Why Its Okay to be 30...

In just a few days time, I will be leaving my 20's forever.

They were a blast. I dated, went to parties, and was on MTV. I had my hair dyed every color under the sun and got regular manicures. I met and married Lance. I (miraculously) graduated college and had a career. I gave birth to two kids and grew a family. It was an awesome decade of my life.

But now I look around at the 20- something celebrities among us today and here is what I see:

And wouldn't I much rather be associated with the following group of women (in their 30's)?

These women are not only moms, but are varying shades of beautiful, funny and successful. And so I bid adieu to my 20's. You were good to me.

Hello 30.

Father and Daughter 2009

I heard the song, "Father and Daughter" by Paul Simon about a year ago (ok, I'll admit it-- I heard it on the Delilah Radio Show). The words reminded me so much of Lance and Zoie and I instantly fell in love with it.

Zoie has always been a Daddy's girl and believe me, the feeling is mutual. Lance and Zoie are two peas in a pod and have always had a particularly close relationship.

For Father's Day this year, we had fun collecting pictures of Zoie and Lance together and making a slide show to the song. If you have a few minutes-- take a look. If nothing else, listen to this adorable song.

Five Years Ago...

In June of 2004-

I looked like this (notice a distinct absence of hair dye and booty) :
With less than three years of marriage under our belts, Lance and I were still newlyweds.
George was a wild little puppy who wore "doggy outfits" and went on trips with us.
I discovered that I was pregnant with Zoie. She was completely unplanned and yet, Lance and I could not have been more ecstatic.I turned 25 and celebrated by attending the Simon and Garfunkel concert in Salt Lake City-- we were the youngest people there.

We were selling our beloved little condo in Orem, Utah and planning our Florida migration.

Fast forward to June 2009. So much has changed since then. We have a house with a mortgage, (soon to be) three kids, and we have to drive an SUV in order to fit the family. But if someone had given my 25 yr. old self a glimpse of my life in 2009-- I wouldn't have changed a thing (except maybe the booty).

Taco King

Lance's mom makes the most fabulous tacos. She fries corn tortillas and uses this amazing pepper sauce-- I have tried (almost weekly) to replicate these tacos, to no avail.

Her kids love the tacos just as much as I do, which explains the origin of the Annual Taco Eating Contest that Lance and his brother Collin compete in.


These boys pile their tacos with all the toppings you can imagine and GO TO TOWN! Poor Lori makes pounds and pounds of taco meat and bags and bags of corn tortillas. Usually halfway through the contest, she is up grating more cheese and frying more tortillas.

The contest really reached its apex in 2004 with the final taco score being LANCE- 21 to Collin's 17. Since that time, "old age" has prevented the guys from topping those numbers. This past month, I think the boys tapped out at 15 each.


My competitive streak always comes out at the taco contest. I am the pushy wife who is cheering my husband on and telling him to ignore his full stomach and pack another one in. What can I say? I am proud to be married to the undisputed TACO KING!

Utah 2009: Park City

I spent two days with my best friends at a resort in Park City, Utah (thanks to Jamie's friend for the hook-up). Picture this scene --sans the snow (Thank Goodness!):
From the moment Jen and Jamie climbed into my car at the airport, it was non-stop talking and laughing.

It is so interesting to reminisce over the past 20 years of our friendship. We used to talk about the Mickey Mouse Club, boys we had crushes on, driving and professional hockey players. We have discussed our jobs, college, and diets. We have gabbed about engagement rings and what it is like to be newly married.

On this trip, we talked a lot about our kids... and reality tv stars (Kate Gosselin is totally reaping what she has sown-- Jen vehemently disagrees). I have no doubt that I will still be best friends with Jamie and Jen when we are discussing menopause, grandkids, and AARP.If there is anything I can guarantee when the three of us unite-- it is that there will be loud talking, hysterical laughing, and loads and loads of absolute goofiness. Obnoxiousness personified.

