31 whole years and i had THE BEST weekend ever to celebrate!
finally getting around to wrapping this up, just in time for thanksgiving!! i found myself getting emotional so many times this weekend and while the hormones are at an all time high, i simply couldn’t help but feel my cup of blessings overflowing. maybe it’s the holiday season upon us, but every time i stopped to look around and just soak it all in, i was reminded of god’s abundant grace.  of course it’s still life… tantrums were thrown, there was attitude and sleepless nights, but this life right here? i’m living my dream. i’m married to my best friend. i have 3 incredible babies who are {all things considered} healthy and beautifully happy with another on the way…. it truly was the best birthday in the books and i simply can’t wait to see what 31 has to bring!

friday

both sets of my parents have amazing season tickets to the university of dayton men’s basketball games and they always give us the opportunity to head to a game if they can’t make it, which is SUCH a nice treat! we had put it on the calendar a couple weeks ago to snag a sitter and  head out for a double date with christine + mark to kick off the birthday weekend! zach’s parents came over to watch our crew while we went out for pizza {that we ordered for takeout and crushed in the car because the wait was too long} + some bball.
the game was a blast and we {as usual} laughed so hard our faces hurt. it was an exciting game to watch and the flyers came out with a big W! i’ll be honest, i’m there for the food + people watching, but the game is always an entertaining background and it’s a FUN night.

saturday

saturday morning we cleaned up our circus for a busy + FUN day starting with an early christmas present for the kids! grammie + grampie had gifted the kids tickets to see Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer and it was amazing!! we’re huge fans of the old school clay made movie and it was incredible how the play mimicked the movie…right down to the voices! it was fast paced enough for the kids with adorable music + characters….even mills sat entranced for the entire show! there was a 20 minute intermission we got up for a bathroom break + to walk around, but the kids were amazed making for the most wonderful start to a birthday day.

after hilariously trying to capture a family picture {this was the best, folks.}, we filled out bellies pizza with the balsans + grammie/grampie before the meltdowns commenced. we were pushing naptime big time and by the time we headed out the kids were crashing hard in the car.
of course a trip to the ‘city’ for clearly warranted a quick bump snap!

we made the drive down to my dad + stepmom’s house for THE most delicious dinner, the perfect company and a night full of laughter. we’re SO blessed that even through divorce, our parents have prioritized the grandkids and making sure they are all so present in our lives. grandma + grandpa {my dad + stepmom}  had all 3 sets of parents {including zach’s!}, the balsans {my sister + their family} as well as my aunt + uncle over while my dad cooked a delicious meal and we celebrated thanksgiving a little early + i blew out my candles as we kicked off year 31. we stayed up way too late playing games, carried 3 sleepy babes {and a very sleepy mama} to the car to head home.

sunday

sunday was spent celebrating this beauty here in the middle as she’s welcoming baby #2 to the bunch. we’ve been best friends since we were in diapers, went school {all the way through college!} together, stood by each other on our wedding days and even lived together… plus she married zach’s best friend from grade school as well! a day of pampering as she prepares for another babe and she deserved it all. truly a beautiful person inside and out, i’m so honored to watch you be ‘mama’… it’s the best title you’ve ever had sweet friend!

we ended the day my favorite way with snuggs  + belly laughs from the babes.

30 was the best year yet with our crew… my heart nearly bursted. love grew deeper. dreams got bigger. laughter got louder. and grace abounded. i have a feeling 31 will somehow top it and i simply can’t wait.
here’s to 31!