Twenty-Seven

Happy Birthday to me... I must admit I have ALWAYS loved, Loved, LOVED my birthday. Good times with friends and family, it usually involves good food, lots of attention and being spoiled rotten. AND Mine falls in September, the most beautiful month of the year, in my opinion. You have football games, the leaves starting to change colors, the days and evenings get cooler, you get to sleep with the windows open to let the cool breeze come in while the sound of crickets outside lulls you to sleep. Aaahh. Love September!

All this said however... Ever since the big 25 I have been experiencing some lack of enthusiasm where my birthday is concerned. Something about getting older isn't as appealing as it once was, when birthdays led to SUPER exciting events like --- turning 5 and getting to go to kindergarten, turning 8 and getting baptised, turning 12 and getting my ears pierced and getting to go to Young Womans, turning 16 and getting to date and drive, etc. etc... Now birthdays = me contemplating what I have or haven't accomplished in my life. Which doesn't always = Fun! But Alas, Brian always seems to make them wonderful for me.

The day before my birthday Brian gave me the gift of getting my haircut. STORY: About a year and a half ago Brian REALLY wanted me to grow my hair out. He likes it long. I don't like it long so much. So I knew I would need some motivation. I decided that when it got long enough I would donate it to Locks for Love..... It was FINALLY long enough. YEAH!!!

BEFORE AFTER

With my nasty 10 inch braid to donate. All in All my friend Jami cut off about 12 inches, and it feels so nice. Now I just need to become a "natural blonde" again... Haha
On my birthday Brian came home early and took me and the boys to Wendy's for lunch. The boys Obviously thought it was about the coolest thing ever!!!

Then we all went to Boondocks. The boys played Rollerball which is like miniature bowling. They LOVED every second of it. Slater threw multiple balls down at a time... not sure that is legal, but he had fun doing it

Then we all played some games. The boys rode the carousel.

And the lizards catching flies game.

And Mav hooped it up.

And to finish off the afternoon Brian WON THE JACKPOT on Jumpin Jackpot. It is one of my favorites to play, but with my much expanded belly I couldn't do this one, so Brian figured he would win it for me. Isn't he amazing!?!?

We then took the boys to Grandma Jan's and Brian took me out to eat and to a movie. It was a great time!!! And a great birthday.

One of the surprises I was given, was that Brian had asked several of my friends and family members to write down thoughts or memories about me. It was very thoughtful of him, and fun to read, and listen to the things people came up with. SIDENOTE: For those of you who have read "the 5 love languages" you will know what I am talking about... Brian's love language is words of affirmation, so he is always coming up with things like this for me. While my love language on the other hand is Acts of service, so for his birthday I usually have everything done perfect so that he doesn't have to do a thing.... I guess now I know what I should be doing for him. Haha. There is always next year.

Anyway, These thoughts and memories from others once again made me ponder on the things I have accomplished in my life, and what kind of person I am. I laughed while I read them. I cried while I read them. And realized, Yes, 27 is getting up there, but as the song Jake wrote me said "smile, there are still years ahead". So what will I do with the years I have ahead? Hopefully make more memories, good memories. And laugh, sing, dance and be silly. Life is to be enjoyed! Be who I have always been, and be someone much better. Be a mother. Be a good mother. Play with my children. Read with my children. Enjoy the moments with them that are quickly flying by. "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved". Be a good wife. Be a good friend. Stop constantly talking about myself with other people even though my adult interaction time is limited. I need to be more in tune with the spirit of our heavenly father. I should read more, study more.

Pregnancy is funny. I don't know if it is like this for others or not.... But somewhere in my subconscious when I am pregnant I have dreams about the past. Past people, situations, etc... For example I have had several dreams where I am frantic about whether or not the next day is an "A Day" or a "B Day". If I have the right homework done, or trying to remember what outfit I wore the last "B Day" so that I don't repeat it again tomorrow. I have had dreams about getting up on stage and not remembering any of my lines. I have had dreams of sleeping over under the stairs at Meghan Oviatt's house. Or sleeping out on Kim's tramp with all the boys next door at Talon's house having a sleepover too. Old boyfriends are Always showing up. Running around in my cousin Jeni's gully singing nonsense songs at the top of our lungs. Or driving in my old black truck with Aubrey and Kristin giggling about whatever random thing. And SOOO many more. and they are so REAL. It is as if I am Really there, and that I am trying to solve real adolescent problems. Then I wake-up in my 27 year old body that is very large with child and something about it all seems so crazy! and funny. What does it mean? Somewhere in my subconscious do I wish I was back in those situations. I can't imagine EVER wanting that. I mean I had some fun times, but to do it all over again... No Thank You!

SO! My point is, Life should be enjoyed. HERE and NOW. Everyday. Whether I am 27 or 87. Make good memories. You never know when your husband will ask people to pick their brains about you... And trust me, you want good things to be remembered. Haha! Thanks to all who participated. It was fun. And It helped me see that 27 is gonna be okay. I love where I am and what I am doing. My boys are so funny, and I am married to a man that loves me better than I ever could have imagined.

AND now, since I have blabbered on long enough....

The End.