• The cooler nights. They've been perfect sleeping nights. Now if only I could make myself get into bed earlier and enjoy it longer.
• Crystal Light's Peach Ice Tea
• Colin's new daycare and how much he's loving it.
• That I somehow luckily got this weekend off too!!!
• Stores having fantastic clearance sales on clothes. I've bought a bunch for Colin for next year and for our trip to Florida.
• My birthday trip to Chicago last weekend! I can't stop thinking about another trip to Chitown

Some of the latest Colin-isms.

Colin said that him and Daddy were going on a bike ride to look at the fire trucks.
Mommy: And Mommy too?
Colin: No, Mommy wash the dishes.
Mommy: Mommy wants to come too
Colin: No wash the dishes

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Until recently Colin used to call his his bathing suit his bathing soup.
Colin: bathing SUIT
Mommy: no. bathing SOUP
Colin: no Mommy. bathing suit. SUUUUITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Mommy: Soup
Colin: no Mommy. suit. we eat soup. we wear bathing suit.

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Colin was ridiculously hyper the other day. I mean seriously bouncing off the walls, crazy hyper. More hyper and loud and wild than I've ever seen him. We were about to head out the door for church when all of a sudden he throws up. Mike asks him if he has more aukies (how the heck do you spell that?!) in his mouth.
Colin: Nope. I spit it out of my mouth. ::making puking noise::

So I just turned 30.

While it doesn't sound old per say, it seems like I should change. I feel like I need to be more adultish. The 20s are college life and finding your place; 30s are for being parents and "adult-like."

Things about me right now ....

• I am first and foremost a wife and mother. They are the biggest loves of my life
• I've worked at the same place since I was a senior in high school - almost 12 years ago
• I believe we are commanded by God to love Him and love people. It's that simple
• I love taking pictures and love my Project 365. It was one of the best things I've done in a long time
• I love the details. I love planning them. I love looking at them. I love thinking of them
• I'm a list maker ... to an extreme
• I love to cook and bake. I love reading cookbooks, cooking magazines, and cooking blogs
• I adore traveling and think about it far too often. I have a list a mile long of where I want to go but not enough time or money to make it happen
• I watch too much TV and I blame a lot of it on parenthood and DVR
• I sometimes wonder if I missed my real calling in life
• Mike and I dream of moving away from here but probably will never leave because of our family. We like like living close to family especially for Colin
• I have headaches more days than I don't but I just learn to deal with them
• I drive a 2008 Saturn Vue and never drive Mike's car :) I just don't like to roll that way
• I'm obsessed with reward programs and surveys
• I love that I live somewhere that offers all 4 seasons but wishes Michigan winters were shorter
• I have a terrible case of insomnia most nights. I just can't seem to turn my brain off.
• I am excited to see what the next year will bring

{idea taken from Jessica Turner's blog}

Mike took me to Chicago to celebrate my 30th birthday. We decided to try something different and take the train. We drove part-way and then hopped the train. While the trip took a little longer it was a nice change of pace and we are both already thinking of new reasons to go back to Chicago. We arrived to steamy {heat index was nearing 100 degrees!} Chicago and walked several blocks {many unnecessary but unknown at the time} to get to the beautiful Renaissance hotel. Fittingly, we were assigned to the 20th floor! I joked in the elevator that he must not have been able to pull his usual strings since we weren't able to get us to the Club Floors but when we walked into the room, I saw this! An executive suite overlooking the River!! Living Room area Bedroom area Looking out the bedroom window. Looks like a postcard, huh?

We headed to a fabulous dinner at Wild Fire.

Wonderful dinner ended with a birthday dessert topped with a candle!

After dinner, we decided we needed to walk off our fully bellies and walked to the Riverboats. We were able to get on the last boat that toured the River and Lake Michigan.

After the boat tour, we just walked around the city taking in more sites.

We woke up Saturday to hear helicopters whizzing by. They were filming Transformers 3 right outside our hotel.

We headed outside to see more of the filming and the city.

I've mentioned this before but we take far less pictures when Colin isn't around but we had such a terrific time. Thanks babe for such a fantastic birthday!

Here's a few things I've learned in the past year or so ...

• I have the most amazing husband and kid. I'm incredibly lucky to be called his wife and his Mommy
• Traveling is more than just a passion. It's a way life and sanity in this household
• I love to take pictures and try to take at least 1 per day
• I'm still a night owl. I love staying up late and often do
• How great it feels to have a church that makes you feel alive; leaves you feeling on fire
• I am a sucker for a good deal or cheap price
• I have more and somehow yet less patience than I ever thought I could have
• I love online shopping even though it makes me shop more often
• How much I rely on texts and facebook instead of old fashion phone calls
• Dieting becomes harder as you get older and more settled
• I'm shocked by how much I allow others actions or lack of actions to affect me and my happiness
• I am blessed beyond measure