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

New Year's Resolution

After reading "The Happiness Project," I've had many ideas germinating in my brain about the changes I would like to make in my life.  In following the model of the book, I'm focusing on health in the month of January.  First stop?  Sign up for workouts with Reid.  He is the resident family fitness guru...my father-in-law, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law have all been working out with him for 3 plus years now.  I finally bit the bullet and walked through the doors of Four Pillars, slapped my credit card down, and started in.  My first work out with Reid totally whipped my body, but I have made it my goal to go three times a week for twelve weeks.  That's a total of 36 workouts.  I finished number six today.  Oh, did I mention the 1200 calorie diet he put me on?  Yeah, that's been fun.  No diet Cokes, no cookies.  Boo.

On the plus side, I am eating more fruits and vegetables than ever and I am definitely having an easier time lifting/moving the residents at work.

Engrossed

There is nothing sweeter to me than to find a good book to read that is so compelling that you cannot put it down until the last word is read.

Today, I had the kind of a day that I could spend indulging in my favorite past time:

A good book, a comfy couch, hot cocoa and yes, maybe even some pita chips and red vine licorice.

Heaven!