I've been fairly remiss in updating my blog as frequently as I would like, but the last couple months have been busy! And on top of it all, my laptop went kaput. Well, technically the screen went kaput. My husband rigged the thing to connect to an ancient monitor we had floating around the office. So now when I type, I make a literal knuckle sandwich trying to squeeze my hands on to the keyboard as I have to keep the laptop almost closed to see the screen. Grrrr... Here's hoping that we'll find some money in the new year to either fix it or, if that's too pricey, replace it. The battery hasn't functioned for about two years so it's basically a glorified desktop. As much as I love technology, it can be VERY frustrating!
Right now, we are visiting my in-laws for Christmas (well, almost: we got here on the 26th as I wanted to spend Christmas Day with Mr. J too!) so I'm using my father's-in-law laptop, which works quite well, thankyou.very.much.
My husband and I were talking last night about how this Christmas is the most "normal" Christmas we've had since having the multiples. It's been nice. Have we done everything we wanted? No. With Mr. J coming off a pretty serious illness, we didn't include him as much as I wanted Christmas Day (plus the nurse that day, although we were lucky to have coverage, was annoying me with her laziness). We also never made it to the cemetery to visit our boys, but plan on making it over the weekend. So while not perfect, it's been a lot of fun. We had a Secret Santa exchange with close friends, our local "family", Christmas Eve with my family, Christmas Day at home in our PJ's then dinner with family, and a post-Christmas Christmas with my husband's family. It's been busy, but in a good way.
Look for updates soon, including pictures, of our recent fun! :)
28 December 2009
21 December 2009
Christmas Crazies!
Why do I do this to myself? I've left almost everything to the last minute! ARGH!
The only thing I did right was Christmas shop online! Let's hear it for free shipping! I bought a few things at Target, but everything else was done from the comfort of my own home.
I suppose the half-marathon threw my timing off as I postponed much of my holiday to-do list until after it was over. So now I'm scrambling. I just finished addressing the Christmas cards from pictures I took a few days ago. I was hoping for a family picture again this year, but it wasn't to be. My husband works too many hours and Mr. J got very sick this week -- he really had me worried that he'd be hospitalized (luckily, he avoided the ER thanks to a great set of nurses). So I got a pic of the girls, a pic of Mr. B and Mr. C, then one of poor Mr. J asleep and on oxygen. I threw in a shot of the kids with Santa for good measure (though Miss E looks disgruntled and is blocking Mr. C's face). I still have to stuff the envelopes and stick on the stamps (that I just bought this morning).
For the past few days, I've also been baking up a STORM! I really do love to bake and Christmas just offers so many options! So far I've made candied pecans, Mexican wedding cakes, spritz, sugar cookies (the kids had a blast decorating them today), bon-bons, muddy buddies and pfeffernuese. I still have candy cane cookies to make tomorrow. I'm holding out hope I'll get to dip some pretzels and make a peppermint log for Christmas Day. (We won't discuss the other cookies on my wish list for this year that just aren't going to happen!) I'll take a bunch of cookies with us tomorrow for a present exchange (I'm very much looking forward to this as I can somewhat relax!) then Christmas Eve we host my immediate family for our annual chili dinner. Thank goodness chili is easy!
I still have so much to do that thinking about it gives me a headache! Wrapping, assembling, visiting, baking, cooking, packing, cleaning, etc. If only there were more hours in the day. But, I guess it wouldn't be the holidays if I didn't feel somewhat overwhelmed. I'm grateful that these are my only worries this holiday season!
The only thing I did right was Christmas shop online! Let's hear it for free shipping! I bought a few things at Target, but everything else was done from the comfort of my own home.
I suppose the half-marathon threw my timing off as I postponed much of my holiday to-do list until after it was over. So now I'm scrambling. I just finished addressing the Christmas cards from pictures I took a few days ago. I was hoping for a family picture again this year, but it wasn't to be. My husband works too many hours and Mr. J got very sick this week -- he really had me worried that he'd be hospitalized (luckily, he avoided the ER thanks to a great set of nurses). So I got a pic of the girls, a pic of Mr. B and Mr. C, then one of poor Mr. J asleep and on oxygen. I threw in a shot of the kids with Santa for good measure (though Miss E looks disgruntled and is blocking Mr. C's face). I still have to stuff the envelopes and stick on the stamps (that I just bought this morning).
