29

And so we've arrived at the last year of the my 20s.  It was pretty good.  I used to think 24 was the perfect age, but after reviewing the last decade of my life through this blog, I'm thinking 29 was pretty awesome.  I spent the first half of my 20s getting rid of my remaining teenage angst, then my mid-20s feeling sorry for myself, but by 29, I think had things pretty figured out.

For example, when our Provo house sat on the market for nearly a year.  In my early and mid-twenties, I would have freaked out.  Mini panic attacks while vacuuming--what if it never sells and it explodes while every one is inside and we have to rebuild and and and?  But I didn't really worry too much about the house, I mean I worried a bit, but as I told my Young Women, by the time I was 29, I had had enough experiences with Heavenly Father his perfect timing, that I was ok with leaving it up to him.

Even Greg and my marriage got better.  It was never bad, but I heard something about a 7 year hump once long ago.  I think that was in reference to affairs, but that's not how I mean it.  But after our 7th anniversary, things just...got better.  Like magic.  Nothing tangible really, but it's like after 7 years of being married I've finally figured out how to ask Greg to do something for me without insulting him (I have a sarcasm problem).  Maybe it's like my previous paragraph: I've finally had enough experience with Greg that I can better understand what he's doing and why.  Either way, that 7-year-hump (minus the affair, of course) is really and now things are better than ever.

Just after my 29th birthday, we made a 5-day road to Utah by way of Kentucky, Kansas and Wyoming.  We stayed in American Fork with my grandparents for about a week (noticing a theme here--we stay at the Hotel Robins a lot) and took Greg around to most things Provo with us this year.  Greg did take a few days to go to Boise to meet with some business people--remember he started his own company about 3 weeks before we left.  Then we drove to Denver for the Brian Robins Family Reunion and to welcome my sister home from her mission.  Again amazing.  Then we took 3 days to drive home.

I mean really--how could I not be obsessed with this?  It's Provo Canyon at Bridal Veil Falls in case you were wondering.

Super Nintendo with cousins--that's Laney (I think--she's my cousin's daughter.  There are 4 of them and they all look alike! Leave me alone!)

In Denver--Rex, Alice and Autumn

Greg loves spending 3 weeks each summer in Utah

We got home on Monday; Rex started school on Thursday.  I had to beg him to let me drive him to school on the first day (he wanted to take the bus) and then turned back about 3 times as I was leaving his classroom--I just wanted to make sure he knew I was leaving so he wouldn't be surprised that I was gone.  He didn't care.  And so continued the school year.  And aside from homework and waking up early, I really like school.  I like the structure it gives to my day--I have to have certain things done before Rex gets off the bus.

1st day of school

I wanted to do Joy School with Alice but couldn't find enough people so a friend of mine and I switched weeks taking the little girls on adventures.  It was stressful thinking of new things to do each week, but the girls enjoyed it and, again, it was something to do.

At the end of September we went to Florida with Greg's family for a week, and aside from the sand (I really hate sand), it was fun.  In December my parents, younger brother, and youngest sister came for a few weeks.  I loved having them around doing all my chores and to play cards with at night.  In February we had a snow storm that shut school and the rest of the city down for a few days, which meant a few days of just our family (and the Wheatley's, but they're  basically family).

A Hogwarts Halloween

Christmas outfits

Christmas day

Hannah thought my house was cold.  Haha.  Like she would know.  I had the heater all the way to 63!

All the while Greg worked on his product.  For the most part, it was like he had never quit his job.  We have missed a few "pay checks" here and there (by which I mean we've been able to pay ourselves 6 out of the last 12 months), but again, faith in the Lord's timing and faith in the blessings of tithing, and faith in Gregory as a provider, and we're just fine.

Then school got out for the summer.  We made our bucket list, took swimming lessons, bought a pool pass and soon it was over.  By which I mean it was time to pack for yet another epic trip to Utah.

Henry playing hide and seek in February--he feel on a glue stick at Church, hence the giant scar.

I was driving from Princeton, Kentucky to Wichita, Kansas on my 30th birthday.  Have no fear, Greg's grandma remembered my birthday and had a breakfast cake made and Greg commissioned his sister to buy a cheesecake for when we arrived in Kansas.  Add to that the birthday dinner Greg's parents had for me; the one Greg made for me; and the brownies and ice cream plus late night girl talk with my friends--I had an Amber for sure this year (one that just keeps going on and on and on).

Point is: 30 isn't so bad.  In fact, I think it might be the new 20.