30 things I am grateful for on this 30th birthday...

1. My husband. 7.5 years together, 5 years married.
2. My children
3. The rest of my family...and being in Calgary with B. and her boys.
4. My friends that are always "there" in some capacity...the B.'s, E., H., the J.'s
5. Education and the ability to continue to pursue and come off on the other side with another degree and no debt and the support necessary to see it through (see #1).
6. All those who have left an impression on me the first 30 years
7. All those who still have yet to be discovered
8. A trip to Ontario in May/June
9. Our cats...despite how annoying they can be
10. Late-night "me time" with a sleeping baby
11. 2 kids that have no trouble in the sleep department and like to stay in bed in the morning
12. Stashes of wool that let me be creative and explore new things
13. My doughnuts from Jelly which will help us celebrate this occasion and let me forget about Weight Watchers for just a moment ;P
14. Hugs
15. Being able to have music be a part of my life...in whatever way that might manifest in any moment in time. 
16. Watching my kids grow up, get their first (or second, third, etc.) tooth, sing me the entire happy birthday song for the first time and sing it for "mommy"
17. This.

18. And this.

19. Chinooks
20. A neighbor that our kids are happy to spend an occasional afternoon with
21. Realizing there is an ebb and flow to life and appreciating at this point a lot of that can remain on the superficial. Right now, I love cooking. Next year? who knows.  
22. Having a view of what the future may hold but knowing there are many doors in which we may choose to walk through and explore.
23. All that has to come in the next 10 years. Moving on, finding our "home", finding our "careers", realizing some dreams and making up new ones.
24. A TV has been put in our room this evening, just so I can watch a movie, on a tv, in bed in the morning. 
25. My husband, despite falling asleep on the couch, insists on staying up until midnight to wish me Happy Birthday.
26. An extra-long extra-hot shower.
27. Chocolate
28. Knowing that I have no class next week which means we'll probably head into the mountains.
29. That this past year has had a number of ups and downs (as has years before them) and yet I am still here, happy and healthy and surrounded by the love of my beautiful little family.
30. I can ease into my 30's knowing that I can handle what may come my way. Mainly thanks to my beautiful little family. (See #1)