You stay classy...

It was a whirlwind trip to the classiest city around San Diego! It was my birthday present from Ty and I couldn't have asked for anything better. Honestly, it was perfect. I stayed at my dad's new place downtown (only a couple blocks from my brother Chase's place/office). Side note: if you're not getting your taxes done by Blackslate Group and you live in SD: you might want to right that wrong... We went to the beach in front of the Del, ice cream, roof top laying out, reading, and a massage/mani/pedi (all gifts from Chase...hashtage mostawesomebrotherever! Heaven on earth and I'm already scheming on how I can get back. While there, I got to spend some quality time with my dad and Chase's new girlfriend who is a delight. Pictures of my trip shall mollify me while my 2 year old screams her head off refusing a nap...

Birthday Scavenger Hunt.

For Taryn's birthday we went on a super fun and sweaty scavenger hunt through downtown Seattle. My team (me, Zack, & Blake...stop rolling your eyes) was a shoe-in sixteenth seed. No surprise we arrived to the final destination last. We seriously ran 3 or 4 miles racing from place to place. But...we did have a team Chaplin and I got to stand by and watch while one clue had both my team mates try on super tight skinny jeans and take a monster shot of tequila. We didn't cheat (see: team CHAPLIN) despite some best efforts to convince us otherwise. It was a super fun time with family.Happy Birthday, T! And p.s. thanks for sharing your party day with me on my birthday...

Birth Day.

Today is my birthday; the last year of my 20's and I couldn't be happier. My 20's have been life changing; they have been hugely transitional; they have been blessed. I'm reminded every day that God blesses, He loves, He delivers, He gives, He still has dreams for me. It's a good life because I'm still here...
So I'm coming for you today, 29!

Inner Kid.

Last night was one of our dear friend Tay's Dirty Thirty. Honestly, it was such a funny idea. Go Kat: wife extraordinaire. It was a good old fashion pub crawl with all of the party attenders choosing their own mode of transportation. You could ride your skate board, bike, roller-blades, walk, whatever. Most of us chose bikes. Pea helped me decorate my bike for it because the theme was unicorns so I figured it was right up her alley; bikes, ponies, and sass. I have to say it was one of the most carefree and fun nights I've had as an adult. We just rode bikes around the summer streets of Seattle with our friends, having snacks and (adult) drinks, playing, laughing, and generally having the best time. Simply put, I felt like a kid again and relished every second. Plus, it was super fun to ride bikes with my hub. Happy birthday Tay. Haters Gonna Hate.

Boss.

The boss of poses... oh, sweet pea.

Reen + Nando.

Loreen and Fernando were married today in the back yard of the family compound. It was a beautiful ceremony in Spanish and English and it was just like L&F: a beautiful blend. The day was gorgeous and the little belles were ecstatic about being flower girls. I do not have a ton of pictures and haven't seen the professional ones yet, but here are the meager few I have and some from Andi. Congrats Aunt Reen; we are so happy for you!

What to expect when you're expecting

Literary nerd alert. Some of you are titillated. A select few are selecting the X conveniently located in the righthand corner of your screen. My freak flag is at full mast this morning so let's all roll with it. Essentially, I am volunteering to do a book report during summer; many years removed from formal schooling.
Every summer since junior year of high school I've tried to read my favorite novel The Great Gatsby. There have been a few summers I've missed, but I've been fairly consistent. I'm half way through and I can tell you reading it at this age holds different truths than reading it for the first time at 17. At 17 it's filled with romance; a beautiful man who will build a memorial to your beauty and wait an eternity for you. I can still smell the lemon scent of Daisy's white dresses, feel the oppressive heat of late August (another genius metaphor for Gatsby's wild dreams), and see the end coming while still in the thick of the plot. The characters don't see it coming until its too late. Reading it now the summer that marks the end my 20's I find I'm the same age as the characters and I see new themes as a parent, friend, participator in an (almost 10 year) relationship.
I see the breaking weight of unrealistic expectations. The panic and disappointment of holding an all too specific dream too close. Daisy could never be all that Gatsby dreamed.
I made a notation (see picture) a few years back. She could never be his everything because she's human and not Divine. Slowly as we mature and learn to manage our expectations as life marches on I'm struck by the weight of our expectations; my expectations. What opportunities do they crush before they're allowed to enter the dream for my life? We have to find a way to balance self-imposed expectations and especially the expectations we have of others with regard to the reality of who they are and what they can actually give. I feel the weight of this most heavily in parenting. How about you? Would love to hear your thoughts. I've said it before and I'll say it again: F. Scott you're a genius, I think Zelda would agree...