This is 24.

It's August which means school is just around the corner, but also...my birthday! Wahoo! I'm still trying to get my daughter to realize once you're my age, there are no huge fancy parties anymore. I mean hey maybe some people still have them, but I'm not about that life. I don't need a party filled with people to make me feel loved, wanted or appreciated. And quite frankly, I do not like being the center of attention or large crowds (just ask anyone who was in my high school speech classes). However, I do believe each trip around the sun calls for a reason to celebrate and be grateful for the past year you have been given. So with that, here is to year 24 (although my knees may sound like 84).

Remember when we were little and couldn't wait to grow up? Yeah, I'm still trying to figure out why I ever wished for that so quickly. I mean sure adulthood has its perks, but I really wouldn't mind going back to the age where someone did my laundry, made all my meals and well did everything for me. You know the simpler times, and the same ones I see my daughter already wishing away. Hang on there girl, before you know it you will be 24 and wishing you were turning 4 instead. Trust me.

Once my birthday month hits I start getting asked what I want for my birthday and how I want to celebrate it. I'm not sure why I still get asked this because they should know by now that I don't want anything, and am perfectly fine with doing nothing but staying in and ordering a pizza. If you haven't caught on yet, I'm a very simple, plain Jane kind of girl.

Most 24 year olds spend their birthday at a bar or out on the town with friends, but not me. This year my daughter has decided we are going to enjoy a five star, gourmet dinner at none other then the top rated restaurant in town, Rainforest café. That's right, I get to eat the finest dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets, surrounded by the beautiful and obnoxiously loud rainforest. And best yet, if I behave like a good 24 year old at dinner, I get to ride the choo-choo train outside after. I mean I may even get to feed that ever so realistic crocodile some of my spare change. Yup, be jealous. This is 24, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Of course everyone knows no good birthday would be complete without dessert. So what's for dessert you ask? Well why not ask my three year old, as she the "sugar queen" herself is in charge of it. At least that's what she told me as we grocery shopped the other day. As we made our way over to the bakery to get a cookie ( I have to bribe her to shop with me somehow) , she spotted the enormous book of cake designs. Sass, Addie-tude and all, she insisted on looking at EVERY. SINGLE. PAGE. But I have to hand it to her, after much deciding she picked out what I believe is the perfect cake for any 24 year old, none other then a frozen cake. She insists she picked it solely on what she thinks I would like best, and not off of her own personal preferences (right kid, I wasn't born yesterday). I just hope I don't have to arm wrestle her at the end of the night for the Elsa ring. In all seriousness though, this is 24. Letting your three year old chose every part of your day, no matter whether its something you like or not. And not needing nor wanting a big celebration, rather just wanting to be with the ones you love most.

As I turn 24 I look back on the past year. 23 was filled with tears, laughter and a whole lot more pushing my kids crap up hills then I would of liked. Seriously considering in my 24th year having the city we live in change their name to something with hills in it, because I am pretty sure that's all it is made up of (at least our block is). But 23 was full of growth and change. Some for the better, some extremely painful, but most importantly, 23 shaped me into the Mother, teacher, sister, daughter, Aunt and friend I am today. This past year in short was the most painfully beautiful year yet.

And with that, I will say hello and welcome 24 with open arms. I say hello to another year of bike rides with my daughter in the trailer, pushes on the swing, watching her take on and conquer the world around her, early morning donut runs (no we don't actually run, I'm not that insane...yet), more bags under the eyes, laugh lines, candles on the cake and most importantly, another year of loving her more then anything in this world. This is 24, welcome to my whole new world.

P.s. Could this be the year of maybe less tantrums? No? Okay. Thought it was worth a shot. I'll cross that one off of my birthday candle wishes.

~I am another year older, wiser and happier. I am blessed to see another year.~

Photo by Truly Sublime Photography