The Turning Point...

Well...I am 30 and I can't believe it! The older I get, the quicker the time passes. I need to set some new goals for myself and I am not sure which direction I want to go... Motherhood??? World travel??? Furthering my career by becoming a Principal??? This decade is going to be the turning point for the rest of my life and although I may not look it, I am really SCARED!!! I want to make the right decisions and have no regrets.Because I am scared, I have been kinda "down in the dumps" about this birthday. Maybe even a little depressed??? Those who know me well know that I have always been a planner. For the first time in my life, I have met all my long-term goals and am not sure what direction I would like my life to go in. I feel panicked. Anyways, my big 3-0 got a trillion times better when these lovely ladies secretly flew out to Indy from CA to surprise me!!! Apparently my Mom, Grandma Helen, Aunt Karen and sister Alyssa had been planning this for 3 months and the ONLY person in Indy that knew about it was my friend Liz!!!! These pics are right after they surprised me!!! As you can see I was a "Hot Mess." I was bawling like a little baby!!!! They shocked the HELL out of me!On Friday, May 15th, my friends Liz, Kristin and Sabrina took me out for drinks at Applebees. About 20 minutes later, our server told me I had a phone call. I walked to the back to the restaurant and no one was on the line. Hmmmmm- I walked back to our booth and my friends were gone and my family was sitting there instead!!! I was in TOTAL shock and it truly was the BEST birthday present ever!!!!Here we all are- Kristin, Mom, Liz, Sabrina, me, Alyssa, Grandma and Aunt Karen. Our server Bob. He wanted to be apart of the surprise too...haha :)As if things couldn't get better, the next day Ryan threw me a Birthday Luau with all of our new friends we have made in Indiana. Here are me and Amanda :) Sabrina and me. She was so cute, she just got off work and wore her Hawaiian scrubs to be festive! Sabrina and Liz decorated my cute hat for me :)Alyssa and Ryan :) Me and my neighbor Tiffany. Tiffany and her husband Josh are both teachers like me and Ryan. She teaches 2nd grade and Josh teaches 5th grade :)A few of my co-workers mingling...Me and Lyssa love our mama!!!! She is the BEST!!! XOMaria (my Instructional Assistant from Puerto Rico) and Grandma Hunny :) My co-workers- Lynn, Maria, Blaire, Alissa, Jimmy, Casey, Maria, Amanda and Yours Truly :)My neighbors Heather and Jason...Heather is pregnant with her first baby (a boy) and is due in July! Her husband Jason teaches high school Physics just like Ryan!!!Me and the first friend I made in Indy- My Beautiful April!!!I have to give"props" to Ryan for his spectacular grilling. He took care of ALL the food and everything was delicious!

Our backyard...Kisses from lil' Layne...Tiffany, Josh and some of their friends leaving on the Party Bus to go to Jimmy Buffet...Blaire and Casey playing Corn Hole...Me and Jimmy... Ryan bought me the grass skirt and made me wear it the entire time...heehee :)Apparently when you turn 30, you receive LOTS of alcohol to help you cope with the fact that you are officially OLD!!!You also get lots of sparkly jewels that draw attention away from the fact that your youth is s-l-i-p-p-i-n-g away....Zach, Layne, me and Eric...Cutie Pie Elise and Ryan :)Pulling the goatee...Liz and Lyssie :)Grandma and Lyss..Doesn't Layne have the BLUEST eyes ever????I wished for some direction in my life...haha!Sistas!Liz, Alyssa, Sabrina and me...Zach and Alyssa..All tuckered out...Apparently turning 30 also means you can't "HANG" with the youngins' in terms of those late nights of fun :)Frodo and Sammy LOVED having Grandma visit :)On Monday, my "real" birthday, I took a personal day and hung out with my favorite ladies...We drove to Castleton to check out Grandma's old house. She lived in Indiana for 3 years in the 80's. It looks like it has held up pretty good, huh???Then we went to Shappiro's Deli for lunch. This was my tray---an attempt at being healthy!This was what I really wanted...Mom and Aunt Karen :)Lyssa and me :)Me and my Grandma Helen...They all flew home early Tuesday morning. What a birthday to remember!!! I feel so BLESSED to be part of a family that cares about me so much. I have never felt so special or loved!!! XOOkay, so just when I thought this turning 30 stuff was over and I could pretend like it didn't happen, I came to work Tuesday and this was waiting for me...My co-workers ordered me this cute cake... And these adorable kiddos made a book for me...And of course, they ALL wanted to see...This is the first grade class I co-teach. I am in there for an hour and a half everyday during their Language Arts block. They make me miss my days as a first grade teacher sniff*sniffI got soooo many awesome gifts and cards from my birthday! I felt like a little kid again!Many of the classes I push into for ESL support made cards for me...This one was by far my favorite...Michael Jackson coming back from the dead was a good one too!!! It looks just like him :) Overall my 30th birthday wasn't as painful as I had anticipated. I just hope in the next few years I have an epifany and God speaks to me about what I am destined to do with my life... Ooops!!! Almost forgot- Ryan got me tickets to REO Speedwagon in Chicago this July!!! Guess who is opening??? Pat Benetar!!!! You know me and my 80's music- CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Until next time...XO