35 before 35 - #21

This year, I was able to host our first Thanksgiving and 

I was very excited to cross off #21 off of my list.

My mom probably thought I was being sarcastic when I told her how excited I was.

I sorta like planning parties . . . not the hosting part so much, but the planning I love.

We took all of the furniture out of our dining room/family room area

and it was perfect for two long tables. (we would be having 17 adults coming . . . yikes!)

My budget wasn't very much, 

so I had to use a lot of items that I already had around the house.

I did buy these tablecloths and I'm pretty sure I'll get a lot of use out of them.

We used my china and my sister's china (they're very similar).

And the previous month, I inherited my grandmother's silverware and

 we were able to use them for the first time (she was even here to enjoy them!).

We had a small dessert table that showcased all of the homemade pies.

And they were delicious!

Oh and the 10 children that were here were in the other room.

It was nice to have enough room to be in separate rooms.

Although the planning was enjoyable, my favorite part of the whole day

was us being together and eating as a family.

This doesn't happen very often.

(all of my siblings and their families were here except for a sister on a mission in Italy

and a brother and his family in Pennsylvania - - we missed them so much!)

We have been so blessed.

:: 35 before 35 - #26

A few months ago (right before I had the baby), 

I was able to cross another off of my "35 before 35" list.

I completed #26.

To have a girls weekend with my sisters.

We aren't all together very often, so this was special.

We were celebrating my sister's 40th birthday and we surprised her

with a getaway to a beach house at Newport Beach.

We all had so much fun!

And luckily, my mother and sister-in-law, Heather were able to meet up with us.

The weekend was filled with pedicures, temple going, eating out . . . a lot,

a surprise birthday party, and a fun gondola ride.

So grateful for these women in my life and for this time that I was able to spend with them.

AND . . . so grateful I didn't go into labor.

That could've been interesting.

:: 35 before 35 - #4

Well, I've been pretty bad about posting the completions of my 35 before 35,

 let alone bad at posting . . . period . . . on this little ole' blog of mine.

But my lack of posting might have to do with

 completing #4 on my list . . . to have another baby.

On March 15th I gave birth to this sweet little boy.

9lbs 3ozs of preciousness.

And we love him to pieces.

Although it wasn't the perfect pregnancy this time around

and ended up being very stressful until I actually delivered him

 (due to findings on the ultrasound),

I feel so blessed to be able to have children and to have had healthy children so far.

It's definitely something I don't take for granted.

These pictures I took (on my couch!) when he was 5 days old.

He is such a sweet little baby.

And I finally have a child with hair!

:: 35 before 35 - #23

While I was on the cruise, I was determined to complete something off my list.

It would be #23 - see the sunrise and sunset over the ocean . . . on the same day.

 I was actually looking forward to sleeping in each morning, but wanted to complete this.

I was determined to.

I woke up at around 6am and went running on the little track they had.

The hubby was sick so I decided I wouldn't drag him out of bed.

Kind of me, huh.

The sunrise was beautiful.

A beautiful beginning to a great day.

At this time, I think we were actually near Cuba.

Right when that sun was up, it was so hot and humid.

Had to finish my workout in the gym.

We were finishing dinner that evening, 

when I told everyone that I sorta wanted to see the sunset.

I didn't want to make it a huge deal.

If we didn't see it, it wasn't the end of the world.

I'd just complete it another day.

To my surprise, they all wanted to see it too!

But just a few minutes until it set.

So, since the elevators were sooooo slow,

we decided to run up the 6 flights of stairs.

I may have almost killed my sick husband, but we made it, just in time.

It was gorgeous.

{oops . . . can't see us, but look how beautiful that sunset is!}

:: 35 before 35 - #10 and #22

So, I completed a few more off of my 35 before 35 list.

I'm on a roll.

Have 30 more to complete.

So seriously.

Every woman needs to make one of these lists.

And then make sure you show it to your man.

Cause he might take you on a Disneyland date . . . just you and him,

and then he just might surprise you and take you to the Blue Bayou.

