April Fools?

Today I will share my favorite April Fools joke from when I was little "Look, there's a bird on your head! APRIL FOOLS!" I know, I was hilarious.

Two HUGE things happened to me on two different April Fools Days in my life. First, on April 1, 1990 I was baptized. Twenty years ago today! The gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest blessing in the world. I am so glad I made that decision (and it was my decision) at the age of eight to be baptized into Christ's church. The other big April 1 event took place in 2001. Chris proposed! Nine years ago today. Needless to say, that's my other biggest blessing in life; and it was yielded from April 1.

me at 8 me at 19

My 28th Birthday!

I had a fantastic birthday at the beginning of January that I've been too busy to blog about. The funny thing about turning 28 is that about halfway through last year I honestly forgot how old I was and told people I was "28" when they asked. One day I finally did the math and realized I was 27 and had wasted six months telling the wrong age! So, now that I am 28, I am sort of used to it already! To me the late twenties are just plain fantastic. My early twenties were definitely a sweet time of bliss and love for Chris and I. But in some ways, I was so eager to finish my degree and so excited to start our family that they were a little rushed. But my late twenties are a great time because I know myself better and I am more comfortable in life. I think the thirties will be even better. But I know these will always be special years in my life because they were the years when my children were babies.

My birthday this year was, as usual, spread out into several fun days. (I am spoiled, I know).

On Saturday, Mom H. watched our girls so Chris and I could have a super date. We first went shopping at one of my favorite home decorating stores (Real Deals) where I picked out some cute Valentine's Day decorations and purchased a heavily clearanced nativity set. Next up, we parked downtown and enjoyed the architecture and atmosphere while we walked hand in hand. We went to my favorite local bookstore, Poor Richard's. For lunch, we had the tastiest hamburgers at Giuseppe's Old Depot Restaurant, a renovated Denver-Rio Grande railway station, where we watched four trains roll by. After lunch, we went to the Pioneer Museum to look at the exhibits. We love that old buidling and the cool artifiacts and art within it. We also stopped by Montaque's Parlour, a tea shop at the edge of downtown. Chris ordered a chocolate pastry and I had cinnamon cardamom herbal tea.

That night, two of my girlfriends (Chris and Melissa) and I went out to eat at The Elephant Bar. I love that restaurant! We talked and laughed and then went to Chris' house and talked some more. It was a blast.

On Sunday, Mom H. made me my birthday dinner. I can't even begin to tell you the deliciousness of her chile rellenos. I love them so much, I could eat a pan right now! We chowed down on her amazing meal and had birthday cake and lots of fun.





On Monday, my real birthday, Chris surprised me with the day off work! I slept in, took a bubble bath, then dined on my traditional birthday breakfast of Krispie Kream donuts. Then, we went shopping and had lunch at Red Robin where I had a free burger and ice cream because it was my birthday. Hallie ate my birthday ice cream because I was saving up to go to Cold Stone for my free birthday ice cream (sign up online for birthday clubs to both locations). In the afternoon, I worked and then in the evening we went shopping again at Target. At the close of the night, I opened my gifts. It was a fun, sweet, family day.

I have so many blessings in my life. But my greatest blessings are the people I share it with. I am so thankful for the family I grew up in, married into, and am currently raising. I have incredible friends back home and new, fun friends in Colorado. All these people are the greatest birthday presents I could have.

Eight Years Later

eight years ago today I was a bride. eight years ago I lived out my childhood dreams, dressed in my white princess dress. eight years ago we both cried as we made promises to each other and to God. eight years ago I felt like a movie star when hundreds of family and friends cheered for us as we premiered as man and wife.

eight years later and I am a wife. eight years later, I pulled on a pair of jeans and a black blouse. eight years later we laughed and reminisced about thoughts we had on our wedding day and memories of our courtship. eight years later and I feel better than any celebrity because I have a real love story with an inspiring leading man.

eight years later and we are changing diapers, singing lullabies, serving Popsicles, and making sandwiches but it was just a great as cutting the cake. eight years ago we had a wedding photographer take hundreds of pictures of us in our gown and tux. eight years later our brother took a picture with our snap-and-shoot Canon as we held our toddler who wouldn't smile and our infant who wouldn't stop spitting up-- but this photo is as treasured as any in our wedding album.

eight years later i can say i cherished life as michelle skaggs, but i am breathlessly in love with life as michelle hinkson. i truly loved being his bride, but oh how i love being his wife. i loved being his newlywed, but i am so thankful i get to be the mother of his children.

who knew our wedding day could compete with an ordinary day-- eight years later?