Happy Birthday Porter

Porter is such a fun loving, coke stealing, says things that make you crack up kinda boy. 

He makes my heart happy and my cheeks hurt. 

He has always been my little buddy. 

He turned 4.  I can't believe it.  

We went bowling and YoGoToGo to end the night. 

Happy Birthday, Porter!

A new decade

Confession: I have lied about my age for at least three years.

I have not wanted this specific birthday to come.  

I have had major anxiety getting older and not being at a certain point in my life. 

What point that is, I'm not exactly sure. 

Of course there are the easily measurable pieces with marriage and kids. 

But ultimately I am a happy person. 

I have a great life. 

I have built a home, a life, a career and get to do things I love with people I love even more. 

So I have decided to have a better attitude. 

It's just a number and I am doing great things in my life.  

Some of my favorite highlights omy last decade.

Becoming an 8 more times... I'm tapping out at 9 kiddos to spoil and bug.

COUNTLESS family dinners, both parents retired and moving Grams to Utah to join in the everyday excitement. 

How do you count the boys in 10 years?

Lots of boys in college, after college and the time in between.
Lots of fun, tears, awkward first dates and going our different ways.  

 Trips, trips and more trips. 

I have been very lucky to get to travel as much as I do. 

I have been to Hawaii three times.

A cruise with my family and a cruise with my ladies. 

Europe. 

Washington DC.

Orlando, Florida at least three times.

New York City. 

California more times than I can count. 

Portland, Oregon.

The list goes on and on... and I hope it continues.  

I love to see new things.
On the list to see: England, New Zealand and Greece

 Graduating with my Bachelors and my Masters degree. 

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to complete both degrees early on in life. 

Graduated with my Bachelors at 22 years old. 

and my MBA at 23 years old. 

 Gracie is still so missed. 

I had her for many years. 

Such a good dog.

 For someone who was not athletic when I was younger, I caught the bug later in life. 

It is such an outlet for me. 

I love it.... and hate it all at the same time. 

I have done several 5ks in the last decade 

and the last three years I biked in Little Red Riding Race, Rode 50 miles with Julie and then did 65 miles with Jilly and Shaun and lots of fun little rides.
2013 I completed my very first Ragnar and then had so much fun I did Las Vegas Ragnar to get my double medal.
2014 I ran my very first half marathon (despite being sick, I really loved it) and returned and did Wasatch Back again.

I have built a career and worked at University of Phoenix for 7.5 years. 

That is 156,000 hours worked.

2737 lunches had. 

And a group of people that our like family. 

Some of my best friends have been met through University of Phoenix. 

You spend more time at work than any other place. 

I'm grateful for these people in my life. 

This decade I have also spent a good portion of it teaching at LDSBC.

It is still wild to me that I am a college instructor. 

My students teach me far more than I teach them. 

I love my time in the classroom. 

It keeps me young and on my toes. 

What would my 20's be without inappropriate bum grabs, meeting my favorite country hunk and lots of concerts?

For my birthday this year, I was lucky enough to work.... both jobs. 

I didn't feel like I could take off either place with being gone so much lately. 

So to work I went. 

But shortly after I arrived I had the cutest visitors bring me birthday treats.

It really started my day off right. 

My day was full of lots of birthday calls and messages. 

Everyone sure knew how to make a girl feel loved. 

If this isn't the best birthday text ever.  

She likes to pretend like I was the worst thing that happened to her.

We both know her life was never the same after 10/01/84.

You're welcome, Natalie.

My babies facetimed me a couple of times too. 

This little guy was sad to say goodbye!  

Lukie I was sad too! 

"Happy Birthday!!!  Traveling Partner!!  Live it up in America and drink that fountain coke that I only dream about over here!!!"

"Happy Birthday Morgan!  Love you so much and so grateful my cousin brought you into my life... from that moment I have had a life time friend.... you are such a giving beautiful person... Hope you have a wonderful day!"

"Everyone needs a friend like this girl!  Even though she lives exactly 687 miles away.  I know that she is always there for me!  So grateful a Lake Powell trip bought us together over two years ago!!  Happy Birthday my friend, you deserve it!!!  #friendsforlife  #keithurbanbootygrabbers  #noshame  #theworldisourcanvas"

Another year and decade has started.  

I have a lot to live up to with my 20's. 

I did it right. 

Hawaii

The beach.

The sun.

A bestie.

What more could a gal want?

Last year, Talia suggested we go on a trip for our 30th birthday.  

I couldn't agree more. 

She left being a mommy, a wifey and just came as a bestie! 

We had the best time. 

We stayed in Oahu and did a lot of fun things. 

We hiked Pillbox and ended at the most gorgeous beach I have ever seen.

We went snorkeling.  

This was big for me.  

I love the ocean. But not BEING IN the ocean. 

This was a first and I loved it. 

We hiked Koko head. 

We thought it would be easier for us with being on sea level. 

WRONG. 

The humidity nearly killed us. 

But the view was worth the burn on the mountain of stairs. 

We went to Pali Lookout. 

It was beautiful and SUPER windy!

We tried so many times to get a picture and this was the best that we could get.

I laughed when I saw this sign.... until I got hit in the face with a bee. 

There was a whole lot of this happening throughout the week.

We went and did baptisms at the temple. 

Funny story: They always have the under garments for those that aren't endowed. 

They only sizes they carried was a medium... youth size. 

There is nothing youthy about these curves. 

I thought I was going to die wearing them. 

I had marks on my shoulders and legs from them. 

Good thing baptisms are short otherwise I would have been in trouble.  

But tell me why of all places... Hawaii has only small and medium?  

We spent the afternoon and evening at the PCC. 

We had a great time and enjoyed the great dinner that night. 

I could live at this beach. 

Thankfully, Talia's Auntie was there to help plan each day. 

She had great suggestions and we found some real local spots to go each day. 

Spent a morning over watching the dolphins at the resort next to us. 

Dolphins never get old. 

Had to get a Shave Ice. 

SOOO good. 

I haven't been boating much this summer, so I decided to go wakeboarding.

I love wakeboarding.

But salt water is rough. 

Never again in the ocean. 

Too much water in my eyes and mouth. 

We had the greatest trip and created memories for a lifetime.

I'm so thankful to have such great friends. 

Talia and I met in Junior High and have been great friends ever since. 

Thanks for having such a great idea, pal.

Next year birthday trip?  ;)