This is 33

   Mike got home last thursday and we hit the ground running in honor of my birthday.  Friday we finished up swim lessons for Joel and went to the beach.  The clouds were trying very hard to burn off, but they never completely did.  Saturday morning Mike and I went horseback riding nearby.  We went to the same open space preserve we hiked at last week and the views were awesome.  I squeezed in a Nordstrom sale visit and a birthday work out with Mike and then we had people over for a BBQ at 4:30.  Whew!

  Great stop on the way home from Santa Cruz is Marianne's.  My personal fave is still Penny Ice Creamery in downtown Santa Cruz, but this is a famous place for ice cream and a great stop!

  Got up and out of bed sooner than I would have liked, but there is no time to waste on your birthday!  This is part of Garrod Farms, established in 1896 or so.  A fruit orchard for many years, then they added horses, and now they also have a winery.  Beautiful spot nestled in the Saratoga hills, not too far from where we live.

  Mike rode a horse named "Nakaya" and boy was he LARGE!!  I was cracking up when I saw that horse walk out for him.

The hiking trails far off is where we go with the kids.

  This picture was taken shortly after my horse, Jupiter, nudged the horse in front of it, Ben, one time too many and pissed Ben off.  Ben jumped with it's hind legs and side-kicked Jupiter.  The poor woman in front let out a yelp and I felt bad.  Jupiter was a feisty one!!  Didn't want to be reigned in and would all of a sudden speed up and nose Ben before I could stop him!

Are you seeing the difference in size here?

[Insert the Nordstrom trip with Hannah, a quick workout with Mike, and scrambling to clean up and shower before the party here.   Why do I always try to fit so much in?!?!]

  We (and the guys too especially) have a great time whenever we're together.  I'm so thankful to have met such wonderful people down here! 

   The kids and I made these little hanging lanterns out of old salsa, tomato paste, jam, and olive jars.  I like how they turned out!

At the end of the day, I finally got a chance to check up on email and Facebook greetings and I posted this pic with this:

My butt hurts from horseback riding, my feet hurt from shopping the Nordstrom sale, my hands hurt from too many pull ups with Mike, but I'm most proud of my stomach hurting from laughing so much tonight with family and friends. Thank you all for the birthday love!! 😘 #thisis33#lovemypeeps

If this is 33, then I'm gonna like it!