My 32nd Birthday

Yesterday was my 32nd birthday. I didn’t do anything extravagant, but it started with a run and ended with some quality family time, which was perfect in my book.

I had an awesome run. It was dark and early, but I felt really good! There was a light dusting of snow, which hid the icy patches, but thankfully I didn’t slip and had run the route on Saturday, so I knew most of the footing was okay.

At one point during my run, I saw a school bus up ahead slow down. It stopped and waited, and I wasn’t entirely sure what it was doing. I figured the driver was waiting for someone to board, yet there weren’t any homes in the area really. As I approached the bus, I hear someone talking through a megaphone/external speaker like that on a police car. I hear a deep, manly voice say, “Ma’am, Ma’am, there are two moose over here.” It took me a minute to realize the bus driver was talking to me! And sure enough, I looked up and saw the moose eating off to the side of the road. Ha! Another one of those ‘only in Alaska’ stories.

When I got home, I opened my cards and gifts from Craig and Cullen.

Cullen bought me some pig sweet corn holders. I was told he even found them in the clearance bin!

Craig got me a bouquet of flowers. He is also ordering me a wall hanging that can be used to display all of my running medals.

Then it was off to yoga. I definitely need some yoga back in my life!

Later that morning, Cullen and I were off to the pediatrician for Cullen’s 4 month check-up. He is doing fantastic but is growing too fast! His weight stayed in the 73rd percentile, but his length was off the charts at 27.5 inches, and his head circumference was in the 99th percentile. Luckily he didn’t pee all over everything this time, but the nurse commented about how much of a wiggle worm he is.

During the afternoon I was busy in the kitchen making steel-cut oatmeal in the crockpot, trail mix, and granola. I got tempted at the grocery store by the packages of granola, but when I saw the $6 price tag for a tiny little bag, I just couldn’t do it, so I whipped up my own in a matter of a few minutes. I followed this Easy Healthy Homemade Granola recipe.

Craig, Cullen, and I went to Torchon Bistro in Anchorage for my birthday dinner. I’ve nicknamed this the “pig restaurant” since I first saw the sign (which has a picture of a pig on it) and have been wanting to try it since. The first time we tried to go (two days before I went to the hospital to deliver Cullen), they were closed; it was a Monday night. Then the second time we attempted to go was a Saturday night and the place didn’t have seating for an hour, so this time we made sure to make reservations.

We had all sorts of unique pig parts that I don’t even remember what was on this sampler. Some of it I liked (the shredded port slider), some was way too fatty for me (side belly, bacon cut), and others were unique (head cheese).

Craig had wild boar (pictured below); I had a pork chop. Everything was fantastic, but it was probably the dining experience (great service, small portions, the presentation of the food, etc.) that made it even better.

Cullen was an awesome baby, which definitely helped. I had a great birthday celebrating with my boys.