i am so thankful for modge podge.

As I've mentioned before, Elder Boyfriend sent me the sweetest birthday package. It contained lots of cutsie princess stuff including a 750 piece puzzle of a few of the Disney princesses. I am not a big puzzle-r and though I thought it was sweet, I set it on my desk and excitedly read the talk he sent me given by President Uchtdorf last conference with all of his cute little missionary insights.

It wasn't until the next day, though, that I opened the puzzle box and saw little words on the back of the pieces. Wait a second, am I getting asked to a high school dance? Nope. Nope, Alex, you are not. Instead, you are the girlfriend of a cutie patootie (and creative) missionary who had a lot of free time on New Year's Eve.

At first I was overwhelmed by such a big puzzle but then I remembered my Mama is a puzzler extraordinaire! How lucky am I.

So we got out the puzzle mat, sorted the pieces in to edges and middles and then by princess. Honestly, I mostly just sorted since I'm usually the one who shoves pieces into the picture that don't really fit. So though I didn't do much, I'd like to think I was a cheerleader for my Mommy.

Brannigan was also a cheerleader. And sometimes too much of a 'helpful Henry' but hey, it's the thought that counts, right?

Branni-boy.

Look how pretty the finished product was!

I am so grateful for Modge Podge.

Tiny writing.

The end result was the sweetest letter EVER. Remember how my boyfriend is better than your boyfriend? (Just kidding, that felt mean. And I'm not mean; biased? H yes I am. I freakin' love this boy.) It was so nice of him to remember my birthday, send me a gift and even prepare it a whole two weeks in advance, WHAT?! Who's a lucky girrllllll? Me. I'm the lucky girl.

Thanks, Curt.
You rock.
See ya in 18 months, okay?
BAMMM.

It is your birthday.

When I woke up on my birthday, it didn't really feel like my birthday just because the real treat was going home for a couple days. However, there I was, laying in my bed at 8:00 in the morning thinking about how crazy it was that I was 20 years old. TWENTY. In one more lifetime I'll be 40. And in four more I'll be in the triple digits (if I even live that long... but who knows with all the new medicine that's coming out!) The point is that I was feeling very, very old and wasn't sure how to react towards this fact. However, instead of wallowing in my old age, Dano and I went to our dear, dear friend's salon where she gave us both a trim. My poor hair needed it so badly. So thank you Janna!

Oh, Sean, you cutie patootie, you.

After haircuts, Dano and I went to the beloved Zuppa's where I had, without guilt (because I hadn't had it in four months) a LARGE Mangoberry salad WITH extra dressing. Num yummy.
Next, we came home and watched 'The Bachelor' which, if you know me, you know is my guilty pleasure. Sean, my friend, I have a bit of advice for you which I ask that you don't take lightly. And it is this: KACIE B. IS THE ONE!!!! C'mon, my friend, it's so obvious.

Double friendship style

Fast forward to dinner time and my Mama said I could have anything I wanted, anything in the entire world! This was an exciting thought to me so after much pondering and consideration, I chose PB&J. Why? Because I don't keep bread or peanut butter in my apartment at home (since if I did, I wouldn't be able to eat it safely). My sandwich was absolutely heavenly.

Mama greeted me at the airport with birthday flowers

Elder BF sent me a BYU Cougars ornament, covered up the 'S' at the end of the word, Cougars and told me that since I was 20 and he is still 19, that a cougar is what I am. Rue.

After dinner, the family drove up to the Salt Lake area to have dessert, open presents, and play games with my sister and brother-in-law. It was low-key yet delightful which was just how I wanted it.

Because when you're married, you coordinate your stripes and colors.

Agle-Lifferth clan

A huge thanks to all those who made my birthday so special! I'm such a blessed elderly soul.

birthday eve

As you all know, saying that I love my family is a bit of understatement. They are all just simply the bee's knees. Therefore, when I learned I wasn't scheduled to work on my birthday (it was obviously a sign), I decided to see if I could give the rest of my shifts away for that week and as luck would have it, I was able to. Wooooohoooooooooo! With one week's notice, I decided to book a flight for my birthday eve. Happy birthday to me.

I came home to this:

and this:

 

(A birthday package from the boyfriend and my baby Brannigan.)

Could it have gotten any better than that? I didn't think it could, but add two safe flights, with a successful connection in Phoenix, a Winter Wonderland (which I was actually happy to see since I didn't have snow on Christmas), and 3 beaming faces at the airport as happy as could be to pick up their daughter/sister and, well, that's what pure happiness is, my friends.

I've had some fantastic birthday eve's in the past. Two that come to mind right away are..

2006: "I love Hagai" girl with Caitlyn on the set of my Daddy's movie. 

2011: Saw "Tangled" with Mr. C. 

BAM. How wonderful are those! But the excitement of flying home to visit my loving friends and family for a couple days was one of the best I have ever had.  

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love my family and I am so grateful they changed their schedules around so that I could spend my birthday week in a loving environment. The are the best. 

HBD Keke

OH MY GOSH, IT'S MY SISSY, KEKE'S BIRTHDAY TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

Happy birthday, Mrs. Lifferth! You are SUPERCALIFREDJULISTICSEXPIALIDOCIOUS! Don't forget that, and don't forget to party today. You deserve it, my dear sister.

Love you!!!

 

HBD Pumpkin Pie.

 

Happy birthday my sweet, sweet sister. Love you so much.

You deserve 25 ponies, 25 rainbows, 25 gum drops, 25 daisies, 25 happy dances and 25 hugs and kisses.

(Be sure to look for them as I will be willing them your way.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!

My goodness, how time flies.

2am: Birthday breakfast at Ihop.

11am: Baptisms for the Dead. (But it was a surpise... hence the blindfold.)

1pm: Birthday picnic at our park + delivering of the birthday present.

7:30pm: On my way to pick up the birthday boy/my hot date for dinner.

Location: Chef's Table.

Ummm best restuarant ever?

Holy guacamole, I was in heaven entire time.

And talk about classy.

Happy 19th, Mr. C.

Can you believe we met when we were 16?

I sure can't.

My goodness, how time flies.

I want to be a Mom.

It was my wonderful Mother's birthday yesterday.
Ya know how we celebrated? She made us her favorite dinner and dessert.
Why? Because she's awesome like that.

Growing up, I have wanted to be a spy, a ballerina, a police officer, a teacher, an actor, a chef, a lawyer, a surgeon... you name it! No one was going to stop me from "living my life." But over the past few years, my thinking has changed. And I want to be a Mom. Just like my Mama; because of my mama. Thank you for that Mumsy.

If you don't know my Ma, I think it's safe to say you are missing out. She is the kindest, sweetest, most caring person I've ever met and I hope to be like her one day.

She is such a blessing to me and I think it's safe to say I'll love her forever and ever! (Because I can and all.)
It was your birthday yesterday, Mama! I sure do hope it was happy.
You're one of my biggest blessings in my  life and I just love you so much.
Thank you for being my favorite Mama!
xoxoxxx