Thirty9

In a few days I'll turn 39.  Labor day to be exact.  My sister Jeannette would sneer and say when we were younger "I hate your birthday, it means school's starting".

Age has never been something I've feared.  I am not one of those women who won't share their age or crazily enough lie about it.  I am (almost) 39, I have blue eyes, I talk superfast, I have straight hair and a scar on my left arm from a long ago dog bite.  I can't change these things, it's who I am.

I spent the first half of my life wanting to change EVERYTHING.  I didn't feel comfortable in my skin because of insecurities.  Looking back it truly makes me so sad that I had so much going for me and I couldn't even see it.

I spent the next half trying to turn myself into the kind of person I would like.  I am still a work in progress but I can say that each day I move forward.  Some days the steps may be little, teeny tiny baby steps, but it still counts.

A few weeks ago I was talking to a friend and age came up.  I told her my age expecting her to gasp and say "What? No way, I thought you were much younger!".  Well, she didn't say a word.  Like, 'Uh huh, you look it'.  Internally I laughed at myself thinking, 'Marie, what do you expect, you're 38 and you look 38'.

Do I feel it?  Yes.  Because of my arthritis I've been needing 9 hours of sleep lately!!!  I literally can't stay awake at night and for the first time ever have a really hard time getting up in the morning.  The fatigue is horrible and although I tend to be pretty holistic I am seeing my Doctor next week and if she has a magic pill I am taking it!  (I am aware there is one called Speed.  I am hoping for an alternative.)

But mentally I don't feel it.  That's the thing no one ever tells you.  Your body will age but your mind will not.  You still have insecurities you battle like a teenager.  You still have completely unrealistic dreams tucked away in your heart.  You still have things to learn.  Many, many things.  I feel like a baby in that respect.  There is so much to do and learn and yet time still marches on.  Shouldn't I know everything?  I am an adult.  Who tricked my younger self into believing you didn't automatically know everything as soon as you turned into a grown up.  What?  I actually have to learn all this stuff myself?  I really thought, You become a grown up - You know everything - Done.

I felt bad about so many things I shouldn't have when I was younger I refuse to do it anymore.  I am 39 and it's great.  The fact that I am unable to properly use a cell phone, well.... that is quiet embarrassing.

So that's me.  I  look forward to the endless opportunities to grow every single day & hopefully one day I'll be a real grown up.  Happy Birthday to me.

Once Upon a Time...........

.......a beautiful Princess married my Brother.  They were happy, in love and decided to seal the deal on a mountain top in Utah.

Kyle's daughter Iree loved the Princess so much and thought the day to be hers as well.

The Princess gained a mother and father-in-law who think the world of her.

Three new sisters and four new brothers.  One who missed the plane that morning and wasn't there, but she's stuck with him too.

Add in some (only some!!) of the brother in laws, sister in laws, nieces & nephews.  A few cousins & one Aunt & Uncle and incredibly enough the Princess was still smiling and was eager to join this family.

My cousin Annie loves my brother and couldn't wait to photograph the Princess and their day.

The Princess Bride's family has been in the restaurant business forever and served the best food.  Kyle's sister (me) ate this plate x2.  And some of that cake. Or most of it.  Whatever.

   The Priness, or Anna, O.K., her name is Anna, was impressed that Mo (Adam) got a new shirt for the occasion but was disappointed by the fact that her new sister in law forgot the belt that tied her whole outfit together (serious bummer).                                     

 She didn't care that some people (Rylan!!!!) refused to look at the camera or that her baby nephew Zaden almost stole the spotlight by his adorableness.

She just danced................................

...........and inspired romance in others.

My cousin Jimmy & Grandma Mitchell.                                   My brother Ty & sister in law Sheralyn.

  Mo & his Anna 

 My niece Kylee and her boyfriend Zaden.

Cousin Annie, her brother Jimmy, Jimmy's fiancee' Elyse & My Aunt Dawn and Uncle Woody.

Someone just turned up the music YO!!!  What?!

Don't be scared Princess Anna.

We're just trying to have fun.

I know there's a lot of us & we've been dancing hard for hours and we're crazy and you might be scared..........

But too bad and too late.  You're stuck with us.

Something tells me you wouldn't have it any other way.

Cause Hey Y'all we have a new sister & we're living happily ever after!!!!!  YO!

Color Me rAD

Emry ran in her second organized race (besides school races) last Saturday (2nd from right).  One of her best friend's, Annie, was running with her 3 sisters and invited Emry to run with them.  Annie wanted a partner as all her sisters are super speedy.  The sister in the middle is actually on scholarship at BYU and runs something like a 4 min mile. Anyone that ridiculously fast deserves a free education.

