have so many friends show up throughout the day to show him the love.  He-well, WE- were in our element  amongst friends, kids everywhere, live music, food and libations in hands, on this brilliantly sunny day!  COLD, but warm if you got close enough to the fire outside...or stayed inside.  Our new room was like a solarium filled with folks in sunglasses.  People were really digging our new space-the first time most had seen our finished edition!   It was a pleasure to finally be able to host a big shindig....a room filled with happiness and fun.
Happy 50 years, my sweet man!  Wasn't it just yesterday that I was decorating our house in yellow crime tape, tombstones, and Over The Hill garb for your 40th?!?!  I love you beyond the stars....you are of my soul....and I am so blessed and grateful for you.

Prezzies and music with Eric Brindel

Love it!!!!

Party princesses

Scooch closer to that fire!

 

Me 'n my Girlie

 

Fast friends-so sweet!

Miles and his new white trash mason jar beer/wine glass! And that cake is lookin'.....wavy.
 

Dear Peter and Ute

Superman patiently awaiting his piece of cake

I heart this guy

 

Daddy and his little/big girl

 

Not quite sure what the.........

Much new glasswear to go with all the bottles of scotch Miles was gifted!  Not that you would drink scotch in THESE things......