Thursday, December 3, 2009

It's my Mom's birthday!

My 30th birthday while we were in Turkey.2008



The table we eat on in our kitchen is almost always dirty. It's one of those chores that is never complete. We are always using the table for something. Eating, computer work, crafts, etc. It's a wonderful and useful place. But that's not my point. My point is that I am 31 years old now and I feel like I am like that table. The activities I occupy myself with come and go, sometimes I'm clean, sometimes I'm dirty, but in the end all I really am is a tool. A tool to be used often and definitely worth the maintenance.









So in my life I've done a lot of things, seen a lot of places, and met a lot of people, etc. Sometimes I find myself measuring myself that way, by the things, places, and people I can manage to accumulate on some sort of list. But really none of that matters. What matters to me right now, what is on my table right now, is that what I'm doing right now is bringing me happiness and perhaps bringing someone else some happiness at the same time.



I'm so happy being a mom to my boys, being a wife to Jonathan, being physically healthy, having a very easy life (so easy that its scary to think what's in store for me in the future), being American, etc. It's a great time of life for me. I'm 31! My kids drew me some very thoughtful pictures. Atticus even made me a little gift and wrapped it up himself. I sort of had to force this to happen but hey! How will they ever learn to think of others on their birthdays if I don't make them think of me? "So, what did you boys do for me for my birthday?" Jonathan topped off the artwork with a bag full of chocolates. You just can't go wrong with chocolate. Then we went to church and I was asked to sit with Sherman's class during the Sunday School time in Primary. When the Primary President was welcoming visitors he stood up and walked up to her and started trying to tell her that it was my birthday. Of course, it was really hard for her to understand him because he stutters a little and his pronunciation is unique but he got it out finally, and the whole time I was just sitting there feeling really uncomfortable. I was torn between forcing him to sit down and shut up, and letting him share the news. I just didn't want people to think that I put him up to it. Oh, that Sherman! Always willing to share the latest news with everyone! Another reason I didn't stop him was because I would want him to do that for someone else if they were too shy to announce it. There are a lot of people that need Shermans to talk for them so I just couldn't stifle him this time. The children sang me the Happy Birthday song and then I was able to sit down next to my Shermy and strangle, I mean, hug him.



After church Jonathan surprised me really good. We were hoping that New Moon, the movie, would be coming out here in Doha but it didn't. So he told me that there was this movie about Hugo Chavezs' life and a party type thing going on at the Venezuelan consulate and we would go to that. So he got a babysitter and we went but of course we didn't go to the Venezuelan consulate. We went instead this awesome hotel!
It's the Four Seasons Hotel in Doha. I'd never heard of the Four Seasons Hotel before coming here. It's a really classy five star hotel and its 20 minutes from our home! I took Jonathan there for his birthday just a month and a half ago but we decided that we probably couldn't afford another night there until next year. What a surprise! I was so excited. I love the cake they give you on your birthday. Not only did they have one cake waiting in the room on arrival but they also brought another one after our dinner in the evening. Boy did I eat a lot of cake! We had to take the second one home. So we relaxed, went to the mall and walked around, watched TV, etc. In the morning after our buffet breakfast, which I couldn't really enjoy because of all the cake I stuffed myself with the night before, I decided that we should go get the kids. I swore last time we were at this hotel that we would bring the kids because their swimming pools are so nice. So Jonathan got a five o'clock check out and went to get the kids around 12. Plus, I'm sure the babysitter needed some relief too. Here are the boys all ready to jump in the pool! Atticus is really wired. Can you see him in the back
From the adventures of bunsy and her tumbleweeds
The kids had so much fun going down the slides together. Jonathan must have worn himself out with all the picking up and throwing and carrying he had to do in those pools. It was so great. The kids had so much fun and I had so much fun watching them. Of course, I just sat around most of the time like a beached whale. Thankfully this post will not be graced with a picture of me in my bathing suit although Jonathan did get a few.


Here is a faithful picture of Doha's city center. Lots of tall buildings, lots of construction, nice big roads all next to the Persian Gulf.

4 comments:

Hillary said...

Happy Happy Happy Birthday! Sounds like it was a good one!

Aimee said...

Happy birthday!

It was fun meeting that family from your ward a few weeks back.

And best of luck in the weeks ahead with your pregnancy. In case I'm out of touch over the holidays and your baby comes, let me wish you now a safe and comfortable delivery with a beautiful healthy baby afterwards.

Michal said...

what a great birthday! i've been out of touch for a while (since having my own baby)-- congrats on the baby on the way, plus a move to quatar! lots of excitement for your family.

Sonja said...

How did I NOT leave a comment? Man! I really thought I did. Well, happy very belated birthday, my friend. I really love the pictures!