Birthday Memories

When I was probably 6 years old I got a baby doll for my birthday--she looked like a newborn with her eyes shut and I kept her with me all the time. I still remember what the doll looked like and I wish I still had it!  Anyway, back then I couldn't speak as eloquently as I do now (ha!), so birthday sounded more like bertday. Guess what I named that doll? "Bertday doll." And that is what I called her for the rest of her toy life! 

So fast forward a few--okay several--years to today, which so happens to be my birthday! Let's break down the festivities!

My sister Ty texted me just after midnight so she gets the award for being the first to wish me happy birthday--even though she did wake me up! Momma came in 2nd just before 7, making sure to clear her throat to sing me the birthday song.  One of my cute piano students made me a little sparkly picture frame, and as the day went on I got dozens of Facebook birthday wishes from friends and family!

At work my boss brought in birthday bagels--yum! And the finance department got me this cute gift!

By lunchtime I was completely famished, so of course Momma & Daddy came to take me for food. (I won't lie, when Momma sent me a text last night asking if I could go to work early I had an inkling, and an embarassingly huge grin!) If you know me at all, you know I love food, but not so much making decisions.  So I finally chose a place, and Momma--err I mean WE--took 30 minutes to pick what to order. But the best part was dessert---mmmm my mouth is watering just looking at this picture! 

My parents had already taken me out for birthday dinner last weekend--Olive Garden! It was Ty's birthday last month and they hadn't taken her out yet so she, Steven, and little Kaia came as well. And for the record, if Kaia offers you a bite of her mac n cheese and you pretend to take the bite, she knows. And she will make sure you take a real bite. When I got home there was a birthday cake waiting...ahem Mom Bear I told you not to do it! Plus donuts and more ice cream, I'm set for the day...I mean week!

Momma sent a text not long after letting me know her and Daddy were coming to take me for an ice cream--lemon custard at Peach City yum! They hitched up the trailer on the way home and fought over who had the strongest muscles.  Oh I love them! And I forgot to get a picture,pah!

Good old yard work

Growing up our yard was fairly simple--plants bordering the front, cherry and apple trees in the back. I hated that apple tree because we had to pick up the millions of apples that fell.And for the record we never made pies with them,I don't even remember eating them! I'm convinced my parents left it there as a way to torture,I mean teach us responsibility.

My brother and I took turns mowing the lawn every weekend. If you got the front it was super fast, but the back was ginormous (is that not a word?!) Then there were the times my parents got in that "mood..." you know, where they want to do yard work and WEED and stuff. Outside. In the sun. I hated that, but lucky for me since I would rather deep clean the entire house, including doing laundry, I always struck a deal! Crazy how strong my disdain for the outdoors was...Slurpees after for all!

Tiny Miracles

It's been a while since I blogged and of course I had all these amazing ideas and now they are all gone, fell out of my brain already. So in an effort to seem like I'm keeping up...

These pictures are from several weeks ago, when it seemed like everyday there were such beautiful skies. I was really grateful for these, and even though the picture can't capture how cool they were, here ya go

Have you ever stopped to think about what a large impact small things have had in your life? It really is true that the little things often mean the most, or play the larger role in your life.  Often there have been days in the past few months when I have felt really down and didn't know how to fight my way back up, and do you know what kept coming to mind?  Simple words that I've heard from people who care about me.  "When you want to give up, remember your worth, and that you are loved."  "You can DO this!" "It will work out."  We don't need some grand miracle to encourage us to keep going.  Realizing I have the love and support of those who choose to stay in my life--even when I am not perfect--is the blessing that helps push me forward. 

Party time-hope you're not claustrophobic

Kaylee turned 6 this past week so it was time to party plan! Sure I didn't actually think about it until a week before the party... ;) According to Momma, I should teeeechnically have not procrastinated on this one. Fine, logged!  The theme was Fairy/Pirate, and so it began!

Isn't this so stinkin' cute? Told ya that you would want my assistants! So...there's this rule according to K's teacher at school that if you take invitations you either invite all girls, all boys, or everyone. Of course I chose to actually follow the rules and went for everyone--I will NOT make that mistake again! Chels has assured me she won't let me forget! There were 25 children in my house. 25! Crowd control doesn't begin to describe...I was in such shock that I didn't even know what to say to delegate...it was wall to wall kids.

Highlights

Chels and I stayed up late making these cute pixie pouches--magical! Word to the wise, should you cook the sugar too long and it melts then hardens, it does not taste good.

Lexi shoved against the window in the car because 16 balloons were cramping her style--that peach color on the right is her shirt (her face is in the middle somewhere!)

 I forgot to retake a picture once the drink was inside the dispenser and we switched to a cute yellow basket for the pixie dust. Each girl got her own fairy wings and boys got eye patches and red pirate forehead bands (what?! Just like it sounds!)

