Happy 13th birthday, baby bug

We always let the birthday pook choose a restaurant to go out to eat for their birthday. Only, D’s birthday was on Wednesday and with Frankie’s cheer and D’s ballet, and Young Women, we couldn’t make it out on her actual special day, so we started birthday week with a Tuesday night dinner at Olive Garden. 

When she went to the bathroom we told them it was D’s birthday and they brought her a whole strawberry cake dessert and sang to her.

It was very sweet.  

The next morning we had our traditional birthday donuts. I call this one “Birthday hair, don’t care.” I got enough to share with the seminary kids and then Brother Cottle came to visit and he also brought donuts. Donut party. 

She requested ratatouille for her birthday dinner and she claims she liked it. It was… interesting. I’m not really into mushy veg. 

She opened her gifts from Lexi and Christian before dance and then Adi and Frankie after. We enjoyed her plain chocolate cake and Neapolitan ice cream and celebrated our girl again. 



The next morning Delaney and I headed up to the mall for our day of shopping! First stop at Target for snacky snacks for our girls trip. 

She’s so funny. This was very different from the other girls birthday trips. We shopped for about 2 hours, she got 1 thing from a few different stores and then was like, I’m done. 🤣 I suggested a movie, but there’s nothing good out, or a pedicure, but she was like, nah, let’s go swim. 

Our first hotel that I made a reservation with had closed their pool and didn’t have smart tvs, so we couldn’t stream anything. Thankfully, they gave us a full refund and we were able to find a hotel that met our needs. We swam in their ice pool and warmed up in their jacuzzi and then showered and ate junk food and watched movies till 9 when we were both tired. 🤣

It was lovely. 

The next morning we ate waffles in our room and then hit the pool again. I swam laps and we jumped back in several times. I hate cold water, but I pushed myself and it was so fun. 

Ellie had her birthday party at 1, so we headed home to get her there. Then after ballet we finished off her birthday week with some Brusters. 

I love spending time with Delaney. She’s figuring out who she is and she’s so fun to talk to. She’s such a smart thinking girl with a huge heart. I loved celebrating her all week. 

So much stuff

This has been a busy season for us. Since last spring when my dad got really sick I feel like I’ve been running. Sometimes too fast, and sometimes just at a steady pace. Right now it’s mostly a steady pace. I got home and on Thursday restored the house to mostly order, worked on my talk, and had a presidency meeting. Matt and I worked in the garage Friday and I finished up my talk. Then that night we went on a date to see our new favorite cheerleader. 

It feels strange to be back here, this time as the old momma watching her cheerleader instead of the young, frazzled momma. 

Adi’s been really earning her keep driving her sisters around. It’s been pretty fabulous. 

Aaaand, the Raiders have actually been winning, so that’s different too this time around. I made the cheerleaders get together for a pic after the game. 

Fittingly, this memory came up of a giant pregnant Michelle watching Alexis cheer the wrestlers. 

I have a thing with trees. When my dad and I would go take pictures, there’s this one tree on St. Andrews that I really wanted to shoot every month and watch it change. I just love it. Sometimes I cling to this. 👇🏻 

Matt and I walked to the Wharf Saturday morning. The water is frozen, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen it like that, or at least not for a long time. Thankfully he didn’t actually walk on it, but after Delaney’s fall through the ice just 2 days later I had to laugh at this. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. 

We were blessed to be invited to Lilton and Kimmy’s sealing that afternoon. There were several good things happening that day and we even talked about trying to squeeze in a temple session, but in the end we settled on just enjoying the peace of the temple and our friends special day. 

After, we went outside and took pictures of them and I had to laugh at Matt again. He keeps me laughing, I have to admit. 

It’s been so amazing watching Lilton go from learning with the missionaries, to Matt baptizing him, to him receiving his temple endowments, his wedding, and now his sealing. The gospel is amazing. 

When we went to Cheesecake Factory in December they had a special where if you buy $50 in gift cards you get a $15 to spend later. So that later was from 1/5-2/28. And then in January I also had a free slice of cheesecake reward since I signed up for their reward program. I was going to give my coupon haul to Alexis and Damian for their last date before baby, but there’s no CF near them, so it ended up being the perfect date for us after the temple. We each got entrees and 2 slices of cheesecake and with a generous tip we only spent $30. Incidentally, the girls spent $30 at Panda Express getting themselves dinner since we left them on their own for the whole day. 

Anyways, after CF we walked around Andrews AFB to burn some steam, and then it was time for the adult session of stake conference where I was the first speaker. It’s so cool the way the spirit works. Before every talk I’ve given the last few years, before I’ve even been asked I’ve got an idea I’m pondering, so that when I’m asked, and I usually get to pick the topic, I know exactly what to speak on. And then usually the week before I start to doubt myself and think I’m the dumbest person ever and this idea and talk is garbage, but I’ve come to recognize the adversary and I mostly don’t let it bother me. 

I spoke about not confusing our questions for doubts, knowing the pattern for asking questions, and having confidence that the spirit is guiding us always. The whole evening, and even the next day was really amazing. I love our stake council, every one of the men and women I am blessed to serve with are such smart and inspired people. 

Sunday afternoon Matt took me on an 8 mile walk. It’s a loop he’s done a few times and was excited about. It’s lovely having time for us to chat. I’ve been getting glimpses of what life will be like in a few years when all our littles leave our nest, and even though I know I’ll be sad, it seems like it will be pretty sweet too.