Meat!

We don't have meat in our house. So when we go out, Brad has to get his fill of animal products.

His birthday dinner request: Famous Dave's BBQ

We met Steve, Donna, Eryn, Mom, Dad, Pa and Ma Wednesday evening for some BBQ. (Low lighting + no flash = crappy pics)
The birthday boy was SOOO excited!
He ordered the Baby Back-N-Meat BBQ Combo: "Choose a 1/2 slab of either Original or Memphis-style baby backs and your choice of any one meat selection."

PLUS... corn on the cob and a corn muffin... AND two sides.

Brad chose brisket, beans and mashed potatoes:
Eryn (also a pescetarian) and I didn't have a lot of choices. She ended up with a side of mac and cheese and a side of mashed potatoes. Yeehaw. I chose the fish sandwich with mashed potatoes.
It was really not good. HOWEVER... it was not MY birthday. I wasn't expecting anything great from a BBQ joint, so I wasn't disappointed.

Brad thoroughly enjoyed his meaty yummies! He said the brisket was excellent and the ribs were good (though a bit charred on the outside). He would get the brisket again.

Then out came a complimentary birthday sundae big enough to share:
:)

Big 3-6

Happy Birthday, Brad! I'm so glad you were born :)

Savior Liz

Do you read Cake Wrecks? It's a really great blog about "When professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong."

This was part of today's post:
Made me smile :)

Quick Tryon hike

I started to write this Tuesday morning while getting ready for work. I was suddenly hit with a stomach bug and literally crawled to the bathroom. I stayed in bed for the rest of the day. Ugh.

I'm feeling better today but not great. I love it when my digestive system turns on me :(

Anyway... Because New Year's Day fell on a Sunday, we had one extra day of Christmas break this year - woohoo!!!!!!!! Before settling in Monday to watch our Ducks win the Rose Bowl, we went out for a quick hike at nearby Tryon Creek park.
Brad ran while Mom, Eryn and I walked the trails, pushing hard up the hills and making the most of our short workout.

We finished before the showers hit and had a really nice end to our vacation.

I spent Tuesday in bed and finally made it to work today. I was really looking forward to spin class after school, but there's no way. Hopefully I'll regain my strength soon and be back in the workout saddle.

:)

5K + 5K = New Year's fun

Last year we celebrated the New Year by saving our race fee and having our own 5K at home.

We decided to do it again but wanted to up the ante. How about a 10K instead - 5K before midnight and 5K after midnight? PERFECT!

Eryn, Mom, Dad, Brad and I set out at 11:15 p.m. for our first loop. It was mild - dry and about 40 degrees. The runners got back to the house just in time to see the ball drop. Happy New Year!

Brad ran earlier in the day, and after 10 miles, his foot was hurting. So he showered and went to bed as Eryn and I left for our second 5K.
We spotted the walkers part way through our second loop. We all made it back to the house about the same time, Mom and Dad completing about 5 miles to our 6.43.
It was 1:15 a.m. and I was wide awake. So I suggested a game of May I.
Of course, Dad won. Second place for me!
After kicking out my family, I finally showered and crawled into bed about 3:30 a.m.

What a great way to start 2012! :)

Looking ahead

OK, so I've taken stock in my goals for 2011. And I feel great - it was a good year!
So what's on tap for 2012? I don't really believe in resolutions, but I think it's good to have stuff to work on. Here's what I'm thinking about:

* Continue running for my physical and mental health - and for fun - completing at least one more half marathon and running more miles than in 2011.

* Make a new recipe out of each of my many, many cookbooks. (thanks to Brie for the idea!)

* Rekindle friendships that have faded.

* Bag some more peaks (and trails, campgrounds, etc) - with my husband.

* Read more books than in 2011.

* Finish reading the Old Testament.

* Be mindful and thankful for the good things in my life.

I hope you look back on 2011 with few regrets and look forward to 2012 with anticipation of greatness. I will try to do the same. Happy New Year! :)

**Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever**
(Hebrews 13:8)

Looking back

As I said last year at this time, I don't really believe in resolutions.

But I do think the turning of the calendar provides a good time to reflect on the past and think about the future. Here are the "goals" I wrote down for 2011:

* Train for and run the Disneyland Half Marathon - DONE, with a second half thrown in for good measure
* Heal and move on from broken relationships - a continuous challenge

* Focus on healthy relationships - also a work in progress
* Get outside more - yeah! Mount Hood, Colchuck Peak, Smith, countless hikes
* Spend more quality time with my husband - woohoo! lots of fun
* Finish reading the Old Testament - didn't happen - maybe next year

* Read more books - read 39
* Focus on the great things in my life, less on the disappointments - definitely worth the effort!
* Laugh more - hahaha!

I feel great about all that! I set out to make some changes in my attitude and actions, and I think I did well.

So what's up for 2012?? :)