Dear cousin...

i need a little more of this.

Avery, please come back soon!

xxooxo

-Naomi

Dear Sister,

Thank you for always teaching me to:

laugh harder

sing like no one else is around

squeal louder

take more pictures

watch more football

buy the expensive jeans

give butterfly kisses while my kids are stilll litttle enough to let me

play hookie

and enjoy life all the more:)

love you!!!

iRun

October 20, the day after our birthday celebrations, we went to kolby's soccer game, then the kids ran 1/4 mile fun run, and we hit up some frozen yogurt on the way home.

I was so incredibly proud of these two!!:)

Both placed 6th in their age group and got a medal!

Must be in their blood...

Cousins that run together stay together:)

We cheered on girls 2nd grade, boys 1st grade, girls 1st grade, and girls kinder

30- tears, laughter, and blushing

30 seems like a fairly large milestone

I had big plans of checking off a Walk toRemember-ish list of goals

I suppose I thought I'd be a little more accomplished 30 years in the making.

Turns out I never did get around to writing those 30 letters to the 30 most influential people in my life.

(Not really too surprising since I never finished writing my wedding thank you notes either.)

I never did lose those 30 lbs.

and after 30 years I still have never died my hair.

When Daniel asked me what I wanted I said to have my sister come visit. He said flights were too much. I threw, I'd like to say, an extremely uncharacteristic fit and cried thinking how unfair it was to be so far from my sister.

Then I asked if he could take the day off and we could go on a date.

He said he had to work but we could go out that night.

I was content to have lunch with my friends and a dinner date with my husband.

Here I was the eve of my 30th birthday thinking...

oh well, just another birthday.

I'm still me. and that's reality.

My mother said, "Heaven help us when you turn 50!"

That morning my visiting teacher dropped off a treat,

my sis-in-law took me shopping,

and my other sis-in-law organized a huge birthday lunch at Cheddars.

I was pleased as punch to be wearing a new top and sitting amongst so many lovely friends.

Then I saw Daniel walk in the restaurant carrying balloons and who steps out from the behind the balloons but my one and only sister!!!

There were tears.

There was laughter.

There was blushing.

Apparently Daniel, who never ever surprises me, had planned the whole thing back in August and had to endure all my whining for several weeks!

Oops. Seriously? The one time I can't seem to hold it together?

Oh well it was totally worth the humiliation!

After lunch Daniel had arranged for my sister and I to have a spa day with facials and massages.

once again

There were tears.

There was laughter.

There was blushing.

word to the wise:

facials are brutal

and I recommend wearing something besides your birthday suit for a birthday massage. I'm just say'n.

We finished off the evening with dinner at home and movie night.

I layed my head on the pillow with a content sigh that night thinking:

1. Hands down best birthday ever!

2. I have the best husband in the world!

3. Wow I really sucked at doing something special for Daniel's birthday.

4. After 30 years I have amazing friends, an amazing family, and a pretty sweet life. Really what more can a girl ask for?

Bring it, 30!

Happy Birthday Daniel!!!

Apparently I show my love for you through food...

Blueberry Buckle for breakfast,

Making the 2 hr commute to meet you for lunch,

Salad, Smoothies, rolls, cherry dreams squares for dinner

I suppose its safe to assume you have good taste...afterall you married me:)

Happy Birthday Daniel!! I love you!!!