a 30th birthday.

When Lindsey came down last October, we talked about making a really fancy decadent chocolate cake. The kind where you melt the chocolate, sift the flour and everything takes several steps. Well, it never happened and months later I still couldn't drop the idea. I decided on this recipe which also has coconut milk and a chocolate coconut buttercream frosting. I don't love frosting, so I just wanted it in between the layers and not all over the cake. It scored big in my book. Sarah was so sweet to decorate the house for me! And she had made homemade berry muffins and a smoothie.

We couldn't find the candles that I bought, but luckily Jake ran upstairs and pulled a few out from under his bed (?! That's where I keep all my valuables hidden I suppose). Let's just hope there's no lighter there too. . .

After church we went to play under the live oaks and take photos. I got a little obsessed with these trees while I was in Texas. They remind me of how you draw trees as a kid-- no leaves or branches down low, just at the top of each branch. They're gnarled and beautiful. 

This way to the enchanted forest! Don't these two little princesses look like they're about to step into a fairytale?

My bro making me a birthday smoothie-- it was sooo good. And he made real whip cream on top. What a great bro-in-law. 

The night before Sarah and I went to see the 5 Browns in concert (after climbing-- did I mention that my bro-in-law is amazing? He watched all the kids all day long. wow). It felt enriching to hear the classical music played on 5 grand pianos together. And the Mozart piece at the beginning totally brought me back to my NC home. I must have heard my brother play it 1000x.

it's always a little bittersweet leaving behind a decade that will never be again, but thirty seems to be shaping up just fine.

rock climbing at Enchanted Rocks State Park {girls day out}

me on becky's crack 5.9-- wide and sharp. The guy who led this after we climbed (we top roped, but that was super tricky . . . and a long story) kept whipping. 

Hello the big 3-0. To celebrate my birthday Sarah and I snuck away all Saturday for some climbing/hiking at Enchanted Rocks- a granite monolith in the Texas hill country. I love climbing as a all-women team. We did more climbs that I was anticipating (we had Hannah with us) but the weather and the baby held out, so we cranked until we could crank no more. 

Sarah on Twin Crack (5.10a)

I can't think of a better way to spend my birthday -- or enter a new decade-- than being outside with people I love. I do wish I could have spent it with B at my side also, but thank goodness for Skype. 

Sarah was great. And being a mom of 5, she understood the urgency. Get on there and go! Who knows when the sleeping dragon will wake! :) 

Arrh! Where me wooden leg go?! 

you know you're a hard core climber when your chest strap sports a binky and hand sanitizer. Hott with two t's. But isn't Hannah's peeping face the cutest? She was so great. Sleeping in the pack and then hanging out on the leaves. Although the other climbers seemed genuinely weirded out by the nursing. 

afterward we went through fredricksburg and ate at the Peach Tree cafe where I had the smallest  sandwich. There must have been elves in the kitchen. Luckily the next day (my true b-day) we got to gorge on this baby: 

Lone Star State

We're back from Texas and our trip was great! 

We are already missing our cousins/aunt/uncle/sister/bro/nephews/niece already. 

Isn't it amazing to have family? 

I hope so much that L&H are besties one day because mine sisters are amazing.

We were so busy we hardly had a chance to sleep.

And it was totally worth the insane 2 day trip to get there. 

I told Sarah that even if I had to go home after two days, it would have been worth it!

The only downside is waiting until July to hug them all again . . . 

More of our adventures in the Lone Star State to come . . .

Colorado River (& Confluence) overlook

I was glad we had the Chariot to contain the kids. While I felt a little guilty at not letting Liesel explore the overlook, I kept having flashbacks of my mom at Arches (or anywhere with massive drops) with her hand over her mouth and on repeat: "kids! Get back from the edge!" And like much of Canyonlands, there were no rails. Only one broken wooden sign warning parents that their children could very easily fall to their death. It makes it feel much more adventurous. I love canyon country. And I'm not talking about 97.1 . . . although that is the only station we get. 

This week for Brian's weekend (that is actually mid-week) we headed out to the Confluence Overlook where the Green and Colorado Rivers join. But we ended up giving up about 1.5m before the overlook. The wind picked up, the kids were tired and we had already eaten our lunch. Translation: lets go home.

I love hiking with B. We talk a lot. And I don't know about the rest of you, but January always seems so full of decisions so there's always a lot on our minds. Nothing better than the rhythm of the trail to get you in the right direction.