I'm Thankful for People

Happy Thanksgiving!  I say it every year, and yet I mean it.  I LOVE this time of the year.  There are so many reasons why I am especially nostalgic this year, but they will be saved for another blog.  I know its mysterious, but I am waiting for the right time to let everyone in.  

We were so blessed this year to have my brother and his family come out for the long weekend.  Memaw and Lily spent one morning in the tradition of pie making.  I missed it this year because I was busy running or picture taking....I can't remember which one.  I am so glad Lily is making these memories....it is so wonderful.

The pond on the property is frozen solid and the girls and their cousins had a blast trying to stay upright on the surface.  Maggie pulled the littles on the sled and then they all started sledding down the hill onto the ice.  Made me so happy to watch them.

Our thanksgiving started on Wednesday this week with a pre thanksgiving thanksgiving with Derek, Heather and much of our family.  We all couldn't work out being together on the same day, but we made the valiant effort to be together when we could.  

Chase, Beth and Elly got to come down for Thanksgiving Day from Wyoming and it was SO wonderful to see them.

These girls are so precious and it was so much fun to watch them play and snuggle with whichever Grandma or adult was available.

Thanksgiving night was truly a wonderful night.  We all started drinking and playing Demon (a super fun card game) and the giggles just became tummy hurting belly laughs.  We had such a good time.  We drank too much, stayed up too late and had a blast.  Oh the holiday season is so special and family so sweet!  This year I am grateful for people.  After all they are what make the memories.  Happy Thanksgiving All!

Journey to IRONMAN: Las Vegas Marathon 2014

So its been 1 week since I finished my 5th marathon on the streets of Las Vegas.  I really thought that I would have had this blog done and posted about 3 days ago, but man I got back and between recovering from running....and drinking, and getting back in the swing of my life, it is now a week later and I am just getting to it.  Wow.

Sarah and I left on Saturday afternoon last week amidst a crazy snow storm and winter.  It was so much fun to sit in the airport sans kids and just think about how much fun we were going to have.

I must admit, I was thrilled to be leaving the snow and freezing temperatures for the sun and mild weather.  The picture above captures it perfectly.  Goodbye snow....hello sun!

We were late getting into Vegas partly because we had to be de-iced, but we arrived at Monte Carlo, put our running clothes on and taxied our way to the Race Expo.  There is something so exciting and fulfilling about getting to the race expo.  You get your number and your instructions and it becomes real.  We have made it.

After the expo we ran 4 miles back to our hotel to warm up and let our legs feel the oxygen (and smoke) of Vegas.

We didn't drink, ate in, wore comfy clothes and spent our evening bumming around the M&M Factory.  Lily would have gone nuts with all of the choices available.

Race day arrived and I spent a glorious 2 hours drinking my tea and reading a book...completely undisturbed.  So nice.  We rested, ate, and got all geared up for our late night run.

The start line was bustling with over 35,000 runners.  It was crazy, and cold! BRRRRRR. We finally made our way to our corral, huddled together for warmth and waited the near hour for our time to GO! These Marathon Mommies were ready!

Right at 5pm we found ourselves across the mat and on our way.  We were ready and took off at a fast pace.  Trying to maneuver past thousands of runners, some I'm sure drunk, was exciting.....and scary.  We made it to the half marathon mark holding an 8:45 pace.  At the half way mark, I was not feeling it so I pulled back and sent Sarah on without me.  Unfortunately, the race course was cold, dark and lonely for about 11 of our miles.  It was kind of wretched.  Once we got off of the Strip and through Fremont street it just got dark.  

The Thursday before the run I had a traumatic fall down the stairs with Evie, and while we were both okay, I knew I had hurt myself more than I realized and at about mile 14 I really started feeling it in my hips and low back (I fell hard on my sit bone).  I slowed quite a bit after that and the race became quite a mental game.  I was tired and ready to be sleeping plus I hurt in ways I hadn't ever hurt before.

Funny thing about me though is that I just love to run marathons.  My time was suffering and I new it, but it was okay.  I run cause I love it.  Even when it sucks.....I still love it.

I came in at a nice 4:25 (a personal PR for me) and was so very glad to be done.  Sarah crushed her goal and I am so glad that I convinced her all those months ago that, "YES, she could do a marathon."  I love watching my buddies achieve something great.

