Birthday Bliss

Shawn tries to convince me that birthdays are only a big deal until around age 12, then you begin to outgrown them and it's just a regular day. I for one refuse to believe this logic. I love ANY reason to celebrate, and fully believe that EVERYONE should have their own special day-(or in my case own birthday week) dedicated just to them. :) So although Shawn may disagree he knows how I feel, and every year tries to accomadate by making every birthday great. This year was exceptionally good due to great friends and family.

I began celebrating Thursday night by going to the always delicious Pastry Pub, with my very thoughtful friends Hollie & Mikkel-yummy food and good company! It was great, thanks guys. :)

I then came home to a fairly clean, empty house. After some investigating I found out that Shawn had taken the girls to get a few things to surprise me. (So sweet!) I actually think they were meant to be saved until the next day, my ACTUAL birthday but Brylie is a terrible secret keeper, and gets much too excited to hold anything in. She immediatly called to say..."Mommy, we got you a cake, and a balloon with flowers on it, and oreos, and tiny-one sprite (which is really pepsi in the small cans, but to Bry everything is sprite...but I do love everything in small sizes. :) a card, AND a present!!!!" She was so thrilled to tell me about EVERYTHING , and the fact that she helped to pick it all out.

That night Shawn put both girls to bed without any help from me, and the celebrating continued throughout the weekend. Including sleeping in tell 8:30, breakfast in bed, lunch with my sister, a dance recital where Brylie shinned in her "under the sea" routine. (actually it was pretty bad, she had no idea what she was suppose to be doing, but at least she is still young enough that EVERYTHING is cute.) Date Night included dinner and a movie with Shawn, and Saturday we were even able to meet up with my parents for dinner on their way home from Ireland.



I feel completely spoiled, and so lucky to have such wonderful friends and family that make everyday fun! Thanks so much everyone!

P.S. I also TOTALLY appreciated all of the facebook comments, I felt very popular! :)

Below is purely for me, my quarter of a century checklist of things done, and still to be done. I'm sure I will be adding to it constantly.


25 Year Checklist...

• Great husband--- I think so, CHECK
• College Degree ---- CHECK
• 2 cute kids ----- CHECK
• Live in 5 States ----CHECK
  
• Buy 1st home ----- CHECK
• Travel to Asia -----CHECK

Before I'm 30 To Do's...

• Visit Europe
• Career plan
• Live in 2 more states
• Visit at least 5 states
• Trip to Disneyland :)
• Another baby????...possibly
• Buy bikini and wear ONCE without hiding
• Become a better person
• Hot air balloon ride
• Swim with dolphins
• Complete my many projects
  

Ta-Daa!!

PROJECT OF THE WEEK....
One day sitting in my home I just happened to mention to my friend Jen that I have always wanted a red wall, but their really is not a wall without cupboards or doors to do it. Jen being the amazing, talented person that she is thought of painting the pantry. "What a great idea!!!" However me, being the procrastinator that I am would have put it off another year...so once again my amazing, talented, and ambitious friend Jen made it happen. On Monday she and her husband Kyle drove over just to help me paint. (Did I mention what good friends they are? :)

BEFORE:

So I did not think to take a before picture until we were mid-way through the first coat, so this is all I could come up with. One before we moved in, and one at Lauryn's birthday. (Just try to see past the balloons to the boring drab spot with a clock on it.)

Here is Jen applying the first coat of paint...
(At this point I was pretty much freaking out because my paint was extremely bright, and slightly pink! But doesn't Jen look cute sitting up on the fridge...and she was my reassuring voice the whole time.)

Here is Jen applying the second coat of paint...
(At this point I was sitting in the corner sipping on my coke, while Jen was hard at work. I really do love this girl! What would I do without her, she did everything! THANKS JEN.


AFTER....Ta-Daaa!!!

It took 3 coats of paint, and all morning but I Love IT!!!
I really had no idea how plain, and boring it really was before; until I saw this wonderful splash of red that I had been missing my whole life. :)

Thanks again Jen, I really can't thank you enough, and can't wait to do many more projects so you can teach me all your many talents. Oh, and a special thanks goes out to Kyle & Shawn for their hard work watching the kiddos while we painted. (ok maybe it wasn't HARD work...but still thank you.)

From 3 to 13

Below: My conversation with Brylie while dealing with two naked girlies and a tub full of poop...

Me: "Brylie, go tell daddy I need his help."
B: Umm...I don't really want to mom."
M: I don't care if you don't want...if I tell you to do something, you just do it!"
B: Ugh..you can't be serious!

Please tell me we have not hit the teenage comebacks already! How do I deal with that??
(So cute, but so so sassy. I will never know where she gets it. ;)

Good Times @ Grandma's