Birthday Weekend

Another trip around the sun, another year to add to your identity.  John always tells me that age doesn't matter.... it's just a number.  But it really is a part of who you are.  It is a measure of how many trips you have taken around the sun and how much you've taken advantage of the ride. 

It is weird to age.  There is a negative stigma attached to adding a chronological number to how you describe yourself.  There comes a time when you try to pretend you aren't as old as your birth certificate shows.  I've never lied about my age, but I've definitely tried to avoid it in some conversations.  I wonder if I really look my age, as if that is a bad thing.  John always talks about how he doesn't feel his age (he feels so much younger).  It is really is kind of hard to accept the aging process.

Having had children somewhat later in my life, I'm not a young mom.  Sometimes I feel bad about that, even though I know I shouldn't.  I have to remind myself that I took advantage of my time before motherhood and made the most of the rides I had around the sun before kids.  I'm a better mom now because I had time to explore, grow, experience life and find the right partner for me.  

I have bags under my eyes, crows feet and laugh lines.  These are all evidence of a life well lived and years under my belt.  I feel more fit today than I felt when I was 23 and I feel happier today than I felt when I was 33.  I try not to feel "weird" for being an older mom and embrace who I am right now.  Sure, I looked better years ago, but I feel better today.  I feel more settled, confident, and secure than ever. It helps to have  a husband who loves me "warts and all".  

This year, John had to be away for my birthday.  But that didn't stop the sun from shining and the kids from spoiling me with love and hugs. Scotty invited us out for an impromtu visit to High Meadow-- smores and all

My girlfriends took me out for dinner the night before my birthday and my school buddies and their families met me for a day of sunny skiing at Mad River. I felt so loved.  It was such a great weekend!

Cally rode the single by herself and Hazen went up in my lap:

There was no stopping these kids from going down the most bumped up and icy trails on the mountain. 

Nothing beats the apres scene at Mad River.  It was so fun to hang out with a gaggle of kids and friends, in the sunshine, drinking sips of sunshine!

 I even got breakfast in bed from these cats-- a cheese stick, strawberries, some trail mix, and a bagel.  Such sweeties. I love being their mom.  If I'd had kids earlier, it wouldn't have been these characters and that stops me from having any regrets at all.