Young House Love

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Three Zero

Today I turned 30. Woot.

John Birthday 3 X 10

My mom didn’t make me stand in front of an “I AM 30” banner (or fashion a crown for me) like she has in past years, but she and my dad did have us over for brunch on Sunday morning. It was actually a surprise that Sherry planned with them. I had known about the brunch (since my cousins, aunt, uncle, and little sister had traveled in from DC for the day), but was somehow oblivious to the fact that they might use the gathering to celebrate my thirtieth until a candle-filled plate of muffins was placed in front of me. Oh, but my mom did make me this:

Birthday Mom Spatula Gift

Never one to just slip money or gift cards into an envelope, my mom constructed this “flower” with a happy face spatula and paper leaf pockets that housed some gift cards to my favorite places. Oh, and the can “planter” was stuffed with new running socks (likely my dad’s contribution).

My sisters went in on this for me:

Birthday Bike Poster

It’s the Christine Berrie bicycle print that I’ve always loved over on 20×200. It’s the perfect addition to my bicycled-themed art obsession. Speaking of which, I did actually manage to secure a set of the Gap bicycle prints that I yearned for thanks to a helpful Gap manager (remember when I pined for them here)? We were truly shocked when they arrived at our PO Box. Lesson learned? If you ask enough times, a manager might take pity on you and actually send a sign your way (instead of tossing it into the dumpster). So be the squeaky wheel, folks. And hooray for recycling! (Get it? Bicycle? Cycling? See what I did there?).

We haven’t figured out where to hang my new bike collection yet, so pictures “in situation” will have to wait for another post when we pin down proper locations.

John Birthday 20x200 Print

But I do have “in situation” pictures of what Sherry gifted me. Any guesses?

Birthday Opening Robbie

Yup, it’s a white rhino. Specifically the large Robbie trophy that she bought me from Cardboad Safari. I know it’s probably one of the weirder sentences I’ve ever typed, but rhinos are kind of our thing. We even worked one into our blog header.

John Birthday Rhino Close

Sherry knows that I’ve always loved the larger Cardboard Safari creations (not that I don’t also love our little full-bodied Robbie, who makes frequent appearances in various places like our console table and our laundry room). Big Robbie is an especially fitting gift since I surprised Sherry with a ceramic rhino for V-day a while back (more on how that turned into a highly involved rhino scavenger hunt here). So apparently we like giving each other horned mammals. And they keep getting larger. Maybe we’ll end up with a life sized rhino in our kitchen someday a la the giant dog on Friends.

Oh but one word of warning for anyone else who’s eying a large trophy: be sure to consider how far they stick out from the wall when it comes to where you want to hang them (this guy comes out about 18 inches). We fortunately found this spot where no one’s gonna knock into him when they walk by or sit down (since you stand up in front of the chair and not on the chair). So while nobody puts Baby in a corner, we totally put Robbie in a corner. And we love him there.

John Birthday Rhino Far

Overall, the birthday celebrations were pretty low-key (just the way I like ’em). My family took me out to dinner last night and my mom is babysitting tonight so Sherry can have a date with her old man (aka me, in case that was too cryptic for you). Lately she has been calling me her silver fox because I’m sporting some gray hair in the front. But she swears up and down that it’s a compliment. Her rebuttal is usually “Hello? Anderson Cooper – I rest my case.”

Oh, and since I never got around to making a “to do before I’m 30” blog list (like Nicole), I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had actually made one on paper back in high school (as part of a prompt in my senior English class). Who knew keeping those old notebooks stored away would ever come in handy?

Johns15Before30List

Looks like I had gone back and updated it with “Completed” marks sometime around 2005. And sadly I haven’t checked off many more since then. No new countries (#4), bungee jumping (#6) nor movie roles (#7) for me. Though Sherry and I did visit Hollywood (#8) on our first vacation together in October 2005.

John Birthday Hollywood

And I sorta accomplished #9, if you count my run in with Kelly Clarkson at a client event in May of 2005.

