I know it might be weird, but odd birthdays get me more than even ones. It’s not that 43 is bad, but it just seems a lot older than 42! Or maybe it’s that 42 with it’s even number sounded better to me? All that to say….
43.
One year closer to MID 40’s! And, I’m in denial…
I got to celebrate a little early over the weekend with the Huz. My parents had given us some gift certificates, so we ventured out of West Seattle into Downtown. It’s only 15 minutes away for us, but we rarely leave our little neighborhood, because…our neighborhood rocks!
We at a little early, so that we could come home to say good night to Maya, and I ended up taking these images when we got home around 9:00.
We had texted Charlie ahead of time to let her stay up until we got home.
Yay for teenage brothers that want to babysit!!
When I was getting ready, Maya asked if she could put on a fancy dress.
“I want to look good for Daddy, because I kind of have a crush on him. He’s sooooo handsome!”
COULD YOU DIE?!!
So glad she still had it on when we got home!
Yeah…she was happy to take pics with me, but her alone? NOT happening… 🙂
Before all this…
Iphone snaps of our dinner out at Tom Douglas’s The Carlile Room.
Yes, we ate ALL that! BUT…they were somewhat smaller portions…
They had us at the “Book of Booze”…hahaha
On me…
Not so graceful dismount… 🙂
I’ve had this top (ok, technically it was sold as a dress, but…that never happened!) for SO long, and I still love it! I think it’s such a fun alternative for those of us that might be past the point of a mini dress to pair it with a pair of skinny jeans!
GAh, I looooooove capturing us looking at eachother!
I keep saying “This is the last time…”
And this is how she takes posed pictures now haha.
BUT….before all that fun, we walked to her school for the last time…
And she graduated!!!
The dismounts of the throws don’t always look as good haha. 
Love the back of this top!
Oh, and this skirt? I thrifted it for $3.50 at Value Village when they had their pre 4th of July sale on Sunday (retailed for $88!)! I wouldn’t normally pick a denim pencil skirt, but it caught my eye, and I’ve worn it twice since then-ha! 🙂
OMG, her face!!!
Loooooooove!
Charlie had been out walking Max and came up behind us to photo bomb.
Loooooove this one!
And…BOTH of our faces ha!
Oh, and I can say this is total artistic shot, BUT…no, it’s Maya putting her wand RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE LENS!
The parade ends at a park/viewpoint, and they have vendor sites set up all over that have fun things for kids to do. 
They had super fun burlap sack races, but Maya didn’t want to do it, and then quickly got bored.
Yup, this is the best family pic we got. hahaha.
Meme (my mom) managed to get a little smile from her though!
Back at home…sucker all gone.
Tried to get one of just us…
In all years past, we’ve lit fireworks in front of our house. To be noted, they are illegal in Seattle. BUT…we always went around and told our neighbors, and lots even came to watch!
I can’t EVEN!!!!
Yes, this is her new thing. If I pick her up, she does this…
Not going to lie. I feel like I’m going to drop her!!
Could she be any happier?!
The microphone in the background….it will be back!
Oh, and she wanted to bring her microphone outside with us..
BUT…guess what. The following week she was in a singing camp, and 
The focusing stand. I wish she’d hug ME like that…
Nope. Hasn’t exited the licking phase yet! UGH!!!
Because….
So, I gave Maya the camera, and
I loooooove the raw hem trend!! So great for those of us with short legs!!
hahaha. I was trying to get Maya into the shot with me, and was showing her we could have fun and do a jumping shot. I had already pressed the timer, but she wasn’t having it…
Eventually, I coaxed her in!
Two of my new FAVORITE images of us next…
I loooooooove getting golden hour shots!! Maya’s bedtime is around 9:00, so it’s kind of a stretch to get her out at this time. BUT…the Huz was out of town, so I made an exception, and let her stay up a liiiiittle later 🙂
Dying over Maya’s pink ones too!
Forever striking up a conversation with anyone who walks by. Or in this case…paddled by in their kyaks.
her face… 😉
I LOVE that I got the details of her dress sleeve in this next one!
And this is why we were laughing. She came LAUNCHING into my arms!
Can I lie and say this was Maya? or…me?!!
I came out wearing just the top and asked the Huz if he thought it was ok to wear to our neighborhood restaurant. He paused and said. “Yeah…I think so. I mean…it’s a liiiiiittle short!” 😳 He thought I was ONLY going to wear the top! 😂 😂
Maya being a dragon, as per usual…
This…
I’ve had these cut offs since college! I originally thrifted them as jeans and cut them back in 1993…yikes.
Big shocker…she went into the water and got soaking wet!
Trying to spin dry her off haha 🙂
I didn’t realize this was supposed to be a dress until I tried to look it up online.
DYING over these clogs!! How fun is the ankle strap on mine??
Yes, her clogs went flying after this last spin haha.
LOVE her!!
So Maya 🙂
The Huz came outside to take out the recycling, and I managed to pull him into a few pics 🙂
Liiiiiiiittle more swing that I anticipated!
How most of the shots of me look before I crop her out 😉
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