It's my birthday and I'll blog if i want too.

The kids are all happily playing with various items with electrical components, so I have a quick second ;)

As much as I have dreaded aging in the past, i find myself thankful today for many things, including the promise of this new year. As a kid i always hated having my birthday in January,...let's face it, having a birthday just 6 weeks shy of Christmas leaves a very long years with nothing in between. As an adult though, it's kind of become a beacon for me to gauge my year to come. Last year my birthday (to put it as nicely as I can) SUUUUUCKED. if I recall correctly Dean worked, and it was just *another day* as if felt, kids were cooped up, tired, cranky...I was pg, you get the picture.

This year, so much is different. It's like my life took a 180, got on a plane, flew to another country and got a full body makeover lol. Seriously I'm not exaggerating, or at least i don't think I am.

Anyway, things are heading in a direction that is not a norm for me, or us I should say because lets not forget that while I travel this life through my eyes, I have that better half O.K.A. Dino ;) (*sigh* he still makes me swoon....I can't help it lol!!).

So, with that said, here are my reasons for my feeling incredibly fulfilled...

God has so blessed me it is beyond me to even fathom why or how he does it, all I know is, while i am still struggling with direction I know that I have finally come to a place in my walk in this past year where I fully trust in HIM. Not myself, mt my husband.,...not the economy, just Him and his almighty ways. The only disheartening part is that it took me this long to get to this point. For that I'll forever be eternally apologetic.

We are moving along financially in ways that I never dreamed possible.

We are all healthy, thank you Lord.

Our parents are still alive and doing well lately which is good :)

I'm getting my new tatt done here in a few weeks, i can't wait!

I got my taxes done, i <3 tax time lol. AND....we got back nearly 2K more than we expected so that's good because it will be more security for renting out current said house.

I have finally FINALLY taken the steps to set up savings accounts for all my kids. They had a really fun learning time yesterday while doing this because it gave them a chance to be a part of it and put some of their hard earned $ into the bank.

I am going for my first triathlon in May!!! I cannot TELL YOU how excited I am to do this. I spent this weekend relaxing and enjoying my diet, even went out last night and spent time with friends who threw a party for me for my birthday so I got my last few drinks in between now and summer once the Tri is over because I won't be able to partake in such things until then. I can't wait! I have to find a place to brush up on my swimming, it has been a few years since I swam, but I'm sure it will return quickly once I get into the pool. I was on swim team from about age 7 until I was...a sophomore in HS? yeah. Love the pool. I also can't wait to get my bike back out, the lagoons are calling my name ;)

And, of course....this is the first year in like what feels like forever that I will not BE pregnant , nor will I GET pregnant LOL. Yesssssssssssssssssssss.

LOL! (I would go on and on about this, but if your a faithful reader, you already know how I've dished on this one before so I won't go there).

All in all, turning 35 isn't anything I'm hating, or afraid of. I'm looking forward to tis year of 2010 and thankful to be where I am in life. Peaceful.... peace in knowing that I am where I am supposed to be, even if I don't always understand how I got here.

And the last thing is I am incredibly excited to once again have the privilege of watching 8 beautiful kids grow and mature this year. I love every stage of their growth, even the ones that drive me nuts as I am slowly learning. I'm really trying hard to resolve to love every bit of the mistakes they make because I can now see it shapes them and makes them who they are and who they will eventually become. I love watcing Lettie crawl on her chubby/stubby little legs like a wind up baby. I love how Nate seriously cannot help his hyperness LOL, and he does THE BEST impersonations of people. I love how Dylan thinks almost identical to how I think, and when I look at him I see my cousin Beth (seriously he got the Mac genes without a doubt). I love how Peanut still desperately needs her mama every day, even though she is almost 6 and goes to Kgarten , which she says is the most fun ever. I love how JP can kick everyone's butt at super mario bros on the Wii, to where NO one wants to play with him (seriously no lie) and he is only 4. I love how Cessalie is learning that what you are on the inside is just as important (if not more so) than whats on the outside, and she seriously idolizes Pink. I love how Susie will gladly blow off anything in life (outside of food and sleep and TV lol) , but when it comes to the plight and life of the wolf, she knows every single fact there is, AND she is now dreaming of her first Ididerod. And while he is a TOTAL tornado, and his little brain doesn't stop from 7am until 8pm when I carry him to bed, I love Cohen's inquisitiveness. Mama's of toddlers....embrace that spunk, it's something to be cherished and loved. Mess making is learning, and while it stinks you have to clean it up (10 times a day, trust me I know!) it's that little mind working thing in their world out. Kiss them extra when they mess make, and then make them help you clean it up!! ;)


That reminds me...I'm running out of time so this will have to be quick. That cute little toddler of mine who is learning about the potty much to my satisfaction right now, decided to flush....something down the toilet 2 days ago. I had to REALLY REMIND MYSELF how cute he was when the plumber pulled the toilet and proceeded to tell me that this problem would not be solved with a toilet snake....OH No!! Whatever it was , was logged inside the toilet itself and the only remedy was replace the toilet. Well normally I would have paid him the basic service call and sent im on his way, relied on the other toilet in the house and made due until Dean was off work and we could install a new one, problem was Dean was working midnights and we don't HAVE another toilet. So Cohen is now worth another $275.15 as of this week :D (i'm smiling....he's cute, he's still cute...right? lol). It was totally my fault too, I turned my back for all of 5 nano -seconds and the stealth bomber (as my FIL calls him) proceeded to wreak his havoc. *sigh*

With that said, he is running around now because his electronic entertainment has now expired so I guess that's my cue to wrap it up. I have 8 kids to get ready for the outting to Toledo anyway, so I guess it's perfect timing.

Happy birthday to me!!!! January 31st was/still is a great day to be born :)