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 was a little tired when I put her in the Bumbo, but she had a few smiles left in her before she went to bed. She loves sitting up and not laying down. The theme with our children has turned out to be not liking to sleep during the day. So far, Zeb (in his 1st year) and Layla have had a difficult time sleeping during the day time hours.

Beijing

As my parents were ending their time here we flew to Beijing with them to see some tourist sights. We had a wonderful time and John and I especially loved eating at Outback Steakhouse! It is a huge treat for us to eat there since we don't have many American restaurants located close to us.

We had a great time at the Great Wall. I can now say that I have been on the Great Wall with every one of my immediate family members except my brother Johnathan. Johnathan, you need to come over here! Despite my mom's fear of making it down the hill from the Great Wall on a sled, she did a great job. I was proud of her.

Everyday we were there we spent every morning site seeing. Kayleigh refused to take naps while we were there but the traveling got the best of her. This is a picture of her on a public bus. It was very crowded, loud and about 100 degrees yet she slept through it all! When it was time to get off the bus we had to pick her up and carry her. She was so tired!

The weather was unbelievably hot there. We would be outside for 15 mins and had already sweat through our shirts. Despite the heat we had a great time and I am so glad my parents got to see Beijing.