sedona

Guys, if you didn't know, last week was the lucky week which housed the anniversary of the day of my birth.

And Tim cooked up a special little day trip to Sedona to celebrate!

It was a pretty great day, let's be honest.

First I woke up to this:

[I think we'll all be happier if you can just ignore my shirt-button-malfunction.]

The balloon is a tribute to the fact that we just might be infatuated with the show Once Upon a Time.  [And because I'm a princess, of course.]

The drive up to Sedona felt like sweet freedom.  As we drove, we talked and giggled and held hands and incessantly remarked on the beautiful scenery.  Once we got there, we talked and giggled and held hands and incessantly remarked on the beautiful scenery.

We went into one-too-many gift shops and particularly enjoyed the ones that sold rocks which professed to change things like "energies" and "auras."

Then we went for a hike which ended up lasting about 20 minutes.  [It was a little too hot for what we were wearing.]

But it was long enough to explore the creek.

[Sidenote: Tim's brother Billy commented on this picture on Facebook, "My name is Timmy.  I like facial hair and long walks by the river."  Still giggling about this.]

Tim was ecstatic about this specialty beef jerky store.  He even got to try some alligator meat.  [I told him I'd pass, thankyouverymuch.]

And we finished out the day by eating at the Javelina Cantina.

I made sure to take as many pictures as possible of the javelina art for my mom.  [She used to think they were so interesting...until they dug up and ate all of her bulbs in our front yard.  Now she hates them.  But I pretend she loves them.  And take pictures of them for her.  I'm such a good daughter.]

It was an amazing birthday.

Certainly the best 23rd birthday I've ever had.  [Or will ever have.]

Moral of the story?  If you haven't had the chance, go to Sedona.  On your birthday, if you wish. [Just make sure to not take my sweet husband with you.  Only I get to do that.]

XXIII

Today I am the big 2-3.  Twenty-three.  One hundred minus 77.

Yep, that's right.

Today is my birthday.  And I'm turning 23.

Twenty-three is the elusive yet greatly anticipated age which many greet with giddy enthusiasm.  [The others never find it.]

I programmed this post to appear magically at 10:00am [since I'm high tech like that], which hopefully means I'm on my way to Sedona right now.

That's right.  For the big 2-3 the hubby planned a day trip to Sedona, where we will wine, dine, and hike to our heart's content.  [Except we don't drink wine.  But we will Dr. Pepper to our heart's content.  Or Mr. Pibb if we're lucky.]

Courtesy of Ashtyn Nicole Photography

And hopefully we'll see flowers like that one.

Or flowers not like that one.

I'm not picky.

But you'll find that most people aren't picky on their 23rd birthday.

p.s.  I may have had to look up how to write 23 as a roman numeral, but now that I have, my life will never be the same.