30! (+4)

Before the clock strikes 12 and it is no longer August 24th I need to leave a little thought on my blog (the closest thing I have to a journal).  Its been a pretty crazy day for me as I started back to work today after 10 weeks on maternity leave.  Why did I choose to start back on my birthday?  Not sure, it just worked out that way.  The kids are all back in school and there was no reason to avoid it any longer...also the fact that I was not getting paid was hard to swallow thus the need to not delay. 

It was hard to wake up early and it was hard to leave my baby at daycare (although I have done that 4 times now, it never gets any easier) and it was hard to be at work, sorting through 1700 emails, feeling totally lost and pretending that I was OK with it while keeping a smile on my face. Thank goodness for good people surrounding me that made it bearable.

Today is the 4 year mark from my 30th b-day (in other words, I am 34).  Its funny because just the other day I was communicating with an old friend from high school and I realized that it has been 19 years since I started high school!  19 years sounds like forever but I maintain that 34 is not OLD!  I don't care what my 12 year old says. 

My 30's have been the best years of my life.  Let me explain: My teens were somewhat, although not completely, tumultuous, filled with broken hearts, friendships made and lost, stupid mistakes, and hard lessons learned.  I survived my teens, barely, thanks to my Mother's merciful heart, and moved on to start making (MOSTLY) good decisions, falling in (and out of) love and learning more hard lessons in my early 20's while also crossing some major milestones (like having my son).  My later 20's started to smooth out and look up for me with another chance at love, the arrival of my baby girl and learning to forgive and accept my love-ones for who they are; not judging them for what they do.

My 30's were kicked off by the arrival of my 2nd son and the loss of loved ones.  I started to work on improving myself and making the changes I wanted rather than sitting around and wishing I had done it. In the past couple of years I have accomplished things that I never thought I would and most recently, of course, given birth to my last baby boy.  Making the decision to be done having babies would seem like it would be an easy one, especially when I have four now.  Although, the worldly side of me says that I just can't do this again and my sanity would suffer a huge blow at news of baby #5, it makes me a little sad to think that my power to procreate is coming to an end (that doesn't mean that I am thinking about having more...trust me, I am done.) but, wow, look at the posterity I have created.  It's amazing, really. 

What I am getting at is this:  While I do tend to gripe occasionally and sometimes, whether its hormonally related or what-not, I cry and get sad because life can be hard and exhausting, I have chosen to take a hard look at my life and give thanks today and every day for where I am and how I am blessed to be what I am.  I am a sister, a daughter, a mother, a wife, a friend, a mentor, a neighbor, and most importantly; a woman.  I will say it again:  My 30's have definitely been the best years of my life.  Happy B-day to me. 

Adventures in driving...California here we come!

I had the great pleasure of taking a little trip, not a vaction (the distinction is that a trip is with kids, a vaca is without) to California with Braiden, Paige and my lovely new college-grad sister Whitney. We started by staying in Grandma's house in St George one night (as you will recall from the lovely hairball incident). Then made our way the next day to Las Vegas.

We checked into the Circus Circus Hotel (cheap and decent) and spent a little time at the pool with the kiddos. It was HOT! That night Braiden and I went to the Phantom of the Opera Production at the Venetian. I have seen this twice now and it just gets better. We had amazing seats right in the middle of the theater, smack dab in front of the stage. Perfect view of the stage and perfect view of the infamous chandelier as it fell right on top of us. Braiden was totally taken by all the special effects and trying to spot the Phantom whenever he would pop up out of nowhere. It was a really good time. I want my children to grow with an appreciation for the performing arts so Braiden is off to a great start. The next morning we made our way to the obligatory child-appropriate stops such as the M&M Store and the Coca-Cola Store. That was about the extent of our hanging out on the strip. I am not a fan of Vegas. Off to California we rode!


We stayed the night at Dad's house in Southern California and then the next day we were off to the Magical Kingdom to play with princesses, fairies and mice...First stop---California Adventure. Paige was tall enough this time to ride Soarin' Over California and she LOVED it. It was so fun to see her. We hit Monsters, Tower of Terror, Playhouse Disney, Bugs Land, California Screamin', the Ferris Wheel, Braiden went on the Paradise Pier rocket thing (3 times) and then we were out of there to get some shut-eye.