Night running is certainly challenging on so many levels.  I just chalked it up to good training for IRONMAN.   I will tell you what, I have never been that excited for my bed! Sleeping was glorious, even if it was kind of painful.  

Monday was so much fun.  We started with Mimosas and just had a blast bumming around Vegas and making our legs work after a night of hard running.  It was an achievement worth celebrating and really made the months and miles of running so satisfying.

I drank....too much, but it was fun.  We headed home on Tuesday a little stiff, a little hungover, but very accomplished!

Number 5 is done!  Next is the Dopey Challenge!  48.6 miles of Disney coming in January!

Elsa is in the House!

Lily Grace is officially a 4 year old!  This little girl is one blessed lady because she got to celebrate her birthday for a solid week and a half.  Oh it was so much fun.  Lily wanted an Elsa party this year and thanks to the uber success of the movie, I had a plethora of items to make her party extra special.

Lily's b-day party was extra special because Grandma Jill and Grandpa Steve came out for a visit.  Lily was practically beside herself with glee.  Grandma and Elsa?  What could possibly be better for a 4 year old?

I know!  FROSTING, MMMMMMMmmmmmmm.  Lily has been enjoying the spoils of turning 4 and took her frosting testing job very seriously.  This little girl is so much like me.  I could have given her a spoonful of frosting and made her entire day.  Who cares that her mouth was blue!

I found this dress cake idea on Pinterest and thought it looked perfectly adorable and doable.  I am so excited with how it turned out.  A perfect Elsa cake for a perfect Elsa party!

I kept the party small this year especially considering that this is the last year I can get away with a family party, but it was perfect.  Lily got to spend some extra time playing with her cousins and new friends Jack and Ellie while all of us adults actually had great conversation.  It was delightful.

Evie was content to hang with Memaw or snuggle with any adult willing to give her attention.

Lily got this really cool Sing-A-Long Frozen purse and microphone and Evie LOVED it.  She is my little singer and she was content to sit in the middle of the party and sing to "Let it Go."

The party was so much fun and it was a perfect way to celebrate a special little Elsa.

Happy Birthday Little Lily!  We love you so much and are so very proud of you.  You are such a special little girl and bring such life into our world.  I hope your 4th year is your best yet.  Have fun, be a kid, and always, always test the frosting!

Kisses and hugs little girl!

Mom

Journey to IRONMAN: The Taper

There is nothing more glorious then that 2 week time before a big event.  Not only is it exciting because what you have been training for is almost here, but it is heaven for a body tired from months and months and months of training.  We endurance athletes like to call it tapering, but for the lay person its called REST!  AHHH and it is delightful.

My running buddy Sarah and I will hit the Las Vegas Strip this coming Sunday night for our big race. 26.2 miles of non stop running.  It will be her first marathon and my 5th.  No matter how many I do, the anticipation is the same.  Nervous, yes, but SO SO SO excited.

But the tapering......man is it nice.  You see when you taper, you give yourself the excuse to wake up and do NOTHING.  Well nothing but eat, oh and maybe stretch.  For the first time in 4 months the focus is on recovery and rest instead of working hard.  It is glorious.

Sarah and I met for an easy 6 the other day and laughed at 1. how easy it was and 2. how nice it was to not have to run farther than that.

We earned our tapering time.  We have run miles and miles and miles for it.

It feels so good.

17 Months

This little girl is 17 months today.  Well, 17 months going on about 3 these days.  I have always heard that second born kiddos tend to be beyond their years most of the time, but man is it awesome to see.  Evie is simply so big to me, even though she is still just a wee peanut.  

The Bee has so many words these days and communicates with ease for the most part.  I especially love when she answers with her entire little body.  You ask her a question and her yes or no extends from her head to her feet.  It is wonderfully cute.  She is precocious and bold and not afraid of anything or anyone.  She goes where her sister does and will try anything, even it it lands her on her little noggin.'

Her hair is starting to get long and I find myself always wanting to put piggy tails in her hair.  At first she was so resistant, but now when I say, "Bee, lets go do your hair," she runs to the bathroom and crawls up on the stool all excited.  She is not a fan of bows or barrets, but keeps her rubberbands in.

Evie loves, loves, LOVES the men in her life and will default to their comfort if offered.  Daddy is seriously the hero of this little girl's life.  She adores him and is constantly knocking on his door during the day in an effort to steal some snuggles.

