Our Christmas

Christmas Eve...

• 5 hours of baking

• Party with Runyans

• El Charro take-out

• Nativity game and lesson courtesy of my sister

• Christmas Pajamas

• Movies

Christmas...

• Wrapping gifts until 12:30am
• Putting kids back to bed at 1:30am
• Putting kids back to bed at 3:30am
• Telling kids they can sit at stare at the gifts at 5:00am
• Finally, getting out of bed and allowing kids to unwrap at 5:40am
• Pancakes
• Take kids to their dad's
• Bike ride with Lance (not really a ride so much as my clumsy attempt to get used to the gears and clipping in).
• Christmas dinner with Runyans

It was a hectic Christmas, but we loved it just the same.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

3 More Weeks!

I just finished running 20 miles- my last long run before the race.

In three weeks, I'll be running my second marathon and raising more money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in memory and honor of my mom.

If you'd like to help me reach my goal, please click on the fundraising page on the right side of my page.

Thank you to the following donators who have already contributed...

Tommy & Leigh Stapley
Pat and Joan Bird
Thos Porter
Wally Stevenson
Anita Epperson
Kendra Sullivan
Gary Carbonneau
Ashley Heap
Hannah & Jake Jemsek
Derek
Lee & Sue Cook
Jordan Paulk
Shawn Stevenson
Emily Burton
Cheryl Haws
Alicia Dart
Whitney Grum
Catherine Pletchette
Randy and Miriam Skidmore
Carol Anderson
Greg and Heidi Skidmore
Lori Baker
Kathy Bollinger
Sandy Wood
Keri Hatos
Ron & Wendy Peterson
Dave & Lucille Gates
Susie Eastwood
Yve Horowitz & Tim Bode
Natalie Hall
Casey, Kammie, Quade, and Crew
Brooke Understiller
Claire Fugit
Jim and Lindsay Rector
Ted Peterson
Jennifer Bray
Brianne Skidmore
Rayna & Kammie
Val & Kyle Reedy
Phil Peterson
Shane and meredith Urry
Rue and Nancy Wodell
Carolyn O'Reilly
Sammi Deutsch
Grant, Mindy & Colton Taylor
Bryon Smith
Max, Calvin, & Elle Stevenson
Lance Runyan
Tami Myers
John and Ann Gates
Kimberly Davis

Snow Days 2

What's a cabin trip without some sledding, snowman building, and a serious snowball fight?

Lance and Grandpa made a trail for the kids to sled on and kept them busy for hours.With the help of Grandpa, the girls built one homely snowman.

Then, the snowball fight commenced. This is not my favorite event at the cabin. Last year, I took a hard one to the head (and camera)- courtesy of my sweet brother-in-law. This year,I was determined to take cover, but when my guard was down for a brief moment, Casey took the opportunity to launch one monster snowball. I attempted to escape into the cabin, but my efforts were futile and I ended up sliding on my back into the kitchen surrounded by melting snow. Is this what having a little brother is like? So sad I missed that my whole life.

Snow Days

We spent last weekend up at the cabin.

They were some cold, snowy days.

More cabin pictures to follow...

Chimney Flue

After starting the fire, I realized I'd forgotten to open the chimney flue.

The living room filled with smoke,

but my kiddos, as smart as they are, fell to their knees to crawl under the smoke.
(I was quite impressed by this!)

Then, they continued to crawl around "under the smoke" for the next hour or so.

I decided that my kids are kinda weird.

The Skidmores

I recently took some photos of my sister's family for Christmas.

Here are a few:

Takes It In the Eye

See what happen when Grandpa gives grandson a motorized scooter that is made for age 12+!

Faceplant on the asphalt!

Thank goodness:

1) Accident happened at Dad's!

2) Dad is a surgeon and had Dermabond on hand to glue the deep cut back together!

3) Cal is one tough cookie and took it like a man!

If you recall, Elle's eye met the same fate one year ago.

You know what this means... Yeah, you're next big guy!

Advent Day

The traditional gingerbread house~


Ahhh...it's a beauty.

Temple Lights

We took the kids to see the Temple Lights.

It was beautiful

and

cold

and

felt like Christmas.

Impromptu Shoot

While taking family photos for my sister, I handed over the camera and asked her to snap a few of Lance and I.

(Excuse my bohemian hair. I wasn't planning on being in any pictures!)

Fiesta Bowl Half-Marathon

Yesterday, I ran the Fiesta Bowl Half-Marathon.

Waiting for the start was cold, but once I was running, it was comfortable.

The course was fun, taking us through McCormick Ranch and up and down through the parks on Hayden Road.

My goal time was around 1:50 and that's exactly how I finished.

1:50:43 to be exact.

Thank goodness for the Garmin. That baby kept me right on pace!

I celebrated my race with El Charro and a nap!

Run

There are some days that I have to repeat this over and over.

Are you a wimp? or Are you strong?

I am now in the trenches of the most difficult part of my marathon training.

I ran a long one on Wednesday morning and as I got to mile 12, I thought, "Wow, I feel so good. This is easy."

2 hours and 42 minutes after I started, my Garmin alerted me to my 18 mile distance goal and I came to a stop. My legs cramped up and began to ache like they've never ached before. I started to tear up. "I am not gonna cry this time," I scolded myself.

