28 Going on 50

Last Thursday I turned 28, but I may as well have been turning 50. When I was growing up, I was always the youngest in my class or group of friends. I always wanted to be older. And then when I "grew up", I never understood the horrors of getting old. Who cares?! When you're older, you're wiser, right? More respected, more experience. All good things. What's a few wrinkles or gray hairs? Certainly not worth all the fuss it's given.

Well then June 29th happened.

(Just kidding. I don't remember the exact day, but it was about a month ago)

We had invited the missionaries over for dinner. There are 4 in our ward and they were sitting around the table talking while I finished up the cooking at the stove. The topic was EFY and Elder Hallum was waxing strong about how much he hated EFY because he was from Rexburg and his dad taught on campus so adults were always mistaking him for an EFY kid and yelling at him for wearing shorts. I laughed, then turned to add my two cents, saying, "Well I know I'm older than you, but......" Here is where I got cut off as Elder Hallum tipped his head back to laugh and interrupt me with a scoff, saying, "Ya, much MUCH older!"

EXCUSE ME?!?!

Did you just interrupt me with the sole purpose of exaggerating the supposed immense difference in our ages?! Was that really necessary? Was the second "much" really necessary?! Or even the first?

I'm pretty sure my jaw went slack for about half a second as I decided I just couldn't let this go.

As I teasingly chastised him for his naive lack of tact when dealing with "older women", Trav just shook his head and chuckled, before adding his own, experience- taught advice on how to talk to girls. We all had a good laugh while I simultaneously decided I indeed did NOT enjoy getting older.  

Then if you'll recall my less than savory week with Collin and my heart breaking blow to my blog and you'll understand why I just wanted to stay in bed all day and pretend July 21, never happened!

Well, thanks to a fantastic husband and wonderful friend, that was not to be.

I got to sleep in then wake up to a clean house (that was previously littered with "beach gone bad" paraphenalia. That, in and of itself, was wonderful. I got to have delicious Paula's donuts for breakfast. (Where would the world be without Bavarian cream, I ask you?!)

 Then Rachel took me out to lunch at Olive Garden and I drowned my previous troubles in Chicken Gnocci and Italian dressing. What follows next may have been the best thing that's ever happened to me. Travis sent me to the mall to go shopping.... by myself! No children and no time limit (well, kind of... Weston does like to eat every once in a while).  I can't even put into words how theraputic this was. My "shopping dreams" had started again and that's never a good sign. When your subconscious has to act out what you can't do in real life. I think I touched every article of clothing on the bottom floor of Forever 21. And now our mall has an H&M! I almost had to leave without getting something and that would have even been ok. It was enough to go shopping knowing I had the possiblity to buy something. But as it was I found some really cute capris, a shirt and a couple necklaces. Nirvana for the soul.

For dinner we got some Chipotle burritos (best Mexican food out here... feel sorry for us?!) then went swimming with the Shaws. A family in our ward that just moved (and couldn't sell their house)had an underground pool that they said we could use whenever we wanted. I can't remember the last time I really went swimming. Like got my hair wet, did laps, flips, handstands, etc. It was super marvelous.

Check out this stink face! He was sporting a huge pouty lip before I could grab my camera. I think he was just mad he wasn't in the water yet.

 I am in love with these two! Oh, they are too much!

 Favorite. Picture. Ever! Haha.

 Here is a good example of when it would be great to have a nice camera! I know nothing about lighting, and yet, this lighting seemed to call to me. I wanted to capture the moment SO BAD. Alas, my camera is terrible and this is what I got. Also, Collin has gotten a sprinking of freckles on his nose and under his eyes (like maybe 8) and I want a picture of them!!! I die for freckles. (Bet you couldn't tell, given my husband :)

After the kids were in bed I got to watch a movie with my honey and check Facebook to see all the happy birthday comments on my wall. Facebook might be worth it just for birthday comments. You could be the lamest person ever and still feel like the most popular person in the world after reading your birthday comments! Am I right?! So thank you to everyone that made my birthday special. And just for future reference, I'll be staying 28 for the rest of my life!