Turning 30

What a week it has been.  I, by my definition, have officially entered middle age.  I turned 30 on Friday.

The week started out busy - two 15-hour days in a row.  Then I picked up a shift for Wednesday (even though I usually don't work on Wednesdays).  Why did I pick up a shift on Wednesday?  Simple, I didn't want to use 10 hours of PTO.  :)

Wednesday night, the celebrations began with pottery painting with 2 of my favorite people, Natalie and Bannia at As You Wish.  I love painting pottery - especially with Natalie!  And now Bannia!  Every time Natalie and I paint pottery, it becomes this epic experience that is really only ever funny for the 2 of us.  I painted a plate - I copied the sample.  It says "we go together like PB & J" and has a slice of peanut butter bread and a slice of jelly bread holding hands.  I still have to go pick it up, but I'm sure it looks great!  

Natalie and Bannia painted mugs.  They also turned out nice.  Bannia's was a "love" theme with white puff paint polka dots and Natalie's was a "Key Largo/West" theme.  ;)  I think Bannia had a great time, since it was her first time.  I'm so glad both she and Natalie came to paint pottery!  After pottery painting, we met up with Jeanne at San Felipe's for dinner, where Jeanne gave me my gift - a cake pop maker!  

Thursday was pretty much just a run of the mill day.  I hung out with Logan and then the girls, Savannah and Annelise, once school got out.  Then we went to Savannah's soccer practice.  Once soccer practice was over, my Mom and I went to Sprouts to get some couscous to make Epcot's Tangierine Cafe Tangierine Couscous Salad for dinner.

Friday - the big day!  I woke up early to get stuff done before my birthday plans.  I get told after I put my clothes in the washer that we need to go out to my brother's house to help him move some furniture so he can put up his Christmas tree.  I'm kinda irritated because I still have so much to do - finish my laundry, get a haircut and get ready, but I go anyway.

We get to my brother's house and my Mom starts acting a little weird, telling me to open the door first, even though I'm standing behind her.  So I open the door to find: 

My Auntie Ellen!

She flew in all the way from Wisconsin to help me celebrate my 30th.  What a surprise that was!  I really had no idea she was coming or that she was here.

We went out to lunch at Red Robin, then I went to get my haircut and to purchase some "30th Birthday" themed items from the party store.  After a small rest, I started getting ready.  I had to look my best - you only turn 30 once (thank goodness! - it's 29 from here on out!  LOL)

We went to Boston's in Tempe for dinner.  So many of my family and friends came out for dinner.  I'm glad so many could come.  Stasee, Pam, my brother, Shawn, his girlfriend, Annette and all their kids (Savannah, Annelise and Logan and Brynn and Gavyn), Natalie and her boyfriend Andrew,  Bannia and her boyfriend Danny, my parents, Diane and Marty and Auntie Ellen, my Grandma Georgia and Grandpa Edward Fezzey, my Auntie Angel and her 2 daughters, Jessica and Michelle and their friend Morgan, as well as some old elementary school friends, Karen (and her 2 kids), Nicole (and one of her daughters) and Angela.  Don't even get me started on the incompetence of the staff at Boston's.  While I enjoyed the food and company, it was probably not a great idea to go there for my birthday dinner. 

Natalie, Me, and Stasee

Michelle (16), Me (30!), and Jessica (19)

Me, Angela, Nicole and Karen

After saying good-bye to my Tucson family, and some of my friends, we headed over to the Tavern on Mill, were we met up with Howard and Ashley!  Of course, the obligatory birthday shots were shared.

Me, Bannia and Natalie

 We were at the Tavern a little too early, and Natalie left before the party could really begin.  We did enjoy some more drinks, conversation and some dancing - though the DJ wasn't playing good music that early.  


The 30 glasses were a great photo op:

Andrew 

Ashley

Bannia

Howard

Danny

Just before we called it a night, Bannia decided she needed to dance with my Dad - he had no idea what she was going to do.  It was great!  She did her famous hair flip too!

The night ended earlier than I would have liked and I missed Jeanne's arrival - just 10 minutes after we left. :'(  But I still had a great time.  

Saturday, I went to Savannah's soccer game.  The only one I'll probably be able to go to, since I work on weekends, and they won the game!  It was great to see her in action, though her team really needs a coach who actually knows a thing or 2 about soccer.  After soccer, I went to lunch at McDonalds and shopping with my Auntie Ellen, my brother and his kids, as well as with his girlfriend and her kids at Target.  That was an experience - not really one that I enjoyed, but it was still a good time.  We went back to my brother's for some rest before dinner.

All 11 of us went to Sweet Tomatoes for dinner - again, that was an experience.  I love Sweet Tomatoes and this time around, I actually didn't over do it!  I definitely think that was a first!  LOL.

After dinner, we drove all the way over to the Zoo for:

Of course, we would pick a night when over 9800ppl also decide to go to ZooLights!  LOL  But my Auntie Ellen had never seen our ZooLights before and neither had Annette or her kids, since they had just moved here from Florida in the Spring.  The kids rode on the camel and went on the Carousel.  Boy does Logan love that Carousel!  Such a cutie!

Sunday, my Auntie left for home and the kids and I made cake pops with the cake pop maker Jeanne had gotten me on Wednesday.  They turned out great!  I'll post some pictures later.

So that was my week.  I still look and feel the same...it's hard to tell if I am the 30 year old that I am: 

Or if I'm just a goofy kid in a 30 year old's body?