One for the record book

I turned 30 last week!  I really wasn't planning on a big ta-do....figured a nice day with my family would be perfect.  Ben thought otherwise.  If you know me, you know I have never been surprised.  IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!  I always tend to find out whenever something is up.  

Well, Ben did it.  He planned, prepared and even got my best friend Rachel here from Texas....three weeks before my big day.  Trust me, I was not expecting a thing.  My husband is the sweetest.  He opened a separate email account for this extravaganza and had so many moving parts to manage in order to pull it off....and he did.  I was shocked.  

I am a lucky girl and love that guy to pieces! 

Friday afternoon, as I was hanging out at home with my kids, Rach and her precious 6 week old daughter walked into my house.  To say I was surprised was an understatement! (and I was so relieved that I didn't have to go to the gym as planned:)

I really thought Rach showing up was my birthday "surprise".  Ben made us dinner reservations on Friday night....we then made plans to be with Meredith and spent the next morning eating at my favorite breakfast place and doing a little shopping.  Rach also mentioned she had made us pedicure appointments for the afternoon. 

As we turned the corner to get to our appointments, I was greeted by this sight....all of my best buddies ready to surprise me.  Have I mentioned I was surprised???  I screamed, got yelled at by the spa people for noise, and probably hyperventilated a bit.    

So we did what girls do best - got our nails done,

chatted, laughed, and

loved on sweet babies 

(Loved that Hutch got to be apart of the party at a mere 2 weeks old!)

I was then told that we were all staying overnight at the JW Marriott....I mean, a lot of planning had to go into this (not to mention A LOT of grandparents who had to be on duty for us all to have a night away....thank you, thank you!)  I walked into my room and found half of my closet on the bed (neatly folded and organized a la Ben style) and the other half hanging in the hotel room's closet.  Just another reason I love my hubby.  He brought all sorts of stuff out so that I would have options on what to wear:)  

Thanks, baby!

So thankful for my friends - they are such a blessing and a gift to me.  Not sure how I would survive without them!

I'm also really thankful for their husbands....who all like to be together too!  That is a rare gift for sure!

 

We ate dinner at a really fancy steakhouse downtown....it was so so fun.  I felt incredibly spoiled.

Best night ever!

As if that wasn't enough, we all got a wonderful nights sleep (aside from Heidi who was up with a 2 week old:) and then got to eat at my favorite breakfast place AGAIN!!!  Seriously, twice in one weekend was beyond a treat!  

Thank you to my dear friends who made my birthday one that I will never forget...and to Ben, who loves me enough to make this all happen:)  I will never forget it...and the fact that I was actually surprised makes this one for the record books!!!

This Spring....

We're being blown away....

it's been awfully windy outside but we had fun at the Children's Museum's wind tunnel too!

Annie's Walking!!

Will's Scooting....

and mastering peddling on his bike

Paige is learning to ride her big girl bike....no training wheels!

And heading off to kindergarten round-up.
Seriously, how did this happen that my baby is off to kindergarten round up? 

Easter

We spent Easter at home this year, being blessed by our church's Easter service, spending the day with dear friends and having fun as a family.  So thankful for a Savior who gave His life for us!

My 3 little peanuts all ready for church

My sweet little family at brunch

Melts my heart - good buddies after filling their tummies with good food!

Paige drew this picture all by herself.  She asked me draw a big rock and to spell out the words "He's Alive" and she got to work.  I was blown away by her understanding of Easter....with the cross and Jesus emerging from the tomb.  She also wanted prince and princesses to be watching (hey, she's 4), so she told me they had crowns and tiaras on.

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We also spent an incredibly COLD Saturday at a wonderful Easter Egg hunt hosted by my friend, Melody.  I swear there had to be 60+ kids wandering through the woods behind her house hunting for eggs.  The kids had a blast with all of their buddies and loved coming home to open up their treasures:)

All set to hunt!

It's weird to be dressed for winter with Easter baskets in tow:)  

Paige's church buddies, Norah and Kate. 

To the mountains we go!

We headed to the mountains a few weeks ago for an absolutely fun week of skiing, relaxing, seeing my parents and an added bonus of seeing our cousins!  We had such a fun time.....Colorado is one of our favorite places - we loved getting the kids up on skis and watching them head off to ski school was just precious.  So thankful for the chance to take a break, relax and make such fun memories as a family!

 Seriously, I cannot handle my little skier.  My parents were so awesome at getting out with the kids and helping them get their bearings on skis.  

 Thanks, Mormor and Grandpa, for such a fun week!

  LOVE these two!

Hat hair:)

Learning to walk:)

  

Our cute little ski bunnies

These three...let me tell you....three little buddies!  

So thankful for family - thanks, Kate and Brett, for coming to see us!

 Girl cousins!