The party.

Every year Lauren seems to have some kind of adventure involved in her birthday. From an ER visit from an almost broken arm to unexpected water balloon fights....seems there's always a little something that goes a tad crazy.

So here we are getting all settled in for a pretty, calm evening at a park to celebrate Lauren.

Besties having a ball. Clear skies and laughter...

An insane amount of pizza ordered and eaten...

Then. With birthday girl spirits (and a run in the middle of it)...a big thundery storm rolls in.

it gets super chilly cold...like, teeth shattering along with wet.

We huddle...

And LAUGH!

(This is my most favorite picture of the night!)

To the house all wet and cold we go. A bunch of girls piling on our big couch.

Presents.

A big sundae bar.

All the fixin's and sugar...

big and small bowls...

young and old eaters....

Sister love.

And one happy 14 year old.

Another memorable one, sweetheart!

Look who's 14...

14 Things we love about Lauren:

She is growing up too fast! Like, full on teen. 

Hair as blonde as the day she was born, has silky buttery skin, pretty painted toesies, camel eyelashes...

She has an honest heart, authentic spirit, a depth in her soul and smarter than we think.

(Grandpa picked these colorful sweet daisies out for her for her birthday. So sweet.)

She loves roller coasters, fun hairstyles, ripped up jean shorts.

She can either be a complete mess freak,

or a clean freak.

Not much in between that!

Always up for fun...

Her new thing is doing guitars. This one is Josh's very first guitar he learned on twenty some years ago. He told her to do as she wants and surprise him. She put a beautiful song on here that had so much meaning for life and love and the both of them.

Crazy special.

Snapchat.

She has an addiction.

Oh, the pictures.

Decisions, decisions.

She will always carry an amount of grace with her wherever she goes.

I know that full and well.

Josh got her a ukulele for her birthday and it's been fun hearing her learning on it. A dear music soul that she shares with Daddy.

A sleeper!

I love this picture...it was this summer when she was on Papa's boat we now have here. 

As a little one she always fell asleep on it!

Yoga class "about me" poster. 

So cool.

Another project for her sculpture class.

She loves to paint her hands...

she is CRAZY with Twenty One Pilots band.

And sharpie her legs!

Gotta love this one of a kind little lady!

An emotional, smart, sensitive, strong headed, strong hearted soul.

Stay YOU, L-train. 

You are perfect just the way you are.

40 birthday celebration continues!

We got up to the huge, beautiful campsite near us and...

THIS was our view.

Perfect Pikes Peak.

We lounged.

We oooh'ed.

We four-wheeled through the terrain.

We aaah'ed.

We shot.

(Yes, that is my mom. !!)

We hung out.

Some of us camped.

Some of us didn't.

All of us had a relaxing time in such a pretty place sitting by the fire and loving the outdoors.

Most of all....we celebrated wonderful Heather and FORTY years!

Look who's 40!

We surprised Heather with a paint ball day! 

A huge course here with serious (like dressed up in camo, etc) competitors!

Above is the before picture.

 

The boys getting their game on!

The GIRLS getting their game on!

After.

Really after.

A lil' crazy.

And way too HOT.

Really it was the girls that rocked it!

Except for me.

I got hit in the head way too many times.

Got too warm.

I don't have a competitive bone in my body really.

It was fun anyway!

So later that night we went to Breck Brewery. 

It is such a fun place near here. 

A big field to play in with games and such....and a restaurant with some awwwesome food.

Presents for the birthday girl!

Val flew in from Seattle to surprise Heather!

The "Farmhouse Restaurant"

Um, the dessert.

Heaven.

Then we hit up a local band...

It was such a special day/night for the birthday girl!

Daddy's day

Not only is this guy an amazing husband.

He is an amazing daddy.

How blessed (it's not luck!) are we?

Dad's are so special.

I miss mine each day that passes.

I hope the girls will always remember their Daddy as:
music man filling our home with music all the time
bear hugger
thoughtful
follows God in his quiet way
puts 150% into his work
always up to making you LOL
master outside caretaker
biker lover
bbq master
ultimate fixer upper handy man
kind, generous, helper
deep thinker
gift giver
adventurer
strong inside and out
stubborn
both a chiller and get 'er done kind of guy
loyal
dedicated
takes care of all his girls (including Polly!) all the time, always
always up for silliness , fun and big laughter...