before I have to dash...

I did survive the half marathon.
I knew you were worried 'cause I hadn't checked in since I ran it.
But I'm alive and well and haven't run an inch since I finished the run last Saturday.

I don't have a picture.  I forgot to take a camera, but Brian wouldn't have been able to jet to the car.  I mean maybe he could have, but he came back to find us and then tried to run with us the rest of the way in but found his legs just didn't want to run again.  So we kept on trucking and he sauntered in a bit afterward.

Even though I didn't get pictures I am thinking this is pretty much how we looked the whole time:

You know...just happy and smiling.  It was pretty cold, but no biggie.  And we didn't even frown a little when it started raining at mile 7.  Or when my legs didn't want to go another step at mile 12 1/2 and good old Norma pulled ahead of me 6 seconds worth and kept yelling back encouraging words to which I finally responded for her to "hush up" and just go.  With a smile of course.

We finished in 2 hours 11 minutes and 51 seconds.

I am really pleased with our hard work and that we actually ran pretty much the whole thing.  We went into it initially thinking we'd maybe run half and walk on and off.  Nope!  We just kept on going.  Well, we did stop for water because I can't move when I drink water or I will choke.  And we walked for 1 minute at mile ten which was a wrong move.  It's really hard to get your legs going again once they've stopped.  Ask Brian.

So, that's my 1/2 marathon.  Done.  Check.  Accomplished.


In further news:
I am listening to books on cd while I sew some projects for Christmas.  I'm enjoying it.  The one I am listening to now is read by a woman with a Scottish or Irish accent.  Love it.
I find that when I think to myself I do so with an Isabelle Delhousey accent.  I can't replicate it very well when I try to talk to the children, but I think it VERY well.  Sometimes, occasionally, I think I might be a little Irish.  In my thoughts.  a little.

SO!  Merry Christmas!
Hope all is going just smoothly and no stress about getting blankets crocheted in time or getting a decent family picture taken for cards, has graced your days.

All the pictures taken with our whole family in them have not turned out very flattering on my side this year.  Well.  There is one where I actually sucked in my pooch and smiled all cute, but everyone else's eyes are closed.  I may just use that one because really, who needs to be cute?  Momma does.


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family and two projects

Ahhhh.  

Sure loved having my fabulous siblings visit.  And all who came with them!
My arms are just wanting to squeeze them all right now as I look as these pictures.

Every time my momma visits she takes the kids on a walk
to the gas station around the corner and lets them pick out a treat.
It's tradition.  And loads of fun...loads.  No really, loads.

We did a puzzle:

(pretend I rotated this picture for you.)

Just something on the table for people to sneak away for some contemplative quiet.

'Twas a fun Thanksgiving weekend.  

I was sad to see them all go.

But after they left I got busy and fulfilled one of my "When the kids are in school..." projects.

I sewed the curtain for my bathroom.  

I felt uncomfortable in there with no window covering even though it is just woods out side.  

But someone could be in the woods you know.  

I'm sure it happens.  

No worries!  Now I have a pretty curtain.

I'm looking for 2 pictures or prints to hang on the walls now. 

One behind the toilet and one in front.

I've been working on another "When the kids are in school..." project.

Tomorrow morning my buddy and I are running a half marathon!

You'll remember two years ago I walked this same half marathon with my man.
(He's running it too, but I'm not making him stick with me on this one.
He can book it.  With my blessing.)

This year we have been training and training and I'm planning on running the whole thing!

I've got my energy beans and am eating pasta like crazy.    

SO!  If I survive, which I'm sure I might...

I will see you back here soon with a time and maybe a picture.

Gotta love my family!

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thinking family

Just plugging along...
Getting ready for a very anticipated and excitedly welcome bunch of family folk to get their buns on over here for the Thanksgiving weekend.

I have been very anxious to have all my siblings here.  I miss them.  I see some more often than others, but I love being with all of them and can't wait because my brother was able to score plane tickets and is now coming too!
So happy.

It just felt so important to have them here.  You know?