You've always wanted to eat there.

It might have been one of the funnest dates we've had in a long time.
We arrived around 4:30 and stayed until 10:30.
{I was exhausted - worked early that morning and had to work the next day}
Disneyland is so different when you're without kids.
And I'm proud to say that I didn't step my foot in Fantasyland.
{nothing against Fantasyland, that's just where we spend the majority of the time with the girls,
 it seems like}

Oh, and about the Blue Bayou {the restaurant in Pirates}.
The food was delicious, but was a bit pricey.
I loved the experience, but this might be just a one time thing.

:: 35 before 35 - #9

On Saturday I completed #9 on my 35 before 35 list.

I became a Tough Mudder!

11 miles (many of them hills) and then 25 obstacles which included ice cold water and live wires.

There were 12 of us on our team {including the hubby} and we all made it out alive.

We finished it within 4 hours.

These are the before pics:

During pic:

And these are the after pics:

{I'm so tough, I don't even care that I look like a dork with my hair flying everywhere.}

Things I wish I would've done to prepare more:

- we were running in Temecula, CA near Vail Lake.  I wish I would've trained running up hills.  We started out the run running up a hill and I was out of breath in 5 minutes. 

-  I wish I would've practiced doing the monkey bars {I really haven't done those since 6th grade, but was impressed I was able to do a little more than half - - and they started out at an incline!}

-  I wish I would've worn those capri running pants so that I had something covering my knees cause my knees are scraped up.

-  I wish I would've drank more water that morning.  After that first hill I was dying of thirst, but they didn't have a water station until around mile 3.

Favorite obstacle:

the slip and slide and the balance beam

Least favorite obstacle:

the ice bath, the ice bath, did I mention the ice bath?

{we had to jump into this large container of water with 3-4 inches of ice on top . . . THEN we had to go under water to the other side and then climb out - - I get cold very easily - -

 I was almost in panic mode . . . not good}

oh, and I wasn't too excited about the live wires, but they weren't as bad as I had imagined - - I did get shocked twice.

So, the question is, would I do it again?

Probably . . . if I didn't think too much about the ice bath.

:: 35 before 35

The fact that I'm even writing this is a little surreal.

35.

Uhhhh. 35 years old.

Are you serious.

I don't even want to think about this.

I'm feeling like I'm 25 years old and not at all like a 31 year old.

This year I turn 32,

so I thought it might be fun to do a list of things that I want to do before I turn 35.

{not in any particular order}

Here goes . . .

1. visit a city that I've never been to before
2. have my home featured in a magazine
3. go to Hawaii
4. have at least one more child {done 03.15.13}
5. start taking harp lessons again and play a piece in front of an audience
6. start a photography business
7. run a ragnar relay {done 04-21-12}
8. go beach camping with my family
9. become a tough mudder {done 02-25-12}
10. spend a day or evening at Disneyland just with the hubby {done 03-02-12}
11. become a SAHM full-time
12. eat at Serendipity in New York (or Vegas will do)
13. have 50% of law school loan payed off {sigh}
14. photograph a wedding
15. go to the LA fabric district {done 12-14-11}
16. see a musical on Broadway 
17. make a quilt
18. have the girl's yearly books up to date
19. buy a dog . . .
20. ride in a hot air balloon
21. host Thanksgiving at our home
22. eat at the Blue Bayou {done 03-02-12}
23. see the sunrise and sunset over the ocean . . . on the same day {06.12}
24. write a children's book - just for the girls
25. make an awesome home video
26. go on a girl's weekend with my sisters {done 03.07.13}
27. run a half marathon
28. see Wicked {done 12-14-11}
29. ride in a horse-drawn carriage with the hubby (in snow)
30. watch a sappy chick-flick without crying
31. do the 30 for 30 remix
32. buy new scriptures
33. be in the audience of Ellen's 12 Days of Giveaways  or ANY episode
34. sew a dress for myself
35. convince myself that 35 is the new 25!

So, every time I complete something on my list, I'll let you know.

Do you have a list?

What's on it?