18, With 12 years of experience

That’s right—I finally turned the big 18 + 12.  30 years old!  I know a lot of people have a little anxiety when they turn 30 (ahem….Rusty), but I am actually really excited about it.  So many new experiences to have, so many new things to do.  Being grown-up definitely has its perks. So, here’s to my NEXT 30 years!

Rusty threw me an awesome birthday party at the park.  He made Fettuccini Alfredo with chicken, and then all my awesome friends brought yummy side dishes.  He also showed a sweet little slide show that I’ll put at the bottom of this post. AND, he bought me the shirt I am wearing in the pictures.  How did I get so lucky?  A man who can plan parties, cook, and shop…not to mention all the other more manly stuff he can do ;) 

(How lucky am I to have such amazing friends to celebrate with?)

My friend, the extraordinarily talented Sarah, made my birthday cake.  It was spice cake with a peach filling and topped with caramel frosting.  There is only one word to describe it, and that word is DIVINE.  We had cake and donuts (my favorite treat) for dessert.  You should have seen the swarm of kids around the donut box.  60 donuts were gone in less than 5 minutes.  I don’t think I could have asked for a more perfect day. I am grateful for all I’ve learned and been able to do in my first 30 years, and I’m so excited to see what the next 30 will hold!

   

Red Rocks Relay

Some of Rusty’s cousins were running the Red Rock Relay and needed a few extra team members.  Rusty wanted to find out what all the Relay fuss was about, so we jumped on board.  And we are glad we did!  We had such a fun time!  We started at the top of a ski lift at Brianhead ski resort, and then ran 187 miles to the finish line in Zion National Park.  We experienced all kinds of weather—snow, rain, 80 degrees, ran on all sorts of terrain—canyons, back roads, neighborhoods, giant hills, and had all kinds of fun.  I was a little skeptical of the co-ed relay, but I was pleasantly surprised.  Rusty trained well, and he ran his heart out on every one of his legs.  It was so fun to watch him.  We’d do it again in a heartbeat!

       
Team C.R.E.W (Crazy Runners EveryWhere!)

Glenwood Springs!

Natalie, Michael and Jack met us in Glenwood Springs for Labor day.  We rented a house from VRBO that the kids called the “fishy house” because it had a metal fish displaying the address.  There was a little backyard with a fire pit, an apple tree, and even a little garden in the front.  Halle was in heaven picking apples and digging up carrots.  The boys loved running in the backyard, and the parents loved that we could put the kids to bed and still hang out in the living room.  Our family had the awesome opportunity to share full bunk beds.  It was very cozy :) 

 
We decided to try the hike to Hanging Lake with the kiddos.  We’d been told that it’s a hard hike, but still doable with kids.  Maybe with some kids, but not with ours.  That was a LONG, HARD hike.  Jack did NOT want to get in his hiking backpack, and Josh’s short little legs were just not up to the task.  But, after much whining, piggy backs, many snacks, and a lot of encouragement from Mom and Dad, we made it to the top!  The kids were really proud of themselves and the falls were beautiful.  Worth it? Not quite sure…..

   

Of course we had to go to the Hot Springs, but can I say, RIP OFF??  We paid about $80 for our family to go swimming in a warm pool.  But, in spite of giving me major anxiety about the cost, we loved hanging out at the pool.  The kids loved that it was so warm, and there was a fun waterslide that Josh can’t stop talking about.   

We also hung out at a little park by a lake, made smores, played the wii, and just generally had a good time!  We were so glad to spend time with the Birds, and it flew by way too fast.