Thirty.

It all started 30 years ago. My sweet mother was 1 day overdue with her second baby girl and I was making my grand entrance into this world. I was born at 12:51 pm on Tuesday February 24, 1987. I was born with a full head of black hair and I weighed in at 7 pounds 3 ounces. I ate well and left the hospital at 7 pounds 8 ounces. I think you could say (like any mother) my mother immediately fell in love!





My Mother says I was an easy baby. I was baptized into the catholic church May 8th, 1987 at almost 3 months old. This is my Grandma Mockler holding me.



My big sister Amanda loved me too! (Well, until we both became hormonal teenagers... then she hated my entire being until her hormones calmed down... then we were good again lol)





I don't recall much from my childhood but I know my relationship with my Mom has always been amazing. She has always been there for me. As a toddler, I guess I would CONSTANTLY say "UP, UP, UP...." until she picked me up and carried me around while she did everything. Being put down wasn't an option. Im pretty sure her hip still gives her issues to this day because of my toddler neediness.



Fast Forward 30 years, and here we are today!



I have the sweetest family.. with 3 kids who most often drive me INSANE (!!!), and a husband who is my life support, my rock, my everything! These four, mean the world to me and made my 30th birthday the best one yet!



For my Birthday, Brian was able to take the day off work. This was AMAZING. Because as any mother with little kids would agree.. its the small things that count. I was able to go to the bathroom ALONE, shower ALONE, SLEEP IN (!!!) and get ready without the kids crying at my feet. Carter had the day off of school too so we didn't have to rush out anywhere. It was lovely! For my Birthday, my parents offered to take the three kids overnight for a sleepover! (They didn't have to ask us twice!) It was the greatest gift EVER! We dropped the kids off when my mom got home from work around 3:45 and didn't pick them up until the next day at noon. It was the perfect amount of freedom! The kids had a BLAST! They went to the toy store, played games and toys, all slept together in their bonus room and in the morning my parents took them all out to Cora's for breakfast and then to Petland to look at all the animals before we picked them up. Bentley told them (and us!) many times that "This is THE BEST DAY EVER!!" Hahaha.

We cannot thank them enough for doing that for us! After we dropped them off, we went and walked around winners and marshals (my very favourite stores) we went out to dinner and then headed home for the night. The house was so quiet. It was calm and clean and I felt so relaxed! I am so glad we didn't make it a big deal (that is not my style at all). Staying home in a quiet house and being able to sleep ALL night AND sleep in in the morning was exactly what I needed!

Thank you SO MUCH Mom and Dad for doing that for me. I love you guys like crazy, and our kids do too!! You're wonderful!

Once we picked the kids up at noon we had a busy day ahead. We met up with some friends and did an hour or so of glow in the dark bowling! (I took so many pictures but sadly this is really the only "ok" one)



After that, we went out to a cute little restaurant called Regrub downtown that serves amazing, extravagant milkshakes and they did not disappoint! (Although the wait with 3 kids was enough to make me cry)









We finished the day off by having some friends over. Unfortunately our kids were SOOOOOO done. They were tired and cranky. Carter was being awful and penny was a teething crying mess but we put them to bed on time and were able to hangout a little while longer.

It really was the best birthday EVER! Brian spoiled me and got me a gift that is as precious to me as gold! Many years ago Brian printed a hard cover book of a portion of my blog. It was amazing.. but its been years and we hadn't done it since. For my birthday, he surprised me with a hardcover book for every year of our blog until the end of 2016. Such a wonderful keepsake to cherish. Thank you SO much Brian! I love you!!









I was spoiled. Friends got me gift cards for dinner and a movie, the girls at church gave me a cute little lip balm and card. My amazing in-laws got me an amazing gift too! My mother-in-law spent countless hours (I am sure!) in making me a Family Home Evening box. It has adorable little lessons for FHE on Monday nights that will be fun and easy for the kids to adore. I cant wait to use it each Monday evening with our little family! Thank you SO much Mom Reed for spending so much time on that for me!



And one of my dearest friends, Andrea, brought me a little basket of all of my very favourite things and the sweetest card! She knows me too well!



Other than aches and pains and utter exhaustion, 30 is looking pretty good! Haha. All kidding aside, I am actually really looking forward to my 30s. My 20s were some amazing years. We bought two homes, got married, had 3 beautiful babies, went on trips, my Dad adopted me, we gained numerous new nephews and nieces and we saw some of the most precious people in our lives pass away. Though it all, we had each other.

I know that my 30s will have ups and downs. We will have good days and bad days. We will do more trips and watch our kids excel in school. We will watch them in sports and perhaps even witness a few heartbreaks. Our kids will love us and I'm sure at times they'll say they hate us but, I am excited to see what this next chapter holds in store for us. I know that no matter what, As long as I have these four crazies by my side, my 30s will be wonderful!



So heres a toast because 30 is the new 20!