I'll never tire of the play on words.

"Mom- for April Fool's day I have a funny joke I'm going to play on my teacher."

"What's that?"

"Well- I'm going to take a cereal box to school but it won't be empty- it will be full! Then I'll give it to her and say "April Fool's"!! Won't that be funny?"

"Huh? That sounds cute but what do you mean? I don't understand the joke"

"MOM, The cereal box will be FULL- get it "April Full's" because it will be April Full's Day."

"Ooooh I see now. Yep. That's the funniest thing I've ever heard of. You are pretty clever."

Nope sure didn't correct her. You can bet I'll be sending her with a full box of cereal on April "Full's" day too. I'm not hoarding this one to myself. ;)

Chevron Houston Marathon 2014

One day post marathon.

Running a marathon wasn't ever on my "bucket list".

I hate running. Really. Then something happened a couple years ago and I became addicted. I realized I could run. I could run far and I could keep going when I wanted to quit. While I still didn't like it, somehow it became a competition within myself. It became therapy. It became a release.
See here: When I finally "got" it.

When I hurt my leg/ spine last year and couldn't run I realized how much I needed it. It drove me crazy to NOT run. Strange after all those years of loathing it.

I signed up for the Houston Marathon and the entire time wondered slightly what I was doing and why. I trained when I could- squeezing runs in after work before I picked up Georgia some nights. Other nights she went with me and I pushed her around in the stroller. Many times I just wasn't able to run. I ran every other weekend when she was at her Dad's house. I woke up at 5am most mornings to do core training at home so I wouldn't re-injure my leg and spine.

I was sick with a kidney infection last weekend and missed a pretty important weekend to run going into the marathon. Sunday when I finally felt somewhat human I forced myself to at least walk Memorial which was truly all I could do. :/

Running and finishing the Houston Marathon yesterday was a pretty overwhelming experience. At first I was doing much better than I expected pacing out at under 8:30 a mile. About half way through my paced slowed then around mile 20 I hit a "wall". Mile 23 I felt like I was dying. The last mile (which I thought I would be able to pull deep and race my way in) was the most miserable thing I've ever experienced. Well- actually mile 23 and 24 top the last mile.

I told my friends that I hope this is like child birth and the memory of how awful it was fades away so I'll want to do it again. Sure enough this morning I'm ready to do it again (of course after the soreness fades) but hey! At least I can walk today....and I've all ready found my next run. I'm addicted.

This would be the "wall" or Death by Running. Your pick.

The Medal! It's Official!

My Stats! Not too shabby for my first Marathon!!!

Sick :(

I wasn't feeling quite up to par over the past weekend. Which is pretty unfortunate considering I have to run 26.2 miles next Sunday and was really counting on this weekend for some training time. Wish me luck...I guess.

My mom came over Friday night to help out because I was basically incapacitated. My dad had to drive me to the doctor from work Friday morning- it was that bad. She took Georgia to the store and usual they came back loaded down with sick food and gifts (flowers, chicken noodle soup, stuffed animals to keep me company, etc.) all picked out by Georgia herself.... oh wait, there is a King's Cake in my kitchen right now as well. Pretty sure Georgia slide that one in on the "Grandma's buy anything" tab as she begged me for it just a few days ago. (you can clearly see who has the restraint here) Apparently they even ran into a school mate whose mother got the run down (according to Georgia) of my ailments. Sounds like things get pretty crazy at the local Randall's on Friday nights....

I on the other hand felt as though I was knocking on death's door and could barely move to acknowledge the sweetness.

The next morning I was slowly functioning (able to move downstairs and stay awake for periods of time) when Georgia came up to me:

"Mom are you feeling better?"
"Yes, better than yesterday that's for sure."
"Good! That means God answered my prayers! I prayed you would be better today and he listened!"

She's kinda the best.

New Year's Eve- 2013

Happy New Year's Eve!!!

Saying goodbye to 2013. What a year! I have to say I am sad to see it go- Georgia and I did so much this year . I suppose you know you are on the right path when you are just happy. I'm there- happy. 

2013 was a really good year. I made some moves in my life that I needed to make. For the first time I went out on my own. I did things MY way. What was I scared of all this time?  As long as I can remember I play the "what were you doing when.." game. What was I doing this time last year? Wow were things different. Thus has been the story of my life the past few years.... although I feel the biggest change within myself took place this past year. Taking some time to be by myself was something that was long overdue.