For the past few days, I've also been baking up a STORM! I really do love to bake and Christmas just offers so many options! So far I've made candied pecans, Mexican wedding cakes, spritz, sugar cookies (the kids had a blast decorating them today), bon-bons, muddy buddies and pfeffernuese. I still have candy cane cookies to make tomorrow. I'm holding out hope I'll get to dip some pretzels and make a peppermint log for Christmas Day. (We won't discuss the other cookies on my wish list for this year that just aren't going to happen!) I'll take a bunch of cookies with us tomorrow for a present exchange (I'm very much looking forward to this as I can somewhat relax!) then Christmas Eve we host my immediate family for our annual chili dinner. Thank goodness chili is easy!
I still have so much to do that thinking about it gives me a headache! Wrapping, assembling, visiting, baking, cooking, packing, cleaning, etc. If only there were more hours in the day. But, I guess it wouldn't be the holidays if I didn't feel somewhat overwhelmed. I'm grateful that these are my only worries this holiday season!
15 December 2009
13.1
I did it! On Sunday, I ran my first half-marathon! All my training paid off and I listened to Coach Nikki: I ran MY race. I tried to maintain a 10:30 pace for the first 9 miles or so. It dropped to 11:00 for a couple of the long hills but that's to be expected. The last four miles, I kicked it in and actually maintained a 9:35 pace for the last three miles!! I finished a minute faster than my goal at 2:18:57. I'm so thrilled!
Saturday I helped the kids make signs to cheer me and the other runners on (I may be the only one who made her OWN signs!). Sunday morning, my husband loaded the crew up and found a spot along the course where they'd be able to see me twice as we did an out-and-back on that road before heading back to the start. It was so much fun to see them on the side of the road holding their signs up! I looked for them and just smiled ear-to-ear when I spotted them (TWICE!). They were sitting about 7 miles into the run and seeing them there just charged me up!
After I passed them the second time, I saw my parents on a stretch nearby! I can't tell you how much it means to have people there just to cheer YOU on. It really gives you that strength you need to push yourself to the end.
My husband and the kids met me at the finish line and after changing out of my wet icky clothes in the van (can you say "contortionist"?), we all headed several blocks down the course to cheer on the members of my running group who were still out there for the marathon. Aside from a few crabby moments, the kids were so good: holding their signs up for the runners and posing for pictures (which I'm trying to acquire). Plus, I hadn't planned for lunch so they were just snacking on the pretzels and cereal bars I had packed the night before.
After we made our way back to the van, we decided to have a late lunch/early dinner at On The Border and again the kids were so good. I'm blessed with well-behaved children. And I truly think it's more nature than nurture! And let me tell you, never has a margarita tasted so good!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I mentioned the press in a previous post. Well, apparently a fellow runner (who just happens to be the Executive Director of the marathon) found my story interesting--you know, mom of 6 who trains for half-marathon. So he passed my name along to the local paper and the people who do the marathon show that ran locally live during the race. We ended up working with a really nice production company who put together some footage of our family and an interview done at the house into a wonderful profile on my running. Portions ran during the Turkey Trot race on Thanksgiving, then a longer version ran on a local morning show and then again on race day. The local paper also sent a reporter and photographer out and an article ran the week of the race. Though I hesitate to link to that article, I would love to share the profile that ran on TV. Just click here to see it. I'm not sure how long they'll keep it up, though.
The race start/finish was downtown in a plaza with giant TV screens (some permanent, some just set up for the race). If it weren't for them, I would have never seen the start! They ran the marathon show on all the screens. Which means that my feature also ran on the big screens. ARGH! A friend took a picture of my face taking up the whole screen (and this was one of the bigger ones)!
Yep...that's my face taking up what looks to be three stories!
