Christmas Shopping and Spirit!

Just thought I would share with everyone what we woke up to this morning!! First of the season!! It's still slowly falling, so who knows how much we'll see....

And last Sunday, my mother in law, sister in law Angie, and friend/boss/coworker Nikki all went to the fashion mall for a shopping fundraiser. The mall was closed to everyone that didn't have a ticket to be there. And all the high profile restraunts were sampling food. AND liquor companies were giving free samples. (See 10 plastic cups below.) So for 10 dollars I got more to drink at the mall, than I would a bar! Great way to get into the spirit of things huh?

Kids, Adult Cakes, and Paint

For those of you easily offended, I apologize in advance, but at least the cake isn't naked!!!!

Here's my see no evil, speak no evil spin. Goofballs were watching daddy paint Alli's room.
Purple, just as she requested!

Daddy works hard for his little girl!

This was the before. PLAIN!

He was really concentrating on the primer!!

My coworker asked me to make a cake for her husband's birthday. She wanted it to be a "boob cake", but I made it a little more classy. Chocolate boobs, what more could any guy ask for? Yes I am in business and for hire.

Whenever we are working in our office (which me moved to the main floor from upstairs), the kids always bring their sleeping stuff down for a pow-wow by the computer. They always need to be close to us, but for some reason, that room always needs bedding!!

Alli fits in Garrett's old Thomas jammies.....and she LOVES them!

They really are best buds.

Random Cuteness

I thought you all might enjoy these, I know I did!!


Can you believe sh'e almost 2?!?!

Can you tell they're related??

She loves her Spongebob socks, too bad mommy lost one!!! Ugh!

Garrett's last day of Soccer!!!

Today was Garrett's last day of soccer for this season! Here are some of the pics. Kinda blurry, but its hard to catch those kids, they're fast!!!

Team huddle with coach Emmy Lou. Garrett is #2.
Alli was cheesin..... she's his biggest fan!

She even steals sips outta his water bottle when he's not looking!

This game is alien tag, Garrett's favorite. He's got the hoop, so he's an alien that has to tag (freeze) the astronauts!

When they're done with an activity, they get stamps on their hands.

This is the racetrack game. They are cars and need to try to catch each other. Garrett's in front.

Not sure what this face was all about. He looks like a monkey. It's blurry because I had to use uberzoom.

When coach wants them to listen they all have to touch their ears!

Red light, green light.

Warm ups....

Playing with coach, trying to get his ball back!

GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLL!!!!!!

We always called Garrett Charlie Brown. And yes, he did have a crush on the little red headed girl.

I think he's gonna miss this place!

First 5k in 5 years!!!!

First and foremost..... I AM BACK ONLINE!!!! YAY!!

Well kids, after about 5 years away from the racing circuit, an injured knee, and no where near enough training under my belt, I went against my better judgement and raced my first 5k! The goal: nothing over a 10 min. mile pace.

Well, at 7 a.m. I got up to the sound of rain, yes that's rain, pounding on the rooftops. Goody. Gonna get wet. Turn on the computer.... weather.com says 42 degrees at start time. Brilliant, add a headband to the water resistent track jacket today, we're racing in style!! Breakfast was a sloppy bowl of instant oatmeal, no where near enough to keep the energy level going.

7:45.... Angie my sister in law arrives (my running buddy for the day) and we pack up and go. We get to the place, check in, and cry a little. We looked like the lil fish in the big sea. So many people with serious looks, sizing people up. Even sponsored runners in gear from their companies. New goal: finish, don't be last.

9:00...... The 10K starts. THOSE people are insane. Who elbows people at the start of a fun run really?? We line up for our 5K. Angie sees a few people she knows from work. We all have a good laugh at the power walkers still warming up. New goal: Beat the power walkers.

9:15..... We're off!!!! Damn slow people in front of us. Did they not get the memo that you are supposed to RUN when the gun is fired???? I make a move and start to weave. Angie comes with me. We see the fam, they wave, we wave, that's all we'll see of them till the finish. Angie tells me she's dropping back, and I go for it.

The 1 mile marker comes up and the event staff is reading times. I cross, and then "8:49". OH SCHNIKEES!!! Am I really doing that good?? Whatever, just keep going right?? Passing of random people continues.

Mile 2 is coming up. ALREADY?? Didn't I just pass the first mile??? This is weird. "17:42". SHOOT!! I'm still under a 9 min mile pace at this point!!! I have a qurater mile to go until I make my final turn into a long straitaway to the finish.

Corner comes, I turn, BOOM. Headwind stronger than a you-know-what. Until this point the race was wooded. Now we were in the open, no trees to stop the wind. And why are my legs burning so bad. OH-NO!!! We're going uphill!!!! The rest of the race!!!! I should have researched the course better!!! And to top it off, I get passed... a few times....uuuuuuuugggggggghhhhhh!!!!!

A final uphill climb, a sprint to the finish, and I cross the line in 28:48.1, a 9:17 mile pace. Not bad for my first race back. My sister in law (who has been racing for a while, including half marathons) finishes exactly one minuite behind me. We celebrate our finish, and go to the outbuilding to get out of the rain and grab some post race grub.

On the way, "Official reslts posting inside as you finish." God love FAT. We get there, get a cookie, and get in line. Sure enough, there's the results list. Drumroll....... Jess 4th place, Angie 5th. The kicker? 3rd place finished 30 seconds ahead of me, and 2nd place was one tenth of a second in front of her.

WTH?????? Had I pushed it in that wind, and not gotten passed.... could I REALLY have finished 2nd in my age group???? My first race back?? GGGGRRRROOOOAAANNN!! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Our joy of "just finishing" diminshed. Suddenly I remember what it was like to want to win. And a little bit of me came back, that I thought was gone for good. Unfortunately, now I can't wait for the next race. Maybe the jingle bell 5k just might be in store. Training buddy anyone???