Happy Heart Day!

I want YOU to be my Valentine!

Proud!

I did it! My first half marathon is behind me--by 3 weeks--the time I gained in not having to complete runs for the past three weeks, I've gained in added work responsibility, so once again the blog has taken a back seat.

The race was great and I'm incredibly proud that I was able to complete it in 1:50:37. My original goal was under 2 hours, which I met and then some!

getting ready to start

And....GO!

Probably Mile 5 or so.

Just crossed the finish line...a little emotional!

WE DID IT!

It was a cold morning, probably the coldest I have run in since the start of training, but that didn't slow us down.  It was a wonderful experience, but I'm still not sure I will do another one, just due to the strain it causes my body and the monotony of doing the same workout everyday. But all that aside, I'm so glad I did this one.

I can't write this post without giving a shoutout to my race buddies Leisha and Shelley. You guys were the difference in me actually doing this vs. continuing to say "maybe one day". We all stayed dedicated, and that's what ultimately brought us to the finish line. Heck, Shelley even did it in her early weeks of pregnancy, which is AMAZING! How cool to tell that Sweet Pea what a rock star Mama is.  And to our cheering section, Mom, Dad, JP, Matt and little lady, so nice to see familiar faces along the way!

Ladies, thanks for all you did for the last several months...what an accomplishment!

2two!

Two weeks ago we celebrated Reese's 2nd birthday.  All I can say is where did the time go?  We enjoyed another nice January day and even though there was a little chill in the air, it was a great day to be outside!

My friend Megan, had the thought several months ago of doing a tutu them since we are celebrating 2 years, and I loved the idea...just needed to figure out how to fit all of our little boy friends into it.  So, I took to the web, did some digging around, and settled on the Tutu's & Ties theme.  It was a fun theme to plan, especially with the help of Pinterest--I mean who plans a party these days without it?

Can you tell she loves wearing a tutu?

We borrowed Grammy's bouncer again this year.  It's always a hit with the kiddos!  I also rented a bubble machine which I was a little disappointed in.  It provided some great ambiance, but not really worth the cost.

We haven't quite mastered "blowing out the candles".  The look on her face in the pic says it all..."how do I blow out candles? Just look really hard at them and THINK about blowing them out and they will--it's all a mind trick".  And she probably thinks that's really what works since she had a little help from the wind. Oh, and she is obsessed with the Happy Birthday song.  Just this morning she was looking at her cupcake Legos Uncle Mike gave her and singing "Happy Birthday Reese".  Yes, it's been 2 weeks!

Our best attempt at getting a pic of all the kiddos--even if it is just feet.

Here we are enjoying some of our new gifts.  And yes, that is a real tiara (not a toy version).  Thanks, Megan--as soon as she gets that "princess" complex, I'm sending her to you!

I'm Ready!

By this time tomorrow I will have completed my first (and probably last) half marathon.  I have a plethora of emotions going on right now--nerves, butterflies, confidence, and wanting to kick some butt!  I say it might be my last because all this training has tarnished my love for running a bit.  I miss the days that I could "decide" to go run and then run a nice and simple 3 miles or so and call it quits.  That's not enough to train for a half marathon.  I have enjoyed this 4 month trek and I have a feeling it will all be well worth it when I cross that finish line tomorrow.  But, I will always remember what it has taken to get to this point.  Pure dedication.  Sticking to my training calendar.  Running 8 miles in the cold rain.  Etc. Etc.

My goal is to finish the race in under 2 hours and I think it's feasible given my training.  I definitely couldn't have done this without my trusty training partners, Leisha and Shelley--they have been AWESOME and kept me going when I didn't think I could.  I never thought I could run and chat, but now I'm spoiled and bore incredibly easy when running solo.

So here's to Team Nike: thanks for all the support in training...we've come a long way!  We're going to have an awesome race and a great celebration afterwards!

And now I have to go eat some more Tiffs Treats...gotta love carbing up!

Don't You Just Love Lists?

And here I am...still stuck in 2011--on the blog, at least.  So to catch up REALLY QUICK and get into 2012, I'm going to make a list.  Don't you just love lists?

1.  We had a great trip to the ranch just before Christmas and JP got a deer...yay! that we have a freezer stocked again!

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

Not intended for human use...Reese's doll stroller is still intact...BARELY!

2.  We celebrated JP's birthday with lots of fried goodness (pickles and mac& cheese). I also made red velvet cake balls--I've made several flavors now and I'm totally into them!  They are easy, tasty and the perfect size.

YUMMY!

3.  I'm now trying to work off all the fun I had eating fried food, candy, cookies, etc.  Not easy, but I sure did have fun getting to this point.

4.  Reese totally embraced Christmas and all it had to offer this year.  She is really enjoying her tea cart and tea sets, new kitchen and all the wonderful food to go in it!

5.  Christmas with the Parker's was quite hilarious with 4 kids ages 1-5 opening gifts...we probably could have charged for tickets because it was pretty close to a Ringling Bros. affair.

6.  Reese still asks about Chippey every other day or so...she really misses him, but knows that he is in the North Pole with Santa helping get ready for next year.

I hope this new year is safe and prosperous for us all!  2011...OUT.

Wishing a Very Merry Christmas to All

Wow! The hustle and bustle of the Christmas season has been in full force since....well...just after Thanksgiving.  Getting the house decorated, shopping for friends and family, sitting on Santa's lap, daily conversations with Chippey, a trip to the ranch, now back in Austin and another trip planned to Brenham before it's all over with.

