I Love 30!!

It is 8:30pm on the evening on my 30th birthday, and I'm home, in my pajamas, blogging!  Why?  Because I'm worn out from the AMAZING birthday that my sweet husband made happen! And we just finished a delicious dinner at my parent's house to cap off the 24 hours of celebration!  I feel like the luckiest, most loved woman ever!  And I LOVE being 30!

Let me start off with what happened yesterday (and get ready for lots details, because I don't want to forget a moment!) ...

Justin told me the Thursday night not to cook dinner on Friday because he was taking me out for something special, the night before my birthday! So at 6:15 Friday night, my parents arrived to watch the boys for the evening, and we were off! I had no idea where we were going, but we ended up in Denton at a really nice restaurant called Hannah's.  It was a fancy place, and the food was so good!

We didn't get a picture there together,
but snapped this one on our way out!

I was thinking this was it, but Justin had more up his sleeve!  We started driving south, and again, I was clueless as to what we were doing!  It was around 7:45, and I had heard Justin tell my parents we'd be home around 9:30, so I wasn't sure what we would have time to really do since we drove quite a ways!  Little did I know, a spectacular surprise was coming up next!  We drove down to Addison (for all you non-locals, this is very close to Dallas, about 35 miles south of our house) which was very close to our first apartment when we moved here 8 1/2 years ago.  I was recognizing the area, and talking about the fact that I hadn't been down there in a long time!  We were driving by the small Addison airport and Justin said that we were going to go under the airport tunnel on our way so I thought that would be neat.  All of a sudden, Justin takes the wrong way at a Y in the road and missed the tunnel.  We end up in a office-looking area of the airport, and I think he's going to turn around.  I jokingly say, "are we going to go into the Air BP? (the name on one of the signs on the building ahead of us). I think he is going to make a u-turn, but he pulls in the parking space, and says, "Let's go!"

By this time, I'm super confused, and hesitantly follow Justin inside.  There is a small lobby and couches and a tv inside, and I can't figure out what we're doing!  I think Justin is messing with me, but then he says to a guy, dressed in gear like he works out on the airport tarmac, "we have an appointment at 8:30".  The guy tells us to have a seat on the couches and someone will be with us shortly.  I still have no clue!  After about 10 minutes of waiting, and a husband who wouldn't answer any of my questions, a guy walks in, introduces himself, and says we're ready to go!  Justin finally tells me what we are about to do ... go on a private plane ride over downtown Dallas!!!  I was just shocked!  And super excited!

Here I am, wondering what is going on!

Getting ready to board ... first flight in
years where I haven't shown my ID! =)

 We sat in the back seat and the pilot explained to us that we'd be taking off, flying over White Rock Lake, then to the south end of downtown Dallas for some great views, then back over Love Field and back to the airport--a 30 minute tour by air of Dallas! We cuddled in the back of the plane, and there were even a dozen red roses waiting for me on my seat when I got into the plane ... my hubby thought of everything!!

Trying to get a self portrait... this was the best we could
do where both of our heads were in the pic!

With our headphones on, wind blowing into the plane!
(Isn't my hubby so handsome?!)

The views were spectacular, and it is just amazing to see the huge Dallas downtown area from the sky!  It was a perfectly clear night, so we could see in all directions!  We realized what a HUGE area this metroplex really is!

Cool picture with lights of downtown reflecting
on the underside of wing

A short video Justin got with his iphone ...

 After we landed, one more pose in front of my birthday plane!!

A very happy (and surprised and amazed!) 30 year old ... totally in awe of what my husband pulled off!!

What a fabulous start to my birthday!

This morning, after we fed the boys, Justin went out and got us a delicious breakfast--yum!  We had a relaxing morning, and Justin had another fun day planned!  At 10:45, we were all ready to go to Lake Ray Roberts, a lake not too far from our house, to spend the mid-day having a Subway picnic lunch, and enjoying swimming, walking, and just hanging out as a family.

We had to take a slight detour to the urgent care when our sweet Will had a bad rash on his arms and legs. (We had already taken him to the pediatrician on Friday with a mild rash that they had given us medicine for, but it had gotten MUCH worse!)  The protective (and slightly worried) mommy in me knew we needed to break from our plans to make sure he was okay.  So after an amazingly quick visit, calming of our nerves by letting us know it wasn't anything too major, but just a rash in reaction to something, and a steroid shot to help the rash go away, we were back to our plans. Thankfully, he didn't have any fever or other symptoms, and was acting like his sweet little self, so we knew we could still have a fun family day.  His rash is now almost completely gone, so we'll just be watching what they eat or come in contact with carefully this week to see if anything makes the rash appear again.

So after that we were off to the lake, and it was so relaxing!!

Feeding the boys their lunch lakeside!

Who knew that this beautiful spot was so close to us?!  We will definitely be heading here regularly!!

And there are even beautiful groves of trees with paved walking paths through them!  We had a great little walk exploring more of the area!

My handsome boys

Another view of pretty areas to come enjoy!

After we came back, rested and got freshened up, I wanted to take a few pictures with my boys on my birthday.  They truly are my greatest gifts, and I treasure them each and every day!  I am so looking forward to this decade of being their mommy!

Mommy and Jack

Mommy and giggling Will

 There was a softball game going on across the street, so they didn't want much to do with a picture facing the camera, so this one will have to do of us together! =)

Notice their new, big boy tennis shoes!

Then last, but not least, on this INCREDIBLE birthday, we headed over to my parent's house for a special birthday dinner!  They had already given me my present--window cleaning on our house! Isn't it amazing that as you get older, presents you would have HATED when you were younger are AWESOME! I love my beautiful clean windows!  Since I'm here every day, I really appreciate that thoughtful gift!  Thanks guys! My mom is a great chef, and tonight she cooked us a scrumptious meal of tequila lime fish, vegetable bundles, salad, her special pilaf, and apple pie a la mode for dessert!  SO good!  Thank you, Mom and Dad!!! It is so nice being this close to you and getting to celebrate with you! After that delicious meal, it's no wonder all I can do is lay here on the couch and blog! =)

Another pic with my Will!

My birthday balloon!

What a fabulous, fun, and completely surprising 30th birthday!  I'm so very excited to have finally hit this  milestone! Strange, I know, but I really am so happy to be 30!  I feel like the majority of my 20s was spent wanting nothing more than to be a mommy, and many many many tough experiences in that journey.  But now, God has chosen to bless my life with these two little miracles, my precious sons, and I don't take them for granted at all.  I know how it is to want children more than anything (and am continually praying for my friends that are still waiting on God for their miracles!) and I love that this new decade of my life will be completely filled with memories of them as they grow in to amazing little boys!  I pray that God will give Justin and I wisdom as we raise our children, and instill in them a love of the Lord and for the people around them.  I want more than anything for them to be men who love God and treat people with respect and love!

Thank you to all the wonderful people in my life who have made my birthday special!  I've gotten wonderful cards, e-cards, text messages, emails, facebook messages, and many beautiful renditions of "Happy Birthday"!  I'm a lucky woman to have you in my life... thank you so much!

Our family

And Justin ... can I just say ... You Rock!  Thank you for such a special, memorable, and surprising 24 hours!  I love you more than anything, and I'm thankful to God each and every day to get to share my life with such an incredible man!!  You're the best, my Love!