Speaking of snuggling, this little creature loves to give hugs, kisses and snuggles.  She even doles out the occasional bite because she is so excited to be snuggled.  Even at such a young age, she will wrap her arms around your neck and squeeze so hard when you ask her for a hug.  There are moments during the day, ie before nap time that I have the hardest time letting her go.  Her love is so big.  I hope she never stops snuggling.

Evie is all things wonderful wrapped up in cuteness and the occasional temper tantrum.  She is delightful to have around and so much fun.

Happy 17 months Miss Evie Frances!

The Empty Wrapper

My sweet little Lily learned an invaluable lesson today and I found myself broken hearted at having to parent.  Sometimes teaching our children is far harder on us than them.

We have so much sugar in our house.  Halloween was good to the girls this year and we have a bag full of chocolate.  We dole it out at special times and keep it in a "safe" spot.  Today I realized that we just have far too  much candy and decided to get rid of some of it.  So I put it out on the ground and began to go through it.  Lily proceeded to ask if she could have a chocolate bar to which I replied, "After we have lunch we can absolutely have a chocolate bar."  She was quiet, but didn't argue.

I went through the candy, and was working on lunch when I looked over to find little Lily with chocolate on her face and a candy wrapper hidden behind her.  Muscling a giggle I calmly asked her if she had disobeyed and eaten a candy bar.  I prayed against prayer that she would choose to be truthful, but alas, she shook her head and gave me a decisive "No."  My heart broke because not only had she disobeyed, but she had chosen to lie to me.  I knew the punishment was going to have to be severe.

Bob and I agreed, and on top of a spanking for disobedience, sweet Lily had to throw every single one of her chocolate bars in the trash.  One by one I watched her and my heart broke.  What a loss.  Bob and I explained to her that her disobedience was wrong, but that her choice to lie was what cost her so much.   

There was a moment during all of this where I looked at that little empty wrapper and questioned our parenting.  Its just a wrapper, so small and non threatening.  Did the punishment match the crime? I was instantly reminded, however, of how sin has a way of starting small.  It starts with something small, but some day the lie will be big.  Sin has a way of doing that.  Being truthful is never a small task.  The choice to be truthful will be a defining characteristic of Lily, and it is my and Bob's job to shape it.  Even over an empty wrapper.  Even at such a high cost to her.

Lily Lu, 

I want you to know that today was as hard on me and your Daddy as it was on you.  We love you so much and hate to see you make wrong choices.  Being truthful may cost you honey, but lying will cost you far more. Always choose light and always choose truth.  Be a woman of integrity in every situation.  It won't always be easy, but I know without doubt that you can do it!

I love you

Mom

Candyland

I know many of you will be shocked, but I did not learn to play Candyland until about 5 years ago.  I know...appalling, but I never owned the game as a kid.  Not that I minded.  Lets face it, I had horses to ride and mountains to explore.  I must say, its a fun game!

Lily was just gifted this treat of a game this past weekend as the "lets celebrate Lily all week" party began with the arrival of Grandpa Bob and Grandma Lynn.  We just love when Gma's and Gpa's come to visit and we get back to back visits this month.  Needless to say, Lily has been beside herself!

Our wonderful weekend with G and G Longmire started on Saturday with pizza and an afternoon at the Children's Museum.  Lily couldn't get to all of the areas fast enough.  Her favorite thing to do is paint and she and Gpa spent much of their time there.  Evie, Gma and I spent most of our time trying to keep Evie from getting run over by all the museum goers!  Let me tell you....its a job.  That little lady isn't afraid of anything!

After a few hours of play we all headed home for dinner and Lily's first of many Birthday cakes.  MMMMM.   I thoroughly enjoyed my piece and the remaining parts of Bob and Lily's pieces.  Talk about a sugar rush.  Lily was also gifted a fabulous dollhouse that Dad and Gpa built together.  So much fun.

Sunday morning brought Starbucks and a yummy breakfast at the local pancake house.  Unfortunately, Evie woke up with a fever, so our entire day was kind of shot making sure we took care of her.  That said we stayed home and enjoyed our time together.  Between playing in the dollhouse and making sugar cookies with frosting, we kept ourselves busy.

Grandmas and Grandpas are so special.  We are so very blessed to have many in our kid's lives.  The weekend was wonderful and we look forward to the next!