what a great weekend! (thank you Vicki for the pics...my camera died right when we got there).

the pics are from a lovely day at our friend's ranch just outside of town. my just about to turn 13 year old and her friends with two VERY cute puppies! we had a great day playing music, eating food, catching some rays and connecting with friends. my folks came down for the big birthday and got to hang out for a while too. my dad even enjoyed it! he said that it was great to spend time with people who were there just to have a good time...and why couldn't more people figure out how to do that? i thought that was quite cool coming from him :-)

saturday was equally nice, in a totally different way. i got to go out to breakfast with the 11 year old that i mentor. we're starting to click and be able to connect with each other which is very nice. then a pedicure :-) and off to sammie's bball game. good heavens it was hot!!! the girls lost the game (i'll try to post a couple of pics of them playing later this week), but sammie and her two close girlfriends had a few really nice plays. we do love our bball!!

saturday afternoon and night the girls hung out with friends (sammie's class is off the whole month of may...year round school), so rich and i did what all parents do when the kids are away. napped :-) a good hour in the comfy couch and chair downstairs. it was lovely!!! then we power cleaned the house until midnight!

friday night we had a great time watching bball playoffs and hanging out in the hot tub with some friends. good times...good times...

so, we're rolling into birthday week. it drives rich crazy that birthdays last for days and days with us...oh well! this year, i resigned as birthday party extravaganza planner. sort of. so instead of a huge blow out, alex is having 13 dates with friends. a bit of one on one time doing her 13 most favorite things (movie, shoe shopping, fast rides, bball, tennis, etc...). we have a few things up our sleeve to surprise her as well. we'll keep you posted!!