Boys first trip to Snoqualamie Falls

Just a little day adventure. Raining and dreary but fun nonetheless.

Woodland Park Zoo - Seattle

After spending countless days at the Tucson Zoo while we lived in Arizona, we were missing our time walking with the animals. 

We decided to get passes for the Woodland Park Zoo this year.

Just in time for the Dinosaurs and good weather.

Brothers. You would think they are hugging, not really, they are using each other to balance on the rock. But it's a nice thought. 

Renee's Surprise 30th BirthDAY!

These will be a bit out of order, I will try to fix that later. 

This is a summary of the events that took place on 6/19/2011 and 6/20/11.

After a wonderful Father's Day celebration at Erin's, it was announced that Jeff and I would be going downtown to spend the night at the Hyatt for my birthday.

I got a feeling he was up to no good and he certainly was. It was a great night, dinner, shopping, walking the city. The next morning, MY BIRTHDAY, Jeff woke me early. Pfff what!? I thought I was going to get to sleep in! Not so. 

He drove me to Starbuck's near home. I thought we'd get some coffee. He told me to get out! and then he drove off! I went inside feeling a bit abandoned, not really, I knew someone would be there. (Plus, Mom's car in the parking lot gave it away.) Mom and Bill were waiting. We had breakfast together and chatted for sometime. Then Mom announced we were off to our next adventure. Shopping. 

We went to the mall, where my next surprise greeted us. Lunch with Seester. Little did I know, at the time she was functioning off of ZERO sleep trying to pull together the biggest surprise of all.

We shopped some more, Erin said it was time to get ready. Took me to her house, dolled me up and then I was greeted by the most handsome boys I've ever seen.

Jeff, Carter and Cam, roses and balloon. (Hindsight revealed the boys were not supposed to be there, but had become quite distraught at the thought of not going to Mommy's surprise party!) Jeff had put the boys in bow ties and we went to Red Robin for a snack and mud pie.

That seemed to satisfy their birthday enthusiasm and they wanted to go see Papa. So off we went. All the while I'm dressed up, not exactly for Red Robin or my parents house. I knew something was going on. I just couldn't figure out where and when. 

So after we dropped the boys at my parents, Jeff made this big ordeal about getting on the freeway, drive drive drive, then OOPS he forgot "the tickets" Well, knowing him as I do, I know he forgot nothing. That would have been the first thing he remembered, had there in fact been tickets to something at all. We had to head home to get the tickets.... Right.

We pull into our driveway and up the walk. 

Roses and candles. 

Inside the door, champagne and purple drapes everywhere. It didn't even look close to my house. 

And my best friends. SURPRISE. A perfect evening. Catered by Jeff. Flank Steak, Asparagus, all my favorites. Pomegranate drinks. A beautiful cake baked by my sister at 3am. 

What should be my living room, transformed into an amazing dining lounge.

The menu. Erin never forgets a detail.

Erin even remembered my favorite rose. Bluebird.

An attempt at a surprise photo.

Renee and Frances

Appetizers

Dinner.

Downstairs in our house. They removed every bit of our furniture, except the piano, and brought in new.

Dave, always dapper... blue steel.

The soon-to-be newlyweds. Eric and Frances.

Dan and Michelle.

When I say Erin doesn't miss a single detail, this is what I mean. 

Even a "RESTROOM" sign to match the decor.

Picture from lunch that afternoon.

Our "detour" mud pie stop.

Flowers left over the next day.

So 30 came and went. But I will never forget how much I am loved, how much effort my favorite sister and amazing husband . . . and all my best friends made for me.