birthday weekend...

The good:

• I love that my birthday is in the springtime...I used to hate when my birthday was the same day as conference, now I actually love it. We got to hang out in our jammies and watch a very uplifting, inspiring conference.

• I got the nicest messages, phone calls, cards, and gifts from loved ones. I have the best family and friends! I felt very loved and am so grateful for the people in my life. 
• Jared's parents took us to Spinners restaurant in Rupert to celebrate my birthday. Really really yummy food, and the cake was divine! We had a really fun time, and it was very thoughtful of them. 
• The morning of my birthday, Jared made me one of my favorite breakfasts....waffles w/strawberries and whipped cream (hearts even!).

•  Jared had this sitting on the table all day. A birthday present that he wrapped himself.....hilarious. Gracie also colored a picture on it for me. 

• Jared got me a beauuuuutiful bike (he actually gave it to me early, he was too excited) for my birthday. We've gone on some fun rides already with the kids in our little bike trailer.

•  We went to my parent's house for one of my very very favorite dinners: my Mom's reuben loaf, sweet potato fries and a delicious strawberry shortcake!

The bad: 
Unfortunately, my birthday wasn't all sunshine and happiness.....

• I have been healthy ALL year. I thought I had managed to avoid all the bugs, when everyone else seemed to be succumbing. UNTIL....April 3rd. Out of 365 days, the flu chose that one to get me.  Boo! I had a fever and body aches all day and still don't feel 100%. Gracie is still really sick as well and refused to let us give her medicine and would throw it all up when we tried. So she was pretty cranky and sick all day, poor thing.
• Jared got called in to work. It's very rare for him to have to work on a Sunday, but I guess there was an emergency, so he left for a couple of hours with his brother to figure things out while I stayed home with our kids and Jason's (Jenn is in Florida). Gracie loved having her cousins over...I was sooo out of it from being sick, I just parked on the couch and let them run around :) I felt bad.
• The present Jared got me was a super cute helmet that matched my bike. I loved it and how feminine it is....until I tried to put it on. Apparently I have a fatty head, because it did NOT fit...not even close. And it's adjustable! The biggest size barely fit around my huge head, but was super tight. So....I have to get a men's size...not so easy on my ego :)

 She's the only one that the helmet fit...

The ugly:

• in order to help me feel better, Jared (the sweet guy that he is) made me some chicken noodle soup. That always helps me to feel better when I have a fever. He wanted to make it more fun for my birthday, so he put in a couple of drops of food coloring. He brought it to me and said, "Happy Birthday! Puke green soup for lunch!" It really was.....not appetizing. But I still ate it, and it did it's job. Bless his heart.
• The giant mountain (not exaggerating) of laundry that I left for today, not wanting to do it on my birthday weekend........sigh. 
• The realization that I am in my late-mid-twenties. :) good thing Jared will always be older than me. That makes me feel better.

All in all, the good far outweighed the bad and the ugly, it was a wonderful weekend full of very thoughtful people, a wonderful general conference, and great family time. 

Welcome, 26!