Simply Perfect 38th Birthday

Hello blogging world.  Its been a minute or maybe a little bit longer.  I don't want to get into my pause, it's not very interesting, but I want to reassure all that my family is well and I am well.  I just lost my voice, my words, my desire, and I needed time to just engage in deep conversation, learning, reflection in my own home and with my children.  Sometimes I feel that the best way for us to impact change is by focusing on our own growth and being role models for our children. 

Putting that aside, I turned 38 yesterday!!!!!  I feel fantastic and when my husband asked what I wanted to do my answer was to keep it simple.  I wanted to see my family and I didn't want to go all out with decorations, or a special photo shoot, or try to round everyone up.   Sometimes there is so much hype and pressure to make this day glamorous and "insta" worthy, but I didn't want it to feel like work.  I wanted it to be a slower pace, or at least one that I choose, with a balance of getting chores accomplished and feeling like I acknowledged the day and myself in some small way.  So here is a real and honest look of my PERFECTLY SIMPLE birthday.

7:00 am Wake up time.

7:15 a.m. 5 km run with Oreo!

8:00 a.m. Shower & get ready for the day. Listened to Brene Brown and Glennon Doyle at the same time. Check this podcast out!!!  If you haven't read the book Untamed by Glennon Doyle, I highly recommend it.   Also, Planned my outfit for dinner, check it out on Fashion Friday on the blog!

8:45 a.m. Coffee and lake laundry begins. We arrived home Sunday night after 10 days at the lake, sooooooo much laundry.

9:30 a.m. Coffee on the deck, answering birthday texts and meal/grocery planning.

10:15a.m. Costco. Yikes it was busy.

12:30 p.m. More laundry.

1:00 pm cleaning.  Halie has asked to learn how  to do a deep clean in the bathroom in order to make some money.  I pay a cleaner usually 2x/month and she would like to try to take one of those time slots for herself, so we are starting off with how to deep clean a bathroom.  She did awesome!!!!  While she was doing that I was off/on bouncing between helping her and vacuuming and washing the floors.

2:15 p.m. Lunch time.

2:40 p.m. Reading on the deck.

3:00 p.m. Nap. Quick naps are my favorite.

3:30 p.m. Sweet birthday surprise by my little Anya. She made me a special birthday treat, marshmallows, melted chocolate and Reese's peanut butter cups, topped with strawberries. Delicious!

4:00 p.m. Caught up on a few more texts and FB messages. More laundry.

4:50 p.m. Started prepping dinner.

5:00 p.m. Freshened up and got dressed for dinner. Followed by some blog pictures in the backyard, details to come on Friday.

6:00 pm Dinner with my parents, grandma and my little family.  It was absolutely delicious and we ate on the deck.

7:00 p.m. My aunt and uncle were able to join us for birthday cake and drinks.  It was exactly what I wished for.  To be surrounded by family.  This was the first time I saw all of these people together since probably February for Logan's birthday.  I've seen them at a social distance here and there but not all together.  I was grateful that we could be together outdoors with some distance.  

My grandma gave me the best card ever.  She kept saying, it's not a birthday card but I didn't want to go to the store to get one (COVID).  I can't imagine wanting to have a better friend than my grandma.

Also, my husband and the girls surprised me with this awesome mug from https://gossby.com/ and I love it!

Most of my family gave me money to help me buy a new lens for my camera and I love it!

9:00 p.m. Ended the evening off with a glass of wine and chatting with my sister and brother -in-law.  Really missing my sister and wishing that we had actual plans in the near future, but I am also thankful for technology.

10:00 p.m. Watched an episode of the Office with my husband.  

A perfectly simple day.  Thank you to everyone that sent messages on social media, texts, voice mails, snaps.  I felt so loved and so acknowledged.  Love everyone in my life, near and far.

Come back on Friday for my regular Fashion Friday post.