Turkey Trot and Thanksgiving...and lights...and Thanksgiving #2

Happy Thanksgiving! On Thanksgiving morning, Nicole and I did our annual 4 mile Turkey Trot with the babies, while Matt, the big kids, and Ryan went to play football.  Afterwards, we all headed over to Charles and Sharons for Thanksgiving dinner.  Every year we order La Madeline's turkey feast and keep the work to a minimum!  I made huge sugar cookies to look like pumpkin pies, and believe me, they tasted MUCH better! :) We played Rock Band, and had tons of fun just hanging out together.  

The next day, Ryan and Nicole came over to our house so that the boys could hang up our outside Christmas lights.  Eek! I was sooo nervous!  We both have very high 2 story houses, and it was kinda windy outside, so I had visions of someone falling and breaking a leg (or two), an arm (or two), or heaven forbid- a NECK!  THANK heavens, everyone was fine, and our lights look spectacular! The kids, Nicole and I worked on gingerbread items while the boys were outside.   I will add that we MAY have done some shopping on Black Friday...and I got everything I wanted (for my kids, of course!) 

On Saturday, we had Thanksgiving #2 with Matt's extended family.  I am usually in charge of the green bean casserole, and I brought another sugar cookie pumpkin pie.  YUMMO! :)  It's always fun getting together with the rest of the family....we always laugh, and everyone is so fun to be around. Thanks, guys, for a great Thanksgiving #2! 

 

Week of Nov 15-20

Sydnee had a few projects this week! She had to dress up a turkey (paper turkey, of course), and make a poster of things all about her, because she was STAR STUDENT this week!  She dressed her turkey ip as a pink princess- we got pink feathers and sequins, and I made a felt dress, shoes and crown for it.  A very GIRLY pumpkin.  For her star student poster, we got a big pink posterboard, designed her name on it, printed a bunch of pictures of her, and she picked out a ton of pictures of things she likes from magazines.  They displayed the poster on the wall in the Kindergarten hallway.  Also in the hallway were pictures the kids made saying things they were thankful for...we found Sydnee's and it said "I am thankful for mi mom." Seriously! She didn't even tell me she wrote it...I almost teared up right there.   On the 18th, Matt and I went to lunch with the kids for their "Thanksgiving" lunch.  Of course, my kids only ate their meat and rolls, but it was still fun to go eat with them.  It's going to be a very rare occurrence, because the noise level was DEAFENING!! I do not know how those lunch room adults handle that every day! :)  On the 20th, we decorated the Christmas tree, and then went to hang out at Bass Pro Shop for some Santa and fun...I will try to upload the Santa picture..but I haven't done it yet.  Lexie WOULD NOT sit on his lap or even stand by him and the kids.  She just took her candy cane and screamed. Hahahaha! I remember 2 years in a row that the Santa pictures were only of Brian because Sydnee was the same way!

Enjoy!

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Crossing the finish line VIDEO

Here's a video of me crossing the finish line....and I know the time clock says 2:03 but that's when they started the race...not when I started. They do a wave start so not everyone's time is what it says on the clock.  hahahahah!

2010 San Antonio Rock and Roll 1/2 Marathon!

This day had been a long time coming.  I've logged over 500 miles this year trying to improve my time and endurance for the Rock and Roll marathon. Running is my outlet...my way to get rid of stress, and fat. hahahaha!  I used to hate running,  but my bestie, Nicole, gave me the gift of learning to love it!  It all started as a way to lose my baby weight after having Lexie, and Nicole and I ran in the 1/2 last year too.  It was crazy weather, and we finished in 2:26.  I went into this race wanting to improve my time to right around 2 hrs.  I trained long and hard.  Early saturday mornings were mine, and mine alone.  I succeeded in meeting my goal...actually beating it.  I finished the 1/2 this year in 1:53:48.  I beat my GOAL time by almost 7 minutes!  It wasn't easy though....I hit a HUGE wall around mile 8.5.  I wanted to quit, I wanted to be done and just SIT DOWN.  I felt like my legs weren't moving at all; I felt like everyone was passing me up.  Then I saw the 11 mile sign, and I thought to myself....you've got this.  I had passed the 2 hr pacer around mile 10, so I knew I was going faster than anticipated.  My body felt it too. My hips were hurting, my legs were hurting, and my toes were hurting. ( I ended up getting my new shoes bloody after a bad toenail was scraping my skin from about mile 5! oh well!)  At mile 12, I got a small burst of energy and shot to the finish line.  I couldn't have done it without Matt.  He dropped me at the start line, and then met me at miles 3, 8, 11 and the finish.   I can't even describe what it does to the spirit to see someone you love cheering you on.  I got quite teary eyed a few times.  :)  I love running these races, and I'm not quitting anytime soon!  I'm hoping to do at least 4 this coming up year.  One being in January in Austin.  Hopefully Matt enters and runs with me, and hopefully Ellie will come down to run too!  Happy Running!!

Getting ready to carb up at the Olive Garden!

my new shoes...before their maiden voyage

our haunted hotel- The Emily Morgan

Signs the kids made for me

getting ready to head out!

Corral 8...I was in 17 last year!

Matt and i pre-race

crazy running picture

Matt caught me by surprise with this pic...I was seriously shaking so bad!

FINISHED!