An Amazing Birthday...Blog Hop #2

 Yesterday (I turned 33) I had an amazing birthday!  It started out with me and my 3 year old daughter Julia and I going on a really cool nature hike with our MOPS friends (Mothers of Pre-Preschoolers in Englishtown).  We had a wonderful time hiking for about 2 hours!  We smelled different plants, listened to nature all around us, went on a scavenger type hunt, met a turtle and set him free and met a frog and saw some tricks!  We even used blindfolds to help us use all of our other senses besides sight to feel the objects, like trees in nature!

There was a pretty big group of us and all the kids did really well!  They were excited to listen to bird sounds, climb over logs, and see birds nests.  

By noon we couldn't wait to eat lunch and grab a drink!  And both Julia and I missed Mark dearly (who was having a blast with aunt Patti)

 After showers and nap time, we had birthday visitors!  Aunt Christy came over with Lizzy Lou! Yayness!  My kids love their cousin Lizzy, she is our favorite niece!

We love to cuddle her, hold her, play with her, and smother her to pieces!  Good thing Aunt Christy lets us!

Then we headed to my Mom's house to visit the grandparents, my sisters, and have dinner and cake!

 

I had a great time being with all the people I love dearly!!!

  Please stop by our blog hop and visit some new blogs!!!  I love meeting new bloggers! Welcome and have a great day!

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33 Years Young

So today is my birthday, and I'm 33, and I'm completely content with it! I feel great, I'm enjoying my children, I'm in love with my husband, and I really feel God is using me in my ministry.  I think aging is good because I'm finally at peace with myself.  I don't really care what other women say about how I dress or what I look like, or if a gray hair pops up.  It's all a part of life.

I was saying to my friend Christianne on Memorial Day (John surprised me for my birthday by getting the grandmas to watch the kids while me and him and our two missionary friends went to NYC for lunch at Peter Leugers, the best steak house in the world...no really check on zagats, they are THE BEST) that I really don't care anymore about trends and fitting in, I wear what's in my closet and what's most comfortable for plopping down on the floor with my kids, don't get me wrong, I LOVE to dress up, but, all in good time.  The season I'm in right now is all about baggy tops and leggings and flats.

Tomorrow on my birthday I decided to join my MOPS group and go on a hike with my Julia at Kateri environmental center!  I'm praying for good weather.  I'm also excited for a day with me and my Julia...she's going to love being with all the big kids.  The trip is only for 3 years of age kids and up so Mark will be home with my friend Patti whom he adores!  Then after we come back from hiking, we will have a visit from my best girls!  My Christy and My Lizzy Lou.

I love you Christy! My bosom friend!

Mom and I

I will end the evening with my mom, dad, and sister Sara and the kiddos.  I couldn't ask for a better day.

Me and my sara

I did learn something new about myself this year, on Monday morning, when John still wouldn't tell me what I should wear, where we were going, or who was coming over, I realized...I DO NOT LIKE SURPRISES like this anymore. I used to love surprises!  I can remember when John and I got engaged, and Christy wanted to throw me a school bridal shower, she asked me did I want to know or did I want to be surprised and I was like bring it on!  Surprises are so great when you don't have little people to plan for!  But the knots that were forming in my stomach to clean the house, prep the kids, prep myself (and not know how to dress appropriately, were we going hiking? on a cruise? to a fancy restaurant?) and plan for the morning events in my absence were not easy or fun...so I told John, please, please tell me something, I don't feel good!  And I also told him, please no more surprises, next year, lets just plan it together! LOL

I'm thankful for another year to celebrate life and honor the Lord and be spoiled rotten by my husband!