Pre-21-run fun with the fam

Let’s face it: Aleks and Kat are seasoned drinkers.  They go to college and they live in the Greek system.

Like, DUH.

Isn’t it odd that it seems that they’re finally – on their 21st birthday – getting just a tad bit bored by it all?  And they’re typical.

No long soapbox speeches here, but I am a strong advocate of lowering the drinking age to 19.  If kids are going to drink, chances are they’ve experimented LONG before they’re 21, and if they’re not gonna drink, both 19 and 21 are pretty meaningless.  Right?

So before Elisabeth (and Peter, who surprised them with a trip over the mountains, but unfortunately was still driving when these photos were taken!) took them out for the first of a few “21-runs” this week, we got together as a family for a family night at Palamino’s.

At 6:15, exactly 21 years after Kat was born, this happened:

Kat–21 years (to the minute) later!

And at 6:18, exactly 21 years after Aleks was born, this happened:

Aleks –21 years (to the minute) later!

(Many thanks to Palomino’s, and to Elisabeth, for helping me pull this off!)

Elisabeth kept asking if we could “give them their presents now.”  I had no idea why, but she’s always enthused about – well, everything -- so I figured she was, for some reason, excited to give them the Shuffles we’d bought them a few days earlier.

Nice, sure.  But not all that exciting!

Then Elisabeth gave Aleks and Kat their “cards.”  They were both pretty choked up by what Elisabeth gave them!

She gave Aleks a shopping and lunch excursion with her.  If you knew their history, you’d know why Aleks is a bit speechless.  This is a good thing.

And Kat?  Well, I didn’t catch Kat’s full reaction, but suffice it to say that she is thrilled and a bit in shock that she’ll be accompanying Elisabeth and Ian (Elisabeth’s roommate at Cal and a dear friend of Kat’s) to Hawaii next month!  This is also a good thing!

Thanks Elisabeth!  You made their night!  (And I haven’t even heard yet about the night after our family dinner/drinks!)

Yup… damn – what a fam!

So happy birthday to our youngest adults, our perfect angels!

Happy 21!

OK, maybe not (eh-hem) perfect angels… but damn great human beings!

They’re 21!!

 

Happy birthday, Aleks and Kat!  I love you!

“That’s OK. No, really. It’s nice to see you two so cozy over there on that especially soft spot. I’ll take this little tiny corner of MY bed." Sigh.”

Abby and the Animals

Look who came over to visit for a bit this evening – Abigail, our adorable next door neighbor – who just had her first birthday on Saturday!  Her daddy broke his toe last night (and will have surgery tomorrow!), so Tom and I took Abby for a bit this evening to give her very busy and tired mommy a break.  What a joy she is!

Shasta’s sure Abby was here solely to play.

Abby and Shasta

Bailey isn’t sure why she’s here.

Abby and Bailey

(And macho Boo was scared of sweet Abby and hid under the bed!)

Me?  Ready for grandchildren?  Sure!  But our kids are pretty far from ready to provide them for my enjoyment.  Good thing we have Abby nearby!

Isn’t she adorable?

Damn, what a fam!

Just a fun impromptu day at the mall!

At the hat store…

Aleks:

Tom:

Kat:

Elisabeth:

and yours truly (obviously mid-hot-flash)

But where’s PETER?  Unfortunately, he’s back at school at WSU.  We really missed him today!

Guess what occasion is coming up this week?  No really, just guess!

Yup!  She – and this macho guy…

…are turning 21 on Tuesday!

And THEN there’s THIS “child” of ours… our shy (pffffffft!) child, Elisabeth, who apparently felt the need to show us her purchase…

…to the dismay of her father!

Yeah, we have a good time together, this family of full-fledged, of-age adults (as of this coming Tuesday, anyway).

Even Aleks and Elisabeth are buds these days.  Finally.

It’s not often that Tom sports a full-fledged SMILE for the camera, but today was the kind of day he really enjoys – an impromptu day with the family, just simply having fun.

All that was missing was this guy:

But he’ll be home later this week, to pick up Shasta and bring her back to Eastern Washington while Tom and I are in Hawaii.  Yes, we’re leaving in just five short days.  And yes, I’ll chronicle the trip with photos each day, I promise!

Fall splendor in Seattle

Today, two days after one of the all-time rainiest days in Seattle, we were treated to THIS: