Half way there...

This morning when I stepped on the scale, I did a big Toyota jump.  I'm halfway to my goal weight.  Summer and swimsuits and running skirts...bring it on!

100

It started off as an idea germinating in my head after I saw what Madi gave Adam for Valentine's Day:  100 hearts filled with things that she loved about him.  Then I saw that my friend Alicia did a similar thing for her husband, and I know from what he told Steve that he absolutely loved it and was touched by the things she had written.  Could I come up with 100 things I loved about Steve?  I knew I could, but how do you put feelings and a sense of things into words.  I love Steve for so many reasons.  So on Friday, while at work, I started with one text:

Reason #1 of why I love you:  you work hard to provide for your family.

And throughout the day, I sent him another one and another one so that by the end of the day I had texted 100 reasons.  Some were funny, some were sexy, some were heart breaking reminders of carrying each other, some were sweet and tender.  I reminded him of things that he had forgotten, and of things that he thought I had forgotten.  Throughout the day, I pulled back the layers of time in my mind and revisited 26 years of time together.  It made me even more in love with him than I realized.  And so grateful that I am his and he is mine.

Let Her Eat Cake

I woke up this moring to this email:

Dear Karen, 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

This is the only acceptable day you can have cake. Better enjoy it! :) We wanted to let you know how much we appreciate you. Enjoy your day! 

Your favorite people, 

The boys at Four Pillar Fitness 

There you have it:  permission to eat cake.  I'm calling Plates and Palates right now to see if they have any coconut cake today!

So, what have I done so far today to celebrate being 45?

Let's see....I woke up at 5:22 a.m. to let Jesse out to go potty, and then I was wide awake, so I woke up Steve to cuddle and talk with him.

I took a quick shower and got ready for the day at 6:45 a.m. and then got back into bed.

Breakfast in bed at @ 7:20 a.m., opened presents from Steve and girls (LuLu Lemon, running watch, movie passes and a flour sifter).

Temple with Jody at 8:00 a.m.

Walk/Run hill at 9:30 a.m.

Workout with Reid at 11:00 a.m.

Lunch with Jody at noon.

Tub and dressed for the day (for reals, this time) at 1:00 p.m.

Dinner tonight with the family.

I love birthdays!

The Face of 45

I could've written for t.v./movies

My kids hate to watch movies with me.  I talk too much and I always guess what's going to happen next.  I laugh out loud and embarrass them.  When I watch t.v. shows (like "Say Yes to the Dress" or "American Idol") I can't keep from critiquing the performance, or commenting on how incredibly unbelievable some people are.  If I watch NCIS with Steve, I always know who the murderer is and then we will look at each other and I say, "I'm telling you, I could write this show."  Most of the time I try really, really hard to keep my mouth quiet, but without much luck.  It comes spewing out.  You probably would not enjoy going to the movies with me.  Which is sad, because I LOVE movies.

Beginning of the Birthday Season

Markelle's Birthday in January officially kicks off the year of Birthday celebrations.  I'm just two weeks after (February) and Kelsey is two months exactly from Markelle's day (March).  Then comes Steve (May), Ashley/Gma Van Horn/Dandad (August), Covey (September), Gpa Van Horn and Madi (November), and Bam (December).  Adam's is in April (I'm not sure when Trista's is), so if we celebrate his Birthday in the future, than we have just about every month of the year covered.  We are still looking for a June, July and October.

Markelle's favorite restaurant is Sawadee in Salt Lake, and it has been the place to meet for her celebration for the last three years.  They are used to us bringing in our own homemade cake.  They keep it in the fridge in the kitchen for us and then serve it up along with their attempts at singing the Birthday song.

Adam and Madi

Bam and Dandad

Gma Van Horn and Markelle

Ashley, Dandad and Bam

Markelle and her room mate, Trista

Mom and Dad (we are too young to have a 20 year old!)

Getting ready to blow out the candles