On turning 30

Today is the day – I am now 30!

The truth be told, I don’t feel any different to yesterday! Funny that. But I am honestly okay with saying farewell to my “carefree 20’s”. Not that my 20’s were actually carefree; I chose to start my first full-time job, graduate from University, leave home, get married, buy a house, have a baby, renovate a house, and have another baby during my 20’s! They have been wonderful years, but I firmly believe that my 30’s will be even better. Bring it on!

Today has been a lovely day so far. I had an unexpected sleep-in this morning – we all did! I woke up at 8am and realised the boys were still asleep! Once everyone was up, my 3 boys gathered around to give me my presents.

They got me a sweet cards, a digital key chain (yay! fun! I can’t wait to have a play with this!), a new watch and a pair of earrings:

Nice, huh?

From Mum & Dad, I got this beautiful pearl necklace:

Mum also altered this cigar box for me:

The pearl is so special because when I was a baby, Dad wrote a song for me:

Hannah, my little girl
Hannah, my little pearl
You’re a gift from heaven above
You’re a gift of God’s great love
Hannah, my little girl

And courtesy of my lil’ sister, I will be rocking my socks off (with her!) next Tuesday night at the Matchbox Twenty concert. Yeah! She also got me a huge crate of Coke Zero. She knows me so well.

Unfortunately I had to work on my birthday. But since I work from home, and since Rob is home every Monday, it wasn’t so bad.
Rob took Tyler for a Kindy visit today, so I went and had lunch with Mum during her lunch break.

I have actually been finding it hard to get any work done today, because I have literally had a constant stream of phone calls, text messages, emails, blog comments, forum posts and Facebook messages wishing me a Happy Birthday!! I swear, when I first logged on to start work this morning, the messages and notifications were just pouring in at a rate of knots! Not that I’m complaining – I feel very loved.
It’s been so nice to get birthday messages from family in Whangarei, from work colleagues at the office, and from friends who have moved away or overseas – I miss all of you guys!!

A HUGE thank you must also go to my very special scrapping friends who sent lovely messages, cards and gifts. Louise made me a gorgeous card, which has to be one of the most beautiful cards I have ever received. Thanks, Lou!

Janine altered this gorgeous tin and filled it with heaps of little cards saying “List ….”, the perfect gift for a self-confessed List Queen!

Annelie made me a gorgeous card which included a $40 voucher to spend at Scrapbooker’s Delight, where she works. I am going in there on Friday to redeem it, and to see her in action behind the till!

I’m really touched at the generosity and kindness of my friends. You are all very special to me.

There have also been cards & presents from relatives, including $50 from Rob’s Gran … I am busy thinking of ways to spend that!

My boys are cooking me a nice birthday dinner, which smells really good! There will be cake. Mmmm, cake. I am looking forward to a nice quiet evening with Rob, watching Prison Break, and drinking one of his legendary hot chocolates. Bliss!

I’m having a big party on Saturday night, which should be heaps of fun! I will have more photos to post after that, I’m sure.   You gotta love birthdays that last for more than a day, huh?