My birthday and thoughts on turning 32

For my birthday our crew went out to celebrate at a new Mexican restaurant that just opened in our city. Words cannot express how excited I am that we have an actually Mexican restaurant in our city and that the food is wonderful! When John and I go to America we eat as much Mexican as possible while we are there. We just miss it a lot! So I naturally picked to go eat Mexican for my birthday. I share a birthday with a guy on our crew named Justin. He also was excited about going here. Anyways, we had a lot of fun. My dear friend Kayla made me a chocolate on chocolate birthday cake which I ask for every year on my birthday. It was wonderful.

I have been sitting here thinking about turning 32 and my one thought or feeling that has been consistent in my life for a while is tiredness. When I was pregnant with Layla I was tired a lot, more tired than I was with the other two. But then again I didn't have two kids to take care of with the other pregnancies. John and I dream of having overnight get-aways where we just go and book a hotel room to sleep. I was hoping the tiredness would go away but it seems to have settled in for a long term stay. As I thought more about this I thought about my mom. At age 32 she had a 5 year old, 18 month old twins and a newborn. It makes me tired just thinking about it. I am convinced my mother was tired for a whole decade. She had to be. I also wonder if while wiping our mouths for the 15th time or our butts for the 100th if she thought about whether we would ever be thankful for all that she did for us. Well, mom I am now. As I experience life with a 5 year old, 3 year old and 6 month old I look back and think you were amazing. It also gives me encouragement to think that if she survived so will I.

Justin at the entrance to the restaurant.

My dear friend Kayla with her new adopted daughter Jubilee.

The wonderful feast!

Typical Justin and Zack.

Although, Justin and I were born on the same day he does not share my love for chocolate. He asked me to make a fruit pizza for his birthday. 

Layla is 6 months!

Our sweet Layla is 6 months old. She can now roll from one side to the other and back again. This is huge for me because the past month or so she could roll from her stomach to her back but could not get back over which caused lots of problems during nap time. She is also sleeping through the night now which is a wonderful blessing for me. It comes at a great time since I plan to start home schooling Kayleigh at the beginning of September. I love to watch her watch Kayleigh and Zeb. I really don't think I would have seen some of her personality traits come out this soon if she didn't have siblings. You can tell she is a third child and needs to be heard. She will scream at the top of her lungs not in anger but excitement to make sure that everyone notices her. Of course she gets major laughs from her sister and brother which encourages her to do it more.

Ready for Winter?

I don't think so. My kids would prefer to wear the least amount of clothes possible at any time of the day especially Kayleigh. In fact, if I would let Kayleigh wear flip flops year round she would be in heaven! They found my storage box of hats and gloves and thought that it would be fun to play around a little. They are some crazy kids!

Fun Pics of The Bug!

Check out that tongue action! She really does have a long tongue.

Classic Layla

Highlights of our time with the Kvernens

We had a great time with our friends. I am pretty sure I spent some time with Laura everyday and we made sure that Julianna and Kayleigh could do the same. Kayleigh and Julianna had a blast spending the night together. It was just like old times. This time we hope that we will see them much sooner than a year. We are hoping to see them again in February.

I am reading the kids a book while we wait on our pizza. You can barely see Julianna's head between Kayleigh and Zeb.

Conversations with Zeb

This is the conversation I had at lunch with Zeb today.

Zeb: Mommy, I'm taller than Jesus

Me: Really? Who told you that?

Zeb: Me

Me: I don't think you are taller than Jesus

Zeb: Yes I am Daddy told me!

I then proceeded to go ask John if he told Zeb he was taller than Jesus. When I asked him he just laughed really hard!

Tonight in the bath:

Zeb: Hey Mommy Layla, Me and You all have blue! ( he is referring to our eyes)

Me: Yes buddy we do all have blue eyes

Zeb: Daddy and Kayleigh have black

Me: Well, they are actually brown

Zeb is so creative. He looks at the world/things differently than I ever have. I never know what he is going to come up with next. For instance today at lunch he stuck some pretzels in his sandwich and asked me who's birthday it was. It was actually our friend Josh's birthday so I told him. He then preceeded to sing Happy Birthday to Josh. He was using his pretzels as candles!

Cherished Friendship

This was the scene in my living room this morning. After a year and two months these two little girls were reunited. They played together like no time had passed at all. In fact Julianna is spending the night with us tonight. If you ask Kayleigh who her best friends are Julianna makes one of the top on the list. These two girls have known each other since Kayleigh was 2 months old and Julianna was 8 months old. Julianna's family came to visit us and some other friends this week after moving to another city. We are SO excited they are here and I am looking forward to some good time with my dear friend Laura.

I am pretty sure I have a very similar picture from a year ago with them all dressed up.