My 33rd Birthday

Yesterday I turned 33, and I spent the day doing exactly what I wanted to do.

It began, like every other day, with coffee first thing in the morning. The kids each took turns telling me happy birthday in their own way, which I thought was so sweet. They all get so excited for others’ birthdays and I love it.

I spent the day at home cleaning the house to get it ready to have people over, and I have learned in my 33 years of age that I am most happy when I am home with my family putzing around. I did laundry, I cleaned the kitchen, I folded clothes, I cleaned the bathrooms and vacuumed the whole house, and that kind of stuff just brings me so much joy.

The kids went with their aunt for an Easter egg hunt in the morning which let me and PJ get things together for the party. I usually do the grocery shopping alone, but PJ said "It’s your birthday, do you want me to go with you or stay home and clean?” And I couldn’t for the life of me think of anything I wanted to do more than spend the entire day with PJ, so I told him to come with me.

And that’s just what we did. We grocery shopped together and it was so nice. I know that seems so simple, but I was really, really grateful for that time with him doing something I usually do by myself. Four hands are better than two!

When we got home PJ started decorating:

The sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Anna and I began cooking the pasta sauce for dinner, and then I was planning to head outside to mow the lawn. PJ said, “It’s your birthday, let me do it.” He mowed the front and back lawn and blew off the porches and swept and made everything look great, and I could feel my heart swell every time I looked out the window and saw him working.

Then my family started arriving and the rest of the evening was spent eating and laughing and enjoying each other’s company. These are always my favorite kind of nights.

My mom and PJ’s mom catching up:

PJ’s mom and younger sister were there and his aunt popped in just to drop off a cake she bought. How sweet is that? I am forever grateful for the family I married into!

Montana and the kids playing Uno, our family’s favorite:

When Matt and Beau got here, they brought homemade sangria, which was so delicious and perfect for the warmer evening.

We had three cakes to choose from, since we still had some of Matt and Beau’s cake from earlier in the week available, and then we picked up a chocolate cake for the evening in case there wasn’t enough, and then the cake PJ’s aunt bought.

There is no such thing as too much cake, especially in this house.

And as we were sitting around the table, I felt, for lack of a better word, complete. I was looking around at everyone who took time out of their day to come celebrate my birthday and I felt a sense of completeness with my life, like, if I were to go tomorrow, I would be happy with where I am at.

I don’t say that to brag or boast, I say it because it took a lot of work to get here and I am proud of where we’re at in life, and everyone sitting at the table helped me along the way.

I am grateful for my friends who teach me something new every day. I am grateful for my family who knows the best and worst parts of me and loves me all the same. I am grateful for my kids who made me a father and are the loves of my life. And I am grateful for my husband, who I have loved every day since I was 19.

After dinner, PJ’s mom cleaned the kitchen (!) for us before taking the kids to her house to spend the night. She told us she wanted us to have a night to ourselves, and I think that is just about the most thoughtful gift I have ever received. I don’t know how we’d make it without her.

We all gathered in the living room to play our favorite board game ever. It’s been way too long since we’ve played it and I almost forgot how much fun it is.

Time escaped us and before we knew it, it was almost midnight.

We thanked everyone for coming and said good night, decided to save the mess in the kitchen for the morning, and completely passed out. I woke up feeling incredibly grateful for the night before. How did I get so lucky to have so many amazing people in my life? I kept feeling like I should be celebrating them all evening, not the other way around.

It was the perfect day, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it (other than my old sister and her family not being able to be there!). I spent my birthday in my favorite place (home) with my favorite people, and I am filled to the brim with gratitude.

I have come to realize I love my 30’s. I feel like I am finally the age I have felt forever, even since I was young. I know exactly who I am and who I'm not, and I feel like having that kind of perspective only comes with getting older and messing up and learning from it all.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this a birthday one I will never forget, and for making my 30’s a very pleasant place to be. I love you all so very much. xoxo