Post Holiday Blah

I'm really trying to get back into my workout schedule. Yesterday, I went for a run and I only made it about 1.2 miles, then I walked the rest of the way. I'm sure it didn't help that I had a runny nose, a cough and was fighting a headache. There was no way I was going to spend my last day off of the year in Urgent Care though! No way! Oh, plus the temperature dropped from 71 degrees to 40-something yesterday. That probably hurt my attempts too.

Grandma is here, and she's going to sit with the kids while Hubby and I go to work, so I should be able to get out there and go for a run a little bit later today, around 6:00 AM.

We had a wonderful Christmas. I missed my Mom, who is in Nashville still helping my sister with her twins (and her other two precious kids). On Christmas Eve we sang carols with my Dad and had some snacks at his house. Then, we came over to my house to open one present and to eat Hubby's Ozo Soup and prosciutto salad. It was yummy.

Alabama Cousins + Dad.

I snapped this photo of Hubby and Darling Daughter that I'm totally in love with. I love the look in both of their eyes. Pure and total love.

 

 

The biggest hits present-wise this Christmas for Son Number One were:

• The Hexbug Nano Set with 4 Hexbugs: This was not on his list, but Santa must have figured he'd like it.
• The Lego Batman Set with Robin: He'd been asking for this for months.  And you can tell by the look on his face when he opened it that he was thrilled.

 

 

The biggest hit for Son Number Two was:

• The Spinjitzu Lego Ninjago spinners: If Santa had only known that this was all Son Number Two really wanted, then he could have saved a lot of money and his elves would not have had to work so hard this year!
• He also really liked the Cars 2 Tokyo Spinout Track. 

 

 

The biggest hits for Darling Daughter this year:

• The dollhouse: The whole family has gotten into playing with this
• The Lalaloopsy Remote Control Car, and
• Son Number Two's LeapPad2. Funnily, I did not think she would be interested in this year, so did not bother asking Grandma for one, but she absolutely loves it, and she wants to play with it all the time! 

 

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!!!







Christmas Eve is Here Again

It's Christmas Eve, and I can hardly believe that this year has flown by so quickly.  I'm working a half day today, then I'll be home with my family to sing Christmas carols, eat, drink and be merry.  The kids are off the wall with excitement, dreaming about Lego Ninjagos, dollhouses, and all the other toys they may get from Santa Claus tomorrow morning. 

Here's what last Christmas looked like, and tomorrow I'll see what this Christmas looks like.  How fast they grow and how quickly the years slip by.  Enjoy every single moment you have with your children, because childhood is so fleeting.

I woke up this morning ready to run.  I needed to after spending much of yesterday on the couch or holding a sick child or sleeping.  I watched Glee pretty much all day long and indulged in potato chips.  I wrote about 5,000 more words of my novel, bringing my total now to 40,000 (roughly 150 pages).  I started reading, "For Whom the Bell Tolls," which promises to be a good book even if it does seem somewhat depressing.  I didn't exercise, unless you count the 25 minutes I jumped on the trampoline while all the kids were with their dad at the doctor being diagnosed with sinus infections. 

Some days it's super nice to be lazy.  I woke up with a plan to go running today.  I opened the door to the cats mewing, and alas it has already started raining here in Alabama.  The beginning of the Christmas storm has made it's way towards us so my feet won't hit the pavement. 

I'm okay with that.  I'll get back to running in a few days.  For today, I'm going to enjoy work.  I'm going to come home and enjoy my kids, my dad, my brother and his family.  I'm going to take joy in the fact that I have a family to share this wonderful time with.  I'm going to delight in the looks of my children's face tomorrow morning as they creep down the stairs and see what Santa left them. 

As I write this, the music of Pachelbel's Canon has begun playing on my Pandora, raising my spirits even more.

Merry Christmas Everyone!  May Yours be Shiny and Bright!!!

Christmas at the Bass Pro Shop

You may be wondering where my Goal Post is this week.  I decided to take a little break until after New Year's.  I have too many time commitments to give my goals their due respect, and I don't want to set goals and write about them knowing that I don't have time because of Christmas parties, kids, wrapping...you name it!

Last weekend, we took the kids to see Santa at the Bass Pro Shop in Prattville.  We dressed them up in their Christmas finery and headed out for a long drive to the "North Pole."  Number One and Number Two both brought Diary of the Wimpy Kid books to read (Number One) and to look at (Number Two). 

When we reached the shop the line was so long. We placed ourselves in the back of the line, and Hubby and I took turns standing there or chasing the kids.  Bass Pro Shop did a great job at providing entertainment for the kids: games, coloring, letters to Santa, a train, and the 4-wheeler display!

 

 

Now I can't say I approve of the Alabama bow on their tree, but I'll forgive them for that!  The boys played nicely which I must say is a Christmas Miracle.  They are like Tom and Jerry these days, always at each other's throats. 

 

 

Darling Daughter snuck off to take a peak of Santa.  I'm almost sure she made it into some unsuspecting family's Santa photo.  She was thrilled and in awe of Santa and not one bit scared of him!

 



 

 

After waiting in line, for what seemed like forever, our time with Santa finally came up.  The kids ran up to him, and there was a slight scuffle between Number One and Number Two about who would sit where.  Number Two didn't want to be in the middle, because well, he's ALWAYS in the middle.  I placed Darling Daughter on Santa's lap.  She was uncertain but didn't cry.

 

And then, the Christmas Elves snapped this priceless photo, that I will remember for years to come:

 

 

And it will always make me laugh!