I signed up for this...

No really, I did, of course I can't really say it was all my idea, or even that I knew what I was doing, but I did in fact sign up to run a half marathon. Let me just take you back, I had just finished a Tri, and was still riding the post race high, when my sister suggested that I run a half marathon with her, I knew just the one, but it was only 6 weeks away, can it even be done? Yes, there was a training program to increase your mileage in that short a time, but hey, I figured I was strong, healthy and didn't really care how well I did, so why not go for it. I began training for it, I love having something to work towards, and I love a plan. I signed up! I mentioned that I was going to do it and my friend Kelli (who was already training for a half marathon) and she signed up too. Kelli, the total stud, did 2 half marathons 3 weeks apart!

Race day: I was fine, I was calm, I didn't really care how I did, I didn't mind if I walked or came in dead last (okay, I would have minded that a bit).

The race: I was SLOW!!! Wow, I didn't know I was that slow of a runner. I didn't come in dead last (whew!) but I could never ever ever be like those ladies that finished first. No amount of training could get my little legs to move that fast for that long! That's okay though, I ran; I enjoyed the beautiful scenery, the good company, the friendly people, and the event as a whole. It was cold, but not bad for running, but it was WINDY, it's always hard to run in the wind (there was a picture, where it looks like we are running really fast, but it's just the wind blowing our hair). I probably ran slower then I could have (I still had quite a bit of get up and go at the end) but I never hit the "wall" or felt the pain and despair of the dreaded mile 11. I just kept running, in my head Dory's song from Finding Nemo "Just keep Swimming, Just keep swimming, swimming swimming, what do we do we swim swim swim" And I just kept going, but I was running rather then swimming. For those of you keeping tabs on my bad knee, it started to hurt right at mile 1 (nice 12 more to go), but it was never so painful to want to stop. But with some Muse in my ears, and a friend right beside me (who never left me despite my sluggish ways) it was a fun experience. Thanks Kelli, for hanging in there with me, and letting me shout slogans at you (and my unrelenting support for the other runners!) Thanks Em, for making me sign up, I wish you could have made it... It was awesome. Thanks legs for and brain for getting me to the finish. Thanks knee for holding out... wait, no, I hate you right knee, you suck! Thanks Matt for being my cheering squad, babysitter, my financier, my training buddy and my moral support, I couldn't do any of my crazy half brained ideas without you. I may have the desire to try and achieve many things, but I'm so glad that I have you as the backbone and brains to get me there. So, what's next...? Olympic distance Tri! Then who knows... another 13.1a full Marathon, a half Iron Man?



Kelli said I could only put pictures of her from far away...but I cheated! :)

Nature and Nurture

What a glorious day for a nature walk! December in TX can really be quite nice.

We have loved Brazos Bend since we moved to the Houston area, and now we are only 20 minutes away, yeah! These gators are going to get sick of me.

Do you see some Gators? Can you find the little one sitting on the log?

 I see some cute boys!

 I think everybody had a good time.

 I enjoyed the trees, this one was a beauty, and even had a brach for picture taking.

We found of family of bearded freaks! They were nice enough to pose to let us take a picture.

But the best part of the day... The Alligator that caught and ate a western mud snake right in front of us!

Check out that action shot.. Isn't the snake pretty!

A very satisfied and happy gator.



It's great to be 8

8 years ago, when I was getting preped for a c-section, my Dr. mentioned that my baby would be a thanksgiving baby.  Last year was the year that Jason's birthday actually fell on Thanksgiving, but since his birth, he has always either had visitors (grandparents and cousins), come for his "birthday" (thanksgiving) or we have traveled to see family over his birthday.  Which leads to one of the most spoiled little boys I know!  Sure he's never had a typical birthday party with friends, but why.. when, you've got family to spoil you.

We knew we would have a huge gathering of family if we traveled to NM for thanksgiving, so off we went... Cat and all!  There are more Turkey day pictures and other festivities, but I'll post them later.

For his Birthday Jason went shooting for the first time, with his Grandpa Frank, Uncle Matt, and Daddy and Sophie.  My understanding was that he was a natural (well, he is if he's anything like his mother!)  Ian got to go on a hike with the Cannon/Jardine crew, and he had a blast.  I was running (wow, that sounds like tons of fun!) Anyway, I made it back in time to rush to make Jason's birthday cake. It wasn't my best cake, but he liked it, and my dad said my frosting was good! 

Jason had a party with his cousins


                        

 We loaded the kids up on sugar, played games, opened presents, and had overall merryment.

Thanks to Uncle Matt they played pin the triforce on the shield, from the looks on the kids faces, it was a hit!

