28

Growing up, I used to get so excited for my birthday and would count down the days. People would often ask me if I hated having my birthday so close to Christmas, and I would think they were insane for asking that, because of course I didn't! I loved it! Everyone was in a festive mood and it made it really fun. My mom is the best with birthdays. She would make us feel so special and so loved and important. She also would never let anyone combine my birthday and Christmas - they were two separate celebrations and she would treat them that way, and made sure everyone else did too. As I got older, obviously the whole excitement around my birthday became a little less as the novelty of getting older died down. But my mom is still the very first person to call me early in the morning on my birthday and sing in her awful singing voice and then tell me the story of my birth. She always says that to her, mine and my brother's birthday are her favorite days because those are two days her world changed for the better. I think that is really cute and makes me feel super loved. As a mom myself now, I can understand that. Q's birthday is now my favorite day of the year, and I love making a big deal about it and making her feel special. Anyways. This year I turned 28, officially in my late 20's. I received lots of beautiful messages full of love, but I saved this one from Amanda Murray because it made me cry. She was such a huge part of my journey as a new Christian, and I love seeing how our friendship has sustained, and we made the transition from her being my mentor to being my friend and now we have girls that are the same age and are friends. So beautiful.

I wasn't really looking forward to my birthday this year, because I wasn't feeling festive. Jon has picked up where my mom left off, and always makes my birthday so special. He is such a good and thoughtful man. He has tried a few times to throw me surprise parties but he is SO BAD at keeping secrets so I always find out about them haha. I asked him this year to please not attempt to throw me a party, I really didn't want one. He said he wouldn't, but I found out a few days before my birthday that him and Mary did come up with a fun plan still. They arranged for both our families, and the Corbetts and Unraus to get on the church bus and go around Duncan using the crazy lights map and look at the best lights in town. They know I love Christmas lights and they thought that being with some of my closest friends would be something I would enjoy. They were right! I was so touched by the thought put into it - they decorated the bus, had blankets and music, and Mary made a scavenger hunt! It was super low key and really fun!! They called it the Holiday Express

We laughed at this one - sorry Mary about your face being totally fogged out!

The Unraus bought us all Starbucks to get the night started! Wow! 

Holding hands as we looked at lights

These women. I love them fiercely. I laughed a lot on this night, and that surprised me, with how achy my heart still felt all the time. They showered me with love and reminded me of how strong our bonds are, and that they have my back always. I was really really touched that Jon and Mary arranged this night for everyone. So much fun! It ended at the Corbetts for hot drinks - Dana had a fire going just for me because she knows how much I love real fires! I sat right beside it and just listened to everyone chatter and talk. It was an excellent night.

I also saved this text from Ben because it was sweet and also made me laugh! Ben has always told me that he thought I was "so cool" when he first met me and that makes me laugh because of how nerdy and non cool I actually am!! haha. I have amazing friends.

The crew on the bus!

She was so happy the whole time, and loved looking at the lights too! She would gasp and point them out and run off the bus when we stopped to go get a closer look. When we got home, she was being so silly and goofy, and asked me to "carry her like a baby", all wrapped up in my scarf haha.

The next day, Jen asked if Q could come over and decorate Christmas cookies with her girls, which of course she was stoked to do! She loves the Monahan family so much

Sarah, Megan, Quinnlyn, and Danielle

Quinnlyn's present to me was a pedicure! Mary and I went together to Matisse Day Spa and it was delightful! We are always on the search for the perfect pedicure place, so we like trying all the different places. Love this girl

My dad and Raquel sent out tons of presents for Q for Christmas, so we decided to let her open some early to spread it out and not make Christmas Day so chaotic (which in hindsight was a GREAT choice, I was so glad we did that!). One of her presents was a baby Anna doll and this matching dress up dress for her. She wore it for three days straight and wouldn't take it off, leaving sparkles all over our house!

Calea and Aimee got me my birth stone in a heart Pandora charm for my birthday. Love it!

And my mom and Coralee paid for me to get my hair done! It had been a whole year since I had a hair cut - it was time! Looking very forward to 29, my last year being "young" haha!