Happy Happy Birthday

Whitley's birthday.. I wish I took more pictures. I'm missing all the adults. 

Daphne in the sky

Birthday Girl- Thank you Katherine! Katherine makes adorable cooking accessories for our little chef.

Cohen- the cutest chub baby ever. 

Clara looking fabulous in green.

David holding his leg.

Grandma taking a pony ride.

Erin not taking a pony ride because she is eating chips:)

June Bug and Poncho 

Clara Bell and Poncho

Dean the bean and Poncho

Sheldon, Bottle and Jocelyn on Poncho

June + Bo. Jill- I'm serious. You can have our dog. 

Pin-yati-ya!

Gavin being "gentle".

David not being "gentle".

Candy!

  April is my favorite month. And yes I know it's May. Why is it my favorite month? It's my birthday month!!! And I do love my birthday. Probably more than you do. I pretty much love any reason to celebrate ME and I was born in April so naturally- favorite month of the year. Followed by May. Mother's Day! 

  I actually have to share the month with 4 other people in my family. Which is okay- I guess. Can't always have it your way. Except at Burger King..... But I just remembered we don't eat there. Christian is allergic. Yes- to the whole restaurant. Anyway. Sharing is good. It's something Whitely and I have to work on. Soooo...

Happy late birthday to Us!

April 6- Daniel- bro

April 19 Dad

April 23- Me

April 24- Heather- sis

April 25- Whitley

  It's a fun filled month and we love it. Lots of parties and lots of cake. Maybe a little too much cake. I gained 10 pounds last month. FYI- When I offer/insist that you take cake home I really wish you would. It's not good to be left with a half a Costco cake sitting around in the microwave. So says my midwife. 

  We had a wonderful little party for Whitley a few weeks ago (I tend to run a few weeks late) that was actually meant to be a party to celebrate her birthday and Grandpa's and mom's. Everyone came to our house for the weekend to celebrate the 3 birthdays. But when it came down to it Whitley was not too keen on the idea of having to share a cake, party, or anything birthday related with anyone. So that's how it turned into her birthday party. I would like to add between her dad's family, pre-school and us it was her fourth party, (2 at pre-school because her dad and I accidentally brought cupcakes and party favors on different days) But whatever. Like I said you are only 4 once. We have years to work on sharing. 

  For my big day Christian was wonderful and as always does the sweetest most wonderful birthday kind of stuff a girl would love. I have to give him credit and say for a man he is very "on" in the gift giving department. It probably could be my favorite thing about him. Unlike my girl Rebecca I absolutely love presents (from Christian) and have no qualms about accepting them. Are you shocked? And he never disappoints. Not that I would ever be disappointed because I really like pretty much anything he thinks to give (like the red bike he really surprised me with last year). In general I just really like to unwrap stuff. If it's wrapped- I'll love it. Now maybe if I got a metal filing cabinet I might feel just a tad let down. That happened to my mom. But so far no filing cabinets. I'm a lucky lucky girl.

We stayed at the "Lodge at Torrey Pines" in San Diego, had a fabulous dinner, woke up to room service and spent the morning at the spa. Well I did. A++. Thank you my dear.  

  So, so far I really like being in my 30's . My whole year of it. 2 years. For the record here is what I like about being 31 and here is what I don't like. If you don't care don't read. 

What I like-

  That I basically stopped giving a crap about a year ago. All the little petty things that used to keep me up and make me lose sleep in my 20's. I just don't care about so much anymore. Wasn't invited-That's okay. She doesn't like me that much- That's okay.  I'm never going to fit those jeans again- That's okay. I'm kind of enjoying being more comfortable with myself and who I am. The funny thing is- I'm not trying, it's just happening. Does that make sense? 

It's kind of like this.  If the feelings aren't mutual- It's okay. I don't take it so personally anymore. Everything isn't so personal anymore. Have you noticed that?  I like being at this place in my life where it's okay. I'm okay! Of course I want to be better, nicer, smarter, generous-er..... but my feelings about me aren't so reliant on someone else. It's very refreshing. It feels good. Perhaps it's because life's problems are getting more complex and bigger and it's not worth the time to be worrying about such petty stuff when there are much bigger issues at hand, but just the same it feels good not being so insecure all the time. This boost of confidence that has seemed to come out of nowhere is quite nice. Anyone else notice this? And all the things I'm not so confident about- it's so much easier to laugh about now. Which leads me to-

What I don't like about being 31-

Read everything before you make judgements. 

Okay here it is- 

I'm not cute anymore.... WAIT! I'm not saying I was ever a hot babe or anything but looking good/cute/decent- it's not so simple now. You've noticed? Waking up in the morning and showing up somewhere just looking presentable takes a whole lot more work and effort these days. When it almost used to take none. 

What's it take now? Well, among many other things, lots and lots of undereye concealer, white or nude constricting underpants, and my blow dryer. 

I remember in my 20's (sooooo long ago) being able to just wake up (very late of course) shove my hair in a messy pony tail, throw on a tank top and leave the house- sans make-up and bra. And I looked fine. We looked so- cute. A little vulnerable. A little sexy. It's was so easy. Sleepy puffy eyes- Aww, she's so cute. 

You see those young girls at 7- Eleven. You know they just got up an hour ago and they look so perky and refreshed. Me- Age 31. When I wake up in the morning, I look like a woman who just spent the last 9 months in jail on drug and prostitution charges. It's shocking! AND adding insult to injury- Christian, my husband, just keeps getting cuter and better looking every year he gets older. Someone explain that to me. I know we haven't been married for that long but I've seen pictures.... 

  Now I have to be honest and add I have thing for "mature"men. Not grandpa guys but I'm vain and I want the man I'm with to look noticeably older than me because it makes me look younger. For this reason I hate coloring Christian's hair because it spoils that allusion. However, aside from the "allusion" the gray that's starting to peek out around his temples and the crinkles he's getting around his eyes. Adorable. Sexy. I love it. He. Looks. Good. With. Gray. Hair! And crinkles! Even baldness is not so bad on men. 

  My crinkles and gray. Not adorable and not so sexy. And wrinkles are not called crinkles on me. They're called wrinkles and crows feet. Sounds as lovely as they look. He's getting cuter than me and I was supposed to be the cute one! The rule was- only he was allowed to age. He even agreed to it. Ha! FYI- I don't think I could pull off baldness. 

  Not to get off the subject because I have, but isn't it a strange phenomenon that starts happening so soon after the wedding? You know the typical wedding day picture. There is the gorgeous glowing bride with shiny lush hair, radiant skin, an ample full bosom peeking out from her top, standing gloriously next to her slightly dorky awkward groom with his funny hair. Let's just be honest, we are always the better looking one. Then just like the Benjamin Button phenomenon it all seems to reverse. We start going backwards.  And for the record, I would like to say I don't think that's very fair. I mean- what kind of reward is that for birthing babies and having to deal with swollen ankles and feet? We get stretch marks? Gee thanks!

My thought is- A fair reward would be that women would get more and more stunning with each baby or every year we get older until it starts to hurt the eyes. That's what I think. Christian should be nearly blind at this point. Or at least have an astigmatism. But he thinks it's redemption for men because puberty is so much worse and lasts until they are 30. True. Anyway....

So that's about it. Nothing a little Redken Shades 5NB and a push up bra can't solve. I won't complain too much 'cause it's only gettin' worse. 

I loved 30 and 31 has been pretty great. Cute or not my 20's were too difficult. I'm excited for this decade. I hear it just gets better and better.

"Happy Birthday Susie".    "Why thank you my dear!"