3....2....1....Birthdays!

I love Birthdays and the Countdown to our "Family Birthday Week" has officially begun. The party started today, with me renewing my Drivers License. That is right, your Drivers License expires on your birthday. But who wants to go renew it on their birthday? So I went early (by a day or so) and to my surprise, those people at the Draper DLD know what they are doing. I thought I was smart, I printed out the application at home, completed it and took it with me. Save time I thought, after all, I have heard plenty of horror stories of people waiting at the DLD for 8 HOURS......luckily for me I was born in March and I knew what I needed to bring with me (birth certificate, proof of a social security number and 2 forms of address verification i.e bills).

I pulled into the parking lot at 8:30, once inside the Office, J quickly ran away from me, he was only a few feet away playing with the automatic door button, I wasn't too worried, though there were a few strangers that tried to help him not pinch his fingers in the door....(one of them even felt the need to talk to me about it, to which I responded, "I have watched him, his fingers are no where near the door hinge, he just likes to open the door and watch it shut....) But anyway. It was at this point that I realized the actual application is about twice as long as the one I was able to print of the DLD site, so I had to fill it out again, and yes, the entire time I was also watching J.

So that took about 5 min, then I went and got my picture taken (no line) and the kind picture lady asked me if I had brought the appropriate documents with me. I proudly announced that I had. At this point I heard the woman in the picture booth next to me yell (yes, yell) "What do you mean I need a birth certificate, I don't have a birth certificate and I don't have the time or Money to get one...." I had a moment of gratitude for my Mother! Thanks Mom for my Birth Certificate which you had the foresight to acquire over 30 years ago. I also was grateful that I read the letter that the DLD sent to me regarding the changes implemented in January of this year and the need to bring such things as your birth certificate. Anyway, back to the story.

So after a minute in the photo booth I was given a number and went to take a seat, or should I say, chased J towards the seats. As I was scoping out the many empty seats and wondering where exactly I should sit I heard a man say, "Miss, I can help you over here" I looked over and there was a man waiting for me, with my number flashing right above his head! Miracle. I presented my application and all of my documents and J ran away towards the large bank of computers where people take the written drivers test. I retrieved him and returned. After a few more questions I was given my new temporary paper license.

"Will I have to come back in 5 years to renew my license?" I asked.

"Oh No, This is the only time, you will be able to renew online next time" my new friend answered.

"Can I change my weight when I renew on line or would I have to come back in for that?"

"You can change it online" he said.

"Good, because I am pregnant now and I am hoping to weigh less in 5 years" I said

He chuckled and said "Well you know, you don't really have to be accurate when it comes to the weight you list."

At which point I countered "Yes, but I didn't want to get laughed at by putting my goal weight of 145 down when I am clearly no where near that"

By this time the two ladies working on either side of him were also laughing and smiling. I figure they see plenty of people a day who put down a "not so accurate" weight.

I got into my car at 8:50- 20 minutes total including walking/chasing J time. Pretty good Birthday present the state just gave me, AND I now have 5 years to make it to my goal weight.

Little J has started his countdown as well. Last year I let him practice attacking a cake, which he really wasn't too good at. This year I thought I would give him another chance, it was especially easy to do as our Home Teachers brought us some birthday cupcakes earlier in the week. So after we got home from the DLD, J got to practice. Here it what he looked like during, I love the fact that he was dancing and eating.

And here is the after shot, does he look mad? I think he wanted another cupcake.

It is Ken's birthday soon too, but he doesn't do much preparing. He just likes to remind me for a few days that I am 1 year older than him. Silly Ken.