A Magic Filled Birthday

Hogwarts was decked out this Sunday to celebrate Mason's 8th birthday party.  Candles were floated, the ghosts came in from their hiding places, and students donned their best robes.

The potions master mixed up some polyjuice potion...

Mason and his pal Aiden both dressed in their Potter costumes, complete with glasses and wands.

Giada came in costume but quickly ditched it in favor of one of the Quiddich bludgers.

Berren thought it was a Star Wars party.

Junior and Sara thought it was a Timbers party.

Speaking of Quiddich, we staged an official Quiddich match using our front lawn as the pitch.

The brooms didn't last longer than a few minutes.  Despite all the taping, tying, shaking, etc. I put them through, they couldn't stand the test of a pitch full of 8 year olds.  Mason's got his game face on.

Aiden takes aim at Siena with a bludger.

The spectators look on.  Despite a rainy morning and rainy evening, the wetness let up long enough for the kids to go out and play.

Professor Trelawny in full regalia...Luis was Mad Eye Moody.  His costume was really hot so he ditched it early on.  Somehow, despite lots of pictures being taken of us in costume, none were actually taken with our camera.

Tres leches cake!

Happy birthday to Mason...

Mason got exactly what he wanted for his birthday.  Lots of Legos!

And all the kids enjoyed seeing him open presents.

It was a great party.  Thanks to all who came and enjoyed it with us!

Mother's Day Special!

I am very fortunate to have a couple of amazing women to celebrate on this Mother's day - my mom and my Grandma Kinney.

I am the 20th of 20 grandkids on the Kinney side of the family and am several years behind the next closest grandkid which I think helped to form a special bond between me and Grandma K.

Despite some unsavory 70's dresses, my mom and I have always been close.

This is my mom and I with my Great Grandma Torland, another wonderful woman in our family.

Grandma Kinney also had more Great Grandkids than I can count, many of which I am closer in age to than my own cousins.  This is Grandma K and I with my second cousin Matt Worley.  I believe this is at my cousin Denise's wedding.

Part of why Mom and I have always been able to get on so well is that we both have a sense of silly.

Several years later, this pink dress of Mom's became one of my favorite dress up dresses.

First day of school - Mom was there to walk me to the school bus!

No one is a better sport than Mom.  Every weekend morning, I would lug all my stuffed animals into her room and she would talk to me with a different voice for each animal.  Who does that?!?  It is still a special memory.

We taught each other how to french braid.

Did I mention a silly streak?

Throughout all these years, we saw Grandma Kinney frequently.  Lots of lunches and dinners where everyone would argue about who had to pay and Grandma filled us in on the family gossip.

The era of big sunglasses.  Matched the big bangs.

In 1992 Grandma and I went together to visit Craig and Janene in Chicago.  She may have been my Grandmother, but she was a fun traveling companion.

Grandma and I take on the city.

Kinney family picnic - 1994.

Grandma K lived with us for a few years while I was in college until she passed away.  I may have been an independent college girl at the time, but between two easy going parents and a very accepting grandmother, we all got along great.

Looks like a typical exchange between us...

I can see so many traits of Grandma Kinney in my mom as a grandmother.  I know that Mason and Siena will have the same wonderful experiences and memories of her that I have of my Grandma K.  She is always there for them and loves spending time with them...and them with her.

After that little jog down memory lane, it's time to circle back to the present.  We've had a very busy couple of weekends.  We spent yesterday in Eugene at the Pac-12 track championships.  Yes, there are pictures.  I sent them to my email from my phone but they are lost in the ethernet at the moment so you'll just have to wait a week.

This morning we met the Cruzes for breakfast and went to my parent's in the late afternoon to have dinner.  And to play...

It was a super nice day in the upper 80s and the kids loved playing in the water.

Slip and slide.

And spit.

Some good grandmotherly snuggles to warm up a girl cold from the  pool.

Root beer floats and ice cream were on the dessert menu.

Happy girl!

We took the kids straight from the pool and into the bath.  I was able to sneak a mohawk on Mason before he realized what I had done and combed it flat again...

And a brief preview of coming attractions for next weekend.  Why yes, those are 9 Quiddich brooms!