Happy Birthday Shan!

My cute sister-in-law's birthday was this week. Some favorites about her:

1. Love her casual, laid back attitude. I think even if the world was falling in around her, she could still remain mellow and in control.

2. Love her dedication to her sports. She really, really gets into stuff and takes stuff to the next level. No dinking around about it--she is a pro!

3. Love how nice and kind she is. I don't think I have ever heard a mean word out of her mouth (well, not around me anyway:)

4. Love her independence and the way she does what she wants without any excuses or apologies. I want to be more like that...

5. Love that I know her and she is in my family. Nice when you enjoy being around your in-laws:)

Happy Birthday Love:)

My sweetie's birthday was this week. Just wanted to let him know how much I love him. My favorite things in no particular order:

1. You let me do whatever I want to--for the most part:) Love that you trust me enough not to question too much all the crazy things I want to do. Thanks for not giving me too much grief about working, not cooking a ton like I should, not complaining too much about my closet, and letting me just be me.

2. The way you make me laugh about dumb stuff. Yes, I still want to get Chimchar decals on my nails:)

3. The way you are there for Mack. I so appreciate all the love, time and fun you give to him.

4. The way you rock at your job. I love seeing your passion and motivation for what you do. I hope it spills over to Mack one day.

5. How much I still love you and think you are cool after all of our years together. Looking forward to lots more birthdays babe.

Puppy Love

So the thoughts of getting a puppy have left me a little apprehensive. I haven't had the greatest history with dogs. There was the English bulldog that lived across the street from us growing up that ran away with my prized Cabbage Patch doll, the insane Oso who Papi felt he should take in but leave outside to terrorize us when attempting to get in the backyard after school, and scores of other dogs that jump, slobber, bite, urniate without notice...the list could go on and on. I don't like unpredictablility. I like control. I like thinking I know what will happen. I don't like thinking about the French woman that got her face torn off by a dog while sleeping. But, I knew it was going to happen. I was soon going to face an animal sharing our space. Well, our little Copper has been a stark contrast to all of my fears. He has the cutest little face on the planet, and has such a sweet temperment. The first day we got him, he just wanted to be held like a baby. He is snuggly, eager to please and just the most loving thing ever. His wrinkly little face and skin just leave me craving more of him. He cries like a baby and still is far from mastering being housebroken, but I am getting why some people love animals as much as people. He is still growing on me--I am not to the point of offering to throw myself on train tracks or anything yet for him, but he has been a sweet little surprise.

My new therapist

So the first night the treadmill was all set up, I snuck out to go see Sex and the City instead of working out. The next morning, Shane told me he should have lit a match to the $800 we took from our savings to pay for the treadmill. So, maybe I wasn't as gung ho as I had promised when I begged for it, but I have turned a corner. I have been running in the morning for the past week and half, and haven't missed a day yet. I am getting up earlier, and can't believe I am actually doing it. I am feeling LOADS better than I have in a long time. No exhaustion after work, no dying in the middle of the afternoon, sleeping better, and my favorite perk - I am happier. It is like the treadmill sucks all of my fear, anger, problems and spits back out confidence, clarity and smiles. I am pounding away my problems on my little Nordic Track. So cheesy, but true. So, all the experts are right. Exercise and diet really do work:)

Obsession Realized

Okay, so I don't say thank you to George W. very often, but my economic stimulus is funding a highly anticipated trip to the Four Seasons in Scottsdale.  Booked everything last night and can't even wait to go.  I am envisioning the chilled towels, fruit kebabs, private cabanas, room service, the Scottsdale Mall, Sprinkles, Scrapbooks, Etc. (SQUEAL!)  I forced Amanda to go with me, so it is going to be such a fun trip.  The money probably would have made more sense to actually go where it is needed in the country (schools, teachers salaries, food banks) but hopefully my jaunt will offer a tiny upswing to the economy.  Promise to post pics:)

Happy Birthday Amanda!

One of my favorite friend's birthday was this week.  My favorites about Amanda:

1.  Love, love being around her.  She is kind of quiet sometimes, but it is kind of like those quiet times where it isn't weird if no one is saying anything.  But then, we can chatter away for hours. I watched the Today Show this morning, and one friend was describing a favorite characteristic of another friend as feeding her ego.  That is what she does for me.  I always feel happier after I have been around her or talked to her.

2. She is so talented and creative.  The stuff she comes up with just blows me away.

3. She is a cute Mom to her kids.  I love her kids almost as much as her.  She is just a real Mom that isn't pretentious or acts like her kids are the best things ever on the planet.  They are pretty awesome, but it is nice there is no competitiveness between our kids.  We can talk about their little failures and problems and it is okay.

