The Shafferland Shuffle

* We've been going to Sunday School at our new church since Labor Day weekend and have really enjoyed making new friends. In a church that size, it's hard to find that sort of connection, so we enjoyed another week of learning with our friends. Then, of course, when we came home, it was time for the War of 1812...Luck vs. Manning! Ryan watched diligently and I worked on our Christmas letter. {Yes. It's true.}

* Monday evening we went BACK to the gym for our first weigh-in and another shot at that core workout. In our first weigh-in, Ryan lost .5 pounds and I gained .4.  Isn't that swell?? After we came home, we worked on the bathroom again - this time chipping away all the adhesive that previously held the nasty shower doors in place.

* Tuesday evening, Ryan and I had dinner with my parents...to celebrate my Dad's 81st birthday. We ate at a little local burger place {where none of us had a burger...go figure} and had a TON of laughs sitting around the table together. Ryan and my parents together provide HOURS of entertainment. HOURS. And this is about how it rolls when I say to the parentals, "Hey I'm gonna take your picture."

* Wednesday night when I got home from work, I found a gift waiting for me on my porch! My friend Marie heard me say I did not own black nail polish and really wanted some, so she surprised me with a bottle of my very own. What a great treat! So after we got all done with our workout {I BENCH PRESSED THE WEIGHTLESS BAR ALL BY MYSELF!!!!!!!!} I sat down and treated myself to a little mani.

* Thursday. Oh Thursday. Do I even have to relive this day? I had a world-peace-level meltdown for ONE SOLID HOUR at work. It was just one of those days. In the afternoon, I worked on consoling myself with writing interview questions. Creative process, right? Good for the soul! Well it's good for the soul until you crack open a cookbook at 4 p.m. on a gym night! THIS is just torture:

* Friday night, Ryan and I PLANNED to finish the bathroom {a.k.a. put up the surround in the tub}, so we had our traditional weekly date to the Lowe's for supplies.  We had to drive home with the back hatch to his car open because the 2x4's we bought were longer than our vehicle. We didn't get as much work done as we hoped because in the end, he needed the Asphyxiator to go back to Lowe's for plywood, but alas, the alternator is out and therefore its lights don't work. BOOOOOOO.

* Saturday, I ran my first ever 5K. That probably caught you by surprise, right? It was one of those not-really-trained-for events that I just DID - and I will have more for you on that tomorrow. Meanwhile, a photo of me with my running partner, Julie. I'll also mention that this race was run in the FREEZING cold, ridiculous wind...and over terrain, not on a road. I was pretty stinkin' proud of myself.