Aaaaaaand..... 30.

Well, turns out that Life doesn't care too much whether you're ready or not....it just keeps on comin' atchya.


I am 30. 

And, I fully admit, I really could have taken it with much more grace and gratitude.... instead of being metaphorically dragged by my heels, kicking and screaming (and crying), as the clock slowly ticked away until it read midnight... and December 29th was officially here.

In slipped the 29th... out slipped mine.

Sigh.

And who knows why this matters so much to me. I honestly never thought it would. I hit all the milestones I wanted to by this time! And I have basically a million things to be thankful for. And I  am  thankful for everything I have been blessed with.

But I guess I just started thinking about how fast it all went.. and how I don't FEEL like a 30-year-old (however they're supposed to feel... probably not suffering from a closet case of Bieber Fever though, I suspect...)... and how many times I just absolutely failed to enjoy the moments when they were here.

I am always so focused on the next thing, the next plan, the next step.. I just skipped over so much while I had it.

When I was in high school, I wanted to go to college. When I was in a dorm, I wanted to move out and into a house. When Jared and I were dating, I wanted to be engaged. When we were married, I wanted to have a baby. When we lived in our first apartment, I couldn't wait to move into our first house. When I was pregnant, I couldn't wait to just have them here. When the boys were tiny, I was always so antsy for them to be just a little bigger....

I am such a miserable failure at living in the moment.

So this year, I'm going to try harder. My life is GOOD. I have 3 beautiful funny boys, an amazing husband, a cozy home, dependable vehicles, ample food, wonderful family members, everyone is healthy, and we want for nothing of necessity.

This year, I think I will pray often, that all the stress over the little details can just take a hike. (Or at least a back seat.)

Yup. The house is going to be messy. Things are going to break. The boys are going to whine and fight. People are going to disappoint. And conflicts are going to happen.

But - and this is going to be a severe challenge for me - THESE THINGS DO NOT GET TO OVERPOWER THE GOOD.

So, I want to smile more. And worry less. I can not plan or control everything. (possibly, anything.) 

All the Good in my life so immensely outweighs that Bad, that is embarrassing how much time I spend not enjoying it. Soaking it up.

And this year, I want to let go. Let go of the past. And the stress. And the negativity.

It is what it is.

I'm 30.

And, although I deserve nothing... for some reason, I am crazy blessed.

So, bring it on, 30. (You're just a silly number anyways... and I've never been too fond of math ;) )

 Everyone singing to me at Mom's on my birthday!

 Woah. Someone get ready to call the fire dept. ;)

 

Deep breath....

 Nailed it.

           My birthday buddy                 

 And my 2 big boys... G man was too tired from all the Christmas fun earlier in the day. 

He was zonked out on the couch by this point.

 This guy.♥

 And then Jared completely surprised me with the most incredibly thoughtful gift I could have imagined.

He planned an entire New Year's Eve/Birthday Bash night out, overnight (and all the kids stayed with grandparents), with my family. And everyone knew the whole time and kept it from me!!

I was completely not expecting it.

And I cried. Ha. (Is ANYONE surprised by this? I think that's kind of how the men in this family have begun to know their gift was a success!)......


 

 All ready for my big night out with this handsome man

A little kiss. Ha.

               These guys sure do clean up nicely :)

 And I don't think we did too shabby, either!

 

                                My Meggy♥

 Corey and Meg. Look at this beautiful couple!  

 All grown up

And then it was off to the restaurant to meet up with my Mom and Roger...

 Megan, Mom, and me (and my special, fancy birthday girl hat ;) )

                                             Smooch!

Didn't know I could be jealous of a state... 

but, Missisippi, you are one lucky place to get to have this girl.

 

 Cheers to the birthday girl ;)

 Group Shot! (minus Jared... since he was the one taking it.)

And speaking of Jared... who knew he loved to dance so much? Ha!

It's blurry.. but that's because these guys never slowed down! They were total dancin' fools all night! 

And they made me laugh. :)

 

 

 How did I ever get so lucky?♥

 

'Twas the Season!

Well, it always seems like it's just going to take forever to get here.. and like it's just going to last and last once it's really "time"...  but then, inevitably, it just sneaks right up on me. And right back on out, just as quickly.


But this year, it was a little different. Since my sister and her family weren't able to come up to Ohio until a few days after Christmas, we did get to prolong the whole Christmas celebration just a wee bit longer. And for that, I am thankful.

But really, I mean, on our first celebration this year - just a few days before the 25th, with Jared's side - I could barely believe it was even TIME to already be celebrating Christmas! (Plus.. it was raining and crazy warm that day, so it felt so much like spring..)

And although I may have not really felt ready... I'm pretty sure there were just a few Himes kiddos that were thinking it was just about time for finally getting their hands on some of these presents they had been hearing about for weeks... ;)

Like.. this kid, for example. Showing off his new "Monster Stuff!"

All my guys, working together.

 Presents, presents...

 And me with my AMAZING new Adirondack chair that my brother-in-law Tyler BUILT just for me! Easily one of the best gifts I've ever been given. Love it.

 

And then a little post-present playing time with everyone and all the new toys.

 

Girl stuff  ;)

Miriam had to get a closer look.. from her Mommy's back :)

And then a few days later, right on schedule... Santa paid his visit... :)

 Just before the boys came down....

 Here they come :)

Peeking at the stockings before Graham and Daddy woke up

 Sorting them all out into piles

 My beautiful Christmas boys in my new chair♥

 

 And all of us on Christmas morning! 

(this was like Try 14.. Graham was done. lol)

 Present time!

 He got his Ogre.. finally. :)

 Busy playing already 

 Getting help from big brother

 Time to put the pony farm together....

 Daddy's annual silly Christmas morning shot :)

 Showing off his new Green Lantern jet

 Getting out the pieces for me....

 Yup. That happened. (Way easier that way, right Bridger? Ha!)

 Step by step...

 My helpers.

 Building Cootie Bugs

 Bridger lost interest in the pony farm project.

 

But Graham hung on!

 And then my family came over for breakfast with us!

 It's finally put together!!!

 Waving :)

 Mimi and Bryce

 Uncle Tyler B was in charge of putting the stage coach together.

 Was I having more fun playing with it than Bridger? lol

 Selfie attempt :)

 Late morning snooze for Pap Pap and Paddington

 I think Bryce was ready for a present :)

 ♥

 Wii Bowling!

It was fun :)

 And now for some Tennis!

And a few days later... it was Christmas all over again at Mimi's, with Meg and her family♥

♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥        ♥ 

They are loud and ornery and needy, and they will try every single ounce of patience in your body.. but good Lord are they worth it.

 Joss and Holden

 And more and more presents....

Mimi got tickets to see Wicked :) I think she was surprised.

 Meg. Always on the floor with the kids. 

(And this visit, always with a kid named Graham by her side♥)

 Pap Pap

 Never ever a shortage of helpers around here

 Na na na na na na na na... Batman!! I love it.

 Bryce and his awesome new Spiderman Bike!

 My little sister and brother♥

 I missed me.. but I got the best part.

And... beat. He passed out soon after.

So yes, Christmas was ready this year before I was. And it came. And I was sometimes stressed. And sometimes life always seems so complicated.

But the kids? The kids just made it. They don't care what the calendar says. They were together. And they were happy.

And it's always magic for them.


Today my sister and her family are driving back home to Mississipi. And all we're left with are the photos and the memories.

 And just like that, it's gone again.