The last two years we have been out of town on my birthday.  And although both times we were with family and enjoying every minute, it was nice to be at home this year.  Lee really pulled out the stops to make it a fabulous day for me.  As luck would have it, Lee didn't have early meetings and we actually got to take our time getting out the door and I got to open my super cool birthday presents.  (I've been making an effort to get back on my bike the last couple of months and he gave me a really fun toy that tracks and tells me all sorts of great information.  AND lets Lee know where I am on my bike at all times.  Since I ride alone, I love that.)  I was lucky enough to get a lunch date with Amanda and then got to sneak out a little early for a night of fun.

After Lee picked me up, we headed to Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz and everything seemed to work in our favor.  Traffic was fairly light and we were there within an hour, we scored a close parking spot, AND we got the last fire pit.  We unloaded all our stuff, Lee got the coals going and dutch oven dinner and dessert baking.  The Jergensens got a sitter for their cute twins and joined us shortly before dinner came off the coals.  Lee's cooking was perfection (he did so much prep work on Monday night so that the effort at the beach would be minimal).  He baked us chicken pot pie and a peach crumble. Both were delicious.   We enjoyed dinner around the fire and then packed up before the beach shut down at 10pm.  That left us a good hour + to hit the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.

Things continued to go our way.  We found two more parking spots, benefited from $1Tuesdays AND happened to score the first car on the Giant Dipper!   We then went to the Drop Zone.  I've always avoided that one but we went all out.  I nearly hyperventilated.  But it actually was tons of fun.  We took pictures of the pictures taken during both rides.  They both are pretty hysterical.  I didn't know my mouth could open that wide.  :)  The night was perfect and super fun.  I'm so lucky to have my cute Lee who puts in so much effort to make my birthday memorable.