My Sweet 21!

     I am officially OFFICIAL! The big 21! And as everyone is telling me-there are no more birthdays to look forward to after this! I disagree though. Birthdays are good for you! Those who have the most, live the longest! : ) I am now legal to drink, gamble, purchase firearms, rent a car, take a cruise alone (Not that I would ever go alone!) and I can adopt a child! So I guess I became an adult at 18, but now I'm a "true" adult?
    To celebrate Brian and I started on Saturday. Brian found a free bike and has spent the past couple of weeks fixing it up for me. I've been wanting a bike so bad since we got here because there are so many trails to ride on so I was super excited. He finished the bike just in time for my birthday so we took a nice ride to the beach to swim! Saturday's weather could not have been more perfect. It was bright (As shown by Brian's squinty eyes) and warm.

    I really REALLY love the beach here. It amazes me how much it feels like an ocean minus the salty air taste and smell. I could live here just for the beach and the fact that there are 4 seasons! We explored the shores a little which turned in our benefit because we found a great football that had been soaking in the water for probably a few days. (We took it home and it is currently drying. I think we'll get some good use out of it!)       We also found this huge pipe! I wanted to climb all the way up it.. But Brian being the cute protective man that he is, used his better judgement and only let me climb a good football's length before calling to me to turn around and come back out. I felt like I was in the movie The Fugitive when he's trying to escape through the water tunnels. (Didn't that movie take place in Chicago?!)      Then it was time for presents! There was a really good deal on movies going on.. so with some birthday money I got a volleyball, basketball, and the movies! I've got our future dates together all planned out now! Sunday we had some friends come over for ice cream and brownies and my friend Hannah Knecht brought the cute cupcakes pictured below (They had caramel frosting... and anyone who knows me knows caramel is my weakness!)

    But anyway, back to Saturday night.. We went out to eat sushi at a place called Hayashi. It was divine. I love sushi (I inherited my dad's great taste buds) Yes I took pictures of the food      Sunday Morning Brian woke me up with breakfast in bed. Mmmmm Delicious! He made me Eggs Benedict and did a fabulous job. We went to church where the relief society sang happy birthday to me. They were shocked to hear that I was only 21. Everyone always thinks I look older (I hope that doesn't mean that when I turn 30, I'll look 40!) A couple of the women joked "I've been 21 three times already!". 

    We went home where I took a much needed nap and then we made delicious desserts for the friends that we had come over. It was such a great birthday. Brian spoils me rotten and I am so grateful to be married to that cute boy. I had to work later which wasn't so lovely, but all good things must come to an end sometime! Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes! They were needed this year more than ever! I am extremely blessed with wonderful family and friends in my life! :)

Fine, Fabulous, Fantastic, Fancy and 50!!

To the lady with the contagious laugh.

The lady who is constantly making sacrifices so others can have more.

The lady that always lends a listening ear and caring heart.

The lady that makes my life happier and better.

 To my mom!

   My mom's birthday is September 14 and mine is two days later on the 16. All my life my mom has told me that I was her birthday present and I have grown up believing that I was the luckiest girl in the world. How many other kids could say that they gave their mom a birthday present by just being born?
    Over the years I have really come to appreciate sharing this time with my mom. It always made me feel extra special. I look up to this woman so much and having our birthdays close together has always been my reminder to be more like her. She is so generous and sincere. I love her sense of humor and how friendly she is. I love just talking with her. We can talk for hours about random things or very important things. She's my best friend and example. I love her so much!

Mom had just turned 29 when I was born. (I know, I was quite the little chunk)

 

    Friday was a very important day for Mom too.. Not only was it her birthday, but she just turned the big 50! And I can't believe I'm not there to celebrate!

For all of your thoughtfulness, all of your love,
Your patience and gentleness, too,
I'm thankful--for I have a wonderful treasure--
A sweet, lovely mother like you!

 

I Love You Mom!

Letter to Me

   I thought this was cute. This is a letter that Brian wrote when he was in Fifth grade about what he thinks he will be doing in ten years. Brian and I only just opened this letter, though the envelope said "Do not open until June 2009."
      He is so random! (Especially the part about the homework-What was that little brain thinking?) I love catching a glimpse of Brian the younger! His cute little spelling- collage? What in the world are T.F.T.D phases?! Here he is at the age that the above was written. He was cute even then!! :)

Hairy Problem

    Well...to start off, Brian's hair grows fairly quickly. The second week of July we realized it was time to get a haircut because when it gets too long, the ends curl out. Well low and behold our busy summer wouldn't allow it and so we went on all our family trips and put off his much needed haircut. Well we got to Chicago and after about a week of searching through all our boxes I realized that our wonderful handy dandy hair cutting kit had been left back in Utah. We now had a problem... a hairy problem.
    We figured it would be cheaper to send it out here in the mail than having him go get it cut at a salon. So we waited for it to get here. Now after a month and two weeks of waiting to cut his hair, the kit finally came and we immediately set off to cut his hair.

    Though he would have made a rather charming caveman hundreds of years ago, I'd much rather have his hair trimmed and a clean shaven face. Doesn't he just look fabulous with his new hair cut? I know! You're all jealous of my ridiculously good-looking husband!