Dirty Thirty

As I sit here typing at my computer, I look at the clock and realize I have less than 6 hours left of my twenties. And I know some people take that as just one more chance to have a big old get drunk blow out, but I will not be doing so.

I am (virtually) (almost) (kinda) thirty and I have never once been drunk. Nor do I plan to be. Not on my life list, really.

Am I a little uneasy about turning thirty? Sure. It means I’m “old” depending on who you ask. But one thing makes it lots easier:

I’m RIGTH where I want to be right now.

When I was younger, I pictured myself at thirty with a husband, a happy marriage, a nice home, three children, and a teaching career, hopefully in my alma mater district.

Ok, so I don’t have three kids. Yet. But other than that, done, done and done. I am so happy with my life. Are there things I would change? Sure. Who doesn’t have a few? But to see myself edging up on thirty and still have all my dreams right on track? I don’t think many people can say that. It’s something to be proud of.

A decade is a long time. Your first decade is spent learning how to basically be a human being. To interact, read, write, behave (or not). Your second decade is spent being most likely a teenager with some sort of temporary personality disorder. (Have I never been drunk? Yes. Was I still a crummy teenager? Also yes.)

But my twenties were truly a whirlwind decade of change. I really figured out who I was and got myself aligned in the right direction, I am so, so blessed!

Let’s just take a peeky…

2002-(20) I was working at KinderCare in the toddler room, and going to college while living at my parents house. I was madly in love with my then boyfriend, Kirk since Dec. 99.

2003-(21) Still at KinderCare, still in school, moved into an apartment with Kirk and became his fiancee in July!

2004-(22) Still at KinderCare, still in school, still at the apartment, married August 14 to my soulmate and the best man on Earth. Sorry ladies, he’s taken. Journeyed to San Diego, Tijuana, Key West, Cozumel, and Belize…quite the awesome year.

2005-(23) Still at Kindercare, STILL in school, bought our little happy home in March and moved right in. And adopted our dog Sadie!

2006-(24) Still at Kindercare (God I was there a long time), living in our home, and I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with a reading endorsement from the University of Akron (Summa cum laude..I know, I brag). Five days after graduation, I find out I’m pregnant with our first baby! As our “babymoon,” we visit Puerto Rico, St. Thomas (a.k.a. heaven on Earth), St. Maarten, and the Bahamas. We know that’ll be the last time we travel far for a while!

2007-(25) Still at KinderCare (sigh), and on February 15th, life forever changed when we welcomed Corinne Nicole into the world!

2008-(26) Through a miracle, I get offered a position at Catholic school for the 08-09 school year. Two months after I start, that little pink line turns up again!

2009-(27) Ashlynn Cari brings our family total to four when she arrives quite judiciously four days after the school year ends on June 8th!

2010-(28) Through a set of circumstances that can only be described as orchestrated by God, I interview and get hired to teach at my alma mater school district. Also? I got an Iphone!

2011-(29) Life settled down and things have been awesome. The girls are growing, the house is holding up, and plots and plan for baby #3 are in the wings. Attempting my master’s degree has become both more intriguing and more horrifically scary.

2012-THIRTY..well, tomorrow!

It’s amazing how I can start a decade living at home, in college, childless, single, and just ten short years later have my own home, degree, dream job, fantastic husband, and two gorgeous children. Home ownership, career, wifehood and parenthood in ten years or less! I should make an infomercial or something!

Can a decade be a long time? I suppose, if you look at it that way. But for me, it flew by so fast it feels like I missed most of it!

Bring it on, thirties. I’m ready for you to be the best yet.

I Am Going to Join the Circus

Do you know what I’ve noticed? 

I’ve noticed that the majority of my blog referrals come from Facebook. 

I’ve also noticed that when I post a blog to Facebook, the first 30 or so words from my blog appear next to the link.

So, I think I should make the effort to make those first 30 words really electrifying and gripping.  Like, “And then my hair was on fire.”

Except obviously not this time, since I just blew my first 50 words talking about my first 30 words.  So stay tuned!

I have decided that my talents are quite suited for the circus. 

I’m going to be a professional juggler.

Except, you know. I can’t juggle.

PHYSICAL OBJECTS!!

But.  But! BUT…

I can juggle a million other things.  I do it without really thinking, too.  I am an absent-minded juggler.  Wouldn’t you pay millions of dollars or at least a quarter to see an absent-minded juggler?!

I daily juggle motherhood, wifehood, daughterhood, teacherhood, car hoods, sisterhood, bill-payer-hood.  I’m all up in the hood, apparently.

And I could make you a big list of the little things that go into each one of those big things, but that would be boring and I am also not that much of a whiner or attention whore.  Plus if I saw an actual list of this stuff, I would be all overwhelmed and probably just freak the heck out.

This, for example, is my partial grocery list. That woman in the center must be a neighbor that wandered in and got lost. Cuz she sure as hell ain't my secretary!

The good news is that I seem to pulling it all off.  Or give the impression of doing so, anyway.  And instead of being all overwhelmed, I am actually really happy with my busy, crazy life. 

(Well. Usually. I have my moments when I am like OHMYGOD)

(And except for laundry.)

(I hate laundry.)

(But I love parentheses!)

And I seem to be doing okay.  Neither of my children is in therapy.  They actually seem to love me most of the time except when I say “No, you cannot have one more squinkie or mommy will just explode.”

My husband still hangs around and seems to like me.

And I’m getting lots of praise for my teaching.

So I must be doing something right!

Plus, I love to look at the optimistic side of things.  I’m busy and crazy but I’m never bored…and I interact with so many people in a positive way that I have a smile on my face at least 90% of every day.  Who can complain about that?

Look at me juggling happily! Isn't my hair cute? Oh wait, that's not me. I don't have shoes that color. Or lips that big.

 Although I do have to admit that some things may slip through the cracks.  Which may be why I toured the entire Akron Zoo yesterday with my shirt inside out.  You win some, you lose some.