My cousin Matthew passed away almost two weeks ago.  He has three brothers and a sister.  He was my age and our families spent the holidays and lots of time together growing up.  They lived in Utah and we lived in Colorado but Turkmas was our thing and Beazer was our playground.  Sometimes Easter fell into the mix as well.  I remember sitting up on my parents bed watching the "Fish Heads" video on t.v.  all together.  You know that rolly polly fish heads song?  And tubing down Lee Creek.  That was an adventure and I only felt safe 'cause my tough cousins Matt and Troy were there with us.  Of course they had one tube and Emma (their sister), me and Cally were on another, but they never strayed too far ahead and stuck with us in the deep parts.  Anyway...

I just really want to be with my sisters and brother.
So, I am glad they are coming.

I'm looking up recipes and making one grand grocery list.  Mmmmm.

I'm excited for all the kids!  And our new nephew Leo!!!  Can't wait to smell that babies head.

So.  That's it for today.  Just thought I'd check in with you.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Love you Aunt Wendy and Emma.  You are forefront in my thoughts, hopes and prayers.

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'twas the day before Halloween and all through the woods...something stirred.

Nash's is a story where as the other's are pretty self explanatory.
K.  So he has just escaped from prison and is a little crazy.  He didn't want to be caught right away so he donned a Dr.'s scrubs (that's another story...it took a while) so that he wouldn't be so conspicuous.  He narrated what he was doing the whole time I was taking his pictures.  He is my story teller and that's the truth.  Some of is pictures came out really creepy.

And here's the whole gang!

my kitchen is clean

The weather is lovely.  It stormed last night.
I've had the windows open while I've been actually cleaning the house.  finally.

cleaning, cleaning, cleaning...
No tv.  No music even.  Just outside sounds and my thoughts.  Which are boring.  But hey.  S'all good.

Then I smell it.  That smell that I smell after the kids have been out playing.  I do not like that smell.  I make the kids go shower.  That sweaty, outdoorsy, body odor smell.

But I've been cleaning.  I pulled my shirt out a little and sniff.  Next I try my under my arms.
Hmmm.  It's not me I'm smelling.

Wait a minute.

Could it be?

Could it really be true?

All these years I've been making my kids wash off...

FRESH AIR?!

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We had a great trip, but check out her hair!

Madeline got a new haircut.  She has been talking about it and researching it for a few months and I was hesitant.  We did some pre-counseling to prepare for an "I hate it" outcome and got a few conditions in place about upkeep of self kind of things and went for it.

She LOVES it. 

She's a brave girl.  

And that is her first pink t-shirt since she was 5!

She even wore a skirt to school today.  With purple tights.

She is morphing.

I want to update about my trip, but I am not a lover of editing pictures.  I love editED pictures, but I don't like taking the time.  I am not a photographer by nature.  Cropping, rotating, playing with the colors and stuff... just don't know what looks good.  However!  My sister does.  So maybe I will link to her post (when she gets it up) if she includes enough pictures of me, of course.  

I do have the "Joey's dreams come true" picture montage that she (sister) does not possess, yet.  Those pictures are good as is.  Maybe I'll go that route.

It was, as always, a great time. 

 Healthy kids.  Lots of crowds.  Sunny days.

And Butterbeer.

Oh, Butterbeer.

Hhhuuuuuuh!

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my big little girl

Six years old!  

She is awesome.

Brian told her something magical would happen while she was asleep when he tucked her in the night before her birthday.  She was so excited when she said "Really?  What?"
"You will go to sleep a cranky five year old and wake up a cheerful six year old!"

One day down.  So far so good.

I love watching her learn new things and be led in the excitement of that.  She LOVES being the youngest and no doubt gets her way more often than not.  But, we all seem to be okay with that for the most part.  Well, most of us.  Most of the time.

One things for sure.  We do all love love love watching her be happy and she appeals to each of our particular sense of humors entertaining us like nothing else.

Even Carter sighed the other day as she rushed off to set up a game of Othello for them to play,
"I sure love her."
I asked him why and he said "She's just so small, like a little punching bag."

?

Suffice it to say, she is our Dear Heart.

Her hair always seems to be a bit of a mess, but that only adds to her charm.  

In other news...

Meet the new Branch President.

We're all growing up a little, eh?

Aaaaaaaak!

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