Worst Friend Award goes to ...ME!!

Okay, so there are some things that I am really good at. Remembering birthdays is NOT one of them. So, as I read Marcie's post from a few days ago, I realized I had missed my dear friend Sally's birthday. I AM THE BIGGEST LOSER!

I have known Sally for almost 10 years now and I can honestly say she is one of my all time favorite people. Marcie touched on many of the highlights, but I may repeat them for those of you in blogger land that aren't invited to her blog!

Sally is the epitome of classy

Sally is gorgeous

Sally is "real", and will keep it real for you

Sally is very creative and has a great eye for style

Sally is so comfortable to be around

Sally makes me feel like she gets me even when I know I am sounding like a crazy person

Sally will love me even though I forgot her birthday...that's a true friend

I could go on and on, but the main point is that I feel so blessed to have her as my friend. If only she lived a little closer! I love you Sally and I am SO SORRY I missed your birthday.

Happy Birthday Paul!

36 Reasons I Love Paul

1. his smile

2. the way he gets down and wrestles with the kids

3. how he encouraged me to get my Masters even though we had two kids (three at the end)and were poor

4. he likes "chick flicks"

5. he tells me I'm a great mom often

6. he is a detail person

7. he is getting A LOT better about not being late

8. the red hair gene he brought to our family

9. he is really athletic

10. he hates being away from our family for more than a couple of days

11. his hands...and legs...and butt

12. he isn't into video games

13. how the only thing that really matters to him is our success as a family

14. really good dad

15. somehow still finds me attractive after 4 kids and 12 years...and tells me often

16. seems really proud of me

17. great provider

18. doesn't like me to run in the dark (can be annoying, but is SO sweet)

19. he was an AWESOME missionary

20. puts up with my lack of talent in the culinary arts

21. he is a great cleaner

22. would do all his work for free if he could (has a hard time not giving everyone a discount - good thing he has partners to answer to)

23. goes out of his way to help total strangers

24. he has a sweet tooth

25. works harder than most people I know

26. how close he was to his grandpa

27. he has a testimony of the gospel

28. he never makes me feel bad for spending money (I'm not a spender), and actually encourages me often to get things for myself

29. he lies about his age (I think it's so funny)

30. he has great hair

31. how he is going gray

32. he's handy

33. really good at his job (he would never say, but have heard it several times throughout the year of his training from other doctors, nurses, assistants, and patients)

34. he likes to run with me

35. he loves my family

36. he is truly a good person through and through

Tuesday Tell All - What I can't live without!

Okay, so I'm usually really practical, so my first reaction to this question was, "nothing"! I am pretty easy to please and consider myself tough, so if I took this question at face value that would have to be my answer...nothing! Well, of course that would be boring, so I had to realize that this was just a fancy way of asking what are some things that you use/need every day and would be a huge sacrifice to do without. So, here it goes...

Internet!!! I think this is because I use it for so many things that would be on this list otherwise. I use it to communicate, schedule, organize, get information, shop, document, etc. ! I use the Internet 50 times a day doing so many different things that I don't think I would be nearly as efficient without it.

Running! This is my exercise, therapy, "me time", and sanity keeper. I really think I would struggle if I could no longer run.

I had an AWESOME time running the marathon on Saturday, and will probably do it again. I know I swore off doing the St. George Marathon again because of the time of year and how hard it is to train for in the Arizona Heat, but I had such a great time that I may have to do it again. The weather was ideal for the race and even though I didn't do as well as I'd have liked, it was better that my time 10 years and 4 kids ago! I finished in 4 hours and 10 min.

It was so fun to run it with Paul (hubby) and my brother Dave. I'm so lucky to have them in my life. My awesome sister Heather drove down just to cheer us on, and it was so fun to see her. She is always so supportive and excited for others. No wonder she is one of my very best friends. She took these pictures of us, and was just as excited as we were when we finished the race. It was fun to have my Dad there too. I've always felt his love and support in any goal we wanted to accomplish. He was so proud of us and I think there was more than one time I saw him get emotional. I get the "cry easily" gene from both sides, so there was no hope for me. I feel so blessed!! I have so much love an support in my life. It was also a lot of fun to see Paul's sister and one of my best friends Jenny at the marathon. She had trained and run with a group of her friends from Texas where she lives. She did awesome and it was so fun to have the two brothers and sisters there together! I just love Jenny and wish I could see her more often.
Okay, I know that was a little off the subject, but I really wanted to document the race. The knees are a little sore, but not bad. I'm just lucky to be here in Hawaii recuperating. Great timing for the National Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery conference!! Thank goodness for good babysitters and Paul's Mom and SIL Quinn for keeping the kiddos safe and happy!

Reading! This is another "me time" activity, and it makes me feel like my brain is stretching a bit. I love how reading makes me think of things, people, situations that I may have never thought of before. It gives me an appreciation for the life I live, and for all the opportunities and people that have come into my life. I feel like it really opens me up to different people, cultures, and circumstances too. I feel more compassionate of people and love to learn more. I think it has also made me less judgmental.

I just finished this book The Glass Castle. It was a really great read and made me think a lot. That's all I really require in a book is that it makes me think. I recommend it to anyone! Now I'm starting The Girl With the Pearl Earring. I'll let you know what I think!

Hugging and kissing my kids and husband! I am such a hugger!! There has got to be some physical chemical release that comes with hugging, because it just makes me feel SO MUCH BETTER!! I need a lot of hugs and LOVE to give them away. I am really missing giving those hugs to my kids right now because I haven't seen them since Friday. There is nothing like hugging/cuddling with the kiddos in the twilight of night. XOXOXOXOXO!!! Lucky for me I am getting lots of great time with my fabulous husband.

Well, I could go on and on, but those are just a few things in my life that keep me going. For now, I'm really enjoying the recharge I'm getting on this vacation. I'll post about that when I get home. Of course we forgot our camera, so we had to buy a cheap disposable. I guess it will force me to actually get them developed. We have 7 years of undeveloped pics on our computer thanks to digital cameras. Thanks to Heather for the Marathon pics! Have a great Tuesday!!!