Zip line adventure

While in Whistler I wanted to do something 

semi adventurous for my 30th b-day.

We decided on zip lining.

As soon as Josh officially booked it I started 

getting super nervous and anxious.

I am not a huge fan of heights.

Like I freak out when I get stuck at the top of the ferris wheel.

I tried not to think to much about it and work myself up.

We got ready in our mismatched snow gear

and headed out through the village to find our location.

We walked circles for a while before

finally finding it. I was wearing Michelle's 

rain boots which are a size to small plus I had on two pairs

of socks so my feet were hurting a little.

We did the twilight tour which is the last run of the day.

Josh and I were the only two in the bear tour group.

We got VIP treatment.

We met our instructors, got geared up, and headed out to the practice run.

I started getting nervous and volunteered to go first to get it over with.

The practice run felt like nothing.

I was like I can do this no problem.

Little did I know what was in store for me.

We then drove a shuttle up to the zip line location.

We signed up for the bear tour.

It is the a shorter tour and  you do 4 different runs.

We got dropped off and headed out into the woods by

walking through paths and bridges.

The picture below is from the first platform we 

stopped at for our first run.

I again volunteered to go first.

As I was getting harnessed up I got 

really nervous. Heart was beating super fast.

I told myself just to go for it so I did.

I had mixed feelings as I soared across.

Mostly fear.

I didn't love it.

Josh coming across.

It was a breeze for him.

 After I was safely on the other side it began to sink in

that I had to do this three more times!

The courses only got longer too.

I had a little melt down before my second run

and almost didn't do it.

The very kind guide talked me into it.

 

 By the third run I actually enjoyed it!

The final run they wanted you to go upside down.

I was not having anything to do with that.

I was finally enjoying but I still held on for dear life.

The fourth and final run was really quick.

By then I was ready to do more and bummed it was over.

I am now feel like an adventure woman a

and ready to zip line all around the world!

Advent activities {days 1 - 5}

day 1
Lighted Christmas Parade
{tradition}

day 2
Christmas cookies and a movie
We watched Home Alone.
Neither of the kids had seen it.
Jordan loved it!

day 3
Decorate a ginger bread house.
{tradition}
We now hot glue gun our houses together to
eliminate the stress of them falling apart over and over.
We always get one for each of the kids.
Jordan did his mostly by himself.
I helped a little.
Michelle and her friend were into it
but then lost interest.
I think next year we will wait until Josh comes home
and sit and do it together as a family like we usually do.
I had bunco that night though so didn't want to miss out.

day 4
Tuesday's are our busy day so
we do joke and a candy.
Q: How do snowmen great each other?
A: Ice to meet you!
hahahahaha

day 5
Decorate sugar cone trees
They were allowed to eat one after dinner
and the other one is for decoration!

the big 3-0

The big day is here!
I am 30!
I can't believe that I am getting "old".
When you are a kid you think teenagers are old and
you can't wait to be like them to drive a car, dye your hair,
have more independence, and hang out with friends whenever you want.

In high school you dream with your friends about
how when you graduate you can all live together,
go shopping and buy anything you want when you want.

I actually spent my 20's having kids, working,
 going to school, getting married,
and doing a lot of growing up!  

Really a lot of things happen in your 20's.
You go from a young, wild, and free child to an adult with responsibility.

I am really looking forward to my 30's and all it has to offer!  

I hear they are the best years of a woman's life!

Here are my 10 reasons why turning 30 isn't so bad:

1. I can look back at my 20's and see how much I have grown and matured.
2. I get to say, “I remember when I was in my 20's”
3. It is a milestone birthday 
4. I get 10 years to prepare for turning 40 
5. I have great experiences from my past and so now I get to add new ones! 
6. I can smile when people are amazed I am going to be 30 and not 18 liked they thought I was.
7. When I was younger 30 was OLD, now I feel 30 is young 
8. I am old enough to know how to enjoy myself but young enough to still have a good time 
9. I have an amazing husband who I have been through so much with.  We have had to grow up early and we have struggled together the past 10 + plus years. We are at such a great place in our marriage now from those struggles of  figuring life, our relationship, parenting, communicating, and marriage out.
10. I am less socially awkward {shy, quiet, run and hide}. I feel as I have grown older I am finally coming out of my shell {a little}.  I have gone from a person who cried in the 8th grade when I had to stand up in front of the class to give a speech, hung my head and read at lightning speed in speech class in high school, to some one who can host bunco group at her house! I still would rather stay home anytime over say a work Christmas party but I am trying to be less of a homebody! The thought of play dates, coffee dates, drink dates always sound great say a week in advance been when the time comes I am like why did I agree to this. Then I go and I always find myself saying that wasn't so bad.  I am working on it!

here is to a great 10 years with family, friends, and enjoying everyday to its fullest!

a day in the life {December}

On the 1st of each month I like to capture a day in the life of us.

It is fun for because it usually falls on a different day on the week

and something fun is usually going on.

I like taking pictures that represent our day to day life

and capture what they kids are into along with their personalities.

This month the 1st fell on a Saturday!

Now Saturdays can either be super busy

or a day where we do lots of relaxing.

This Saturday happened to be a very lazy, relaxing day.

Friday night we had Josh's work Christmas party

so the kids slept over at my brother's house.

I finally rolled out of bed around 10:30am!

Josh went to grab the kids while I made 

some cinnamon rolls and coffee.

After consuming 3 cinnamon rolls Jordan was

 ready to have snuggle time with daddy.

Jordan is still a huge snuggler.

When he wakes up in the morning he loves to crawl 

in bed with us. If I am already awake he will come down all

sleepy eyed and curl up on the couch with me.

I hope he never outgrows this but I know it won't last for forever.

We definitely  treasure it while we can.

By 12:30 he was more then ready for a nap.

He told us he was going to go lay down 

and was out. My brother took them skating the night

before so that must have wore him out.

At 4:00 he was still out cold.

I tried to wake him. I turned on the light,

kicked some of his garbage trucks together,

rubbed his head but still didn't move.

Finally I just had to shake him awake.

We headed out around 4:30 to pick up Michelle and her friend

for pizza before the lighted Christmas parade.

We came home cold and wet.

I asked Jordan if he wanted to snuggle in our

bed and watch a show.

He was down.

I uploaded pictures to my computer.

A little while later Josh came home

and joined in the on the relaxation.

b & w

Last week when Cohen was over to play

I wanted to try and capture some b & w 

photos of him with Christmas lights.

This is no easy task of a busy toddler.

I would quick sit him down, throw the lights on his lap,

and snap a few pictures real quick.

He would look at them, look at me, 

and he must have been thinking what do you 

want me to do here auntie.

Then he would toss them aside

and crawl over to me and climb up my lap.

I let him have a break.

A little while later I stood him by our front window.

We have some dancing star lights going across it.

We have a few dangling down that he could reach and hold.

I got a few more of him there which worked great with

light coming in from window!

I thought I was able to get some cute ones!

But then again I always think every picture

I take of him is cute!

The next day he got to come play again!
Before lunch I strapped him

in his chair for lunch.

I was like hey he is stuck ad can't go anywhere

let me try and get a few b & w close ups.

I was making different noises and sounds

to get his attention. I made the mistake

of barking like a dog. He face instantly

twisted up and he started crying.

It was to cute to not quick take a picture 

before I scooped him up and hugged him.

I told him I was sorry and I think he 

eventually forgave me.

What a sad face!