My Birthday

First of all, I want to thank you all for your birthday wishes. It made me feel very loved, thank you!

I've been dreading this birthday because I'm pretty much 30. Doug is only eight months older than I am so when he becomes a year older, I feel like I've just turned a year older also. I don't think 30 is very old, but I just always felt my life would be pretty settled by the time I turned 30. I'd be living in my own home, my husband would have a job, I would have given birth to the majority of children we were going to have, etc. Well, life hasn't turned out exactly as I had planned, but as I sit here typing I realize I don't care. I wouldn't trade a second of my life for something else. Life hasn't always been easy, but looking back, I can see the Lord's hands helping me through the rough stuff so I can be where I am today. I don't know what the future holds, but as long as I stick close to the Lord, I can do anything.

Enough of that, let me tell you the great stuff I did for my birthday! My mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and brother-in-law threw me a surprise party the Saturday before my birthday. We had cake (ice cream cake because I gag on the other stuff), opened presents, visited, and ate lunch. It was so nice to get together and let the kids play with their cousins while I got to visit with adults. Thanks Mary Ann, Melina, Rebecca, Devin, and Katy! Sorry, I don't have any pictures. I wish I would have taken my camera because they had streamers and balloons set up. It was very festive!

On Monday I had the morning to myself because the girls were both in school. I was tempted to keep them out, but figured school was more important than being surrounded by their cute little faces. After school I opened my present and note that Doug sent me. Thank you honey! The note was the best (but you know that because you always write the best things). For dinner we went to my parent's house and celebrated with tasty food, great company, and great gifts. I have a few pictures from there because my mom got a camera for her birthday the week before and was trying it out.

Some of the great gifts I got were: New Moon on CD, a jar of candy for when I read, Fablehaven (a book), the entire set of the Twilight Series books for my Ipod, a set of three phones (I think my mom was sick of me answering out of breath, or after she started leaving a message because I had to run downstairs for the phone), Snickers, free babysitting, a day with my mom doing whatever I wanted, tulip bulbs and a dad who would plant them, Walker, Texas Ranger, Season 4 (my secret pleasure). THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!! I also got a phone call from my brother in Salt Lake.


Pictures from my house:

Notice, it's cheesecake instead of cake.

This is not a flattering picture of me, but it's totally a face that my dad does. I thought it was a little freaky. Any family that sees this, don't you agree?

My brother made a video for me to tell me about the free babysitting, but after two days of trying to upload it, I'm giving up. It's really cute so I'll keep trying, but I really want to have something posted today.