Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Happy Chinese New Year, everyone!  It isn't often you get three holidays all together: CNY, Valentines Day, and Presidents' Day.  Think of the sales!  Yeah, that's about all I do, just think about shopping.  What a poor specimen of femaleness I am.  I'm missing some gene I think!

Yesterday  I had 15 miles on the running schedule, a run I wasn't looking forward to,  but as usually happens, once I got going I was fine.  I found The Count of Monte Cristo on a playaway (little preloaded player the size of an ipod) at the library, and even though I've read it several times, I am enjoying listening to it immensely.  I even took the dog for a walk today, just so I could listen to it - voluntary exercise!  So, I got my run in yesterday, then took the boys skiing for our ward ski night.  I haven't been since the boys were just learning, so I was surprised that I could just turn them loose and just... ski!  I haven't had this much fun skiing since high school!  It had snowed all day but stopped by the time we got there, and it wasn't too cold, no wind - perfect conditions.  The boys were good sports the whole time, and we skied until the lift closed.  I haven't had such a good time with the boys for a long time.  I mean, no one argued the whole night!  I can't remember when that last happened!

Anyway, all this to say, I made the conscious decision to make an exception in my post Christmas-chocolate-frenzy self imposed ban on chocolate.  I haven't had any chocolate (with the exception of fat free hot chocolate made with skim milk - and really, does that count as real chocolate?) since the first of January.  It hasn't been as hard as I thought, going cold turkey.  I even helped the kids put 2 bags worth of mini Hersey bars on their valentines without snitching a single bite.  But today, the kids have been selflessly trying to share their candy with me, and I gave myself a day off.  To be honest, the cheap chocolate (that I gave them) wasn't all that good, and I don't think it will be hard to go back on the wagon tomorrow.  Unless Mike offers the gooooood stuff.  THAT I might miss.