All Right, Let the Birthday Wishes Start Pouring In

Today I turn 34. And I've been wondering lately, when is it that being young is no longer part of your identity? I've always felt young, being a younger sister and a young mother and such. But when does that start to slip away?

It's also Ryan's birthday today. Same day, same year. Wouldn't it be awful if one day, we thought we were going on the Oprah show to win a new car or dream vacation, but we were really going because Oprah was going to surprise us on national television with the shocking discovery that we are actually fraternal twins? Eeewwwwww. I hate Oprah.

In other news, this ailing blog turned 5 yesterday. Five entire years of blogging. I started blogging when I was 29, living in Utah, putting Ryan through school, and wondering if Max would ever be able to talk. Feels like a lifetime ago. Wow.

So, of course, there's lots of celebrating going on around here today. Except that we are on a spending freeze now, since we're headed to Paris next month. And we're on an eating freeze so that we can be skinny in Paris next month. Basically, we're sitting around on the couch eating lettuce today. It's going to be epic.

Three Additional Items (Plus Nine More) About Me And Then I'm Done

1. I am a reformed dog fearer/hater. I owe it all to my dog Lucy, the great canine ambassador.
2. I love everything about summer--absolutely everything. Are you sweltering? I'm sorry, I'll take some of that summer off your hands.
3. I prefer road trips to a plane ride, but I don't mind a plane ride at all.
4. When I'm sitting in a class, I always nod and try to give the teacher cues that I'm listening.
5. The older I get, the more liberal I get.
6. My favorite smell is Ryan's cologne, D&G La Lune 18. It's delicious. (I love it so much that I spray it on myself sometimes.)
7. I had a happy and safe childhood, and I understand what a big deal that is. I get it. (Thanks, Mom and Dad.)
8. The more I accept the imperfections in the people I love, the more fully I love them. 
9. I love a good, brisk walk outside in the afternoon, but I love a slow, hand-in-hand stroll around a dark neighborhood, too.
10. I am over-the-moon for my kids. I love them so intensely, I can actually feel a physical ache inside when I think about them.
11. I love and adore Ryan's family as much as my own. 
12. So far, my thirties are my favorite decade. 

I had this great idea when February began that I would share three things about myself in eleven different posts to equal thirty-three things about myself before my thirty-third birthday. (Whew!)

I ran out of time.

But we're all caught up now, and just in time. Today is my thirty-third birthday. It's also Ryan's thirty-third birthday (but we are not fraternal twins). I'm off to celebrate!

Angsty Birthday Song

Max spontaneously sang this (original) song on the beach over the summer. And, no, it wasn't his birthday, not even close. I dedicate it to my brother James who is turning 30 this weekend. Happy birthday, J.D.! I hope it's not a rip off!



I'm thinking of submitting it to the Friend to be published and used as an alternate birthday song in Primary. What do you think?