Goodbye 20's. Hello 30's!

Well, I didn't magically change into a princess, nor did I change into a wicked witch. I did however turn 30 this year and I can't tell you how relieved I am to have finally hit this age! It sounds funny, I know. But after so many years of looking like I am 16, I feel more confident about looking and being my age. 

We pretty much spent the day relaxing and "doing whatever Mom wants." It was low key since it was a Wednesday and since Matt was on leave, he took care of feeding, changing and occupying the kids. I got to relax!

My great friend, MaryKay made me her infamous Alton Brown brownies and even topped it with the number 30 on it. The family and I ate it later that night with ice cream and hot fudge. MaryKay knew that the brownies would be consumed in that manner! 

I suppose I should have had a birthday party for myself, but we were so busy getting ready for vacation that I didn't even think about it. I had a great birthday spending it with my family and that was really the best part of it all!

Happy Fourth of July!

Along with the Zoo, we also had a great 4th of July cook out with friends! As a child, I always looked forward to July 4th. It was tradition for our family to go to a barbecue with family friends, swim and at the end, go drive up to the desert and sit on the family station wagon to watch the fireworks display! This year was strikingly similar to my childhood memories, only I was now the parent watching my kids run around getting excited for the fireworks. 

Lily having fun, but being cautious

Sophie not too sure about this...

This year, we ate some delicious BBQ'd ribs made with authentic Kansas love. My Key Lime pie never set and MaryKay's sweet potato-potato salad was crunchy. At least we tried! We're just working out the kinks for next year...

A couple of the guys pitched in and bought firecrackers and sparklers for the kids and we set them off. The kids were all so amazed and the mommies were all so paranoid (fire hazard! fire hazard!). We could still see the various fireworks displays going on around the city and especially on the drive home. We were so tired when we got home and the kids were happy to have had such a fun time. We're all still recuperating from the fun! Matt and I must be getting old if staying out past 11pm makes us tired!

Happy Fourth of July!

Off to the Zoo We Go!

We had a wonderful busy weekend enjoying the weather and good old family time together! For the first time since moving here, we finally went to the zoo. It's very nice and almost reminiscent of the JAX Zoo in FL. The black grizzly bears, the rhinos and the giraffe were so much fun to see and I think the girls enjoyed the butterfly garden the best.

Matt and the Girls

Sophie and the Rhino sculpture