Emry & Annie prepped for 2 weeks for this race.  It was so cute to see them meet 3x a week to go on little runs around the neighborhood.  Emry had the best time preparing for and running this race, it was fun to hear all about it.  She loved the theme of the race which was basically getting covered in color in many different forms.

It's funny because as much as I don't participate in organized races, if it makes a positive impact on my daughter I am all for it. To her it's all still fun and games and I fully support that.

For me it's all sweat and effort.  I actually do enjoy running and exercise, but I am not gonna pay to do it, it's against my religion.  I've participated in a few races and was always bummed I didn't run that morning for free and then take the cash and go shopping.

But everything changes when you have kids.  If this is what it takes for exercise to become as huge a part of my kids life as it is mine, I am completely on board.  If you see me running a marathon in a few years (cursing and dying in the process), you'll know why.

It's always a good time

Last beach day of the summer, but thankfully not the year :)   Kiddos start school tomorrow.  Our great, wonderful, fantastic friends the Sowards came down South for a visit over the weekend.   They are truly the most fun couple ever with 4 great kids.  They radiate positivity and joy and love being near the ocean.

Here is Brandon Sowards with his son Reef.

 Here is another close friend Ryan Swindel with his daughter Jordan.

Emry's getting ready.

She's out.

She's almost up.......& I guess I lost interest.  No, she probably fell or something.

A very generous friend let us take his 2 paddle boards out.  This is Glenn and my niece Kylee having a blast.

My sister Jeannette and her daughter Kylee.

Jeannette's son Nathan and my Ethan.

Did I mention that as usual there were about 648 thousand of us?
 

A few babies in the mix as well.

Next thing I know Lila!!!!!! grabs a board.  This is not status quo.  Lila is usually content to jump waves or boogie board.  All her friends were giving surfing a go so I guess she just figured it was the thing to do.

Glenn & I were on the shore watching her giddier than 2 people have ever been in their lives, our little Lila was going for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We were just reveling in watching all 3 kids in the ocean becoming a part of it all.  Being with all of our friends and family at the beach is seriously the BEST.

Tiffiny Sowards & I.  I love this girl.  She inspires me and is such a wonderful wife and mother.  If I've learned anything it's to watch and copy others, & I totally do.  I remember going camping with the Sowards 2 years ago when their baby Cruz was just a few weeks old.  She was carrying the baby, a cooler, chairs and an umbrella down a dusty path to watch the kids in the lake, with a smile on her face.  Yes, I can learn a few things from her certainly.

The Sowards representing.

Cleaned up all ready for church.  Till we meet again, love you guys to death.

Endless Summer

I am in complete denial that school is starting next week.  We've truly made the most of each day; working, playing, being with friends & family and searching out every bit of fun we could.

Our day would usually start with breakfast, then chores, then some schoolwork from their teacher (me).

But once that was out of the way we had the rest of the day to get busy enjoying ourselves.  This is our church's girl version of Scouts.  It's called Activity Days & it's for girls 8-11yrs.  Twice a month they get together to learn a skill, work on self improvement or just have fun!

We arrived 15 minutes before the pet store opened.  The pet store that lets you hold all the puppies you want.  The longest 15 minutes of my kids life.

Cupcakes at an outdoor bakery at the mall.  Lila spent $20 of her own money on that tiara at Icings.  I tried to talk her out of it but it was pointless.  She said she'd always wanted one (huh?).  She wanted a sash too but I had to put my foot down on that one, that's just taking it too far.

My kids always found a way to beat the heat.

We watched dance performances on our front lawn with my cousin who stopped to visit us for the night.

I proved once again what a great hostess I am by making sure I was warm but leaving my cousin to fend for herself.  She is from Idaho though so I am sure she thought it was warm.  

Jeannette Roberts, Marie Wallwork, Laura Duren

I found $10 while running only to realize it was $15!!!!  Best day of my life for sure.

Had lots of dinner parties.

A complete rip off of Cafe Rio's Pork Salad.  Best dish ever.

Coconut lime cupcakes/ Smore's cupcakes.  Heaven in a paper liner.

Eating Al Fresco.

Many of these days.

 This must of been what the kids were doing while I was at Walmart.

 Best Show Ever!!!!!!  Got this at the library and after 4 episodes my kids are hooked.  Glenn makes himself scarce when this goes on, I don't think he likes being upstaged by Michael Landon in the carpentry department.  And oh Nelly, she is so naughty, so fun to watch the banter between her & Laura.

Busy as always in the kitchen.  This is the start of Bananas Foster Banana Bread.  It was so good it was literally gone as soon as it came out of the oven.  Plus I am bad at taking pics when really all I want to do is eat it.

Being crafty.

This was my creation.  It took me almost 2 hours.  In my head I thought 'Marie this is so silly go clean a bathroom or something'.  But I decided to just be with the kids and enjoy the moment.

Because unfortunately, there is an end to summer.