How To Celebrate 31

When you turn 31, it's important to have as many celebrations as possible.  First, get together with your awesome in-laws for lunch at Brick Oven the weekend before your actual birthday.  Eat lots of pizza and salad and soup, and when you tell the waitress you're there for a birthday, eat every last bite of the giant bowl of ice cream she brings you for dessert.  Then, open gifts and eat brownies and enjoy the sunshine at a nearby park.  This is step one.

There is, in fact, a napping baby Sam in that bundle.

A cute cardigan (with sparkle buttons!) . . . 

. . . and a rain jacket.  Nice!

World's best brownies, right there.

Next, on the actual anniversary of the day of your birth, you should wake up a couple of hours before your infant son does.  Even though your body is just doing what it has been conditioned to do, he'll surprise you with an extra long stretch of sleep.  But of course you'll just need to lay in bed, waiting instead of sleeping.  It's okay, though, because when you do finally "wake up", your husband and daughter will be making a special birthday breakfast of eggs benedict and yogurt and orange juice for you.  (So fancy and delicious!)  It will make your morning awesome.  Then, when it's time for your baby boy to take a nap, hold and rock him for a while, whilst your toddler plays happily (and quietly) plays by herself.  Heads up: she'll poop in her new undies and you'll have to set down baby boy after all to help her clean up.  (You win some, you lose some.)

Later, enjoy a fun family date to Snowbasin for a gondola ride and french fries at the top.  (Visit the fancy bathrooms with your potty-training daughter three times while you're there because you're afraid of any puddles happening on the lift.)  Take a million family selfies and enjoy the views of the skiers on the mountain as you ride back down.  When you get home, get a bit of lunch and get your girl down for a nap, and while she sleeps, head on a walk to the store with your boy to grab eggs and cocoa powder so you can make your cake later.  Chat with your grandma on the phone on the way, and try to keep the baby awake on the return trip.  Note: he'll fall asleep five minutes from home (bummer!) but will end up sleeping in his carseat in the house for a good 40 mintues after that (nice!).

Cool airplanes flying in formation on our drive
to the resort.

There's one decent enough to post to instagram!

"riding on the gondola"

Don't do it, buddy! Stay with me!

Oooh, look!  Baby cows!

Aw, man.  I lost him!

Later that afternoon, after your daughter wakes up, welcome your mom and sister and brother-in-law in and enjoy a fun visit, including a little outing to the park for some swinging (the first time for baby boy!).  Come home and eat a delicious dinner (with your dad, too, who came after work) of Pepperoncini Beef Sandwiches, Spinach Salad, and chips.  And of course that decadent and rich and amazingly chocolatey Molten Lava Cake for dessert (which you must remember the sugar at the very last minute! PHEW!).  Open another gift from your mom - a cute new skirt and top - but forget to take any pictures (besides the obligatory birthday cake candles and fingers pose) of the whole evening.  That should pretty much wrap up your actual birthday.  It'll be awesome.

"no pics at the park, but this sideways video of Sam's first time in a swing"

Finally, a week later, cash in on your gift from your thoughtful husband: a sisters night of fun and food.  Instead of going for the laser tag he suggests, you should probably opt for some cosmic bowling (with really bad selfie skills, but plenty of laughs) followed by dinner at Formosa (tiny spicy chicken - every. time.).

Last, but not least, rejoice that you have such an amazing life full of wonderful people, family and friends.  And realize you're pretty much the luckiest girl around.  That's it.  Everything you need to make a practically perfect celebration of 31!