growing...older

Curious Jude turned 3 on April 18!

He had a blast making his own cake with me and getting ready for his little party.  He even got a Curious George t-shirt to wear for the occasion.

Here's the party boy in his party hat.  We had a fun night of grilling, eating, skyping, and visiting with family.  Jude likes to say "Happy Birthdaycake"

We went to Dubuque, IA last weekend.  Gil became a Franciscan Associate with the Franciscan Sisters of Dubuque.  It was a good time and my first time there.  This is the Mississippi river.  Too bad it was so cool that day!

We rode a 100 year old cable car up a really steep hill to get the experience and the view of the city.

Here is the view.  You can see about 12 churches from up there!

Here is the bridge from the top of the hill, and the Cathedral steeple.

Here is the Ridenour gang with Sr. Janet.  She was brave enough to travel in the minivan with us all the way there.  We had a good time, but the kids didn't sleep much.  Cora crashed on Sunday when we finally got home.

Whenever Jude has a birthday, I know mine will shortly follow.  Just as he is growing older, so am I!  This year is a big one.  The big 3-0.  I guess in some ways I have been thinking of myself as 30 all year anyway since Gil has been 30 since September (old huh!?).  It's just another day really, but it does feel like quite a bit one in some ways.  I'm feeling like I need to redefine my perception of myself.  I have been thinking of myself as the young teacher, the young adult, and the young mom even.  Now...suddenly...I'm realizing...not so young?!?  Not that 30 is old.  No, no, no.  I'm not going there yet.  Just not really young.  Now I have been teaching for 8 years...not so young (although I am still the youngest teacher in the Allen elementary and one of the youngest overall), I think I am a ful-fledged adult instead of the fun and whimsical "young adult."  And as far as young mom...well let's just say some of my student's parents are about my age.  In fact my students weren't even born yet when I graduated from high school!  

I bought a new pair of shoes a few weeks ago (to go with a dress I bought for weddings this summer, one I am probably too old to wear anyway!).  I wore them for the first time yesterday.  All day long my feet hurt.  They pinched my big toes and rubbed my pinky toes raw.  They are cute shoes.  But yesterday I decided,  I am 30 now (well tomorrow I will be!), I deserve to have comfortable feet, I am sensible enough to have comfortable feet.  The shoes are going back to the store.  Here is to hoping I find a cute pair that doesn't annihilate my toes!