30 Flirty and Fabulous!

Who me? No! Stop! I'm blushing!

LOL

Okay, so I am 30. Sometimes I'm flirty, but mostly just fabulous! haha

I've actually been looking forward to this birthday.

You know the milestone birthdays... and all the reasons why they're milestones. I've thought back to them {and some that aren't so milestone}.

When I turned 7, my birthday was on a Friday! {Milestone.} I was so excited because I was

going to have a slumber party! I remember inviting Leeza Anders {BFF} and my cousin Amberly. {Not sure if anyone else was invited.} That morning, when I woke up, I was burning up with fever. I slept most of the day on the couch. I was in and out of sleep when my siblings left for school The next time I remember waking up, they were home from school and I, sleepily asked my mom to make sure and call Leeza and Amberly

so they'd know they couldn't come cause I was sick. :(  Later, I think Leeza even called me because she was sad too. {Do you remember that Leeza?}  So disappointing :(

Eight years old = baptism. On my birthday because it was a Saturday :)  I remember being nervous about going under the water and not wanting my dress to come up and worrying about who would be there. {? I had a little social anxiety at an early age.}

Of course, it turned out perfectly. My Primary teacher, Sister Wendy Wright, gave me a packet of LifeSavers candies :)

Turning 12 was a big deal. Twelve meant

Young Womens

and mascara! My very first mascara was

Maybelline Great Lash.

Turning 13 was exciting because I became a "teenager."

Fourteen was huge ~ I was wearing full-fledged make-up! Stake Dances {if you don't know- it's a dance for the Youth of my church- and their friends- ages 14-18, held monthly. And I lived for it!}

{Why did my mom let me? Because I am the 6th child. She learned to fight her battles and that wasn't on the list ;)}

When I turned 15, I counted down the days until I turned

16! I couldn't wait to double date! I thought my life depended so much on having a "sweetheart". LOL

Ugh- the time I wasted!

Just before turning 17, my littlest sister, Rachel was born. :)  My life was brighter :)  That's when I got my driver's license = I drove my brother and sisters to school. I drove to the grocery store, to work and even to church on occasion. Super fun!

I love this picture of us. Neither of us knew we were both making faces! :)

My 17th Birthday. My cake was a dirt cake- soo good!

My 18th birthday was also on a Friday!! {But no slumber party.} It was my school's homecoming. I was the Secretary in Student Council and had the privilege to give the homecoming court the roses during halftime. :)  My little sister Cari, had planned a surprise for me the next night, which was a Stake Dance. By then, I felt a little weird going to the dances, because I had matured so much. ;) But I went, because Cari and David wanted to go.  Early on in the evening, I turned around to see a good friend of mine {and my older brother's}. He had come to take me on my first single date! This was the surprise Cari planned for me :) I was so surprised and excited because I had a humongous crush on him! lol That was a great birthday!

When I turned 19, I was at BYU. It was a Saturday and all of my roommates went out of town for the weekend. So I was home alone. :(  My sweet roommates, Kristin and Janene left me a plate of blueberry muffins for my breakfast :)  So yummy! I ate them and sat around for a while. I watched Sleepless in Seattle {on VHS}, because the alternative was football.  Then my sister called and said she'd come get me. I don't remember what we did. But later, my BFF Katherine {who is also my sister's sister-in-law- and the girl my Katherine is named after} took me out to eat at a great Mexican restaurant.

When she dropped me off at my apartment that night, the lights were on. I knew I didn't leave them on... It was my sister and her husband! It was my surprise party! And I was surprised! She had a cake for me and one for another friend of our's whose birthday was a couple of days after mine.

19 was also great because that's the year I met Johnny ♥

My 20s were the most exciting for sure.
Those were the years I had my babies and really felt like an adult :)
During these years, I became more social and felt good in my own skin. I learned a lot about myself.  I learned what I'm capable of and learned to try new things.
In fact, days before turning 30, I ground wheat into flour for the first time!

Then I used a KitchenAid Mixer for the 1st time. Ever. & made bread, for the first time, ever.
{Hey, it took me awhile to get up enough nerve. Go ahead, laugh it up!}

Turning 30 was a big deal for a lot of reasons...

Just about everyone that I admire and want to be like, is at least 30.
Now I look old enough to be married.
And almost old enough to have 5 kids ;)

Johnny and the kids made my birthday extra special. We drove to a State Park called Boykin Springs. It was beautiful! The weather was so nice and cool. We took tons of pictures and explored the beautiful waterfalls and hiking trails.

Later that night, Johnny's parents came and we had Chicken Salad sandwiches {I know, girl food. But it was my birthday, so I got to pick.} and roasted s'mores outside :)
{You gotta try Toasted Coconut Marshmallows and Strawberry Marshmallows next time you do s'mores! The best!}

A delicious Coconut Supreme frosted with Chocolate Buttercream!

Cleverly spelled out in coconut :)

I blew them all out in 1 breath! {After making a wish of course.}

I think I'm going to like being 30 :)