I'm officially 30!!

This has been a crazy week.  It started out with a family dinner for Adam and I at our parent's house.  My brother and I share the same birthday which is a fabulous day to celebrate... the first day of spring!  Adam turned 28 this year.  I love to think back on all of our past birthdays.  How special our parents made the day for us.  Our birthdays always included a shopping spree to Johnny's Toys and a visit into the castle.  I'm so sad that Johnny's isn't there any longer to experience with Brianna.

I'm sure everyone who grew up in Northern Kentucky had a similar experience.  Typically, our Johnny's key would arrive on the same day, usually a couple weeks before the big day.  I'm pretty sure I would sleep with mine and the excitement for the birthday visit would build and build.  When we went to use the key, one at a time, Adam and I would walk up to the castle and turn the key and magically a birthday song would begin to play throughout the store and the castle door would swing open for us to step in and pick a toy.  They were pretty crappy basic toys.  Squirt guns, generic baby dolls, toy soldiers... but there wasn't anything better than feeling the magic of the castle.

My magic castle, as I turn 30, is definitely without question my family and friends.  I LOVE the people in my life.  My family has always been so supportive.  I've only ever known acceptance, encouragement, and love.  Not only is my family amazing, but I have lifelong friends who know me in and out and love me for me.  Friendships have always meant a lot to me but the older I get, the more I treasure them.  Distance has come between so many of us but I still feel CLOSE to them.

I can only pray that I can provide half of the consistency I've had in my life to Brianna.  I hope my next 30 years help me grow in that.  I look forward to standing by my family and friends and experience all of the ups and downs that life can bring us.

Okay... I've blogged about turning 30 so that means it is DEFINITELY over.  Oh... other than the celebration with some of my best friends next weekend (4 of us turned 30 this month!).  I can't wait to hang out, laugh and just enjoy being together.  REALLY can't wait!

Walk in the Park

Sickness struck again in our house but I think we are finally on the other side of it!  Brianna had an extremely high fever for 2 days (105 degrees).  After many calls to on-call doctors and nurses after hours (because of course, that is when a fever spikes up... after hours...) and then finally a visit to the doctor's office she was diagnosed with just a virus.  It was a nasty one though.  She was a sweet little girl and a trooper through the whole thing.  She finally started playing and laughing again yesterday and while she is still pale, you can definitely tell she is feeling much better.  

We spent most of the day hanging at home this beautiful Saturday but we went out this afternoon to a nearby park so she could try out the baby swings.  She loved it!  She loved watching the other kids playing almost as much.  She is doing a great job walking but won't walk with shoes on in public.  I let her try to crawl around a bit but she was ruining her pretty pink leggings so I had to put a stop to it.  I will have to take her back soon in some clothes that she can't hurt.  

Special thank you's to Brianna's Grandma's.  We wouldn't have made it through this without you!  

I also apologize to anyone that is thinking I have been incredibly rude and not sent out thank you notes from her birthday.  All of this sickness has gotten me very behind but I will be sending them out very soon!  

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend and enjoying some sunshine!

Sunday Sunday Sunday

This Sunday most of my family joined my Grandpa at his church so that we could all be together on the weekend that was my Grandma's birthday.  Grandpa spoke for a few minutes about family and spoke about what a wonderful, wife, mother, grandmother and friend that Grandma Edith was.  It was a good time to be thankful for the years we had her but also for the closeness of the rest of the family because we all feel like that was a gift that she left us with.  My memories from childhood are often centered around her kindness, love, and food :)  

Going to church with the family meant I got to dress up Brianna, of course :)  

Michael says this dress looks like an old man's nightgown but I completely disagree... and so did everyone else who saw this sweet baby!  

 Long overdue for a nap at this point but still sweet.

I almost got a smile with this one.

Have a wonderful week!

March is here!!!

March is always a happy time in our family. I'm so excited to spend this month welcoming spring, celebrating my 30th birthday, and enjoying a vibrant one year old!  

Gotta love being outside, with no shoes on, at the end of February/ beginning of March.  It was 70 degrees! Strange... but fun!

Technically, she is a toddler... she toddles... but she will ALWAYS be my BABY!

I think she might like him just a little...