It is a very festive time of the year.  All because many many years ago, away in a manger because there was no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head and our Lord and Savior was born!  Merry CHRISTmas!

Christmas Magic on Rodeo Drive

I'm absolutely ashamed of my brief blogging hiatus, but between blogging here and keeping up with my other load of responsibilites, this one has ended up on the back burner.  Of course, there is a ton that I could retro post, but I'm true to myself and know that won't happen, so I'm just going to pick up in the here and now.

From the title of this post, you might be thinking we recently took a trip to Beverly Hills.  Well, as much as I would have loved to afford to do my Christmas shopping in the great LA burb, I'm simply speaking of the good 'ole ATX here, which to me is just as good (if not better)!

I'm referring specifically to the magic our Elf on the Shelf has brought to our home.  Reese's Godparents gifted it to her this year, and she has embraced it all....the book, the movie, "An Elf's Story" (that we watch about every other day, thank goodness for DVR) and of course the elf himself.

His name is Chippey, since we watched the movie just before he made his initial appearance here on Rodeo Drive.  And being an almost 2 year old, I'm not sure she could think quite beyond her now favorite movie to come up with a more original name, so Chippey it is....this year anyway.  I decided to not write his name in the book just yet, because I have a feeling next year he might have a new name....or not...we'll see.

Even to a 22 month old, Chippey has quite the hold on her.  We have recently taken on a more high maintenance bedtime routine which includes me singing Reese to sleep.  (insert laugh here, because we all know how glorious my voice is).  And, sometimes after many songs sung multiple times, her eyes still beam wide open and as soon as I leave the room, she gets up, stands at the door and the crying begins.  At one point last week, I said (through the door) "Chippey wants you to go get in your bed and close your eyes".  There was immediate silence, and she obeyed exactly Chippey's wishes.   Dang, I love this elf!  I'm happy to report that we are finally back to a less high maitenance bedtime routine!

Chippey's hangout today.  Maybe this means we will see his magic this evening, too as he whips up dinner for us.

JP and I have really had a lot of fun beginning this tradition in our home.  We have decided, however, to save a lot of the creative Chippey antics for years to come, when they will be fully appreciated.  It really is magical, though to see the gleam in her eyes and smile on her face when she wakes up, looks around the house, and finds Chippey in a new place each morning.  And coming home from school to find him in the same place is just as good.  When we're out and about, she asks about him and completely understands that he talks to Santa every night.

Oh, and speaking of Santa, I have to include our trip to see him.  Reese was so excited, but of course as soon as she sat on his lap, she fussed a bit.  But it wasn't for long and I feel like I could read exactly what was going through her mind by the look on her face: "I'm a bit scared of this guy in the red suit and beard, but his clothing and hat look a lot like Chippey's.  And Mommy and Daddy say Santa and Chippey are friends and he brings presents to good girls like me, so I better not pout and I better quit crying".

Oh the magic of Christmas...it is beautiful!

From Our Little Cupcake to Yours...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN WEEKEND!

Hoping I Can Handle It

If you know me, you know I run quite a bit.  I really like to run...it's quite theraputic for me.  One of the few gear purchases I made before baby was a really good jogger, because I knew I wanted to run with Reese, too.  But, I very rarely run more than a 5k or so.

Well, I'm now training for a half marathon in Jan/Feb (haven't decided which one yet) thanks to my friend Shell.  She has run a couple of fulls, and a few halfs, so I feel like I'm in good hands, but there definitely is that worry, of, "can I handle this?".

Honestly, I know I can run it because running comes quite easy for me and I enjoy it, but I'm a little worried about getting bored and actually having the patience for my body to do the same exact action for 13.1 miles.  I'm praying that adrenaline will be running so rampant that patience and boredom won't even come into play, but I still worry.

I'm really excited about this new challenge, though, and completing it before the big 3-0.  I have a feeling this will be a 1 and DONE kind of thing, but I still want to mark it off the list.

So, I'm in the midst of training now with my trusty new Asics (fitted just right by the awesome peeps at RunTex) and my training calendar from Shell.

So wish me luck....and patience!!!

We are pet-free and in the minority, it seems.

I picked Little Miss up from school yesterday and her teacher asked us to bring in a picture of our pet(s).  I guess they are doing some type of activity with it today.  I mentioned that we don't have any pets, to which she responded in pure amazement at the fact that we didn't have any.  She then asked Reese, "it's all about you, isn't it".  To which she responded with a head nod and a very clear "YES".  All the while I'm pondering, "are we the only family out of her class who doesn't have any pets".  So, on the way home, I debated sending a pic of a friends dog (that we often dog-sit), but then I had a better idea.  I'll just send a picture of Pink Bear and Horsey (her lovies), because they are loved a lot and in a sense her pets (that sleep with her).

Of course, I then got busy cooking supper, playing chase, and reading books and completely forgot about the picture until JP called this morning after he dropped her off with the words, "we forgot the picture".

Well, it's just another reason I love my work situation and location, because I could still make it happen.  So I grabbed Pink Bear and Horsey, propped them up on the chair, took a few snaps, uploaded, printed and VIOLA!

Now, I can hardly wait to hear what her reaction was during their "activity" when all of her friends probably had pictures of dogs, cats, birds and such and she had Pink Bear and Horsey.  But, I couldn't let her feel left out just because we are currently pet-free, right!?