Thirty?

Last Monday I turned 30. It is insanely weird to say that. I don't generally think about my age, but given that it was a "milestone," I decided to think back on the last 10 years.

2001 - I was a junior in college.
2002 - I was a senior, and I had started dating the man I would marry for the second time.
2003 - I had been married for 2 weeks and either had or was getting ready to have my wisdom teeth pulled.
2004 - I was going to school and working part-time.
2005 - I was working 2 jobs, one as a substitute teacher and one at the local community college.
2006 - I was a first year teacher and pregnant.
2007 - I was a new mom and getting ready to go back to teaching at a new school where my students had only known the substitute that started the year for me (at the time I thought that was the most difficult thing ever).
2008 - I was teaching and a mommy (it seems so easy now).
2009 - I was ridiculously pregnant and crazy huge (the twins were born a couple weeks later).
2010 - I went out to eat with family and friends. I had3 boys, and H ordered broccoli (strange little 3 year old) and devoured it like a dinosaur eating trees.
2011 - I still have 3 boys, an amazing husband, and the best friends. I think this year was the most celebrated I've been in the last 10 and it was wonderful. We all hung out at our house and had dinner. They surprised me with a cake, sort of (H told his daddy not to talk about cake or he'd be in big trouble, that was a hint that there might be one hidden somewhere). There were a few presents, but that wasn't the best part; I loved being with friends and family. I loved the connection. I loved the feeling of community and that we were all connected.

Here I am beginning a new chapter, I'm 30 and I plan on doing my best to continue on in a similar manner to what I have. Hopefully I'm a little wiser and more patient with my boys. Hopefully I can better enjoy life and family and friends. Hopefully I'll continue to think it's weird that I'm 30 because I don't feel like getting any older. 

Good Friends

Last night was a reception for my sister-friend and her new husband. They got married two Fridays ago (11/11/11) in a small ceremony out of town and were holding a reception for those in our area. It was crowded. So many people wanted to come and congratulate them. I know they were happy to be able to celebrate some more and visit with all those people.

For me, the night was good (poor descriptor, I know). It started at 6pm and Husband had to work, so I was toting 3 hungry boys with me. The ate and found some toys at the party, so it wasn't bad, just effort. The best part though, the part that made me smile the most, was spending some time with another good friend of mine. She was able to leave her little man with his daddy at home and help me out with a couple extra hands. We both dressed similarly (which might seem unimportant until you learn that we both seemed a little more dressed up than most). It was nice to look nice and hang out. She even gave me an early birthday present (a sparkly bracelet). Silly little things but it was so nice. I loved spending time with this friend.

The three of us, my sister-friend, this friend, and myself, were best friends in college. Over time we've all been in different areas of our lives, but we've tried to keep in touch. My sister-friend and I have always been close (relationship, proximity, etc.), but this other friend and I have always been close in a different way. Often times we've lived in different areas of our city and have had conflicting school/work schedules. But whenever we get together, it's like we pick up where we left off, nothing has changed (except maybe our age). Now, at this point in our lives, it's like we're living an almost exact life. We both stay home with our children, our husbands work for the same company (different locations), we deal with the same things. Spending time with her means I have a friend who gets what's going on; she understands so much more of what I'm feeling and vis-a-versa.

While good may not be the best descriptor for last night, I love that it allowed me time to celebrate two wonderful friends in my life, friends who make it better and make me smile.

Giveaway

There is a giveaway going on over at To Go Into the World by an amazing artist named Mae Chevrette. Her work is beautiful. If you visit her blog there are several chances to win. Here's a picture of what's up for grabs.

8 years

Yesterday was mine and Husband's 8 year anniversary. Time has flown. His sister was so sweet and watched the twins for us while H was at preschool so we could have a few hours together. It wasn't a "normal" anniversary date, but it was fun. We ran a couple of errands, went to the gun range (he's been trying to take me for years), and then we went to get some lunch. It was so nice to be just us. I loved having time to chat without kids interrupting the conversation. It is amazing how quickly a trip to the store can be without unloading and loading three children, pushing a cart full of said children, and trying to get them to sit down and keep their hands to themselves. After our little outing we picked H up from school and spent the rest of the day as a family. We hung out, had dinner, and then the little ones went to bed and we had some cake and ice cream. Super fun day. I'm glad it was traditional. I couldn't have asked for a better present than time with Husband (it's all too rare) and family time.

Yay for 8 years. I'm looking forward to at least another 64!

Costumes: Superman & Dino/Dragons

H decided he wanted to be a superhero for Halloween, from there he settled on Superman. Because I'm cheap, I told him it was fine as long as I made the costume (sometimes being cheap is a curse). Anyway, I am pleased to say the costume turned out well and he liked it (the most important part). He was an adorable little superhero.

Next on the agenda were costumes for the twins. I was going to make them lions and fluff out their curls. It would have been cute, but I saw a picture of a hoodie with dinosaur/dragon spikes on the back and it changed my mind. I went to the Dollar Tree thinking I would go with whichever I could find materials for (again with the cheap). I ended up getting a couple of t-shirts to use for the lion costume if the 6 receiving blankets I bought for the dino/dragon costumes didn't work (I changed from hoodies to p.j. type outfits). Thankfully, it worked, and they were super adorable. According to H, G is a dinosaur because he's blue and J is a dragon because he's green.

J and G

With my sister-friend - we were getting ready to get some candy