the big 3-0

Remember that show called Thirty-Something? I was like nine when it was popular but my parents used to watch it and I could hear the music as I was on my way to bed. I always thought that when I was "old" (in my thirties, of course) I would watch it too. (I still think it might be fun to rent it even though I really don't know what it's about other than a group of couples in their thirties.) Anyway, I can now join the "old" people.

My birthday was fun. First of all, I woke up to this:


Truth be told, I happened to glance out my bedroom window the night before my birthday, mostly to see if our cat was out there still, and saw two people running down the street with stuff in their hands. Wendel and I went out there and found the sign. I decided to leave it up and enjoy the honking for at least a little while. (I later found that the culprit was Crystal and her cousin. Aren't they nice to not put any "over the hill" signs up?)

We planned to meet Crystal and Tyler at The Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner. When we got there, I was surprised by a room full of my friends. (I think this is my first surprise party of all time...wait, I'm remembering one from when I was 15 and moving from Arizona to Utah, but it's been a while.) Crystal is so great to coordinate this for me! What a sweet friend!

Here are some pictures from her camera:

Crystal and Me

All of us: (Left to right) - Dodie, me, Wendel, Crystal, Claire and Jocelynn, Tyler, Chris, Melanie, Aleisa (holding Russell), Kevin (even tough you can't see him), Janey, Jamie, James, Josh, Laurel, Anna, Olivia, Kaitlin and Adam. It was so nice having all of you there!

I had to throw this one in there of Wendel and Tyler comparing their phones. Wendel recently got a Blackberry (for $40 of course).


I got some lovely things for my birthday. Dodie and Melanie gave me beautiful flowers. Our home smells so good! I can even smell them from the top of the stairs upstairs.

Do you remember me blogging about three adorable pillows that I loved and would buy if I had extra money to spend on such things? (#3 on this post) My mom ordered them right then and has been saving them for me for my birthday! Don't I have a great mom? I love that they add some color to our front room. So cute!

My brother, Tyson, got me a new flash because I recently lost ours. I was so sad about it and I'm so excited to have a new one! Whew! Wendel got me a light meter, which is something we've both been wanting for a while. I also got a gift card from my grandma to Olive Garden, a gift card from Josh and Laurel to my choice of four restaurants and an oil warmer from Crystal, as well as cookies from Amy, a fun blanket and movie tickets from my sister-in-law, Britney and some sweet cards in the mail.

I feel so loved and spoiled...what a great birthday!