Runge Times: Happy Birthday Mom!!

This last Sunday was Mom's birthday.. that lucky lady, she turned one year younger!

To help her celebrate Ben, Lakey, Julia and I headed down to Hastings to spend the day with her.

Once there, we decided to roadtrip to Grand Island and have lunch at Whiskey Creek. To pass the time, Julia put on a show for our fellow restaurant patrons with her food and drink. One gentleman got such a kick out of her 'chugging' her milk he had to come over to the table and share his joy in it!

After one pony ride and some good crispy, crunchy oh so delicious grub we headed back to Hastings where Ben did a little tree maintainance in the backyard, Lakey and I became one with the couches and Mom and Julia played outside.

Eventually, we got ourselves together and went for a walk down to the park nearby and fed the ducks.

The good news is.. Julia liked the ducks and enjoyed her attempts at throwing bread... it didn't go far to be honest. It landed on my feet.. on my top.. and hers. Didn't matter though, she was having fun and I loved every piece of crumb between my toes!

Even better news, only one of us ended up with duck pooh on our shoes. The bad news is.. I was that one and I was wearing my favorite sandals. EEEEEEWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!

While there, I caught my rugrat making some goofy faces. In this shot, she was trying so hard not to smile at Aunt Lakey. She almost succeeded too but then Uncle Biens added to the fun and that smile had to break free some!

We slowly began to wander back to Mom's house and wound up lounging in her front yard. I don't know what type of grass she has but I want it! Oh my goodness it was comfy. I know, grass right? Yes, grass. Comfy, cool, squishy don't wanna leave it grass. It was that comfortable!

While we lounged a bit more, I was able to catch a few quick snapshots of Julia having some fun with her loved ones: