in no particular order...

 Food truck Fridays have become a regular happening around here...

flank steak grilled cheese sandwich.  

Biscuit starts asking on Tuesday if we 'go to food trucks now Mama"

A couple weeks ago on a random Sunday we took the kids to Grandfather Mountain.  Everyone returned home in one piece (though I aged about 10 years).

family hike.  marcus was a nervous wreck.  i was prepared for someone to bash their head in and bleed to death on a rock.  we made it about a mile before turning back. 

gorgeous weather.  the kids have been obsessed with going again and keep asking about the mountains.  must be the latent Andean genetics.

the mile-high bridge.  also known as the "swinging bridge" (for good reason).  also known as "where mama nearly died of fright when javier decided to race across it".  there are some boulders you can climb to go to the overlook (sans barrier).  javier was incredibly pissed that we didn't let him go.

These chuckle-heads have started 3 day 2's at St. John's Preschool with Ms. Josey & Ms. Teresa

They love school and are annoyed on Mondays and Fridays when they don't go.  Javier especially loves it.  They have lots of friends from last year in their class and were just invited to their first birthday party solo (as in not as Emi's tagalong brothers).  They are un-potty-trained and, as evidenced this weekend, are COMPLETELY uninterested.  I promise to announce it to the world when they are potty trained, but really, I'm not worrying about it any more.  In January I'll be signing them up for gymnastics/tumbling (once they've turned 3 they can start participating in these things).  Javier is a speed demon on his balance bike and Andres loves his scooter ('cooter) more than life itself.

emipalooza 6.0

It's like all we do is party around here...

 the outfit says it all

Birthday girl may be the last kid on planet earth (or at least in Charlotte) who still thinks a house party is the greatest.  I guess I should be flattered but damn it's a lot of work.  Next time, 5 kids, MAX.

For her party Emi wanted a carnival theme.  That meant Mama spent wwwaaaaayyyy too much time hand lettering signs for different carnival games and clearing out the backyard for the bouncy house.

A few quick shots...

We couldn't be prouder of our Puchis and how she has blossomed at 6.  She's a.l.m.o.s.t. reading, a magnificent big sister to two, slightly annoying baby brothers and a happy kindergartner.  Weekends and after-school are jam-packed (too packed for us!) with soccer, ballet, swim lessons and religion classes.  She's a sweet girl who takes care of her friends, loves her family, and is incredibly compassionate.

Photo credits: Mandy French Photography

the big one

A couple months before my birthday Marcus started asking me what I wanted to do.  I mentioned that I'd like a party.  In no way did I imagine what I was going to get...

party helpers

venue set-up

I joked that this was the worst surprise party ever.  Mainly because I knew it was happening.  I mean I knew a party was being planned.  The real surprise?  Both how awesome it was and how many people showed up.

Photo Booth shots::

my amaze-balls neighbors who put this whole thing together.  if left up to marcus he would've had a bag of doritos and a 6 pack of beer for 60 people in our backyard.  these girls can run the flipping world.

 the check writer.

There are so many more.

 walking in marcus had the dj (what? a DJ?!) playing 'our song'.  it was hard to keep it together.  (on the table you can see the beer koozies he had made).  first thing - leigh hands me a cocktail (thank goodness)! can you say margarita machine????

 salsaritas - i couldn't eat or drink anything because I was so overwhelmed.  also, note the handmade streamers made by my neighbors.  they got together and "Pinterest-ed this b****"

 my dear friend lacey came down from va. to celebrate.  love my blond sister.

 some of us thought a plank would be a good idea.  it wasn't

 and then the dancing began... What was so amazing is that I have VASTLY different groups of friends... the 'brown peeps', old work friends, neighborhood friends, mama friends... and there's not a lot of overlap.  Except, apparently, when the greatest.dj.ever. starts doing his thing.  Didn't stop dancing all night. (and yes, i recognize i look like an ass in these pictures but who cares.  Clearly I was enjoying myself.

There are actually so many pictures I've put them in to a book, so, 40 years from now when we are in the home, I can remember this evening.  To all those who put this together, thank you is not enough.  To those who showed up, I'm fortunate to call you all friends.  And to that quiet guy in the corner ~ gracias.