 Parties are fun, so is family, but the really special gift was his baptism and confirmation. It doesn't show up in pictures, but he was grinning from ear to ear. Jason was so excited to be baptized! He was so happy to have so much of his family there. Some of the highlights were the great talks by Grandma Joani, and Aunt Becky, the musical number by Matt, and the song that Jason's cousins sang! I try not to get to "churchy" on my blog, but forgive me for this one second to say that the spirit was strong during his program. I cried like a baby! I am so proud of Jason, and his good choices, for having a desire to have Heavenly Father and Jesus in his life. He's strong, and has such a great and beautiful Testimony of the Church and his savior. 8 years ago he was a tiny little baby, and now, he's a tiny little boy, I thought that I would teach him so much, but Heavenly Father knows us so well, because Jason teaches me each day. Sigh... has it really been 8 years?

Garage

Wow, I'm impressed that you even opened the webpage, with a title like garage, you must be board.

Matt has been organizing the 3rd car part of our garage, here is a little of his handy work.  I really like my fancy bike station, who doesn't love an organized garage.  I think he has dreams of a big toolbox and a workbench at the back, but for now it's just nice and clean.  He's quite handy... for a physicist.

Finding new places

One of the great things about moving is finding new fun places to go.  Last saturday, we discovered a new park, Ian loved to climb this huge web of rope.

 Jason was not so excited about being so high in the air, so he stayed lower.  I may have suggested that if he didn't make it to the top a giant spider would eat him.  It didn't modivate him... perhaps he's on to me. 

 It's a beautiful park, along with a fun playground they have a pond, and some really nice trails for walking or running. But really it was a fabulous day, we love Houston this time of year.  The area around the park is also really good for biking, the roads are wide, there are few stoplights, and there are lots of bikers.  With the nice weather, I was able to head over to the park on my bike, I get to travel on the highway 99 , and then go under highway 59.  I'm trying my hardest to not be totally freeked out when cars zoom past me, I am considering getting biking gear made that say "yes, I'm an organ donor" that way the EMT's know without having to ask.

Texas Renaissance Festival

Beautiful weather, fun activities, a few freaks, and even more fun.

Matt got us all tickets to the "tex ren fest" this year, we thought the boys would be really into it. Every weekend is themed, and this weekend it was 'All Hollows Eve', with plenty of costumes (not like there aren't already people in costume) but there is trick-or-treating for the kids, so it's extra fun for them. Jason didn't want to dress up, but Ian was all for going in costume.



A funny little thing about Ian's costume, 99% of the time people don't know who or what he is, but at a renaissance festival, he's very well known, in fact we even saw an older Link (after the temple of time of course! ...and if you get that reference you're a nerd!) Ian had complete strangers taking pictures of him, saying 'hi' to him and asking him where Zelda was, by the end of the day he would wave and pose for their pictures! However, tonight for Halloween he was back to being asked if he was a pirate... oh, well.

Jason really wanted a new sword (because the 10 that we have arn't enough). With the purchase of a new sword you got to fight the man who sold it to you, Jason loved every second of it.

This was a show we watched where this guy trains his "seconds" (the little kids) to help him fight the bad guy, it was funny and impressive, The boys had so much fun.  

Yes, here is Link's new accesory.  It's a real working Ocarina, it even came with Zelda sheet music. Both the boys have even mastered a few songs, so far, no atmospheric or time changes have occurred (If you get that reference, then you're a really big nerd).  

Who knew centuars liked trick-or-treating!

Hagrid stopped to ask the boys if they had seen his pet spider, Aragog! He gave them spider rings, I stole them and wore them all day.

The boys got to pick out what they wanted to ride, they both picked this bungie bounce thing (did they have bungies during the renaissance?) This guy attaches you to some bungies, and bounces you way up in the air, they don't seem to care if you're 20, 10 or 5, they shoot you as high as you can go.  Anyway, they were terrified, it was so funny to watch, actually I was a little worried that Jason was going to puke, thankfully he didn't, but let's just say they won't be spending their money on any bungie type thing for a long time... I'll remind them of this if they even want to bungie jump later in life.  The picture of Ian is classic!

Finally! House Picures

See, good things come to those who wait.  We've done lots of painting, decorating, and unpacking and the house is starting to feel like home.

The office/Guitar Room

 


Living Room

Master

Master Bath

Family Room

Kitchen (painted) with breakfast area inluded.

Front Entry

There are a  few more rooms to paint but we're almost done!  We still have some blank spots on the walls, but those are getting filled in quickly too. We are looking forward to a weekend where we are not working on the house, but we can just enjoy it.  Oh, and we love our garage.  I should have taken a picture of that...it's not pretty or anything, it's just that we have a garage!  After living in 2 apartments, we moved into a townhouse with a carport (and that was really special), then we moved to Texas into another townhouse and had a 1 car garage (wow, what a treat).  Now we have a 3 car garage, it feels like a luxury! Also our back yard is huge, so is the side yard, oh and the other side yard.  So if you visit, we don't have beds for you to stay in, but you can stay in a tent in the back! :) I didn't take a picture of  it because it's kinda boring, we need landscaping (and a good mowing).  I know my sister would be jealous of just having grass, but we are looking forward to making the backyard a retreat... just not anytime soon.