We got a late start the next day as we visited the pool and the breakfast bar and just took our sweet time. During that time I received about 6 text messages from Eric inquiring as to what we were up to. Where are you guys going now? Where are you parking? Have you guys left yet? I figured he was just missing us so I humored him and answered all his questions so he could live vicariously through my adventures... So...

We get through the security gate and are just walking to the Disneyland entrance when I look to my far left as I see a dude walking toward us that looks curiously like Eric...WHAT THE HECK??? IT IS ERIC!! The sneaker had flown in that morning and checked into his own hotel and managed to track us down to surprise us!! I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought I was seeing things because I truly had NO IDEA!! It was a very pleasant surprise and Paige was in AWW at being able to hold her Daddy. She did very tightly for a solid 10 minutes. It was pretty sweet. He spent the next 2 days with us and flew home...oh yes, I drive home and he flew...stinker!

That day we spent alot of time in line to see the fairies and the princesses. This trip we promised Paige that we would do it so we did and the LINES WERE LONG! My Disneyland tip of the day---if you want to see the Princesses, go first thing in the morning and go pee before you get in line. People are ruthless and those mothers are not about to hold your place for you--you snooze, you lose! Ha!

We Spent a second day at Disneyland for which I forgot my camera so you will just have to use your imagination. Braiden pretty much went on every ride in the park. Eric and he stayed as late as they could and Whit and I went to the hotel with Paige and crashed by 10pm. That's just about my limit after being there about 11 hours.

Paige was a trooper...they both were. No freaking out or massive tantrums. No running away or getting lost and no begging for over-priced ridiculous souvenirs. They were both ready to go home when the time came and so was I. Never do look forward to the drive home but when I get there its all so worth it! Until next time...August I think. :)

In Memoriam...

Jerold Farrar Lazenby

Uncle- In- Law

May 17, 1935-May 12, 2008

Georgiana Lazenby Erickson

Mother- In- Law

June 10, 1947- December 5, 2006

Becky Lynn Pollard Watson

(My Step-mom)

1958-2002

Lynne Jay Lundberg

Grandfather

January 6, 1926- May 11, 2008

Also...

My Grandfather Lee Watson

My Father-In-Law Larry Reynolds Erickson (although I never knew him) lived August 18, 1936-October 2, 1993.

Happy Memorial Day...

6 years ago today...

Today is my anniversary. Six years ago today I married my best friend and the man that I want to grow old with. Since then he has given me 2 beautiful children and become a father to my first child. He loves me no matter what I look like or what I do. I love him more than words can describe.

I love this song by Shania Twain. Every time I hear it I think about my relationship with Eric.

When You Kiss Me
( Shania Twain Lyrics for the song When You Kiss Me ...)
This could be it,

I think I'm in love

It's love this time

It just seems to fit,

I think I'm in love

This love is mine

I can see you with me when I'm older

All my lonely nights are finally over

You took the weight of the world off myshoulders

(the world just goes away)

Chorus:

Oh, when you kiss me

I know you miss me

and when you're with me

The world just goes away

The way you hold me

The way you show me

that you adore me oh,

when you kiss me

Oh, yeah

You are the one,

I think I'm in love

Life has begun

I can see the two of us together

I know I'm gonna be with you forever

Love couldn't be any better

Oh, when you kiss me
I know you miss me
and when you're with me
The world just goes away
The way you hold me
The way you show me
that you adore me oh,
when you kiss me

I can see you with me when

I'm older

All my lonely nights are finally over

You took the weight of the world off myshoulders

(the world just goes away)

Oh, when you kiss me
I know you miss me
and when you're with me
The world just goes away
The way you hold me
The way you show me
that you adore me oh,
when you kiss me

And when you kiss me

I know you miss me

Oh, the world just goes away

When you kiss me...

Happy Anniversary Eric.