 Bean bag throw and pin the wings on the fairy!

 

 Line of fairies and pirates! A kid actually wandered off during this and was found outside later :/ No, I didn't know until then that she was missing (25 kids!) Who was it? I.Not. Talkin'!

The very glittered table of fairy wand making! So wish I had taken a picture showing the balloons tied to each chair too! Boys made swords, sorry, forgot to photograph that one. They loved beating each other with them.

 Super cute sign Chels made for K!

 Awe! My knight in shining armor helped hold the fairy wands ;)

 

Aside from slightly too many guests, it turned out so cute and I couldn't have done it without help!

 Happy Birthday K!

Top Tallest List

I've been thinking about this post for quite a while and I finally got around to doing it! I'm tall. If you know me, you should at least know that much! This is my personal list of the everyday issues of being tall--bahahaha ;)


1.People asking if you played volleyball or basketball--you clearly have never seen me play sports

2. Trying to find pants that are long enough--I dream of pants that drag on the ground!

3. Finding a skirt that isn't actually a halter top dress. (The struggle is real!)

4. Being judged for wearing heels (don't even think about attempting stilettos, unless you want to break your neck!)

5.Tiny bathroom stalls--if I don't hunch I can see over into everyone's stall... awkward

6. Trying to fit in the bathtub. The phrase go take a nice relaxing tub never applies

7. Trying to sit at a desk and scoot in--I just want to cross my legs!

8.Having to wear undershirts with EVERY SINGLE thing

9. The awkward knee bend when you take pictures--blend, trying to blend!

10. Hugs--lower, lower, LOWER! You can't be very huggable at this height yo, and never get to "nestle" with the side squish, boo!

11. Shoes. Shoes besides flip flops that don't look like old grandma style

12. One size fits all gloves. Need I say more?

13. Tripping over everything even your own feet because your height causes an unnatural lack of balance

14. People telling you that you're tall. Wait, what? No way, really?! 

Falling asleep--or not

It's late, and I can't sleep.  Today I stayed home sick after some convincing last night--I usually tough it out unless I am physically unable to get out of bed.  Momma dropped off some apple cider and movies for me to watch (thanks for making me cry!) And Chels kept my kids and even brought them home to me after dance.  The day alone proved to be exactly what I needed in more than one way--at least a start.  Things have been changing, as I'm told they often do.  How many times can I write a sentence just to backspace and start over? This is a good example of where I'm at, though.  How quickly balance is lost--here it goes.

Running. Such wonderful self discoveries while running, and in the beautiful fall weather.  I battle myself to go these days--it's a strange feeling not wanting to do anything but trying to convinced yourself otherwise at the same time! Some days I want to push harder and harder, until I actually do and then I want to quit. 

The leaves on this tree were so pretty I saw a few weeks back while I was running!

This is the road right by Grandma.  I love it there, it's so peaceful. I go there often to talk with her, if I'm having a hard day, questioning where I belong, or sometimes just to cry.  I can say anything and everything and I know she will still be there --still love me no matter what. Except that she's not. Here I mean. Go ahead and laugh now, I talk to people who no longer exist! Removed--have you ever felt like that?

Well now that I've succeeded at saying a bunch of absolutely nothing anyone will be able to make sense of, I think I will try to sleep. After I find me some chocolate of course! Goodnight.

Put one foot in front of the other

Have you ever felt homesick, when you are home?  Every once in a while I do.  That's how this afternoon started out, maybe it was because traditions with my grandma used to be a main portion of Peach Days weekend, or maybe just because I've felt like something is missing lately.  

I haven't been able to run much at all this week with school starting and crazy schedules, and I miss it.  I had finally worked my way up to being able to run 30 minutes straight--no walking--but my pace was SO slow.  Momma says at least I am moving and not on the couch, but my big goal still seems so far away.

I've been reading a lot about faith and trust lately.  I know this sounds crazy, but I realized that in my mind I have connected running with learning how to trust.  When I push myself I often start panicking--how can I possibly keep going?  Usually after I fail my running goal, I think about how if I could just trust that my body can keep going, that nothing bad will happen, and push through...

This quote really sums up what I am also learning everyday. I honestly feel that as soon as I can learn to trust myself with running, trust what others are telling me, then I will simultaneously be learning to trust in Heavenly Father's plan for me.  Or maybe even the other way around. If I can just DO it!

This has been hanging where I could see it everyday for the past year. Each quote holds a special memory or meaning for me, especially "You is smart, you is kind, you is important."  Oh how often I needed those words! I am slowly realizing I am worth more than I thought, capable of so much, and gaining strength with every step I take. I think it's time I update this board :)