Celebration

Since my birthday fell on a weekday instead of a weekend and Bryan is a full time student, we celebrated my 25th birthday early. Well, I actually "celebrate" the whole month because it's my birthday month, but we officially celebrated this weekend!

We woke up early Saturday morning and competed in the Great Place Amazing Race sprint triathalon at Belton Lake. Most military bases have free events for the soldiers and their families because the location of most military facilities is not all that great. Can't pass up a free triathalon. We both did really well in the swim (300m), got passed by all the road bikes (12 miles) during our mountain biking event, and felt our tight legs during the run (5k). We definately prefer these to the marathons!

Bryan and I before the race. Behind is the lake we swam in.

I wanted a picture of my tatoo.

During the biking event, you needed to make sure not to run into cows/bulls/longhorns. I took this picture on the car ride home. These things are awesome!

Thats me crossing the finish line. Yes Bryan beat me, but he also had a 3 minute head start. The boys all started first which I found unfair because I wanted to smoke Bryan:) After the race. Can't you tell, Bryan has a white face and I have a red face. We are not quite sure about our official scores- but Bryan's was somewhere around 1:15 and mine was 1:24. I ranked 3rd in my age group!

After the race, we ran home and cleaned up for my promotion ceremony! Yeah! More Money! My boss let me get promoted on Saturday so Bryan could be there and "pin" me which was very nice, since she had to come in to work over the weekend. I made a sweet dish of taco salad and Texas sheet cake for everyone working that day on my unit.

2nd LT Ahlborn

1st LT Ahlborn

Yes. We do have to kiss to celebrate the special event. I am actually just happy about the extra money more than anything else. One step closer to getting out, right?

Then Bryan and I took a much needed nap. Then Bryan surprised me with some professional pictures taken in the heart of Texas. I am soo excited about how these will turn out. I am wearing my cowboy boots and he is wearing his cowboy hat and we are on a ranch with real cows and horses and barns. I can't wait!

Then we opened birthday presents. Bryan did an excellent job this year. I got my first hand gun, some books to add to my book collection, a camera, and a University of Houston Optometry t-shirt. Thanks babe!

I Love You Bryan!

P.S. Thanks everybody else for your phone calls, gifts, cards, and dinner!

Backsplash

I feel like all our house projects are finally shining through and we are seeing our good works. I LOVE our cute little townhouse now. It is beginning to feel like our home. When Bryan went back to school in August, he finished our backsplash. He has become quite the tile-er. I LOVE it.

About this time last year, Bryan had completely demolished our kitchen. I remember washing dishes in the sinks upstairs, getting food out of the fridge in the living room, and microwaving everything we ate. I am glad those days are over.

Bryan did a GREAT job though, don't you think?