Hot Chocolate Run

B is really into running 5Ks.  I think hes done 4 or 5 official races and several just with me.  He really wanted to wake up early (before 6) to do the hot chocolate one this year.  It made for a very exhausting birthday weekend, but Brian and I did it with him.  He definitely got a personal best time too!

 

Double Digits!

B turned 10 last Friday!  We had a normal school day and then after school, the big kids took him on a brother adventure to Starbucks (definitely a hit to hang with them!)

He opened his gifts with us.

We hosted a huge party at VV last summer to celebrate the boys birthdays, Brian's and our 20th anniversary, so the kids didn't get big birthday parties this year.  B still wanted to do something, so I told him he could have 4 friends over for dinner, a movie and to sleep over.  All 4 came, but only 3 slept over (which was plenty as not much sleep happened as it was!)

 

Torrey Pines

Before we left on Sunday, we took a hike with my parents, brother, my cousin and her son in Torrey Pines.  We saw dolphins and enjoyed scenery we aren't used to.

 

The Actual Birthday Party

I don't exactly know how many of us went to the lunch party, but maybe 50?  It was held at a beautiful winery in Fallbrook.  It was obviously a great time to take lots of photos of family.

My dad and his 3 brothers.

The enormous table with flowing bottles of wine and family style pasta.

Of course some cup balancing games.

My dad, his brothers and their wives.

After the party we went back to my uncles magical house.  He literally built the bricks and the house himself.  Its on a sprawling mountainside complete with orchards of fruits.  It's a perfect place for large gatherings and holds thousands of my childhood (and now my children's childhood) memories.

Between the orchard and fruit picking and the very old dirty trampoline, the kids all left looking pretty ragged, tired and like they had a lot of fun.

The same trampoline, slide and teeter totter my cousins and I played on as kids.  Still being enjoyed by the next generation.

Its absolutely a perfect place.

 

First night in Fallbrook

My dad's oldest brother turned 90, which was the impetus for the celebration.  My dad is one of four boys, each of whom have 2 plus kids and each of those who have 1-3 kids.  By some miracle every one of us made it except my two brothers kids (the brothers made it, but not the kids).  We all arrived in Fallbrook Friday and had dinner at this really cute outdoor Mexican restaurant.  The kids don't see each other very often, but when they get together, its like no time has passed at all.  

Same with the adults.  

The night ended with all of us back at the hotel for live music and a big dance party!

 

San Diego

We took a few days off of school and headed to San Diego/Fallbrook for my uncles 90th birthday.  We spent the first two nights in San Diego at the beach and looking at UCSD and then met two of my cousins and their families at Sea World.