happy birthday to Liesl!

  

We celebrated Liesl's birthday this weekend - 14!! - with an amazing weekend in Cannon Beach. But first: cupcake delivery from Grandma Raab! Yummy breakfast!

 

We picked up her friends Ella, Bailey, Campbell, and Jane, and headed out to the coast. It poured on us all the way out, all along 26. But then just as we arrived the sun started to peek out, and by the time we made it onto the beach it was a gorgeously sunny afternoon. 

 

Five girls and one very happy, wet dog. Despite their smiles, it was pretty cold in the ocean, with a brisk breeze.

We had lunch at Tom's, of course.

The girls visited Bruce's candy shop, of course.

By then, everyone was a little cold and wet, so we drove to our hotel, the Tolovana Inn. We found that there were wild bunny rabbits in the grounds surrounding the hotel. So cute! Everyone had to take their chance communing with the bunnies.

And then it was pool time. They practiced diving and did cannonballs, slid down a makeshift slide (a handrail), had chicken fights, competed to dive for rings and fishies, and ended up eventually in the hot tub. Good thing they didn't have much company in there. 

They got dried off and dressed and we had dinner in town, and then Liesl got to open her presents from friends.

Yes, that is a whole basket of candy from Bailey. Steve and I went to bed after this but the girls stayed up very late -- they ran onto the beach in the darkness, they did face masks and pore strips, they played a vulgar board game... very fun. They did not join us for our morning walk with the doggo in the sunshine.

 

Breakfast of champions: fruit, yogurt, doughnuts. And then Liesl opened a few of our presents: a new phone case, a necklace...

And the big one: tickets to see Billie Eilish in concert this December. :)

And then there was more swimming in the pool, and more chasing the bunnies, and running onto the beach, before a huge gusty rainstorm drove us all inside. (It was fine, and then it was absolutely pouring, within 10 seconds. We got soaked.) Hot chocolate for all, and dry clothes, and then we drove home.

Jasper waiting for his pack to return.

It was a magical birthday weekend for Liesl. Steve and I enjoyed watching the girls run and play together, and cuddle up like puppies, and giggle and gossip. They are on the cusp of being older, and less goofy/girly, and it was fun to spend this weekend with them and enjoy this age.

 

We missed Seb, who stayed home, and it was nice to come back and see him on Sunday afternoon. He kept the house clean and took care of himself, and he had a present and card waiting for Liesl.

final Friday Night dance

 There were two more lovely Friday Night dance parties and lessons -- on the 18th at the Robinson's.

And then on the 25th at the Greene's house. L to R: Chloe, Addi, Adeline, Lilia, Ella, Liesl, Anni, Avery, Elly, Campbell, Bailey, Ana Lucia, Nina.

 

The parents had coordinated hiring a giant limo, which we kept secret from the girls until it showed up at the house on Friday night. It was a giant, 13-girl party bus. There were shrieks of joy and awe, and off they went. A pretty magical conclusion to a fun Friday night tradition.

x-country (getting faster!)

Liesl has continued to run cross-country races once a week, and she's been getting faster and more confident, which is fun to see. In a race at Rose City golf course, she finished in 13.23, by far her fastest time yet. Her sprint downhill to the finish was awesome.

And then last week she ran a really hilly course at Clinton City park, and again really ran her heart out. She finished in the top ten, with a time of 13:34.