The 3rd Decade

So I'm 30 now. That age has always sounded so old to me. Officially settled down. Not like I haven't been "settled down" for the last few years...married, 2 kids, minivan, mortgage...but somehow I always took solace in the fact that I was still in my twenties. No longer. I am a 30 year old, minivan-driving, suburban, stay at home mom. Wow, that happened fast. Did I really graduate from high school 12 years ago? Freshman year at ASU doesn't seem like that long ago.

Well at least I've lived to see 30. I consider that an accomplishment in it's own right. But what have I really achieved in my 30 years on this earth? I have a college degree, that's good. I married a wonderful (and older!) man who puts up with my crap. That's even better. Plus I have 2 hilarious, loving kids. I've been to Hawaii 4 times, Europe once, Mexico too many times to count, and all over the continential U.S. I have dear friends near and far, and so much family that in the 4 1/2 years of marriage, Scott has only begun to meet them all. (scary, isn't it?) And I'm healthy. I have to list that, because even with all that this body has gone through, I can still get frustrated at it/me. I need to remind myself of where I could be instead of complaining about where I am. If only I could lay off the Dr. Pepper....

Turning 30 is supposed to be a milestone, but frankly I don't feel any different. I don't feel 30. And thankfully, I don't look it either. Vain, I know, but hey - there'd better be one advantage to having extremely oily skin! Besides, when I'm out with the kids, I get comments fairly often about how young I must have been when I started having kids. Ha - by Mormon standards, I started late at 27. Maybe it's the next decade that you feel it AND look it. I'll let you know in 10 years.

This weekend I went out with the Girlfriends for my birthday dinner. This time the conversation didn't seem so rushed to me. Maybe that's because we had just gone out last month and had talked for hours. With no kids to distract us, it always seems like we just talk and talk as fast as possible to get it all out until next time. Maybe we should just go out once a month - get all that "talk" out. One of the Girlfriends, Amy, is moving. I am sad."Only 30 minutes away," she says. I'm holding you to the occasional Tuesdays, Amy. That and beach playdates.

Here's a pix from Friday nite. Aren't the Girlfriends gorgeous! (And yes, that is 3 huge desserts we shared!) Thanks, girls!