What an awesome start to the new year.

Woke up early and headed out for a 7-miler at Coffee Pot Bayou with my running partner in crime.  That is seriously the most gorgeous run in St. Pete – and maybe ranks nationally.  It’s absolutely beautiful.   As usual, we watched the sun rise over the bay while early morning fishermen threw their cast nets into the shallows. Dads brought their kids to watch the manatees that swim near the sea wall, and there were too many yogis and worshipers saluting the last rise of 2011 to count.

We headed to the Saturday Morning Market for some iced coffee, and picked up a huge bag of organic veggies.  Explored chicken coops and got to play with baby chicks.  We are definitely getting a chicken coop and backyard chickens within the next few weeks.   So fun.

Going to start putting together my shopping lists and weekly menus on Friday nights so I can take advantage of the market more often.  Why I didn’t think of that before is beyond me. I think I’m just ready to do nothing as soon as I’m able on Friday afternoons.  Meals for the following week doesn’t even cross my mind.  (Thanks, Ginger.)

Adam and I went out sans kids that night for the first time since we’ve been together.  That’s five New Year’s Eves, with kids, if anyone is counting.  So we were pretty pumped.  Turns out, most of our friends have young kids too so there weren’t as many in our group as we’re used to.  We met some close friends and others for dinner, which was delicious but entirely too expensive, then hit a bonfire beach party at Postcard Inn.

The line for drinks at the bar took 38 minutes.  Not that I was counting.

Needless to say, I only had one drink and then we bought beer from the convenience store across the street and enjoyed the bonfire on the sand.  A surreal night on the beach, under the stars.  I love this night in Florida.

Adam and I both agreed that the night without kids was no more fun than the previous few we’d had with kids.  We probably won’t work too hard to find a sitter in the future, unless something awesome pops up.

We got home way, way too late and were able to sleep in until 10:00 am!  Unheard of in years.

I’m excited about the coming year, as I always am.  I feel blessed that each year of my life trumps the previous – it just keeps getting better and better.  Let’s see what you’ve got, 2012.