Park City was no exception. Jen had the idea that we should do something "uniquely Utah". We decided to ride the ski lift to the top of a mountain and ride the Alpine Slide (something akin to a luge) down the mountain. Of course, it started raining the moment we reached the top of the mountain. We were instructed to "find shelter" (huh???). We were led to a graffiti-riddled old metal bunker where they kept the broken sleds. We hunkered down there while the heavens opened and the bunker was pelted with rain. It was pretty much the opening scene of a horror movie. Eventually, we were "rescued"by a Suburban sent to take us back to the resort.

Park City was all but deserted and we had the run of the town-- hot tubs (don't worry- I stayed on the steps), Mexican joints, and the 24 hour hotel shop all fell prey to our hysteria.

It was too short of a trip-- but man, I love those girls! Thanks again guys... can't wait until next time!

Utah 2009: The Great Outdoors

One of my favorite days of our trip was the morning we took the kids for a drive up American Fork Canyon. (Zoie was terrified when we told her that we were driving our car up a mountain).

The drive was absolutely gorgeous-- and I am not a mountain-lover by nature. But the views were breathtaking.We pushed our little rental car as high as it would go. We stopped at a lake near the top of a mountain. The kids loved it and kept asking if we could go camping there.One of my favorite things about my 7 years in Utah was the ability to drive for 5-10 minutes into the canyon and just leave the world behind. Both Lance and I are a little saddened that we don't have the opportunity to do this regularly with our kids.We also spent just about every day playing in Grandma's backyard. The kids were fascinated by Grandpa's horses and the barn.There is just something about spending time outside as a family. It made me so happy.

I keep reminding myself that spending time outside in Utah during October- March would bring me a whole new set of feelings (anger, hypothermia, resentment, etc...).

Utah 2009: The Family

My kids love the Rasmussens. They love their cousins. They love aunts, uncles, and grandparents who will read to them for hours and give them piggyback rides, bake them cookies, give them back scratches, play dress-up, and let them feed and ride horses.Tobin has a special bond with his Grandpa Andy. Each evening, the two of them would wander off, hand-in-hand to feed the horses. Tobin can be very shy and reticent and yet, he has always taken to Andy right away-- even as a baby. It was pretty awesome to see Andy, Lance, and Tobin hanging out together.Zoie couldn't seem to get enough time with Grandma and would wander the house looking for her. Between Grandma spoiling her and Zoie spending time with her cousins, I am surprised we got her to come back with us.With Kristy's wedding, Zoie gained three new cousins and couldn't be happier about it. Here is a picture of our complete Rasmussen Family (until September when LJ makes his debut):It sounds cliche to say-- but we totally approve of Kristy's husband Chad. We shared MANY, MANY laughs with him and isn't that what really matters? Congrats, you guys. The wedding was perfect.

Utah 2009: Intro

Since the "Great Florida Migration of 2004", we visit our family and friends in Utah at least once a year. Each time we have a great trip and yet, each year we are always a little relieved to return home to Florida.

For maybe the first time EVER, we simply did not want to leave Utah. I can't put my finger on the reasoning behind our feelings. I love Florida-- but our trip out west was amazing and neither Lance, nor I, nor the kids were ready for it to end.

Perhaps it was because we still did not get to visit with everyone we wanted to. I especially wanted to see my good friend Wendy (an ex-Floridian) and her kids-- man, I miss her! And there were other friends that we were only able to see briefly that I could have spent much more time with.

Perhaps it was because my kids are old enough to really play and interact with their grandparents and cousins. They could not get enough "family time!"

Perhaps it was because my mother-in-law, Lori is the best darn cook in the western United States. Staying with her just made my job as a mom way too easy.

Perhaps it was because Utah in May is just awesome. The mountains are a gorgeous green from top to bottom. The weather is neither cold (which I hate), nor is it too hot. It is perfect for playing outside all day.

Whatever the reason-- we had the best vacation ever. I will now commence with trips to the beach and the water park and getting ready for hurricane season-- like a good Florida girl.

But first, I will inundate you with pictures and details from our Utah 2009 trip...