26 Things that made my 25th year great!

I was having a down day last week so I decided to call Desi and complain a little. I was down about it being my birthday soon and not having anything to show for the last 25 years. I was also sad because school starts on my birthday so I wouldn't be able to do anything fun that night. She first of all told me that I needed to celebrate my birthday all week and not just one day. She said I had to start that night especially since I was late at starting my full week of celebration. Then she told me that birthdays are not to make us look at what we don't have in life... but what we have accomplished. I told her I haven't done anything and she then started listing things that I have done in the last year alone. She then challenged me to write this blog. I was to come up with 26 things I have done/accomplished since my last birthday. So here is it is... 26 things that I have done in my 25th year of life in no particular order.

#1. I kept my promise to Desi to write this and take a look at what I have achieved.

#2. I ran a Marathon in Ireland with my favorite people in the world... my family!

#3. I got my first ever stamp in my new passport: IRELAND.

#4. Started a running wall with Alex showing the races that we have done. We haven't done a ton of races because it's hard to afford them for two people, but we are still going strong planning to add another 1/2 Marathon in October.

#5. Helped to raise $24,000 for the leukemia and lymphoma society to end cancer for good.

#6. I passed my 6 year cancer free mark in July.

#7. Got through a death in the family (Balu our bird) by adding two new members to our family.

#8. Celebrated my two year anniversary to my amazing husband Alex.

#9. Realized we needed to be budget-wise so we went to the Hogal Zoo for our Anniversary rather than on another cruise.

#10. Finally realized what I want to be when I grow up!

#11. Got to cheer Reid on at Hockey games.

#12. Registered for my last pre-nursing classes before I get to apply.

#13. Hiked to a waterfall Alex and I haven't been to since we were dating.

#14. I fell in love with a new sport. Road Biking is the greatest! Thanks Reid for introducing us.

#15. Was brave enough to cut all my hair off from short to shorter. I think it really shows off my personality.

#16. Convinced Abbie Barnes she needs a pet of some sort... now I am trying to convince Apes. I'm thinking I'll try to accomplish that in this next year.

#17. I finally got to introduce Alex to where I grew up... and where I still call home.

#18. I got to help Sunny move in and make her house a home.

#19. I wake boarded with ease and landed some jumps. I even got a compliment from Abbie... Auntie Gubby you jumped so high!

#20. Got to cheer Reid on at his FIRST triathlon.

#21. I helped Elliott to realized that Auntie Gubby's pool is the greatest.. now he always asks to come swim with me. Maybe that'll get the Quayle family to come visit more.

#22. I lost 30+ pounds and I'm still going strong.

( Last September 2010)

( June 2011)

#23. Finished a half marathon while extremely sick and on 6 different medications.

#24. Did a 5K race for the cure with the Fullers and the Birds.

#25. I got my CNA and finished at the top of my class.

#26. Did my first 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon (these were all AFTER the marathon except the 5K)

(First 10K)