Saturday I helped the kids make signs to cheer me and the other runners on (I may be the only one who made her OWN signs!). Sunday morning, my husband loaded the crew up and found a spot along the course where they'd be able to see me twice as we did an out-and-back on that road before heading back to the start. It was so much fun to see them on the side of the road holding their signs up! I looked for them and just smiled ear-to-ear when I spotted them (TWICE!). They were sitting about 7 miles into the run and seeing them there just charged me up!
After I passed them the second time, I saw my parents on a stretch nearby! I can't tell you how much it means to have people there just to cheer YOU on. It really gives you that strength you need to push yourself to the end.
My husband and the kids met me at the finish line and after changing out of my wet icky clothes in the van (can you say "contortionist"?), we all headed several blocks down the course to cheer on the members of my running group who were still out there for the marathon. Aside from a few crabby moments, the kids were so good: holding their signs up for the runners and posing for pictures (which I'm trying to acquire). Plus, I hadn't planned for lunch so they were just snacking on the pretzels and cereal bars I had packed the night before.
After we made our way back to the van, we decided to have a late lunch/early dinner at On The Border and again the kids were so good. I'm blessed with well-behaved children. And I truly think it's more nature than nurture! And let me tell you, never has a margarita tasted so good!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I mentioned the press in a previous post. Well, apparently a fellow runner (who just happens to be the Executive Director of the marathon) found my story interesting--you know, mom of 6 who trains for half-marathon. So he passed my name along to the local paper and the people who do the marathon show that ran locally live during the race. We ended up working with a really nice production company who put together some footage of our family and an interview done at the house into a wonderful profile on my running. Portions ran during the Turkey Trot race on Thanksgiving, then a longer version ran on a local morning show and then again on race day. The local paper also sent a reporter and photographer out and an article ran the week of the race. Though I hesitate to link to that article, I would love to share the profile that ran on TV. Just click here to see it. I'm not sure how long they'll keep it up, though.
The race start/finish was downtown in a plaza with giant TV screens (some permanent, some just set up for the race). If it weren't for them, I would have never seen the start! They ran the marathon show on all the screens. Which means that my feature also ran on the big screens. ARGH! A friend took a picture of my face taking up the whole screen (and this was one of the bigger ones)!
Yep...that's my face taking up what looks to be three stories!
09 December 2009
Yum!
I was looking through my pictures last night, and came across my baking escapades from Thanksgiving.
I LOVE pie. No really. L.O.V.E. When baking them, I will sing to myself (okay, out loud) the Pie Song from the movie Michael (click here to listen, or better yet watch the movie). Pie, pie, me oh my. Nothing tastes wet, sweet, salty, and dry...
First up: Chocolate Cream Pie. This was fantastic. It was from America's Test Kitchen and had an Oreo crust (well, the Newman's Own version). I'm definitely making this again!
This was my first attempt at a gluten-free crust for Mr. J's nurse who joined us for dinner. It was a cherry pie.
I got this from a fellow multiples mom: Jack Daniels Chocolate Pecan Pie. Oh my. This was good!
And finally, a good ole Pumpkin Pie. It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it!
A couple weeks ago, Mr. B misplaced his wallet. In his wallet was his Build-A-Bear gift card from his grandparents. So, of course, we were searching high and low for it. Instead of finding the wallet (which later turned up in the dryer), I found my checkbook and old camera (which I have since replaced). I still had pictures on the camera, including this cake I made for my nephew's baptism (his name has been mostly erased for privacy):
After looking at all these goodies, I'm hungry! I might have to start baking Christmas cookies this afternoon!
I LOVE pie. No really. L.O.V.E. When baking them, I will sing to myself (okay, out loud) the Pie Song from the movie Michael (click here to listen, or better yet watch the movie). Pie, pie, me oh my. Nothing tastes wet, sweet, salty, and dry...
First up: Chocolate Cream Pie. This was fantastic. It was from America's Test Kitchen and had an Oreo crust (well, the Newman's Own version). I'm definitely making this again!
This was my first attempt at a gluten-free crust for Mr. J's nurse who joined us for dinner. It was a cherry pie.
I got this from a fellow multiples mom: Jack Daniels Chocolate Pecan Pie. Oh my. This was good!
