13.1 miles?

13 miles? No way! That would have been my response at any other time in life. Why would I want to do such a thing? But over the last year or two I have been thinking a lot about doing a half marathon. Once Sam started running so much last year, and then participated in the LA Marathon with my sister, my thinking started to change, and I thought, "26? No way! But maybe 13!" But even still, it wasn't in the plans until September when I started running with my partners above. Michelle Stansel and Brooke Brooks. They are two friends from my ward and we started just running in the mornings for exercise. 4:45 in the morning... another huge no way!! But, that was the only time available, so that was the plan. Once we had been running a month, it felt like the perfect time to step it up and train for something. So we signed up for the Texas Half Marathon and started working towards a goal. We have been running 5 days a week, at 5am. Last Saturday we did our 12 miler. Not only was I able to do it, but I was able to do it quite a bit faster than I would have guessed. It felt so great to finish 12 miles! But it doesn't feel great all the time. My knees have been aching and I feel like I am tired a lot! I mean, where is all that energy they promise morning exercisers!? But it will all be worth it if I can reach my goal at the race on Saturday. My personal goal is to be under two hours. Sam had the same goal and finished the Route 66 Half in 1:59:09, so I guess my goal is to beat that! :-) My biggest concern is that I am going to have to go to the bathroom during the race. I have heard lines for the port-o-pot have been 20 minutes for others. So please, please don't let that happen!

We head to Dallas on Friday, and the race is Saturday morning. The weather is suppose to be nice, and I am going to do everything I can to make sure I feel good that morning and am ready to go! Here's hoping I can sleep ANY Friday night!

And doing all this has changed my thinking again. 26? Maybe. But right now there's just not time. I'd have to run at 4am, and that is not going to happen. Someday though.

Not Just Balloons

Me, Syd, and Paige were playing on the trampoline. Sydnee had been rolling around with Paige, and when she got up this is what we discovered. We had a good laugh!

New Year's Hunt

Jaxson has really loved being around his grandpa's and getting to hunt a few times this year. He couldn't wait to go again when Sam's dad made plans for them on New Year's Day. With all the excitement, Shaye wanted to go along this time too. She said she had a good time other that the "sleeping in a tent and having to go to the bathroom outside." She prefers to camp like her mom - in a cabin!

Here's my proof that they do love each other and get along, at least some of the time...

Santa Rocks!

Santa always brings the best presents! We just love him around here. This year he brought a trampoline for the whole family and we have all enjoyed it. The kids spend hours on it every day. Hopefully that will continue for a while. Even the adults have shown off some tricks, which we found are not as easy as they once were!

Merry Christmas

Christmas was a great day! It started early, about 7am, but that's how it's suppose to be. I would say it was a success!

Santa brought Sydnee a new Power Wheel Jeep. The trampoline in the background was Santa's gift to the whole family. Santa Rocks!

Shaye got her wish, and Santa brought her an American Girl doll that looked like her. I think she has named it Valerie!

Paige got a fun toy, and Jaxson got a few random things. This year he started out asking Santa for a "big tub of ice cream!" He had said "Santa can put it in the freezer and leave a note out telling me where to find it!" But right at the end, he changed his mind and said he wanted brownies and toys. So he got a box of brownies, lincoln logs, and a new case for his bb gun.

Paige LOVED this toy. The side of the toy is a mirror and she thought that was so cool! She loved checking herself out and even gave herself a kiss!

My mom has made a soft, fleece blanket for each of the kids so she had to make one more to keep the tradition going. This is the one she made for Paige. Paige is loving it. She cuddles up to bed with it every night.

For Christmas dad wanted an ipad. It was our group gift. We had fun playing with it that evening and showing him what else it could do beside Google Earth! :)

The Thank You's!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, we had our celebration with Sam's side of the family. We had a wonderful Christmas lunch - ham, potatoes, rolls, and such - and opened presents early. The kids could hardly wait to start tearing into them. They know they get to open presents on Christmas Eve, and they are always so excited to start a day early! They got movies, games, clothes, and lots of toys. We spent the rest of the day visiting and playing with the exciting new stuff!

It didn't take Paige long to see how things worked. She had a good time tearing open her presents and pulling on the toys to get them out of the packing for play time!

She was so tired! She didn't get her morning nap, but she was happy and cute as ever! Thank goodness for this good little baby.

Playing some Jenga. This is a perfect game for Jaxson. He gets to build, and crash things down!

Sydnee showing her battle wound... she got an ant bite when she went out to play!

Sam's dad had to head into work in the late afternoon, and the festivities were coming to an end. After visiting with his grandpa and Aunt for a bit, we headed home to squeeze in a few Christmas Eve traditions before the kids needed to head to bed. This is the first Christmas in the 10 years Sam and I have been married that we were at our own house. We knew it would have to be that way this year - no more toting gifts for 4 kids here and there - but since we are now in Texas, we didn't have to miss the holiday with our families. My parents and Nicole came up later Christmas Eve night to spend the night and be here for Christmas. It was nice to have them come, and we're glad they stayed!

I love having some holiday traditions. We have a few that have worked well for us. We open 1 present on Christmas Eve from under the tree. (of course I have to do some persuading on this one so they are sure to get their Christmas pajamas! )

And we have a cookie decorating contest. I guess Jaxson was tired of not winning, because this year he said he would be the judge.

And we read and "do" the nativity story. We don't dress up and act it out like so many families do, but my mom has a soft kids' nativity set and the kids move the pieces as the story is read. Dad usually reads it, but this year Sam took over the job. Shaye has done most of it in the past, with some assistance from Jaxson, but Sydnee joined in this year and we had shepherds coming during the wise men's turn and other performance liberties! Either way, its always a nice reminder why we truly celebrate!