Holiday Lights at Fairview

Over the holidays we love to go look at Christmas lights and up at the Shops of Fairview they had lights going to music.  The girls loved it and they even had a little stage in front of the big x-mas tree that kids could get up and dance on.  The girls took full advantage of it!

Tim and his girls:

Our tiny dancers:

The 4 of us.  We all had smiles sort of looking at the camera...who knew it could happen!

Running in the White Rock Marathon Relay

Let me start with the fact that I've never been a runner before.  I don't know that I would call myself one now, but I have tried several times over the past decade to take up running because it is one of Tim's passions and it would be something I could do with him. But, it just never clicked for me and so pre-kids we would go on long walks together, but once we had kids, he would run and I would do go to the gym or walk.  Now, I still can't keep up with my speed-demon hubby, but I have grown to really like running and I will try to eventually catch up to his time...who am I kidding!! I will never catch him :)  but, I plan on continuing to run.   

It all started when I was reading a post of Heather's from her blog and got so inspired by her wanting to run the White Rock 1/2 marathon as a gift to her husband Brandon, "in honor of him and this charity he feels so strongly for".  I was so moved by it that I called or emailed her right after I read it and told her I would run it with her.   Then, I got off the phone and asked myself what had I just committed myself to???  13.1 miles??  But, then I found out that Brandon wanted to run it and we talked about getting a team together to do the relay.  For this non-runner, 5 miles sounded just fine :)  And, as of this past Sunday, our "team" ran the race in this crazy Texas weather and watched Brandon as the last leg of the relay run across the finish line! 

Tim and I decided to "carb" it up on Saturday night before the race and tried out a new restaurant Dough.  Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!

All layered up and ready to run!    Just to show how crazy this Texas weather is - Thursday night I ran my last pre-race run with a tank top and capri workout pants.  Sunday morning I had on gloves, hat, tank top, long sleeve, throw-away sweatshirt, rain jacket and capri workout pants!  Ugh!

Capturing a couple parts of my run

 

I took the bus back after my leg of the relay was over to meet up with Tim and Nathan.  These guys are such great running partners.  I'm so impressed at how well they do and that they can talk to each other during their runs.  I can't even sing my songs out loud without losing my breath :)  They finished their 1/2 in 1 hour 48 minutes!  Amazing!!

Brandon's brother Wade had finished around the same time as the boys and then Heather came in and joined us.  Way to go guys!!! So proud of you!

 Woohoo...we did it!

Check out our relay team name...Brandon's Beauties!   Thanks Brandon!  One joking suggestion in an email and you took it??  I set myself up for that one!

Here he comes - look at that big smile!  As he should have!  What a great accomplishment Brandon!  I am so proud of you and so happy to have been part of your team!

Little side shuffle showboating!  I expect nothing less of you Brandon!

And the finish!

Aren't they so cute!

Our relay team and the 1/2ers!

See you next year!

Christmas Lights for the 1st Time

We went up to Watters Creek to let the girls see the Christmas lights.  Avery loves them of course and this was Ella's 1st time to see anything like it.  She couldn't stop pointing and jibbering about them and just kept pointing and pointing and pointing.  It was so cute! 

Aha...got a pic of them both smiling and looking at the same time.  Enjoy it for now!

What is it about these ducks that the kids love them so much?  Ella was super-excited to be able to "almost" sit on them.

But, then she fell off...maybe I should have helped her instead of taking the photo but it wasn't that far down.  Oh well.  Just a little dirt on the hands.  She probably kept falling off bcuz her hat kept falling over her eyes. I think we might need a new hat.

And then Avery wanted me to join the photo op

Showing off her freebie they gave her in her favorite store up there...Vera Bradley.  She has to go in every time we go up there.  She loves to peruse around and look at all the bright patterns and accessories.

And, well of course we had to get ice cream.  We should buy stock in Paciugo!

Trains at Northpark

We went with Darmi and Poppy to go see the trains at Northpark and it was so much fun!  The girls just loved seeing all the trains and they had these buttons you could push where something would become animated on the tracks.  And, of course we each got a sticker except me and it was very important for Avery that I go get mine before we left. 

I think she looks pretty excited!

Look, a sweet moment between the girls with no crying or fighting.  At least from the back it looks sweet :)

That's a pretty happy face too!

Poppy showing Ella the State Fair part of the track.  It's her 1st state fair experience ;)

One day, Ella will look at the camera and smile but for now at least she's in the pictures.

These girls have it good!  After the trains, we got lunch at Chick-fil-A, heard a high school orchestra play, walked and played around the mall and got Paciugo for dessert.  It's pretty fun to be with them too!

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays of the year!  I think it's because of the super-yummy food that we have each year - so comforting, having the entire family over to our house and having it filled with children's laughter and cozy adult conversations,  and just the laid-back, easygoing atmosphere of the whole day.    We even spent a lot of time in our "wine room" this year and it was so great to finally be able to use it when guests are over.  We ate til our tummies were stuffed and then ate some more, drank some wonderful wine, took some yummy shots, and then ate some more :)  Hope yours was as wonderful as ours!

Trying to get a group shot of the all the kiddos.  Ella was having none of it and for the most part everyone else was at least looking at the camera :)

The living room was full with football watchers

The Penrod Men

plus a Finkelstein & a Jurney

The Fantastic Women in our family

These sweet kids all played downstairs coloring and on their ipods while Ella slept.  They are such amazing children!