Happy Birthday to me!

For my birthday I got to go watch Ainsley perform at her recital.  She did fabulously!  It was fun to watch her.  Ainsley takes piano from a really fun lady.  This years recital theme was glow-in-the-dark.  The kids were focusing on memorization. And this really put them to the test. 

By the way...do you notice anything different about Ainsley?

My Mormon Moments

I had two experiences on my way to San Francisco that I wanted to remember. 

#1
On my flight from Portland to SF I sat by a lady that I ended up talking to the entire way.  She was similar to me in that she married young (21), had 3 kids, had similar morals, and we are both religious.  Other than that we lead completely different lives.  She lives in a ritzy area north of SF, has a second home in Tahoe, and she has a nanny.  She works in a high up position for her company and travels a lot.  I am very middle class, Mormon, and stay at home all day with my kids.  I'm my own nanny. 

What I found most interesting about this woman though is that she was curious about Mormonism.  Not that she was interested in converting, but she was curious about our beliefs.  The no coffee, no drinking, type of questions.  I found this interesting because she told me that there were lots of Mormons in her neighborhood and the CFO of her company was Mormon and she had noticed that he and his wife never drank at functions.  While she had made all of these observations she had never asked any of these people why.  She obviously felt safer asking a complete stranger these questions than someone she saw on a regular basis.  I can't remember the last time I was asked direct questions about my religion.  Perhaps because I'm like one of the Mormons that this woman lived by.  A little too caught up in my little Mormon world, perhaps?  There are 3 LDS families on my street.  There are a fair amount of LDS families here but not a ton.  I know that we are known.  And none of them have felt that they could ask me about my church.  I'm not exactly sure how yet, but I need to find a way to fix that.

#2
I was really nervous about traveling by myself.  I have absolutely no sense of direction.  None.  Literally.  I knew I could handle my layovers and changing planes fine.  But I was terrified to get myself from the airport to my hotel.  By myself!  I needed to get a shuttle and somehow they were supposed to know what hotel to  take me to even though I barely knew.  I wasn't very trusting. 

But after getting lost only once I found the shuttle vans and got myself on the list to get a ride to my hotel.  It was shortly after this that I realized I didn't have my phone with me.  I panicked.  I NEEDED my phone.  I was in a strange place with no help.  It was like I was living in 1997.  How was I supposed to get ahold of anyone?  Or remember the specific name and address of my hotel?

My name was called for my shuttle.  I announced to the crowd that I lost my phone and I went back into the airport.  I had an idea of when I might have lost my phone but I couldn't remember where I had been at that moment.  I immediately started praying.  Quietly but verbally as I was walking.  I asked the first people I came to that were sitting where I thought it might have been but they didn't speak English.  I continued walking and had the thought to ask the woman at a flight counter if she could use her phone to call my phone and maybe if I was lucky I would be able to hear it ringing somewhere.

I walked up to her and just said, "I lost my phone..."  she stopped me and asked, "Is it purple?"  I almost cried.  I just said, "Yes it is!"  I was so relieved.  I was also so grateful that someone had turned in my phone.  I've heard horror stories about theft in San Francisco. I was also so grateful I had been led to ask the woman that had been given my phone.  Tender Mercies.

My Birthday.....Week!!!

This year I was given a week of birthday. I'm not going to lie. It was awesome!  If I could, I would plan a for my husband to be out of town on a trip near my birthday every year.  Because everyone feels bad for you that you husband is gone, and then feels like they have to celebrate you on a day other than your birthday because you are leaving, and then you are just left with lots of days of celebrating.  It made the stress of getting out of town really nice.

My mom took Kort and I for manicures for our birthdays and my parents also took us out to lunch.  John and the kids made dinner for me and made me a maple bar tower cake before John left on Saturday.  And I had lots of visitors on my birthday which I LOVE.  The kids and I got to go get free frozen yogurt on my b-day too.  Thank you Menchies for holding your soft opening on my birthday.  And for offering free yogurt to all River Valley families.  My kids were in topping heaven.  I never let them go hog wild with toppings at those places because I'm too cheap.  We were all happy.  And also too full to eat dinner.  But you've got to live a little right?

And then for my big birthday finale...I flew out Tuesday to meet up with John in San Francisco.  It wasn't technically for my birthday but that's how I justified it.  John found out months ago that he would be out of town on my birthday (again) for a training conference.  So with his hotel, flight, and all of our food paid for I couldn't refuse the trip.  When I was on the fence about going Sydney sealed the deal when she said she would come stay with my kids while we were gone.  Between Syd and my mom the kids were well taken care of while we were gone. For this I will be eternally grateful!

It really was the perfect little get away.  John had class every morning which meant I got time to myself.  I slept in, read, worked out, and watched tv every morning.  I can't tell you how long it's been since I watched the today show. 

Every afternoon John and I busied ourselves exploring the city.  I wish I would have tracked the miles we walked.  We were at the  mercy of our feet and the trolley cars.  I'm sure we walked well over 30 miles in the 4 days we were there.

We spent quality time in China Town. 

Visited union square and had a Neiman Markus cookie (overrated if you ask me.) Went to Lombard street twice.  Because once just isn't enough.

We braved the weather every day.  We had ALOT of rain and wind while we were there.  Our umbrellas were always in our hands.

Our second day there we saw a bit of sun.  So we went to Alcatraz.

(I'm totally making this sign in vinyl.)

And since the weather was holding we decided to rent bikes and ride out to the Golden Gate Bridge.  The ride was nice.  A little more uphill than we anticipated, but a lot of fun!  

Notice that I'm looking tired.

We also spent a lot of time on Pier 39.  Our hotel was really close to the pier and the beach.  This is my favorite picture of John.  An actual smile!!!

My favorite was just walking around town.  We explored some residential areas.  I'm just fascinated by the fact that people actually live there.  Living in a city like that is just so foreign to me.  I loved walking around and peeking in peoples back yards and windows.  Not in a creepy way!  And not in any windows that weren't largely open to eye view just by walking by! 

Our last day there I forgot my camera.  We went to Ghiradelli square.  Ate a delicious ice cream sundae.  Paid waaaay too much for a bag of chocolates.  Ate the best burger and Mac 'n Cheese I've ever had. And enjoyed the views. 

I'm so happy that I decided to go.  Even though we came home to a bit of crazy and a broken furnace.  We still have no heat.  It's lovely.