September 25!!!

It was my 34th birthday...seriously, it was the best birthday I've had all year! So many text and phone calls and messages for me from family and friends. For breakfast, a yellow cake with chocolate frosting in the fridge from my boys....plus some presents. A birthday banner and crown from Jonah and my dear friend Meghan in the morning, followed by an amazing lunch and homemade carrot cake with fresh toasted coconut when I picked Jonah up after my school day! During school I was spoiled by friends with chocolate and peanut butter cupcakes. And in the evening, Eric and I ran almost 7 miles then headed out to dinner, just the two of us....thanks to Unlce Tom. 

Certainly for me, 34 feels great!

Happy Birthday to me!!!

Failure or Success

Last year, when I turned 30, I posted a list of 30 things I wanted to do when I was 30 years old.  I have accomplished 9 of them.  That's right NINE!  Failure or success? You decide....
While I was making the list, I can vividly remember thinking, this is crazy!  I will never get all these things done in one year.  Especially, since my main goal this year is to get pregnant! 
Two weeks after the list was made, I was pregnant.  One month later, I found out that I made my way to the top of the waiting list for nursing school and was placed at Paradise Valley, to start in January.  Oh boy!
So, no roller coasters.  No vacations.  No ice skating.  Not a whole lot of EXTRA time for anything.
But here I am, one year later.  I have an unfinished list and a beautiful 3 month old baby boy...in addition to my smart and handsome 5 and 8 year old boys.
Failure or Success?  You decide.  I know I have. :)

Time for Me

I had a birthday pass recently.  And I had a lovely day.  Nothing too extraordinary.  Simple, yet divine.  We headed out to dinner Saturday night with some good friends.  It was a family affair and the kids all seemed to have a good time.  Always a pleasure to get out of the house.
On Sunday, I really spoiled myself.  I used all of my nicest beauty care products.  (You know, the exfoliate and the scented therapy lotion that is too expensive to use everyday.)  And I used them copiously.  I decided to put on my skinny jeans.  And they fit!  (Zipping and buttoning without a pair of pliers fit.)  My body still has some recovering to get back into shape, but somehow, when certain clothes fit, you just feel better about yourself.  Oh, and did I mention I had 2 cupcakes for breakfast.  After Church, we went out for lunch.  Had me a bloody mary or two, and a burger.
Jonah slept all afternoon and Eric took the other boys to Uncle Dave's.  I had the house to myself!  So I studied. :(  Okay, so I couldn't spoil myself ALL day.
Out again in the evening for dinner...where my meal consisted of a milk shake and a glass of wine.  Good times, fun times.
A new year and a new list of things I'd like to accomplish....coming soon.  Stay tuned for the new list and to see how I did with last year's list. Eeks!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

For my 30th birthday, my favorite girls and I headed to Las Vegas for a weekend celebration. So many women in all different stages of life, marriage, dating, motherhood, and beyond. But when you put us all together, it was pure bliss. So much fun in so little time. Good dinners, good gambling, some shopping, fun cocktails, and lots of dancing. And with all the craziness that is and always will be Vegas, my favorite parts still remained about the girls. First the getting ready to go out. Trying on 12 different outfits each. Borrowing each others make-up and accessories. Music in the background. Debating on comfort or style. I love it! Second, is the bathroom talks. When your out and about, things are happening, and the quietest place in the town is the bathroom. So that's where girls talk. Strangers become your best friends. I love it! Third, is the morning after. Headaches and saggy eyes. Blisters and swollen feet. Piling into one or two beds....and then the stories begin. Retelling, reminiscing about the previous night. So funny, so fun. I love it!

No one can compare to the 8 women I shared my birthday celebrations with. They are beautiful, strong, smart, fun, and crazy women. And they all teach me a little different style of a hugely fun game of life. I've never been big on a large group of girlfriends. You know, girls to gather with on the reg and share secrets and good times with every weekend. It was only my teammates in HS and college, and that was only in season. I always thought it was because there was probably something wrong with me.....too bitchy, unfriendly, non girly, or just too lazy to put forth the effort. Which by the way are all probably true. But now (in my old age ;)), I know it is because my family is enough--an amazingly strong group of supportive women who will always stick together. No matter what. And the few non-blood close friends that I do have are better than 20 fake friends and/or acquaintances.

Thanks to my girls for celebrating with me and spoiling me with kind words and birthday surprises. You are the best!


(And yes Aunt Cha-Cha, I mean you too. Even if you were only there in spirit.)

Being a decathlete is like having ten girlfriends. You have to love them all, and you can't afford losing one. -Daley Thompson

Simple Pleasures

In honor of Lent and an attempt to simplify our lives, I thought I'd share a few of my simple pleasures in life.

the smell of coffee

listening to my boys play together

sunshine on my skin

long jeans

dark chocolate

back rubs
sand in my toes

dance parties with my boys

clean sheets

green grass

volleyball

hugs, kisses, and "i love yous" from my boys