Happy Birthday to ME!

This past weekend, I celebrated my birthday with friends and family.  First, we went with the Hannons and the Trainors (those who fall into the category of both friends and family at this point) to Tunquen.  We spent two nights there with a brief trip to Quintay to see some tide pools.  Despite losing power and having no hot water, we had a fantastic time together at this rugged, gorgeous beach.

Ali was the resident story reader this weekend.  I love how Kieran has his little hand on her leg.  Sweet babes. 

The thing that I love about these friends is that they are all so great with kids.  They play with our children, talk to them about everything, and really have fun with them. When you are in a house full of teachers, the children are center stage. 

Can you spot a couple of boys in the brush?

The beach at Tunquen!

Just us and a couple of fishermen.

Sweet Jake and Kelly

How many photos did I take of the jumping?  How many jumps did we make? 

Sweet Aadi had no idea Paul was really digging a moat around him. 

Ty's album cover.

"Who's the rubio with the kite?"

Greta was having a hard time on these rocks in flip flops, so Paul carried her up and over each and every one. This child will always remember her dad as that guy who helped her.  Who made her feel safe.  Who picked her up.  Who encouraged her.  Of all his good qualities - - the way Paul fathers is among his best. 

Sweet Ty, Ali, and Kieran

More GREAT jumps!

Veda didn't get much air, but she had a blast.

Late in the day, we left the beach at Tunquen and went to Quintay's tide pools where we saw starfish the size of Wyatt. 

Fantastic beach weekend with amazing company.  We went back to the beach house this night and Ali broke out some champagne.  We all went to the roof of the house and these lovely people each said really kind words to me as we watched the sun set.  That night, a blood moon.  Unbelievable time together with these friends.  

We left the beach a bit early on Sunday because Paul had to get us back to Santiago for a special surprise.  He drove us to the glider airport that is very close to our house so that I could have a ride.  This is pretty cool because we've had kind of a romantic, fairy tale relationship with these gliders since we moved to Chile.  We watch them almost every weekend when we hike Manquehue-ita, and sometimes the glider pilots even wave to us as they swish by us on the mountain tops.  Paul had arranged for me to ride in one, and he called a few other guys to come along.  Their wives' birthdays are around the same time as mine, so the husbands arranged a picnic at the airport and rides for all of us.  

This photo gives you some perspective on how small these planes are. 

The prop plane out front is tied to the glider and pulls it up during take off. 

See the cable?

My pilots:  the guy in orange flew the plane, and the guy waving flew the glider.

I got a bunch of interesting shots from the air.  This one going up shows the heavy layer of pollution blanketing the city. 

Down below, you can see the swirling river that runs just by our house. Out in the distance -- the snow-covered Andes. 

There is a point over which we flew where the air was clear and the sun was brighter.  This view is coming into focus here.  This was taken from an angle kind of under the glider's wing.

The prop plane that was pulling us finally released us and kind of fell away to the right.  There was a large whoosh, and it grew very quiet. 

The river, the highway, and the glider airport all parallel.  

Last bit before landing.  The whole thing took about half an hour. 

Thanks Paul, Paul and Justin for such an awesome afternoon!

Paul (the other Paul) even popped the cork on some (more) champagne - - which took the party into a whole other direction . . . . 

Fun crew!  Thanks for sharing this experience with us!  One of the best birthdays I've ever had.  This is especially remarkable since I barely knew these people a year ago. So grateful, as always.