Thirty and Thrilling

So, I’m thirty. So is Andy. Given that around 20 percent of this blog is dedicated to marking milestones, the big 3-0 probably deserves a post, right? A post ye shall receive.

My brain is exhausted from the challenges of nurturing two bright and spirited boys and scraping by in my uber-demanding, never relenting career. Exhausted. So instead of a thoughtful and organized exposition, I am offering a bunch of photos and captions. You’re welcome.

Drew decided on the festivities for Andy’s big day: a homemade chocolate cake with carefully selected Lightning McQueen candies, party hats, and candles:

The manger animals got in on the party hat action:

After Andy declared “no gifts” for our birthdays, I had to get creative. I requested that family and friends send as many cards and letters as possible to Andy, resulting in this awesome stack gracing our mailbox:

It was so fun to read the letters, look back at old snapshots, and affirm Andy and everything that he means to his family, friends, and colleagues:

What’s a birthday without a balloon or two… or sixty?

I fondly remember my mom’s 30th birthday and the HUGE party my parents held to celebrate it. I’ve known for a few years now that we’d have to have a party to ring in the next decade. We decided on an 80s-themed party in honor of our birth year, 1982. I’ll post separately with a few more photos, but here’s a teaser:

My husband is the SWEETEST man alive. My love language, hands down, is ‘words of affirmation.’ When I woke up on my birthday, Andy handed me a large glass jar with a homemade (by him!) heart and a note that read, “I love…” on one side and “YOU!” on the other. This was the first of 30 hearts strategically hidden throughout the house, each with a note about something Andy loves about me. (“I love your grace” in the makeup drawer, “I love your photography” in the camera bag… the list goes on.) 

It’s most certainly the best birthday gift I’ve ever received, and I look forward to fishing around in the bowl for a little encouragement on a rough day. And how ’bout those sewing skills?!!?! Love that man…

Following my surprise hearts, we packed up and met our families at the bowling alley. We hadn’t been in years, and guessed that it would be an activity for all ages. 

With no natural light present, my flash (of course) ran out of batteries after the first photo or two, leaving me with mostly fuzzy images from the day. But suffice it to say that we had SO much fun. This little guy?! Bowled a 104 in 9 frames! Sure, the lane had bumpers. But we all bowled with the bumpers, and only one or two people managed to beat Drew!

Keeping an extremely mobile, curious baby out of the gutters is a task that only a tag team of grandmas can handle!

So, that’s about it! Awesome family, awesome friends, incredible husband, good times. Hello, 30!