You Only Turn 40 Once!

Turning 40 isn't so bad when life is so good!  Other than the annoying physical symptoms of an aging body, like creakier joints and fresh wrinkles all the time, I haven't been dreading this birthday a bit.  Family, friends, food--those are the delightful things my birthday season has been filled with, making it uplifting and celebratory of 40 great years.  The days leading up to my birthday gave me a chance to be especially surrounded by the things that matter the most and my guys took such good care of me on my big day.  I am deeply grateful for every one of the past 21,024,000 minutes that I've been granted in this life.  I know it is more time than many get, and they've been filled with so much light.  Life is far from perfect, but aren't the unexpected sweetnesses and the struggles that improve us what truly make it beautiful?  I wouldn't change one thing. 

Below are pictures of few more ways I was spoiled on my 40th: a chocolate mint torte at the PTO holiday luncheon and a few sweet cards, flowers and gifts (one particularly thoughtful one was from my friend, Cami, who, knowing I don't drink, gave me a card saying "Every woman deserves a little bubbly on her 40th" and a bottle of sparkling cider); a surprise dinner to the Melting Pot with some of my best girls (arranged and pulled off brilliantly by Kelli, including Angie, Ashley, Diane and Alexia); and showers of love by my men--the 6 very best parts of my soul who all jumped in serve me extra well and to make me my favorite foods; plus cards, calls, posts and texts from so many of the good and loved people in my life.

Celebrating 40 in Denver

I knew something was going on when we were having our weekly Sunday night family calendar discussion and the "Camping Trip" details for the upcoming weekend were vague and, oddly, included me.  If it were summer, I wouldn't have thought twice, but camping in the winter is more of an adventure for the Conlin men than me.  But I thought it was probably dinner and a movie to celebrate my birthday.... 

On Friday morning, Adam said, "When you get home from your work Christmas party, you need to be packed for an overnight and dressed up!"  That's when I knew it was something better than dinner and a movie!  And it sure was! 

Adam took me to Denver, leaving Zac in charge of the whole crew for the first time, for a grown-up night on the town.  We stayed in the lovely classical-modern Hotel Teatro, just around the corner from the Buell Theater, ate dinner at the 5-Star Rioja restaurant and then saw Chicago the musical at the Buell.  As an added perk, it was the first night of the Festival of Lights, so the whole city was lit up and sparkly.  After the show we walked around downtown to take it all in, and made a stop at the Christkindl Market.  In the morning, with no parental responsibilities, we lazily slept in before having brunch at The Nickel on the main level of our hotel.  We decided to take a daylight walk around the charming Christmassy city before heading home.  It was perfect!  And Zac did a great job holding down the fort.

What a lucky lady I am to have such a thoughtful hubby!  Life with him makes turning 40 a breeze!