4. She is just plain nice.  To everyone.  Even when I want to be gossipy and mean, she always can see the good in everyone. 

5.  She is an awesome cook!  I so owe her for all the meals she has made for me and my family.  You know that someone really cares about you when they serve you--she always does this for me. 

Happy Birthday Amanda!  Love ya!

Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda

I have been neglectful of my blogging lately, and am feeling guilty. I saw a great idea on another blog to quickly catch up and get back to speed on blogging. A top ten list of everything that has happened I should have posted. Here goes!

1. National Law Enforcement Week was a few weeks ago. Hopefully none of you had the chance to thank a police officer! Shane was presented an award by Sandy City for his help with an apprehension last year with Pete as well as two awards from West Valley for his fab work with them. One of his awards was just for - how can I say this nice - existing? He had tons of apprehensions, stops, and just plain awesome work. I am so proud of him and how seriously he takes what he does. He rocks at it--congrats babe!

2. We took a cue from our neighbors and cleaned out all of our bark out of our flower beds and replaced it with faux bark. It is actually recycled old tires that are dyed to look like bark. The advantages are that it is heavy and doesn't blow away or get discolored like actually bark. Shane worked like a dog to clean out all of our old stuff and haul in the new stuff. It looks so great!

3. We are three weeks or so and counting to getting our new police dog. Pete is soon going to have the luxury of retiring (hopefully out to a kennel in Herriman), and we are getting a baby bloodhound puppy. Shane was asked a few months ago to run this new dog. West Valley has never had a bloodhound before, so this will be a new experience for everyone. The only change? It will be an inside dog. I am slightly stressing as I have visions of destruction everywhere, but I am really trying to have a good attitude. Shane assures me I will love it to no end--I hope he is right!

4. Work is getting busier - finally! It has been eerily quiet the last few months, and I was getting kind of worried. I have never been quite that slow in the last seven years I have been recruiting, and I started getting all paranoid about the economy's effect on healthcare, etc. etc. Anyway, thank heavens it has majorly picked up! I guess I can always count on people getting older, having babies, and getting in accidents and will need the hospital. Sad, but somehow reassuring to my work stability!

5. We had a fun family reunion today with my side of the family. Mack amazingly guessed the exact number of Tootsie Rolls in a jar, and walked away with that prize! We also had an auction where Mack won a fishy bank, I walked away with some of my Aunt Norma's amazing bread, and a loaf of Great Harvest Pumpkin and Chocolate Chip. It was fun to see everyone again and relax in the warm summer day. Sigh - summer is definitely here!

5. Have any of you been watching So You Think You Can Dance? Another happy obsession that makes me grateful for summer TV season. Early faves? I have to go with Chelsie Hightower as she is a Utah girl, but I can't wait to see the others perform. If you are not tuning it--I would highly recommend it! Wednesdays on Fox.

6. I found a few great albums for download. If you are in the mood for great music you can chill to at work, around the house, or popping it in your car, I would highly recommend Priscilla Ahn, Jaymay, and the new Jon Foreman Summer EP. Happy music for sure.

7. I can cross one of my obsessions off the list! Shane relented and agreed to a treadmill purchase. We picked up a Nordic Track I had been drooling over at Costco, and set it up in our basement. I have really been enjoying it. It has been a huge wake up call to how out of shape I am, but has definitely helped perk up my mood. I have been eyeing some outrageously expensive pants from the J Crew catalog, so am dreaming about losing some inches and cutely fitting into them. Maybe by the time that happens, they will be on clearance!

8. Mack won a Principal's Pride award at school. We get to go on Monday to his school for a little mini-awards ceremony. I am so proud of him - he is really working hard! He is out of school soon. Can't wait to make another candy bar poster Amanda!

9. The Chick-Fil-A close to me is finally done! I think I have been at least a few times a week since they opened. I love their chargrilled chicken sandwich with the wheat bun and Diet Dr Pepper. So yummy!

10. Shane and Mack went on a Father/Sons campout last weekend. I guess it was muddy, wet and more muddy, but they had a great time roasting marshmallows and doing some male bonding. I was loving having the night off! I worked late, and met Amanda and her cute mom and sister for dinner and shopping. It was soooo nice. Thanks babe for taking Mack--I know he loved it:)

11. The Southwest Ding! widget is a new favorite. It bugged Shane super bad the first couple days as it would go off very loudly during the day while he was snoozing, but I have disabled the audio, and am really enjoying it. I am still on my kick (sorry Shane) to go stay in Scottsdale sometime this summer, so I am constantly checking to see how cheap I can get down there. I think I may have almost convinced Shane to split our economic stimulus check straight down the middle, and splurge on a very mini vacay down south.