A New Decade

Yesterday was the beginning of a new decade for me. So how do I feel about it? Actually, I'm very excited. Life is a gift. A new adventure, a new surprise, a new journey is waiting around every corner.
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Life is like a book. How do you want your story to be told. We are creating our story one page at a time. I don't want to look back through the "pages" when I'm older and have regrets. Regrets of not spending enough time with my family. Regrets of not making time to have fun and do the things that I love. Regrets of not living out certain dreams that I hold dear to my heart.
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I am really learning to live my life to the fullest especially since loosing my mom. It's so very hard, but I'm trying not to fall into the trap of getting stuck in the "just trying to get by one day at a time" thing. I want each day to be more special than the next. To look forward to each day with a renewed hope and excitement for what's to come. Life has so much to offer and we don't have to get wrapped up in that trap of just trying to get through each day.

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Thinking of what's to come in this next decade leaves me very excited. I will get to see my kids grow in so many ways and my hope is that I will grow leaps and bounds too. Mentally and spiritually that is. Hopefully not physically. But I think I'll have to work a little bit harder on that now that I'm 30 ; )

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There are lots of joys when thinking of the upcoming years but to be completely honest, some things leaves me feeling a little weepy. Teaching Colton and Gracie to drive. Graduating Colton from High School (hopefully) the same year that I'll turn 40! And celebrating my 40th birthday with my 12 year old baby! Waah!!! I need to stop now!!!

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Although I sit here with tears in my eyes just thinking of it, I know that those times will also bring so much fun. I look forward to them growing into young adults and all the exciting things we'll be able to do together as a family. But boy will I miss my babies! Even though they are constant work, I just love this stage so much. I truly, truly do. Diapers and all (although we're nearly done with them), I love it!

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I'll leave you with a few too many photos (as I'm famous for doing) from our party yesterday. It was a beautiful day. We got to reconnect with some old friends and were grateful to have most of our family there to celebrate with us. We wound up having a big sleepover at our house and we all had a blast. There were 9 kids (including our own) who slept over and a few of our friends! Talk about a full house!
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the dart game was a huge hit!

Don't let the little size fool you. These two boys popped a balloon almost every time!

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"everybody better watch out!"

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fletch and our cousin faith

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My aunt joyce made him an oscar the grouch cake from a cake pan she's had since the 70's. So fun!
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I made this cake to match the color theme of the party. I was so glad people weren't scared to eat it. It really turned out super yummy!
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Two of my bridesmaids whom I rarely get to see. This was a special gift to me that they came! We had so much fun!
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Me and Laurie. My good friend and neighbor.
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Look at this 2 year old cutie! He cracked us up all night with his guitar and dancing skills. Not to mention skateboarding skills. He's definitely a talented kid!

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Colton the rock star with his friend Cole!
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Fletch opening up one of his coolest gifts wrapped up in homemade wrapping paper (I love this!)...
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An owl made by sweet Aurora who's pictured above. Her two brothers each picked out one of their trucks to wrap up for him. I think that is just the greatest thing! So heart felt.
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Fletch and his Uncle Austin.

The kids have the two coolest uncles ever! Check out Austin's site here (if you happen to stumble across pictures of half dressed women in bikinis please close your eyes ;) seriously! And his bikes can also be seen here. And my brother's awesome artwork can be seen here. I wish they would give me some of their talent! They truly are amazing people all around but most importantly to me, they are the best uncles my kids could ever have. How neat that must be for them to have an awesome artist, surfer and musician as their uncle and their other one is an incredible motorcycle builder. It doesn't get any better than that for the boys! I think they will appreciate them even more as they get older. I was bummed I didn't get a picture of Fletch and Brian or Uncle B. as they know him but here is one from Gracie's birthday party last month.

Thanks for "dealing" with all the photos. I always have the hardest time choosing which ones to post. I'm a very visual person, so I want to see the pictures, not hear about the stories. So there you have it : )