Christmas Suprises

Merry Christmas to all!

This month has been a blur. We've been keeping up with all the festivities... and trying to stay sane in the midst of a WEEK of rain. Its been a test of patience... but the sunshine the last day and a half has almost melted my heart of holiday stone.

Christmas Eve was same as always...

We got all dressed up and headed to Tyson's parents house for fancy family dinner and church...


We didnt get around to Christmas cards this year... but pretend we did and pretend this was the picture on it, mmmmmmkay?

We shook all the presents before we left and tried to guess the best we could what was waiting for us...


Dawson and Anabelle scored! Surprise, surprise.

I spent Christmas Eve SICK. Sick, sick, sick. (Nope. Not pregnant). I'll spare you the details... there was not a lot of sleep involved, and Santa was a little on the distracted side of things...

But he managed to deliver none-the-less.



He even ate the cookies by some miracle (he has a really amazing helper).

Note the adorable festive Disney jammies that KJ's girlfriend Jessica scored the little darlings. Love that girl, what perfect taste for perfect children. Heh.

Also... Carly and Dave are visiting from Seattle!


We are taking in the moments we have them and planning away... more on that later.

This year Christmas is a little strange. Tyson has a new job and a new schedule, there was a LOT of family in town which is GREAT! We LOVE(d) having so many dear faces around... but there are never enough hours of daylight. And did I mention how I got sick on Christmas Eve? Talk about a party foul. The last few days have been a blur and I feel like Im not taking in the moments as fast as they are flying by.

Don't think I'm crazy... but I went for a run today, and I saw this one tree that had knobby little fur buds on the end of its stark naked branches. It gave me this strange bubble of hope... the New Year is coming, and Spring is inevitable, right? RIGHT?!?!? Im tired of being cold, and wet, and feeling sluggish and chunky. Bring on the blossoms and the chirping birds!

Anyways- Stay TUNED! I have big news to report on (I already said Im NOT pregnant)... Kyle is home! Carly is getting hitched! Spring is only a moment away (just humor me)! There is a LOT to look forward to in 2011... we are EXCITED for the new year, and feeling beyond blessed once again.

xo

My True Love

Anabelle has a nasty cough, and since its been cold and wet I didn't want to drag her out yesterday evening to run a shopping errand.

I dropped her off at my parent's house and Dawson and I headed out for a rare moment to ourselves to do our Christmas bidding's.

He was singing his heart out in the backseat his very best attempt at the 12 days of Christmas... and suddenly stops mid-tune and asks...

"Hey, Mom...? What's a 'true love?' "

I explained that a 'true love' is the one that was meant for you to be with forever, and the one you will love for your whole life no matter what happens along the way.

I finished my explanation with "...its usually the person you marry or want to marry..."

and he was quiet and thought filled for a moment and then he said...

"...you know... the song could be talking about a Mom and her kid... thats also kind of like a true love..."


And then I melted into a puddle faster than Frosty the Snowman on a Miami Beach.

I am seriously in tears just writing about it.

I have the worlds sweetest little boy.

And yes, he is absolutely right... this is true love.

Why I Love the Trots

I should probablly begin by saying sorry this is sooooo last holiday season. I've been hoarding it half done for awhile now... and just got around to posting. We're busy in these parts this time of year! Hopefully I'll catch up soon...


I LOVE Thanksgiving!!

I love the food.

I love the smells.

I love the colors.

I love the spirit of family, friends, and general thankfulness that seems to float everywhere around me.

I love the casual prelude to the arriving holiday season.

But MOST of all... (alright not MOST of all... but its up there...)

I LOVE all the turkey puns... they are FAT, they are UGLY, they are creepy and awkward and stupid and beady little beasts with shriveled gonads hanging off their nasty little faces and everything about them just that just BEGS to be mocked!

So what do you get when you add such a lovely holiday to my second favorite past time (which is running... that would be second to eating, naturally)...?

******************NIRVANA********************

...And a perfect opportunity for yet another favorite thing of mine... slightly slanted humor and potty themed puns!

