28 in 28

I turn 28 in 28 minutes.
I don't want to.
27 was bomb.

Our Relief Society put on a little (ok, not-so-little, it was like 20 minutes long, but well done) skit at Enrichment, about birthdays and enjoying each season of our lives. It got me thinking about favorite birthdays that I have had. A few of them were:

-12th birthday: I had a slumber party at Ruth Ann Eggers' house (I'm still not sure why I insisted it be there...but I remember being super excited about it being an "off site" party.) We watched The Princess Bride and went on a scavenger hunt.
-15th birthday: This was the party where I was given my first violin, first co-ed birthday party, and first kiss in front of anyone else, including my parents! Yep. Mom was standing right. there. At 15, I was mortified and elated at the same time.
-18th birthday: a day at the beach, a melodramatic broken heart, a horrific sunburn that blistered my face, a party with friends, and a new car. Typical 18th birthday--full of ups and downs. Aaron is still driving that new car. I wonder how excited Reese will be when she gets a 22 year old Honda Civic to drive on her 18th birthday. Probably not as excited as I was to get one that was only 22 minutes old. Sorry Reese, sucks to be the oldest. You should ask your Uncle Mark what he drove at 18...and he probably got better grades (...that's supposed to be the good thing about being the oldest).
-21st birthday: but not because I turned 21, but because of the way it was spent. It had potential to be a terrible day, since Aaron was working 3000 miles away in Charleston, SC, and we hadn't seen each other in months, but I woke up to a bunch of Alstroemerias, delivered to me in bed by my nephew, Zachary (who was only 2 at the time). Then, I went to work and HolleeAnn, and my crazy boss, had decorated my classroom door, and my preschool class sang Happy Birthday to me, and gave me a charm for my charm bracelet. I came home to a phone call and flower delivery from Aaron, and then I spent the whole evening on a date with my Mom. It was the best! Nothing wildly extravagant about the day, but the simple gestures from people I love made it one of the best birthday's I have ever had.

So, in no particular order....
27 things I love
...that happened at 27:

#1) I had a baby this year ...can my life really get any better? He's such a sweet little man.
#2) I learned how to run, learned how to not hate running, and learned to love running.
#3) Re-opening my little preschool. I LOVE teaching, and I LOVE my Busy Bees! It is one of the highlights of my week, and I am so sad that this is my last month with them!
#4) Having a husband who knows what truly makes his wife happy....Whole Foods peanut butter. Thanks, baby! "I'm working in Tulsa, tomorrow" are quickly becoming 5 of my favorite words to hear you say!
#5) Killers Day and Age. It makes me happy.
#6) All things done with Kasey. No need to pin any one thing down.
#7) Upholstering the black chairs....a project that took way too long and cost me way too many hours of sleep, but I'm still really happy with the result, so I guess the time was invested well.
#8) Learning how to can fruit, veggies, and make pickles...and entering them in the county fair (I felt like such a Martha that day). I guess #9 should be "going to a county fair for the first time ever"
#9) I finally replaced our bedding with something I totally love (after a 2 year search)
#10) Eating Butterburgers in Denver
#11) Visiting family in Denver (Dear Family, yes, you trump butter burgers and noodles & co...these are numbered, but I did state that these are in no particular order.
#12) I completed the Personal Progress Program that I've been working on for 2 1/2 years. I didn't blog about it, but this was a big one for me. I really wish I could have finished it 6 months sooner while I was still serving in the Young Women, so I could have celebrated with the girls I worked with. I didn't complete the program as a youth, so it's extra meaningful to participate in it as an adult, and youth leader.
#13) U2 in Dallas!!!!!
#14) My first Camping-in-a-tent adventure.
#15)The Fugly Bee Bush came DOWN! (yay!)
#16) Staying home for Christmas. It was WONDERFUL.
#17) Watching my body do amazing things... like gaining 35lbs to grow a baby
#18) Busting my BUTT to lose that 35 lbs and train for my first 10K, then going on to run 2 Half Marathons in the next few months.
#19) Taking Quincy to her first movie and getting Reese her first bike
#20) New Mailbox-milk can, be gone!
#21) Eating homemade pesto from basil that I grew
#22) Going back to school
#23) Having Grandparents visit
#24) Road trips with Aaron.
#25) Realizing how much I love blueberries and picking them fresh at the Blueberry Barn
#26) Finding and finishing the Baking Cabinet, and building my own Harvest Table
#27) Wearing an I HEART EDWARD shirt to the sneak peek premiere of New Moon...

HA! If you didn't know that was a joke...well, then you probably don't know me at all.
Of course, I am kidding. BUT, I DID have fun at the movie, thanks to the real #27, which is....

#27) having a great group of AWESOME girlfriends. Always fun and laughter involved. I love that each bring out a different side of me, and that they each inspire me with their example to try to better develop the individual quality they excel in. I'm especially grateful for the newer friendships that have developed this year, and the ones that have encouraged me to step out of my comfortable box and do something brave.

and one to grow on...
#28) I think this year was so great because I learned how to do a lot of new things that I've been wanting to try. #28 is my awesome husband who supports my crazy ideas, fearlessly pushes me along, hears me out when I whine or cry they get tough, and loves on our babies when they keep me away from home.

Let's hope that 28 brings:
-a degree! Er... at least an Associates. Something. Anything. Anyone? Beuler? Taking one wimpy night class kept me more stressed out and away from home more than I want to be right now. I love my life. Earning my degree right now will only make my life better if I don't have to miss living to do it. I am going to get the AA, then reassess what is right for me to be doing right now.
-a yard! The fence is STILL moving along. I have plans for the yard....they begin with a new door to get TO the yard, and possibly a deck or patio.
-a getaway with Aaron! That's right. These lovebirds are flyin' the coop while my folks are here to guard our nest. Any suggestions on where to go for a 3-4 day trip?
-finding the Almond Box wrapped and placed under the tree Christmas morning---with MY name on it.

What was your favorite Birthday?

Birthday Week

I want chickens.

Unplugged

I'm here.
I've been spending my days soaking up the goodness of my parents, planting my garden, finishing my table, pushing my kids in swings, eating, eating, and eating, completing a fence, teaching preschoolers about trees and transportation, identifying bugs, dealing with MORE ear infections (seriously), and planning a fabulous, but totally last minute vacation to Disney World.

I've been spending spending my nights giving haircuts, catching up on bills, laundry, and all things I'd rather neglect while my folks are here, and writing/editing a series of 8 page essays for World Lit, which because of the date of our lil' Florida vaycay, are now all due one week earlier.
I just emailed the last one. I am soooooo over night school until Fall.
Give me my family.

Bring on the weekend!

Also, I think I'm going to close my Facebook account.
I haven't missed it at all.

Crusty Chair + Spraypaint + MDF+ Upholstery =

(I purchased the lil' treasure on the far left)

(and here it is again on the right)

reward (noun): something of value given in return for an act. (syn: payment, recompense)

Someone in my class actually got a perfect score on our crazy-difficult Midterm.
107%!


It was me. {yay!}

Grow

Planting a garden this year?
Check out this site!
Even if you have black thumbs, you'll feel like you can grow anything after a little time in the encyclopedia section.

On Going to the Dentist

If you schedule your dental appointment at the same time as your daughter's appointment, they will give the nice, warm and fuzzy hygienist to your five year old, and stick you with the meanie that makes your gums cry while she talks about her cats.