7 Year Anniversary AND a 1 Year "Birthmas"

Lately, I've been trying really hard to exercise myself and the dog every day.  Mike gets plenty of exercise at work but I struggle to stay consistent with exercise (especially when the days are so short which is really just an excuse).  My goal has been to do something active with the dog as soon as I get home everyday so that he and I both get to stretch our legs. 

We've done lots of evening walks/jogs to the beach.

SWIMMING?  REALLY??? 

BEAUTIFUL EVENING 

WHY DO YOU KEEP TAKING MY PICTURE??? 

SO PEACEFUL.

WE FEEL SO BLESSED TO LIVE HERE. 
YOU CAN SEE THE SLOPES OF HEAVENLY... WHERE MIKE IS
FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WORK EVERYDAY. 

 I've also tried to ski every weekend for exercise.  

NEW SKIS!  

 And we haven't let the snow stop us from hitting the trails to do some hiking: 

HIKING THE RIM TRAIL

AND PRACTICING OUR "COME" COMMAND.
HE'S DOING GREAT WITH THIS! 
HE COMES PRETTY CONSISTENTLY WHEN
CALLED... UNLESS THERE IS ANOTHER DOG
OR A SMALL CHILD AROUND... THEN HE HAS
SELECTIVE HEARING. 

 On December 18th, Mike and I celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary.  Since that fell on a Monday this year, and Mike was scheduled to be off, I decided to take a personal day from work and we headed out to Kirkwood for some skiing... with doggie in tow.  

"I WILL DRIVE US TO KIRKWOOD." - Zephyr

WE LET THE DOG STRETCH HIS LEGS IN THE SNOW
BEFORE WE HIT THE SLOPES... 

 It was a beautiful day at Kirkwood.  I was WAY overdressed.  It was much warmer than I was anticipating.  And while they had LOTS of terrain open... the snow was ridiculously thin in some places.  You could see the grass underneath the snow and you had to watch where you were going to avoid small rocks.  It's a LOT different than last year.  We definitely need snow. 

But, at the end of the day, we were all tuckered out.   

SWEET, SLEEPY FACE

On December 22, Zephyr turned ONE!  We now lovingly refer to this time of year as his "birthmas" because honestly, the gifts all came at one time.  We bought him some things for his birthday... and we bought him some things for Christmas... and we pretty much just gave him a steady stream of presents everyday from the 22nd thru Christmas day.   

 One of the things he got for "birthmas" was a new ball which we promptly tried out at the beach: 

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY.
WE'VE DECIDED SOMEONE REALLY SHOULD DECORATE THAT
LONELY TREE FOR CHRISTMAS.  

PURE JOY. 

 We came home and I made Christmas cookies for friends/neighbors.

HOMEMADE DOUGH THAT TURNED OUT
GREAT!!!  THE COOKIES KEPT THEIR SHAPE! 

 And on Christmas eve, after a muddy run through melted snow, Zephyr got a bath which was promptly followed by a nap on the couch.  

We had a sleeping dog.  A Christmas movie on.  All the Christmas lights were on.  And snow flurries were falling outside.  I couldn't have planned it ANY better.  

CHRISTMAS EVE PERFECTION! 

We cooked our traditional steak dinner on Christmas eve and washed it all down with apple pie and ice cream.  Thoroughly in a food coma, we headed off to the Christmas Eve service at church and then home to our cozy bed.  Zephyr hopped up on our bed and he was too cute to move so the three of us shared our tiny bed all night and SLEPT IN TIL 8AM!!!  It was fantastic.  

Mike was actually off on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year!!!  What a miracle?!?!  So we have had a super relaxing day of lounging, eating, and opening presents.  Although we miss our time with family back home, we have also enjoyed the relaxing and restful holiday. 

Speaking of home, I'm headed to NC in 2 days!!!  Excited to see as many friends and family as possible!!!  

Well, Merry Christmas from Tahoe!  

XOXO