With that... I give to you ladies and gentlemen...

(My) Second Annual Templeton Turkey Trot!

(Group shot of everyone who did the runs. Giggle.)

This was quite an occasion for several reasons.

First of all... exactly ONE year ago... I had the pleasure of rekindling an old spark with my friend (and former team mate...!) Bethany!!!!

So... it was our "friendaversary!"



Bethany is SUCH a blessing to have in my life. I love when the circle of friends expands and she has gracefully become such a natural part of my life that I can't imagine how I ever lived without. I AM THANKFUL FOR BETHANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND.

I am also thankful for KARI... you all KNOW how I rave on and on about our Hammies... they are our sister tribe... I didn't set out to make this blog about all the wonderful things my friends add to my life because honestly, I don't think theres enough space on the Internet to say all there is to say... but on a superficial note... know this. The circle has gotten smaller... Kari and Bethany go to the same church, and Kari has arranged and juggled her hectic post-third-baby life around in such a way that she has now re-joined our running fad, and with that said...

...feel the point building (T.W.S.S!!!!!)...

...with our peer pressuring powers combined...

We (finally!) got Bethany to RUN a RACE... IN A PINK TUTU!

(If you know Bethany... you are now stupefied~ 'nuff said).

The SECOND reason this was a momentous occasion was... not only are we running pals... we are all official proud owners of ghetto fabulous (that's code for 'last season's model') Go Go Gadget Garmen running watches!:



Kari was the latest to join the legacy... hers came on Trotter's eve, courtesy of her adoring, assertive, doting, and wickedly SMART husband, who wisely didn't force her to wait it out til Christmas. ;) Awwww!

The THIRD reason is... well, err... this is awkward.... I know its a little braggie... sorry bout that... I'll say it fast so we can move on... I ran at my fastest pace ever, and set a new personal best. Average pace was an 8:24 mile... for 6 miles!

I'm not generally into my times like that, but there is some substantial progress there, and I feel good about it. Weee!

The FOURTH reason is.... I got to make 'trotting' jokes to my hearts content allllllllll over facebook, and to my girlfriends, and to anyone else who (foolishly) cared to mention the upcoming event beforehand... AND... I got to gobble obnoxiously all morning long which leads me to...

The FIFTH and really most substantial reason I LOVE the Templeton trots (heheheheh!!! Yep. Still funny. )...

I had a wee little co-gobblet in tow this year. There is a 1mile kids trot. And... my sweet little turkey boy happened to be old enough and have an interest in participating.

He did amazing.

And in the perfect picture of an epic finishing moment... just as I rounded the bend for the home stretch to the finish line in the 10k course, oh what to my wondering eyes should appear?! BUT these cute little turkeys gobbling toward me for their very own finish in the end of the 1mile loop... and we met up, fought the good fight, finished the race, and crossed the chalk line together hand in hand.

Yep. It was a moment. I love that kid, and I am SO proud.


And of course, I'm proud of our Kailee Bear too...who was also participating in her first race, and actually did quite well for herself with her graceful long leg advantage. Don't let the Star Wars helmet at the after party fool ya... these are some cool kids.


And last but certainly not least... my sweet husband was there to cheer us all on... take pictures... be our (my) tech support... and just generally rule the world. ONE DAY I will drag him across that finish line with me... but until then, its nice that he holds down the fort, exercises the camera, and makes me signs.



I may be way late in posting this... but I am one thankful little turkey in a tutu. And that's true all year!
xo

Touche

No apologies this time, I blog on my terms now.

:)

Here is a holly jolly little conversation I had with Dawson the other night on the way home from Grammie's house...

****************************************************

Dawson: "Mom... why don't kids have any money?"

Me: "Well, because they have grown ups in their lives to take care of them and make sure they have everything they need... "

Dawson: ...."I need some new toys."

Me: "Nice try. You dont NEED new toys. You want new toys. Do toys keep you warm at night? Do toys put food in your belly..."

Dawson: "Well... you could buy me an Easy Bake Oven..."

Touche.

(Somebody save me... theyre getting smart.)