Everything happens for a reason.

I've traveled, I've spent time with my daughter, I've laughed, I've made amazing memories, I've spent time with people that I care about. I stopped worrying about answering that question of "why?" and just went with "why not?" It was pretty freeing.

I've had my down moments and my times of second guessing myself but at the end of the day I think I've come to realize my intuition is normally pretty spot on. Some things you are meant to leave behind. It's part of life.

10 Things You Should Let Go Of

 Seems as though this was the theme for 2013- I'll keep it around for awhile longer I think....

And my resolution for 2014:

As always there is so much more to say but I think I'll leave it here for now. Happy New Year! Be safe and Cheers to another amazing year ahead!

Summer, Summer, Summer

Perfect description!

Christmas Eve 2013

My view for the evening. "Santa" still has some morning set up to do (a few things can't go into action until last minute) but for now I am ready. I just changed that "I" to an "I" as well. I had typed "we" but Georgia clearly wasn't a part of this part of the day.

As per usual I'm doing a last minute Christmas Eve post. I made it through the day- Early morning last minute shopping, Christmas Eve breakfast and Lunch at my Dad's, Dinner in Pearland at my Mom's, Candlelight church with Georgia back home. A sweet tradition she and I began last year just the two of us that I'm really glad we have continued. In the past we have tried bouncing around on Christmas Eve from church to Church grabbing whichever service fit the schedule with whichever family member we were with. Last year I called it quits and decided we would be at our church on Christmas Eve to begin our wind down of the evening and it works out perfectly. Certain moments in life like seeing your daughter singing "Silent Night" on Christmas Eve with her face lit up by candlelight are tough to beat. Add to that moment that she looks at you with all the wonder of childhood and excitement of Christmas and well...you get it. I adore my family but I'm secretly glad that I'm selfish sometimes and steal those moments just for myself.

I'll circle back with a run down of our month later- it's been fun. We've done our usual Christmas showdown of activities and fun and tomorrow will not be any different. 

The thing that overwhelms me with joy tonight is the gifts under the tree- the gifts for Georgia, the gifts for my family, my friends, the people that matter to us in our life. There is a sense of accomplishment in seeing how far I've come over the past few years. Of course I'm never quite "there" but I'm closer than I was yesterday. I'm blessed. We (I'll go ahead and use that here) are blessed. Blessed to be surrounded by so many people that love us. Blessed to have gifts to give people and that we are able to give. 

I'm most blessed by a little 6 year old that has been tracking Santa Claus via GPS on my iPhone all day.  The sweetest notes were left this evening for Elfie & Santa. She just makes your heart melt:

"Dear Elfie, I love you forever, I like you for always, as long as I'm living my Elfie you'll be."

"Dear Santa, Tell the reindeer I said Hi, especially Prancer. Love, Georgia B.

PS- I had something for you" (Picture of reindeer attached)

Oh Georgia! I've said it before and I'll say it again- I miss this night all ready. She is growing up too fast. SHE read me "The Night Before Christmas" tonight. When did that happen?? Life is going by fast. My girl is growing up. For now we will celebrate each day as it comes our way. No one knows what comes next.

48 Hours til Showtime

We are 48 Hours from Showtime.

I finally got my act together last night. I pulled out all the gifts and wrapped like a manic so we now have gifts under the tree. Then I constructed a paper chain for the "Elf" to have draped across the front room last night so Georgia could get a good laugh in this morning before we headed out for the day. I zonked out around midnight.
(This is post shopping all weekend long and really not accomplishing much at the malls and wondering why my life is doomed since my online purchases are not going to arrive on time)

Georgia runs downstairs this morning, "Oh my goodness! Elfie!!! You. are. SO. crazy!" giggle, giggle, giggle, giggle. Check- paper chain for the third year in a row totally worth it. She runs into the back room to check out the gifts now bulging from under the tree.

"Mom- I KNOW you got me what I REALLY want!!! I just KNOW it!"
"Oh yeah? What's that?"
(The list this year has repeatedly been "A Real Live Horse, A Cell Phone, Snow, A Saddle" I had a lot to work with.....)
"The Castle from FROZEN!!!!!"

Huh?!??

48 hours my friends- 48 hours.
....and did I mention 10 of those I'm at work, then the next 24 are dead hours filled with family events?