A Moto-Birthday

Talk about bad timing... but this year's second round of the Fire & Police Motocross races landed smack dab on Jei's Birthday! We of course knew about the dates coinciding earlier in the year, so we weren't totally surprised about it, but that still doesn't make it any less sucky about having to spend Jei's Birthday at the motocross track. But at least someone was happy about it! Allen of course had no idea... but he certainly was happy about getting out of the house for a few days and going camping out at the track.   

"Score!!! I can't believe they left these out... like I wouldn't notice!"

Caught... orange-handed!

"Doritos? What Doritos?

I have no idea what you're talking about!"

The first day was nice and cool... so after some snacks, and while Daddy was out practicing, Jei & Allen snuggled up and spent the afternoon reading together.

Allen loves when Momma reads him some Knuffle Bunny!

After a good practice ride... I shed my riding gear,
changed and played a little soccer with Allen.

Allen... trying his best to bend it like Beckham.

"No fair Dad! There's no tackling in soccer!!!"

With no bike of his own to go out and ride...

Allen was super disappointed!

So we found the next best thing...
and got him out on the track!

Plastic, four wheels, and no motor...
I guess you have to start somewhere!

Looks like a motocross champion to me!

With no protective gear and me pulling him,

Allen sure was brave... and loved every minute of it!

As the sun slowly started to descend past the mountains, a buddy's super friendly dog stopped by to say hello... and to apparently steal some snacks from Allen too.

The next day was all about racing!

Finally... proof that I wasn't racing alone! Although with me bringing up the rear pretty much the entire race, it certainly felt like I was!

"Dad, you didn't look so good out there...

I think you need to eat something."

"Here, try this. Maybe these will make you go faster!?"

After a sub-par performance out on the track, not to mention being tired and hot... I just wasn't in the mood and didn't make for a good playmate that afternoon.

Allen obviously picked up on that...

and decided playing with rocks would be more entertaining.

No relaxing in the sun drinking margaritas on a beach for this Birthday Girl! It was her turn to take Allen out for a spin in his motocross wagon.

If there was any consolation to spending her birthday at the track,

it would definitely be the perfect weather we had!

Me and my track buddy...

just as happy as can be!

At the end of a couple of long days of racing...

I sit alone contemplating life...

and how in the world I managed to come in last place!

Birthday celebration or no birthday celebration, win or lose, at the track or at the spa... the most important thing was that we were together and had a really good time! At least that's what I told Jei anyway. Not sure if that made her feel any better though?!?  =)

Of course once we got home that night, we thawed out the Sara Lee Strawberry Cheesecake, lit a candle, and Jei finally had her birthday celebration!

"Please God don't let me spend my birthday

at a motocross track ever again!"

...as she blew out her candle!

Now don't feel too bad for her now... that cheesecake wasn't the only thing she got for her birthday. Moe-Joe hooked her up pretty good too, so a mega thanks goes out to her... as it probably made her birthday a little more tolerable.