Find Your Happy Pace

Saturday mornings are rarely a day for us to sleep in. This one happened to be just like any other Saturday morning...an early long run or ride morning BUT this time it was going to be FUN because we were headed up to do the Huntsville Half Marathon with our friends. We left the house at 5:45am and carpooled up with Daniel Erwin, the Cryer's and Teerlink's (Steph's sister, Whitney and her hubby Jared). We arrived early, thank goodness, so we could all use the bathrooms (which, by the way smelled lovlier than ever) and get the jitters out of our system. It was the toughest 13.1 miles I have ever run...the hills kicked my trash and it was tough for the tum tum (I felt like throwing up at mile 8 and tasted vomit at mile 11.5). It was the first time I stopped to walk during a run because I was feeling so bad (yes, the last 2.5 miles were dreadful. How am I going to survive 26.2?). I was attempting to settle my tummy and in doing so...let the minutes pass by so 2 hours came and said good-bye. In the end I had my worst run at a 2:13 but it was all good. Mark ended up taking 2nd overall and 1st in his age-group (GO MARK!) running a 1:29. Considering the hills I'd say we did pretty good. Find your happy pace!

Happy 34th Birthday, Mark!

Today is Mark's birthday. He is 34 years old. We are now the same age...what a relief, he was worried that he married an old woman. Today actually ended up being fun because the youth temple trip got cancelled which allowed Markus to be home to celebrate his birthday. We had a family party on Sunday for Jack-Jack, Sabs, Daniel and Mark, but it's always nice to celebrate on the day of your birth...that sounds weird. So, we made a surprise dinner for Mark. Steak, salmon, fruit salad, mixed sweet and gold potatoes, and a yummy green salad with salty and sweet. He even got the "you are special today" plate. And look, I am a part of the family. Erwin has been living with us so he was able to take a picture of all five of us. Thanks, Daniel!

The meal was yummy, the company was the best and the cookie cake was a nice try...

It was my first attempt at making a chocolate chip cookie cake...it will probably be my last as well as it was a complete disaster! So I spread out the dough, it smells lovely, and I pop it in the oven. My house smells of delicious cookies baking but it's a little too soon so I walk over to the oven to check up on it...yes, it's the slime monster overflowing all over my oven. The cookie dough was dripping over the sides creating a cookie oven for me to clean. It was awful. Cookie everywhere and then, I overbaked the darn thing! So looks are deceiving! It looks good but it was as hard as a rock. Good thing I had a snickers ice-cream cake for a back-up plan in the freezer to redeem myself!

Happy birthday, Mark. Thanks for being the best thing that we have! Love you more!