And finally, a good ole Pumpkin Pie. It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it!
A couple weeks ago, Mr. B misplaced his wallet. In his wallet was his Build-A-Bear gift card from his grandparents. So, of course, we were searching high and low for it. Instead of finding the wallet (which later turned up in the dryer), I found my checkbook and old camera (which I have since replaced). I still had pictures on the camera, including this cake I made for my nephew's baptism (his name has been mostly erased for privacy):
After looking at all these goodies, I'm hungry! I might have to start baking Christmas cookies this afternoon!
06 December 2009
It's almost time!
The big day is almost here. A week from today I'll be running my first half-marathon! In January, I could barely run for 1 minute without being completely winded. Now, here we are 11 months later and I'm planning on running for 2 1/2 hours (hopefully less!) straight! I've turned into one of those crazy runners.
I would see these "people" on the way to church on Sunday mornings. It would be hovering around the freezing point and these "people" would go running by. Didn't they know it was cold outside? Doesn't breathing that cold air hurt their lungs? What could possibly be so important that would get you up early on a brisk morning to do something as awful as running? Crazy runners.
And now the transformation is complete. Yesterday I arrived at the lake for my run. An easy 9 miles (yes, I said "easy" - more proof of my craziness). Here's the really insane part: it was 27 degrees when we started running. TWENTY-SEVEN!!! But I had my layers on: three shirts, two pants, two pairs of socks, two pairs of gloves, and a hat. The first several miles were miserable: everything felt pretty good considering but my hands just plain HURT! I was almost in tears from the pain. It took a good four miles before the pain let up. After that, it was pretty smooth sailing. Well, except for the slippery frost on the foot bridges and the ice slicks on the path. :) I figured it could have been worse; after all, the winds were calm and the sun was shining (unlike today).
It took me 1 hour and 35 minutes to "loop the lake", almost 10 minutes faster than the last time we "just looped the lake". When I got into the car to come home, I immediately checked the temperature: 32 degrees. It took me about 10 minutes to get home. My husband took my picture:
What's that white stuff on your shirt and hat, you ask? FROZEN SWEAT! See, CRAZY! (And don't ask why I'm dressed like a cat burglar...completely unintended.)
Between the training, holiday preparations, birthday parties, the press, and just the everyday stuff, I've been so busy! When did life get so nuts?
[Did you catch it? The word "press"? More on that later! ;)]
I would see these "people" on the way to church on Sunday mornings. It would be hovering around the freezing point and these "people" would go running by. Didn't they know it was cold outside? Doesn't breathing that cold air hurt their lungs? What could possibly be so important that would get you up early on a brisk morning to do something as awful as running? Crazy runners.
And now the transformation is complete. Yesterday I arrived at the lake for my run. An easy 9 miles (yes, I said "easy" - more proof of my craziness). Here's the really insane part: it was 27 degrees when we started running. TWENTY-SEVEN!!! But I had my layers on: three shirts, two pants, two pairs of socks, two pairs of gloves, and a hat. The first several miles were miserable: everything felt pretty good considering but my hands just plain HURT! I was almost in tears from the pain. It took a good four miles before the pain let up. After that, it was pretty smooth sailing. Well, except for the slippery frost on the foot bridges and the ice slicks on the path. :) I figured it could have been worse; after all, the winds were calm and the sun was shining (unlike today).
It took me 1 hour and 35 minutes to "loop the lake", almost 10 minutes faster than the last time we "just looped the lake". When I got into the car to come home, I immediately checked the temperature: 32 degrees. It took me about 10 minutes to get home. My husband took my picture:
What's that white stuff on your shirt and hat, you ask? FROZEN SWEAT! See, CRAZY! (And don't ask why I'm dressed like a cat burglar...completely unintended.)
Between the training, holiday preparations, birthday parties, the press, and just the everyday stuff, I've been so busy! When did life get so nuts?
[Did you catch it? The word "press"? More on that later! ;)]
02 December 2009
Let it ... snow?
Snow? In the South? On December 2nd?
It only snowed for an hour and within another hour all evidence had melted, but it sure was PURTY while it lasted!!
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