Chirstmas Picture Fun

So last night we decided to take some pictures to put in our Christmas cards. You haven't had fun until you've tried to take a family picture with three kids under the age of 5! We took over 200 pictures and were never able to get one without someone's eyes closed, looking away, someone's underwear showing, someone pouting, or crying. What a stressful evening!

Tomorrow is our 8th wedding anniversary and I still love kissing my hubby. We weren't even under the mistletoe!

Lydia's Christmas jammies

Big sisters!

I cannot get Esther to relax for a posed picture. AT EASE!

I had kept a straight face long enough through the madness!

Christmas Fun Meet

Esther and Hannah had a Fun Meet at gymnastics this past Saturday. Here are some of their pics! The one's of Lydia are the best, I think!

For All My Running Buddies

This is an post for all my fellow runners: I was talking to a friend today that told me about this awesome website runningmaps.com (I also found mapmyrun.com to be cool too). It allows you to easily map out your runs and tells you the exact distances from point to point and the inclines/declines, etc. I had a blast this evening mapping out tomorrow's run.

Also, drumroll!!!! I see the next Muddy Buddies date is April 11, 2010 in Orlando! Anyone ready to join me this time around? Let me know. I am defintely planning to compete! If your wondering what this is, just scroll down to my previous blogs to read all about it.

WISHING YOU HAVE HAPPY RUNS!

A Turkey Trot...or A Turkey Trudge

So, while most people enjoy sleeping in and eating all day on Thanksgiving, me and two fellow runners decided to run in the Turkey Trot at Clearwater High School. It was our first 10K (6.2 miles) race. Before the race, I was full of confidence that it should be no big deal since I had already ran 7 miles the Saturday before as per my regular training schedule. Well, I was certainly fooled as I am used to running in Dover which is completely flat! I don't know how it mathematically worked out this way, but I swear it was uphill the entire way. Yes, there were a few downhill moments, but they always seemed to be followed up with another incline. Anyways, I finished in 1 hour 13 minutes. I'm slow, but steady and had a ton of fun reguardless!

I have been working really hard since this race to get my self used to running faster. I have to run 9 miles this week and plan to run down Hwy 60 and Valrico Road to give myself a few inclines...just in case Disney isn't as flat as I remember. :)

Before the big race

My friend Sarah was the first of us to cross the finish line!

My sister-in-law Joy was next


Me last!



The spot where I dropped afterwards :) We're still smiling, though!

Muddy Buddies--Partners in Grime!

This past Sunday my dad and I competed in the Muddy buddy race in Miami. If you have never heard of it, I'll explain how it works. You and a partner take turns riding a bike and running. One person starts off running and one riding. After the first mile, the person riding gets to the obstacle first and drops their bike, completes the obstacle, and begins running the next mile. The runner reaches the 1st obstacle, completes it, and begins riding the next mile to the next obstacle. You continue "relaying" for approx. 6 miles. Our obstacles were a rock climbing wall, a low crawl under some nets, balance beams, and an inflatable slide. You meet up with your buddy at the end and have to complete the final obstacle together...the giant mudpit, through which you must crawl on your belly. We had a blast! Can't wait til next years!!!!

The mud pit!

Ready for the big race


Rethinking the race at this point

Me trying to cheat a little by lifting up the flags so my face wouldn't get so gross

The community shower

My Little Piggies

For Halloween this year, my girls dressed up as the three little pigs. We went to Josiah's parent's church in Plant City for a Fall Festival and ended up ton of candy.

Esther's School's Sports-a-thon

It was a hot, sunny day in October....we ran...and ran...and ran! I was due, according to my training schedule, to run four miles that day, but I think I ran more. We had an hour to see how many laps we could run. Esther ran 52 laps! I was really proud of her!

A Pork Pig out

With having my grandmother and two aunts in town, my dad decided to have us all over for one of his pork rib pig-outs. He cooks them all day in this contraption outside and they are nothing short of DIVINE! The kids love them too!

I'm not quite sure the horsey (Devin) can breathe!

Hannah's 3rd Birthday Party

Hannah's birthday party ended up being a hit! We had a great turn out with three great-grandparents, two sets of grandparents, parents, friends, a great auntie from Michigan, cousins, aunts, uncles, and a surrogate grandmother. It was so loud...perfect for 3 year old fun!

Daddy showing off his juggling abilities he learned in Equador when he was 13.

Great Aunt Diana and Lydia

Aunt Grace, Joy, and Mommy



Esther, Hannah, Kate, & another Hannah

Esther, Hannah, and Cousin Sammy

This is Gunna Take A While

Well, I have been gone a lot and this has definitely thrown my usual routine into an even more crazy spin. Two weeks ago my mom and I went on a cruise to Grand Cayman and Mexico. It was great getting away, just us girls. I don't think I've done that since I had Esther. Here are some pics of Esther's gym meet from September. She was so proud that she got all 9's and above!