36

I am  officially 36 years old....

I am getting a little bit closer to 40 each day.  Yikes!   I get no sympathy in this house though since I married a guy older than me who is already past the 40 mark:)  I still feel like I am in my 20's until I hang out with people in their 20's and realize I AM NOT  there anymore.  It's a good thing though.  I am at a pretty good place in my life right now. 

  Birthday celebrations got extended out over a few days which I am not complaining about :).

Here are a few of the celebrations.

-Harrison/ Higley Birthday tri-celebration

 

We celebrated January birthdays with Jim's side of the family.  I am lucky enough to share January birthdays with Jim's mom and Jim's sister Liz.   They are amazing women and it was fun to share the  celebrations with them.

Practicing drinking out of my new soup mugs!

We each got to pick our own dessert. Since I am not a cake fan, apple pie was my choice.  Cherry Chip for Liz and Mint Ice Cream Pie for Jim's mom.

Nice to be together with family. Thank you everyone for getting together and the wonderful presents.


-Birthday Eve at Leatherby's.
A fun little tradition that I made up a few years ago :)

- Going to the Children's Museum on my actual birthday. 
That's where everyone goes for their 36th birthday right? :)  Seriously though, sometimes the best present my children can give me is letting me see them explore and be happy.  It was a good day.

Checking out the green screen

 

 

These magnets are so fun to play with

Cute little Afton doing a little grocery shopping

My girls playing together

-My dad making me Birthday Dinner. 
He made a Wok stir-fry for me.   ALWAYS delicious.  Thank you Dad!

 

 

-Jim's present to me was re-doing our main floor bathroom. 
Ethan and Lizzie were more than willing to help with the demolition part.

Pictures of the NEW bathroom to come soon......

My birthday celebrations are now over.  Next up in the Birthday season line-up......

LIZZIE!

Snug

This is how the girls have been sleeping for almost the past two weeks. Should I remind them there is a top bunk and a trundle bed not being used?

Yes, all 3 are snuggled up on the same bed by their own choice. It is a very cozy fit since they each have their own blanket they like to use and certain stuffed animals they like to sleep with. You can barely see Lizzie's blonde hair poking out but I promise she is there in the corner :)

Little Things

After the rush of the holidays it feels like not too much happens the first part of January.   With all the cold outside and sickness going around sometimes you have to find simple things that make you smile.   Here a a couple things for 2013 that have already made me very happy!

1- Last Sunday I read a whole book in an afternoon!!!  A book with more than 200 pages!!! I can't even tell you the last time I have had time to do that.  I stayed home from church with Afton while she was not feeling well.  While she was resting I sat down and read a book from start to finish.  It was such a rare treat.  

2-  Lizzie made it into the top 3 of her class spelling bee!! THIS IS SO HUGE!    Last year she refused to even participate.  This year she was so excited to practice her words to get ready.  When I picked her up from school that day she was running to the van and said "I MADE IT!"   Usually she just walks casually to the van and gives a very nonchalant "Hi mom."  On this day she RAN to the van and was so excited to tell me.  I will have to admit my heart jumped a little with happiness.  Even if she gets the first word wrong at the school spelling bee in a couple weeks,  I am so dang proud of her!

2013

 

And we are off to new adventures in 2013...

Happy New Year!