Turning Thirty

This was the big year this year for me, the big 3-0! I turned thirty and don't actually feel any different. But starting a new decade is a little exciting, I wonder what the thirties will hold for me. My twenties had me in college, getting married and having two children. I imagine the thirties will hold many, many memories but maybe not so many gigantic life changes! Whatever the next ten years hold I know it will be great, my wonderful husband, brilliant kids and dear friends fill my life with joy! I am excited to keep growing older with Russell and watching my kids grow and change.

I always feel like I get a bum deal in December because my birthday is the first, my anniversary is the sixteenth, and Christmas is the twenty-fifth. Usually I get to go out to dinner for all three celebrations on one night and that's about it. But I can't complain, December is such a busy and expensive month already, without adding in all the other special days I have crammed in there. And like my mom always says, I did chose to get married in December! But this year was different. Because I turned thirty, everyone pulled out all the stops.

Erin planned a big surprise party overnight in Sisters at Emily's vacation home. I thought I was going to go to a sale at the quilt store there, that I love, and get this quilt kit I had been swooning over. We were going two weeks before my birthday so I had no idea they might be up to something. Surprise!


Nine of us made the snowy trip across the pass and stayed all night there. They had yummy dinner and dessert all planned, we played games and stayed up late. And since the sale at the quilt store was a pajama sale, they all bought matching pajamas for us to wear and a gift certificate to buy my quilt kit! I was completely surprised and just loved every minute of my thirtieth birthday party with my friends. After going to the sale at 6am, we got ready to go and shopped around the cute shops there and had lunch and left for home. It was so much fun and I felt very loved.


Russ sent me a dozen, (very expensive) red roses to work on my birthday and my students and the teacher I work with made my day so fun and special.

I received all kinds of fun little gifts and special treatment! I went out to lunch with Erin and the girls and had such a nice time. Jen brought me a gift that just might be my favorite!

Yep, that's me!

I also got to sneak away for my anniversary/Christmas present to Portland with Russ for the weekend right before Christmas. We stayed at a fancy hotel and ate every good thing we could think of. We ended up with a little company the second day we were there because Hailey got sick, but we made the most of it and still loved being in the city for Christmas time. I also got to have an anniversary gift on top of all that! Russ bought me an adorable necklace holder that I love! He earned big points this year! So really in the end, I loved turning thirty. It was a great reason to be spoiled and celebrated and who doesn't love that?