Birthday Month

My sister and I both celebrate our birthdays in November, and this year we got to celebrate together!

On my birthday I boarded a plane without the boys (all 3 of them) and flew to Utah to spend the weekend with my sister. It was weird not to have anxiety before the flight and to make it through security without sweating from lifting, snapping, shhhing, holding, and packing everything through that line. It was quite nice.

My flight got delayed so I arrived late, but the party got started right away. Alli was telling me about how horrible the freeway construction was and how the lanes are always changing when we almost ran into something and missed our exit. We weren't that close to hitting it, but I let out a weird sound and the memory of it still makes me laugh. We went to Bajio's to pick up some late dinner and then went to the condo. It is so beautiful and welcoming! I loved being there. Other highlights include:

1. Taylor showing up even later that night with these cupcakes. I'm not part of the cupcake craze, but these are pretty darn good. My favorite? Bottom right. Hands down. Unfortunately I felt the need to snack on these cupcakes all.weekend.long.

(I was as tired as I look but really happy)

2. I slept in on Friday! I heard Alli and Sam getting ready to leave but could not get out of bed so I just sent Alli a text to let her know I was alive. When she got done with work we ate at Jason's Deli since Tim hates it and I love it. We also paid Nordstrom a visit where Bubby learned first-hand that I have a hard time finding shoes that fit me right! I think I have a narrow heel. I also think I may have embarrassed her more than myself in my "mom shoes." haha jk Bubby.

3. Next we went to BYU. The campus is pretty much the same. I was surprised how uncrowded it felt. Bubby looked so Hollywood here so I had to play paparazzi. Doesn't she look fabulous?!

I was also surprised how big the leaves were. Sam saw this and told me I was easily entertained. Ha. I'll take that as a compliment!

Sam is in a very intensive major and studies studies, so we paid him a visit in his second home. What the cute couple. 

We stopped to see my friend McKenzie and then I bid farewell to the Wilk. That night we (I) froze as we watched Sam in his flag football game. He was hilarious to watch because he made pulling those flags off look so easy. Almost like, "Oh, hey, while I'm here I'll just pull that off." It was a beautiful fall day.

 4. Saturday we all slept in again. Sam treated us to his version of Kneaders french toast and it was delicious! He is quite the cook. While we slept, it snowed, so now I was experiencing winter. :)

We took our time and then headed out the door to the outlets and shopped until we dropped. We survived off of Alli's pumpkin cookies and even skipped lunch. We were on a mission to find me something to wear for when Tim gets sworn in and we found something! You'll have to stay tuned for pics. 

(Special thanks to Alli for letting me borrow her shoes so I didn't have to wear my "mom shoes" out).

5. Taylor came over and for dinner we had some yummy tacos Sam made. I loved being with my siblings. I had really been missing my parents so it felt sooo good to be with my own blood.

6. My sweet roommate Tiffany came and visited me! We were rooming together when we both got engaged over six years ago! It was so fun to catch up with her and her husband Tyler.

 It was so fun to be in Provo again! I hadn't been back since we graduated over 3 years ago. I am so grateful to my parents for making it happen, for TRay because I never even gave him the chance to say, "no," when the opportunity arose (although I know he would have supported it either way :)) and for my dear, sweet, saint sister-in-law Candace who watched the boys on Thursday and Friday.

And of course, to Sam for letting me have Alli all to myself and to Bubby for being the best little sister ever. I used to erase whatever she wrote on the white-board in our room because I didn't like her handwriting. We've come along way since then.

After writing this post I realized two things: 1. No wonder I have more weight to lose now and 2. Someone needs to teach me make-up tricks. I look exhausted and washed out in every photo!