Yes, I've cried while running a few times.

Last spring, when I ran my longest 21 mile training run, I cried the last 2 miles.

CRIED.

So, maybe I am a bit of a wimp.

Not this time. I held back the tears until the pain subsided (an hour and an ice bath later).

With my marathon coming up next month, I only have a couple of really long runs left and hopefully I can keep the tears from falling.

On January 17th it will all be worth it.


In the next few months I'll be running these:

Fiesta Bowl half-marathon
12k's of Christmas
Lost Dutchman half-marathon
Ethan's Run
Ragnar
Pat's Run

Please, sign up and run with me. It will be fun and tear-free!

Yummy Soups

Lately, I have become obsessed with soups.

Maybe it's the cold weather,
but I just can't get enough.

These two recipes, along with the buttery cornbread, will keep you warm and cozy on these chilly nights.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Black Bean Soup

INGREDIENTS:

3 cans (43.5 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes

1 can (16 ounces) pumpkin puree

1/2 cup chopped shallot or red onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

4 tablespoons olive or canola oil

4 cups vegetable broth

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

3 tablespoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon allspice

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Baked pumpkin seeds, for garnish (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:
Place oil, shallot or red onion, garlic, cumin, salt, pepper, cinnamon and allspice into a large pot and cook on low-medium heat until the shallot or red onion and garlic begin to brown.
Using a food processor, puree the beans and tomatoes with half of the vegetable broth. Add the pureed beans, tomatoes, pumpkin and the rest of the broth to the pot.
Simmer the mixture uncovered until thick, about 40-45 minutes. Before serving, stir in the balsamic vinegar. Garnish with baked pumpkin seeds.

Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
4 stalks celery, chopped
1 medium carrot, chopped
3 medium potatoes, cubed
1 large butternut squash - peeled, seeded, and cubed
1 (32 fluid ounce) container chicken stock
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
Put the oil in a large pot, and cook the onion, celery, carrot, potatoes, and squash 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Pour in enough of the chicken stock to cover vegetables. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer 40 minutes, or until all vegetables are tender.
Season with sea salt and pepper.

Grandma's Corn Bread

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F .

Grease an 8 inch square pan.

Melt butter in large skillet. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Quickly add eggs and beat until well blended. Combine buttermilk with baking soda and stir into mixture in pan. Stir in cornmeal, flour, and salt until well blended and few lumps remain. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Advent Calendar

Here's a quick advent calendar I pulled together yesterday.

It's quick and easy and really cute!

You'll need:

3 kinds of ribbon
small bags (got mine in the wedding section at Michael's)
jingle bells
sticker numbers
glue gun
tissue paper
activity ideas written on strips of paper

Glue ribbon around the top of each bag.
Attach sticker.Glue jingle bells to bag.Tie a strip of ribbon to the bag. (Use different lengths of ribbon on each bag.)Now, you're ready to hang the bags from one long strip of ribbon.

We're going to open our 1st today...Decorating the tree and watching The Grinch!

Never Again

For the first time in my life, I attempted to confront Black Friday head-on and

I was not going unprepared.

Last night, I devised a plan of attack, organized a comprehensive collage of goal purchases, and set my alarm.

At 3:00am, I picked up my sister (had to talk her into it...mentioned something about it being great training for Ragnar late night runs) and together we set off.

Old Navy was our first destination.

And... here is where my extensive, well-calculated plan came to a screeching halt.

Apparently, there was a breech and word of my strategy had gotten out.

I was not the only one who had decided on Old Navy as the starting point on this dark day.

A line of shoppers wound outside and around Old Navy and a "bouncer" was standing outside of the door letting one shopper in as one would leave.

Ugh. I suddenly remembered why I had avoided this for 35 years.

After a quick change of plans, we managed to slowly (6 hours to be exact) make our way through Justice, ToysRus, Target, and Michaels.

We even slipped in an unscheduled pit stop at Dunkin Donuts.

All in all, we made out OK.

I got half of my shopping done and now I'm going to bed.

Would I do it again?

No.

Once is enough for me.

Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving and this big guy likes me.


Happy Turkey Day.

Everyday
I am thankful for...

my dad and my sister.
They keep me laughing and grounded.

my children.
I get to share my life with 3 of the most compassionate, creative, and unique little people.

my healthy body.
I no longer take it for granted and do my best to care for it.

my home.
It's small,warm, and safe, and smells like pumpkin bread.

my love.
He stands by me always, thinks I'm funny, does my dishes, loves my desserts, and says I can do anything (and really believes it.)

my friends.
There are many, old and new.

my mom, my angel.
She never feels too far away.

Happy Thanksgiving.

We're Ready for the Challenge

It's still a few months away

and

I've got a marathon to finish first.

But, I am already excited for Ragnar.

My sister and I have put together Team Haulin' Asphalt.

12 brave ladies are covering 202 miles of Arizona highway.

We're ready for the challenge!

Christmas Shoot

We took the kids out for a photo shoot today.

Got lots of great shots of them individually, but together, there was really just a lot of pushing, kicking, and silly faces.

Now, what to do for Christmas cards?

Dog Day

Last November, this guy came home to live with us.

One year later, he is a bit larger and a lot more trouble, but just as lovable.

Happy 1st Anniversary, Russell!