I might be a tiny bit crazy.

Last Monday for Family Home Evening, we had a lesson on being thankful. That was probably good for me to keep in mind while I did what I thought would be something fun with my children. Fingerpainting. Well, lesson learned. I guess that I am thankful that these little boys have fingers to paint with! We were making Indian Corn...an idea I got out of a family fun magazine. I have decided one thing. These people who think of these ideas don't have 3 kids ages 5 and under to do this with. Well, this is what it turned out like.

 This was supposed to be what the corn cobs looked like. Carson's did...sort of. Nate and Log's...not so much!

 I just had to put these pictures on here. The next day Nate and Logan found the swimming goggles. They loved having them over their eyes. Nate wore his to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Logan just wore his all around.

 This is his favorite trick...He says, "Pickle. Pickle." Then you are supposed to cut the pickle and tickle him. He loves that. Then his second favorite thing to do is shake your hand. Then as Grandpa Bob taught him from Dr.  Seuss, say, "Hello Jack. Hello Jake. Shake hands. Shake hands. Shake. Shake. Shake." He is funny. I love to see his little personality shine.

I guess 30 is not so bad...

What a good day it was! 30 is not so bad. I have such cute little family to thank...starting with Logan. He was awake at 5:45. I am sure it was just to wish me a happy birthday. Then Carson and Nate followed at 6. It was so cute to see their excited little faces. My husband surprised me with some very nice presents...hard to do when the wife is 9 months pregnant. I got some running gear and a cook book and CD of Christmas music...which I love. I always feel like my birthday is a gateway to the holidays...I love that feeling!

We picked out a yummy orange cranberry waffle to have for breakfast, turned on the Christmas music, and then I found out that Robbie had invited some friends over from our ward for a little party. He and the kids made cupcakes and a cake!

Here are the boys mixing away

 Look at that little face. It is hard to turn the mixer on just to #2 speed.

 I love this little baby boy. I can't believe in just a couple of weeks he won't be my little baby anymore!

After the cake making festivities, we got ready and were heading to lunch. Carson got hold of my camera. That is never good. We just got it a couple of months ago. He dropped it and it is now completely broken. But, on the bright side, this is a darling picture of Nate and his blue eyes!

I proceeded to tell him that a camera cost what 17 of his new rescue helicopters cost. I was very frustrated. I was remembering last year the day after my birthday and the paint on our carpet...it turned out OK, but was not my best moment. I thought, "Does this little boy want to sabotage my birthday every year, or what?" Then I realized that I was making way too big of deal out of this. So, off we went to Stevo's. YUM.

Then I had a nice long nap. That was good considering that my day started off so early. Robbie's parents came for a visit, and then we all got up and got ready for the par-tay as Nate calls it. I only had to count down every 2 minutes from 5:30. Our friends were coming at 7. We had such a fun time. Everyone was so nice and it was fun to visit. The kids played down stairs. Kids love and unfinished basement. Now I know why.

After everyone left, we went to see the "damage". WOA! The kids had a battle and there were plastic Easter eggs everywhere. Apparently they ran out of those to throw, so they got out a bag of water softener pellets and threw those. They had also disassembled Robbie's trekking poles and used them for swords. That is not so safe. BUT, they had a lot of fun! As we cleaned up for 2 hours strait on Saturday morning, I asked the boys if it was worth it. They both answered a very clear, firm, excited, "YES!!!!"

I agree. It was fun to have a house full of friends to share turning 30 with. So far, 30 has been pretty good. Carson reminded me that morning that I will never have twenty in my age again. Thanks Cars. Then Nate asked, "Mom, how old are you, 21?" My answer...Yes Nate. 21. I am sure that I will forever feel that way! 

Turning the big 3-0!!!

Yes, that is me...turning 30 tomorrow.I CAN NOT believe it.  I have been thinking a lot about 30. Wow. It seems like a milestone. I was just thinking about where I was when I turned 20. I was at Ricks College (having the time of my life, might I add). I had a lot of question marks in my life. My mom had just been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. I had no boyfriend. I had no kids. I thought maybe I'd go to ISU Dental Hygiene...there wasn't anything too concrete going on.

Fast forward 10 years (which, by the way, seems like a blink)...

My life is pretty constant...not a lot of uncertainty.

Today my day consisted of laundry, dishes, mopping, feeding 3 little hungry mouths, cleaning ketchup off Logan's legs...used for lotion. It is 2:00. I am not showered. I have not brushed my teeth. I feel like a whale. That is what being 9 months pregnant does to a girl. But, I wouldn't change a thing.

Being 30 makes me realize some pretty big things. The biggest is that I am THE MOM. What? I am the all knowing, all loving, all doing person to my kids that my mom was to me. SCARY! I hope that I am up to the task. This is not just for fun. These little boys are depending on ME! Luckily I have an amazing husband who makes up in huge ways for the parts of me that are lacking.

Another thing I am realizing is that once we have this little baby boy in a couple of weeks, I will never be the mother of 3 again. I will always be the thirty something woman responsible for FOUR kids (until I am forty something...I can't even go there). Yikes. I can't think about it too much or I feel a little overwhelmed.

Something else I am realizing is that even though life can be a little monotonous, I love being right where I am. I am very content with the relationships I have.  I love my husband. I love my kids. I love my family. I love my good friends. These things make up for the fact that I am sure I will never love laundry, never love dishes, never love mopping...

So, while tomorrow I am turning thirty (I keep telling myself  thirty, flirty, and thriving...like from the movie 13 going on 30), I am so happy to be 29 one more day. This year has been good to me. Looking back there has been so many fun and amazing experiences all with the people I love most. It is awesome. So, in a blink, 30 comes. I will be celebrating by not running the half marathon I had trained for and planned for, but by having my fourth little sweet baby boy. Sometimes the best things in life aren't planned...they just happen. I just hope the next 10 years bring me as much happiness as the last 10 have. Don't get me wrong...there have been trials...major trials. But isn't it remarkable that looking back, I can see only the blessings. I hope that when I am 40 I still feel this way!