Gifts

So I turned 29 this week. I haven't really been looking forward to 29 ... it feels kind of like the beginning of the END ... the end of youth, or the end of the 20's anyway. I used to think only *old* people reminisced about "where time has gone," and now I feel that exact same way. I have now known my husband for nearly a third of my life, I have as many kids as my parents had, I've got a mortgage and bills and... well now I'm just sounding like a country song! I feel like all the major milestones that I dreamed of in my youth have been attained - college, marriage, kids ... so what now? Retirement? Lol. I still have goals, they just seem a little less life changing - become a better mother to my kids, keep my marriage strong, keep learning and figuring out what I want to "be" when I "grow up." =)

As for the festivities, Brad and I were able to go out to dinner ALONE, thanks to a wonderful friend in the ward who offered to watch our kids. It has been exactly ONE YEAR since we have been out on a date alone - for my last birthday! We had both forgotten what it was like to sit down to a nice meal in peace and calm. It was wonderful. We actually went out the night before because Brad had a work meeting the night of my actual b-day, though he was able to come home for dinner and to have cake with me and the kids - yummy banana cake that he made himself! Eli sang the entire bday song to me all on his own - it was so sweet! Though we did have to sing to him and let him blow the candles out too =).

The next night I went for a Girls' Night Out with some ladies in the ward and we had dinner. I haven't really gone to dinner with friends since who knows when either, so that was also nice. While there, someone asked me "So what did you GET?" (meaning for my bday). At first I felt a little sheepish and mumbled something about "um, er, we decided not to do presents this year, er, uh..." But it really got me thinking about the true GIFTS that I enjoy! The beautiful birthday song from my son, the thoughtful cake from my hubby and the pleasant night out together (he did get me some beautiful orange roses by the way!), the phone calls from two of my dearest life long friends, my parents singing to me over the phone, the package from my mommy who always makes me feel special, the card from my grandma, the chat with my sister... basically connecting and reconnecting with people I love and who love me back! I realized that being loved and remembered are truly the best gifts, and I'm so lucky to have received them this year!

And now for a fun little "before and after." Losing a lot of babyweight is a nice gift too, haha. Owen's is gone, but I'm still working on Eli's! Lol! The saying should be "nine months to put it on, 3 years to take it off!"

Last year's B-day:

This Year (cute shirt from my Mommy):