John Birthday Kelly Clarkso

Neither Sherry nor I can remember if we still had our fish when we got Burger, so #10 is an unknown. I definitely haven’t learned how to play the bass guitar (#11)… or even the regular guitar (though I owned one for a short time in 2002). But I did work for the National Geographic Channel (#12) in the summer of 2001. It was far from glamorous, but certainly more satisfying than seeing #13 come true. Oh the lofty dreams of an 18 year old…

And although I had completed #15 by visiting Hawaii with a friend before Sherry and I even started dating, it was nice to earn some bonus points by going to Alaska on our honeymoon.

John Birthday Alaska

Speaking of which, I’m gonna earn a third check mark on #15 when Sherry and I continue the turning-30 celebration next year (Sherry hits the big 3-0 in March) by following through on our plans to vacation in Hawaii (which will also multitask as a vacation to celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary). But more on that another time. A long post like this has made these old bones weary. Just kidding. To anyone wondering, 30 feels just like 29. But Clara’s even more fun this year because she’s walking and talking (and singing hilarious songs). This morning, for example she sang this:

“Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you said.”

Anyways, thanks to my family for a fun 30th. And to everyone who made my 20’s an exciting and eventful decade. Here’s hoping the 30’s are just as fun!

Comments

  1. Lara says

    I did a bunch of “cool stuff” in my twenties (education, great job, world travel, adventure), but marriage & kids in my thirties totally blew all of that out of the water.

    Happy birthday–have a great next decade!

    Reply

  3. Alyssa says

    Happy Birthday John!!!! How great is that list?!? Even better? That you’ve actually checked some stuff off the list:)

    Reply

  7. Dara says

    YEA, Congrats on the big 3-0!! I will be 30 in May of next year! I wish I had written my “to do b/4 Im 30” list down when I was younger so that I could have checked those items off and see what ambitions I had when I was younger (real world New Orleans 2000) lol. I think it was something like, get married, have 3 kids, work for a magazine. Two of those 3 came true, as we are working on having kids soon. I wish you the best of luck with continuing to finish your list, like visiting another country! Hopefully you can start a “before I am 40” list now and work on accomplishing that.

    Reply

  11. JennyB says

    Have a super birthday, John! The 30s are terrific and the 40s are even better. They have been for me so far.. :)

    Funny kid saying–Just yesterday, my husband was talking to our 2 year old and he was ignoring him. My husband called his name again and our son turned and said, “You talkin’ to me?” I swear we haven’t let him watch Taxi Driver! He was just channelling DeNiro, I guess:)

    Reply

  12. Teresa says

    lol, my first thought was…”well, we all know exactly where he gets that knack of doing cool decorating genes from – his Mom!!”

    Happy 30th :) Hope its a great one!!

    Reply

  15. Elizabeth says

    Happy 30th Birthday John! Hope you have a great day-maybe the full scale Rhino would make a good peninsula-you would even have a hook(horn) for a kitchen towel! hehe. Best wishes!

    Reply

  16. Sabrina Moran says

    Happy Birthday, John! I’ve been reading your blog regularly since early this year but I’ve never commented. Today I felt compelled to because I turn 30 today as well! Who knew John and I were born on the same day?! So neat! Thanks for sharing your lives with all of us readers, I love following your adventures – your optimism and good cheer are really contagious. I live in São Paulo, Brazil, so your blog is part of how I keep connected with home back in the US. My dinner conversations with my husband often start with, “I want to show you what YoungHouseLove is doing with…!” Thanks, John & Sherry, from possibly your biggest fan in South America.

    Reply

  21. jawsie says

    happy birthday john! hysterical post… you guys should keep a list of how clara says things at this age. we still talk about/use the words that were family favorites back in the day!
    dishwasher: ditwatcher
    washer&dryer: ditwatcher for clothes
    breakfast: brefix
    helicopter: clop-clop
    elbow: armbow
    bandaid: bang-daid

    too funny!

    Reply

  23. Susannah says

    From someone who is halfway done with the 30s, I can tell you that they are great. Much better than the 20s in my opinion. Welcome! :)

    And my son’s Twinkle version includes “…up, up, up, up world so high…” — even at 3! It’s just too cute to be corrected.

