Happy Belated Birthday to Me!

Last week I celebrated my...cough, cough...29th birthday. I know many readers of this blog are 30 or older, so maybe you can relate or tell me I'm wrong, but here's my analogy to turning this age. I look at the 20's like going on a vacation. The first day is new and exciting, full of anticipation of the upcoming adventure and fun. Just like a trip, my 20's would be full of fun new milestones (i.e. college, roommates, marriage, kids). However, like every trip, by the middle of the week the newness wears off and I forget to stop and appreciate how much fun I am having. Then the last day comes and I realize, gasp, that we go home tomorrow and the fun will be over. Inevitably I get depressed and try to cram all that I had not yet accomplished into that last and final day. Well, turning 29 is like realizing that it's the last and final year of the youthful 20's. But there is hope, because a few days after returning home from any vacation, I adjust and it's back to a a happy life as usual. So, I sure hope that I can quickly adjust when that time comes to turn 30 and that it won't seem like my fun ride is over. Cause man, 30 is OLD. He he he. (I had to add that part, because I KNOW that all 30 and older readers are laughing and thinking that 30 is not old.) Truthfully, I am looking forward to the next 10 years of my life. Not the aging body aspect of it, just the stage of life that it brings. I love where I am right now, but could it have been about 5 years ago? :)

My day was as good as they get. Dave brought us breakfast from McDonald's, which by the way, I will never eat another egg McGriddle as long as I live (well this year at least). They are so so yummy and also 32 grams of fat!! Holy! Not THAT yummy! Anyway, Dave put up little birthday signs on our door and was off to work. I then went over to my sister's house to make pie crust for Thanksgiving. She kept telling me that I should do what I want to do on my day. But really, I DO do what I want everyday, so I couldn't think of what I would rather do differently. It was fun talking and baking with her. In the afternoon we returned home and I...uh, I mean, Derek and Taylor made a fabulous lemon cake and Dave returned home from work just in time to take us to Cafe Rio. I wanted a free dessert, but I received an embarrassing serenade of 'Happy Birthday' sung by 10 employees. It would have been worth it if it were followed by free lime pie, but no, that was it. Dang. After dinner, we returned home, ate cake, opened presents, and I then talked on the phone with my brother for a couple hours until late. It was a great day and thanks to everyone that emailed, called, sent presents or just thought of me! That's why I love birthdays so much, even if they do make me older...it's just fun to receive a special notice once a year.

One of my awesome presents...a Willow Tree angel! I LOVE it...thank you guys!

What List Are You On? :)

A little someone is on my bad list.This was the porcelain temple that decorated the top of our wedding cake. The only breakable thing in our house that I valued. It made it through, one day shy of, eight years without one crack or scratch... Through seven moves (two were across the country), through countless light saber battles, through several indoor family football games, through two little boys and now it met its match....McKenna. It was sitting three shelves up on a Korean doilie and she reached just high enough to pull on the doilie and down came the temple with it. I was hoping the cracking sound was a picture frame, but no...my temple!! :( But how could I stay mad at the sweet little girl babbling next to it. Urgg... We'll see how good I am at Super Gluing.

But a big someone is on my good list!!
Dave brought me these beautiful flowers for our anniversary last night. He chose everything. Eight flowers for eight years, the blue vase (which I love), and he asked for a "pretty" ribbon. What a cute husband! The card he chose was very clever, it said "I just wanted to show these flowers how beautiful you are". Cute. He took me out to the Olive Garden which is where we went on our first date. He is so sweet. We came home to a Dairy Queen ice cream cake that I bought for him. It was just a great day.

Family Tooth Count

McKenna: up to 6
Derek: down 1

Sunday was a big day for Derek. He "lost" his first tooth! It had been loose for over a week and he wouldn't let me pull it. It drove me crazy watching it flap when he talked. It brought back memories of my mom begging to pull our teeth. I understand her feelings now. :)

Well, on Sunday Dave gave Derek a choice to either let him clip his toenails or pull out his tooth. You should all know by now how much Derek hates his nails being clipped. Derek said "well, I get money for my tooth, so I pick the tooth". Dave used a napkin to grab it and he said that it came out without pressure.

The tooth fairy left him $.36 that night. What a random tooth fairy! :) She also forgot to take the tooth, but we just explained to Derek that she is new at coming to our house. Derek figured she left it so that he could take it to show and tell. Smart kid. Here's Derek and his new smile.
I almost cried when I took this picture. This is just another sign that Derek really is growing up. I am nervous to see how his permanent teeth will grow in. Derek doesn't have great "teeth genes". Sorry Derek...but nothing that braces can't fix! :)

How much does the tooth fairy leave at your house?

Eight Down...and an Eternity to Go!

(WARNING: This post contains words not suitable for those that object to mushy, lovey stuff. Read at your own risk.)

Happy anniversary, Dave! Eight years later and I am even more in love with you than the day we were married. Thank you for continually working on our marriage and striving to make it stronger. You are a wonderful husband and I still say that you are "perfect for me"! I love you infinity plus one! Here are some pictures of the past 8 years together:

2000 (Dating/Engaged)

2000
2001

2002
2003
2004
2005

2006

2007 2008

Her New Trick

Here's a cute video of McKenna. Look for her little snort at the end of the clip. Look out, she'll be walking soon!!

And Finally...Halloween Day

Maybe it's too late to be blogging about Halloween still, but I wanted to add it anyway. The day started at Derek's school where they had a cute little parade. The parents sit in the gym and all the classes walk by on stage. It's fun to see all the cute and clever costumes. Later in the day I was able to help out with Derek's class party. I made a cute Halloween Bingo game. The kids split up into four groups and man, that was hard keeping my enthusiasm up for a whole hour. "Mummy, anyone have the mummy...any winners yet?"

After school I took some pictures of the kids outside. Here are my favorites:

We ate a pumpkin-shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's for dinner and then waited for Daddy to come home from work. We are always a little late getting out the door. It tortures me and the kids! Dave happened to work late that night, so we started with our apartment complex neighbors to stall the kids. Just as I was about to leave Dave, he pulled up and went straight on to trick or treating. Poor Dave. No breaks. I really enjoyed it this year. We were out for about an hour and the kids walked the whole time. It's amazing how they suddenly have energy to walk on their own when candy is involved. Here's Taylor and his loot. They did what all kids do after getting their free candy...dump it out and check out the goods.

McKenna trying her best for some of the sugar.

It was a crazy day...like all Halloweens are. It's a non-stop day, but the kids look forward to it and it's fun to be a part of it. Now on to Christmas!! :)

Our Ward Halloween Party...

... minus the Trunk or Treat part. :( (For some reason they did away with it this year. Sad.) Last Wednesday the youth in our ward put together a party for the kids. They had a golf course, fishing, digging for treasure in saw dust, and a table for decorating cookies.

Dave made quick work of his donut. I almost missed him. And like every year since he was 2, Derek cheated. He always ends up holding the donut with his hand to get it.

Dave went as Rex from Rex Kwon Do. (From Napoleon Dynamite for those that are not familiar with Rex.) I thought that he should have carried a framed picture of Starla's body with my head on it. :) McKenna was our little butterfly fairy.

Derek was a great black ninja.

We had a red ninja costume for Taylor, but last minute he decided to be Raphael again.

It was a fun night, but we missed doing the Trunk or Treat. It's fun to hand out candy to all the little kids, since we are always gone on Halloween night. Besides, no one ever comes to our apartment except for a few of the neighborhood kids.