Birthday Boy

March has never been that exciting of a month for me until I met Jaden who has a March birthday and we ended up getting married in March. So between our anniversary and his birthday there is a lot more to celebrate than just St. Patrick's Day in March and I love it. 

Even though we are both bogged down with school and work I still wanted to make time for him and celebrate him on his birthday so after I picked him up from night class (bummer having class until 9:00 pm on your birthday) I surprised him with a yummy pasta dish with Italian pasta he loves and made him his mom's famous Texas sheet cake for dessert (and yes Amy has many a "famous' recipe, I am trying to compile Richins family recipes and turn it into a cookbook, one of my many side projects). My family has a tradition of decorating a "birthday tree" which is basically a Christmas tree decorated with birthday themed decorations and as many pictures of the person as the age they are turning. Since we didn't bring our Christmas tree out here I had to improvise a little bit and printed out pictures and hung them using fishing line taped to the ceiling so they hung over the table. I usually try to use some old family pictures Jaden's mom and sisters have sent me along with some pictures of both of us from the previous year. Here are 26 of my favorites for his 26th Birthday.

For his birthday gift I ordered him his own Mexican Trains dominoes set since he has fallen in love with Taylor and Keile's they got for Christmas. We have played more cards and dominoes out here than I have in my entire life but it honestly has been so fun. Right before we left for the Poconos I saw an ad that Garth Brooks was coming to play in Cincinnati on his stadium tour and I thought it would be fun to get Jaden tickets. So the day I sat holed up in our room doing homework I hopped in the queue right when tickets went on sale and were able to snag us tickets in the nosebleeds for a decent price. I don't know how people get the really good seats they go so dang fast. But anyway I think it was last year for his birthday I bought Jaden Garth's digital Greatest hits album so he could download and have his songs on his phone since Garth doesn't have music on Apple Music. I printed out a picture of the album and stuck it in a card for him to open with a couple other things and when he opened it he said "oh my gosh you got me tickets?!?!" I felt sooooo bad when I had to tell him no it was just his album. Kind of a big letdown. But we actually did end up going to his concert with all of Jaden's siblings and spouses right before we left for Pittsburgh and though Jaden isn't much of a repeat concert goer (unlike myself) he is always down to see Garth. It should be a fun little weekend trip in May to celebrate him finishing up his first year of school, me finishing my first semester and lands right before we gear up to go to Chicago. 

 

I am so grateful for Jaden and that he was born when he was and our paths were able to cross and we decided to build a life together. I wouldn't want anyone else by my side as we experience the crazy ups and downs and adventures life has to offer. Jaden has been such a steadying force in my life and example to me. My mission president counseled me to marry someone with depth and I know I did that. I love Jaden and can't wait to see what awaits us this next year and many more to come.

Peaches

Onboarding some new clients at work

Jaden’s birthday

Surviving my first week back to school 

Pits

Jaden having night class on his birthday 

Being super busy with school 

Lessons Learned

 So many of life’s biggest blessings are the ones you didn’t expect or plan for