    Reply

  27. Melissa says

    You need to buy a copy of “My Travels with Clara”, by Mary Holmes. It’s a picture book about the true story of a rhino named Clara who traveled throughout Europe with her owner, an 18th-century Dutch sea captain! Clara loves to travel, and she also loves oranges and beer. My daughter loves this book, and it would be perfect for your family!

    Reply

  28. AmandaonMaui says

    Hau‘oli la hanau! Happy Birthday!

    If you come to Maui for your anniversary, let me know and I’ll have you guys over for a cup of coffee/tea/whatevers. If you want to go see some really cool spots on the mountain, let me know and definitely bring your cameras.

    Aloha!

    Reply

  29. LauraC says

    Happy Birthday John! I am seven years and eleven days older than you. But I won’t tell how much older my mother is, because it’s her birthday today too. That would be impolite, ha ;-) Yeah for November birthdays!

    Reply

  32. megan says

    That was so fun to read! I saw you’re planning a trip to Hawaii. Well, it just so happens I’m a travel agent, and just so happens my Hawaii deals (through a vendor I use that’s only accessible to travel agents, super secret!) are usually not to be beat by online prices. If you’re ever needing a sweet deel-io for travel, feel free to let me know and we can swap info! :) Cheers!

    Reply

  34. cc says

    Happy Birthday! 30 does feel a lot like 29, though when I turned 30 it felt like something I could have crossed off a list. As in, “Whew, finally got that taken care of.” :) Have a great day!

    Reply

  37. Anika says

    Happy Birthday John! So glad you got to spend it with your amazing family and friends. Hope your 30’s hold as much fun and adventure as your 20’s!!

    Reply

  39. Ali says

    Happy birthday!

    Your fantastic 15 x 30 list reminded me of something I did for my daughter when she was born two years ago. I created a list of 18 things to do together before her 18th birthday. Some of it’s easy: “Read great children’s books together!” and some of it’s more involved: “Summer Road Trip through National Parks!” Some is sentimental: “Do video interviews with her grandparents so she always can hear their voices and see their faces.”

    I keep it in her birthday book and reference it often. I just wanted to mention it because I thought you may enjoy brainstorming your own list for Clara.

    Best wishes!

    Reply

  41. Katie Noel says

    Happy Birthday John! We get to share the same birthday together. Aren’t people born on November 15 the coolest? Haha. Hope it is a great one!

    Reply

  42. Carrie says

    Happy birthday, John! I love the bike picture, but I can totally picture you two creating a cardboard animal zoo for Clara! Have a great b-day :-)

    Reply

  43. Andrea says

    Happy Birthday John!!!!! Make sure Sherry & Clara treat you extra special today! And, you should take the rest of the day off of work, you deserve it! =)

    (I just turned 30 in May. 30? Already? Time sure does fly!)

    Reply

  46. Paige says

    Happy Birthday! I turn 26 in December, but I still feel like I should only be 21. Where does the time go?!

    Clara’s version is cute. I babysat for a little girl when I was in high school, and one time I said “That’s ridiculous!” to her, and she replied, “Yeah, that’s framank-ulous!” Hahahaha.

    Reply

  47. Denise says

    Happy Birthday, John! As for #5 – add YHL & Clara’s birth date for best job ever. I bet you’ve never worked harder and enjoyed every minute of it – all at the same time. I’m so glad Sherry hired you!

    Reply

  48. Leigh says

    Happy 30th Birthday!!! The “horned mammals…..and they keep getting larger” part of this post cracked me up! That’s what she said. Yeah, I had to.

    Reply

  49. John says

    Happy birthday, from a 54 Anderson Cooper looking guy, the gray will come faster now! Hang that hat on the rhino’s horn.

    Reply

  50. Sierra says

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

    Silver fox?! I love it! I just might have to steal it for my husband’s beard. He sports many a silver streak in that monstrosity but nothing gray in his long locks! It’s crazy.

    Reply

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