There’s nothing particularly special about turning 33. It’s not a very sexy number. Not as painful as turning 30 or thrilling as turning 35. I’m just sitting here in the middle like “oh yea, I’m another year older.”

Still, this was probably my most surreal birthday to date. We didn’t make any plans. I actually kept forgetting the day was coming up. We’re still getting unpacked and settling into our new home. I’m finally feeling like I’m ready to press play and begin 2019 and BAM! We’re already two weeks in. I didn’t really have time to think about what I wanted to do for my birthday, even though my husband and kids kept asking me. Lil’ J even begged to stay home from school and celebrate (that was a no).

Just about everything is unpacked. And I’m very proud of myself for that fact. I wanted to be just about done before my birthday and I sorta met my goal. We are still waiting on our furniture to be delivered but we did get our new barstools in!

My husband let me make the game plan for my birthday. He planned a trip for us to the mall to upgrade my cell phone, but since I hadn’t backed mine up in over a year that planned was squandered by a much-needed backup lasting more than 6 hours. Instead we ordered the phone online to arrive the next day.

We did pre-order my new shoes, which are the most expensive pair of shoes I’ve ever bought ( I seriously hate spending more than $25 on shoes). My Ugg knock-offs fell apart (the sole came off on one of them). And after super gluing it back together a couple times, it came apart for good. I couldn’t bring myself to buy more but finally, for my birthday I gave in and got the real thing. Let me tell you they are GLORIOUS.

I have about 4 or 5 pairs of shoes and these are by far my favorite. Slip on, no socks needed. So soft and warm and durable. They make winter wonderful. Best present ever.

My husband and kids also surprised me with some Edible Arrangements. Chocolate covered strawberries, pineapple and apples. SO yummy. I’m still coming down from the sugar high.

But possibly my favorite part of the day was sitting down on our living room floor and playing Disney Pictopia. My kids made me so proud with their knowledge of Disney trivia.

I felt so freaking happy sitting with my family in our new home albeit on the floor, together.

At night before bed we take turns saying a family prayer– Usually bouncing back and forth between Big T and Lil’ J. I love their prayers especially because it’s usually 5% requests and 95% gratitude. If not 100% gratitude. On my birthday Lil’ J said thank you for letting them play fun with their baby sister, and for my birthday. And a dozen other things. I feel like lately I’ve been way more aware and conscious of my blessings as well, and pausing through the day to say thank you.

I’m still working out my goals for 2019. I have a hard time trying to commit to a word for the whole year but my friend Dani suggested I break it down into smaller increments. So far my word has been “relax” and “enjoy” as we get settled into our new home. Not rushing into this year with my sleeves rolled up ready to hustle.

I’m finding joy in little things like straightening up, and watching deer walk through our backyard. I go outside with the kids almost every evening to work on building our fire pit. And every few nights they beg to watch a movie in the theater and make popcorn in our popcorn machine.

And as cheesy as that sounds I just want to spread as much joy as I can. I want to pass goodness and love along and help brighten the world a bit day by day.

This birthday celebration was a simple one. But in so many ways it was my best yet. Here’s hoping I’m blessed with many many more birthdays.

Not so fast 2019. I can appreciate the fact that you’re here, but I must say I wasn’t ready. I was having a jolly old time in 2018 and then you snuck up on me. Last week is a bit of a blur. Usually New Years is one of my favorite holidays. I love making… read the rest.

Two of my sisters came over to watch Lil’ J and Big T as my husband and I set out for the events of Closing Day. I’m capitalizing it like a holiday because it really was a day-long process. It seemed fitting that Lee Lee was the one to stick by us all day since… read the rest.

I was waiting in line to checkout at the grocery store with two kids in tow at the time (this was before they invented grocery pickup, my new BFF). I was bribing my kids for good behavior when I realized I couldn’t pay for our groceries. I’d forgotten my wallet at home. I resisted the… read the rest.

I’d like to say that a new baby and a move scheduled for this month is what put me behind on sending out Christmas cards. But let’s be real, it wasn’t going to happen anyway. I may still try to get a New Year’s card out but at the same time I’m not really trying… read the rest.

I absently flipped through a photo album before placing it in a moving box. Inside were a series of selfies my husband and I took throughout our first year of marriage. “We were so young,” I said. My husband was standing near me and he glanced at the pictures in my hand. “Yea, we were,”… read the rest.

Waiting for this house to be completed strangely feel a lot like waiting for a baby. And I would know, I’ve done both this year. Our “due date” is December 27th but the builder said this is a fluid date. Meaning it could be the 28th or possibly the 31st. We’re in the third trimester… read the rest.

When my husband and I met at the ripe ages of 18 and 21 we were so bright eyed, bushy tailed, and terribly naive. We fell in love and wanted to get married between semesters of college. We wanted to do it around December 16th but some relative in my then fiance’s huge family had already… read the rest.