I'm Puzzled... They Say It's Your Birthday?

{that's not me! ;) }

And, we're gonna have a good time! Happy Birthday to you!

I'm 29 today. And there is so much I could say about it. So much has happened since my last birthday it's almost hard to believe. But so far, I haven't had a quarter-life crisis and perhaps it's because, as Ryan Adams sang, "I taught myself how to grow old." And I'm doing my best to take it one day at a time. Though sometimes it's like putting a 100,000 piece puzzle together.

{via}

Here are my thoughts on puzzles.
Some pieces that are far apart from each other only took seconds to put into their proper place.
Some pieces that are right next to each other took a much larger amount of time to be placed to each other.
Sometimes you have to look at the whole puzzle (or at least the progress you've accomplished so far) to know where an individual piece goes.
Sometimes you can just look at the individual piece and know where it goes without having to look at hardly any, if any, pieces at all.

But you always have to look at the individual piece before it can be put into the puzzle.

And, not to get all soap-opera on you all but, isn't that like the days of our lives?

{via}

Some days that are far apart can almost overlap in the most interesting of ways (recalling events because it seems like it was just yesterday).
Some days that are back to back can seem like they are ages apart (anyone remember what they had for breakfast yesterday? How about last week?)
Some days seem as though they need wisdom and advice they've collected over time to get through the day.
Some days are just extremely easy going, relaxed, and effortless because everything just fell into place.

For today... as I let things just fall into place, I am also going to be thinking about many other days as well. I am going to spend some time reflecting on where I have been and where I want to go in life, all while being thankful for it all - because there is a purpose behind everyday I am here & every piece I place into my puzzle. 

Right now, I currently have no clue what's in store for the day except for a few minor details - babysitting, cleaning house, hanging out with a few friends, and enjoying some family that is coming up from my homestate: Tennessee. So, I can't share celebration photos from this year just yet- but I can show you a few from last year. (we were so busy celebrating that we barely remembered to take photos!)

{Side-note} Last year was just a rough year. Especially around my birthday. So, I decided to keep it minimal: stay at home and hang out with my kiddos and husband. But, different plans were made. The kids took me out, it was a blast. They took me to Applebee's, shopping, to Sonic, and then bowling. And - they paid for everything with money they earned because they insisted & wouldn't have it any other way! They made the whole experience very special!

Here are a few photos...

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!"

Love waking up to these sweet babes!

APPLEBEE'S

appetizers, entrees, and dessert!

I share my birthday with the manager of the Applebee's we went to (who also likes to point out it's Justin Bieber's birthday as well). He very generously knocked the entire price down from $50 to $20!

After that trip to Applebee's, I bought a worout DVD & some weights.

(I paid for this, I refused to let me kids pay for it!)

Watching trains.

WE LOVE TRAINS.

Leaving Sonic after we finished our second round of desserts for the day.

Bowling. We played several games. It was fun, now matter how pitiful those scores look!

The kiddos playing video games after we were done bowling.

And now this post comes to an abrupt end, as my husband has JUST informed me that we are going out. So, I hope all of you have a wonderful day! And, if it's your birthday:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!