The Big Race

Back in November I ran a half marathon. The crazy idea to run 13.1 miles came to me one late night in August as Addie was screaming and I lay there awake. I needed something to jump start me out of the hard baby phase. I needed to focus on me for a bit, to get my fitness on track again, to work towards a goal outside of sleeping through the night. :) Running a half marathon seemed like the perfect solution. When I got up the next day and started searching for training plans, I realized that I was exactly 10 weeks away from the City of Oaks race which is the perfect amount of time to train. I knew this project was meant to be!

So over the next 10 weeks I tackled my running program. I'd do two short runs during the weeks (usually before Brian went to work- he was awesome to help watch the girls so I could train) and then one long run on the weekend. Pretty quickly, I got into the routine and started to actually ENJOY the running. I'd pump up my country music, set off down Ridge Road and then hit the greenway. It became a really fulfilling way to spend an hour or two by myself.

Race day came, and it was the first really cold day of the year. It threw me a bit- trying to decide how to dress. I chose wrong and had some wardrobe issues during the race (along with stomach issues- ate too much in advance), but despite these setbacks I actually finished in record time! I crossed the finish line in 1 hour and 57 minutes. I had been running a 10-minute mile, but came in under that when it mattered . My goal had been to finish the race without walking, and I accomplished that. Overall, the whole experience was exactly what I wanted it to be. I dropped a little weight training, got back into the routine of working out regularly, and accomplished a goal. Does this half marathon inspire me to aim for a full now? Not a chance!

Halloween

When you become a bad blogger, you are all ready to move forward to blog about Christmas when you realize you completely forgot about Halloween! Ugh....and we had an AWESOME Halloween this year- definitely worth mentioning!

The original plan for costumes was a mermaid for Collins and a little fish for Addie. But when Donna whipped out that amazing Ms. Wuf costume, it didn't take Collins long to decide she wanted to be that for Halloween. So then I decided that Addie should be a baby Tar Heel. :) Fair, right? Mom offered to make Addie's costume, and she did a fabulous job! I loved that both girls had homemade costumes by two crafty grandmothers!

Collins got to show off her Ms. Wuf costume at dance class, at school, at church, and then on Halloween, and it was a hit everywhere.

The three muskateers were cute at church's Fall Fest (which I helped planned and was a disaster by the way- it poured just as the outdoor event was about to start and chaos ensued!). But they had a great time prancing around on stage, and Collins was honestly so confused when she didn't win the costume contest. She knew she had the best costume there (and she was right!).

On Halloween day we (Brian) carved our pumpkins, and the girls had a little moment hanging out together in the wagon. I can't wait for these moments to multiply!

Collins is giving Addie a "kissing hand". This is a really sweet thing she has started doing to us every once in awhile. It's from the book, and it's a kiss to take with you when you leave. I love that she gave Addie one. 

Most adorable pumpkin ever?

The idea behind our pumpkin came from a new Halloween book that Gigi gave Collins. Why carve one large pumpkin when you can carve six small pumpkins and make them look even scarier?!? Brian did an awesome job, and he and his special helper were very proud!

All ready for the big night! Cutest little house divided ever...

The Bakers down the street hosted our neighborhood party, and they did a great job. Then it was off to the races!

We discovered that the baby loves pizza crust, and she spent the entire party gnawing on her new-found treat.

Nora Rose came trick-or-treating with us, and it was so fun watching the girls squeal and race from house to house. Love that they both went as their Dad's favorite sport's team mascot (and that both had tails!).

The whole night was so festive. The weather was perfect, the girls were adorable, and you couldn't wipe the smile off Collins's face. Halloween really is more fun when you have kids. Oh and by the way, Addie slept through the whole thing at Gigi's house. 

Loved Halloween this year!

Thanksgiving in Hickory

So I decided to risk my sanity and drive the girls all the way from Wilmington to Hickory straight through (with a brief stop in Raleigh for lunch). They surprised me (as they always do), and did okay!

The road trip was not bad, but once we got there things took a turn for the worse.  Addie came down with a cold, and it got ugly. She could not sleep, and I have never heard this baby scream so much. Poor Dad and Heather put up with a lot as we crashed with them, but despite a cranky baby, we spent a wonderful holiday together.

Collins loves walking Mimi's dogs now...

This was our first attempt at a Christmas card photo...got rejected. :)

Mimi and Collins got creative with their Hide & Go Seek hiding spot...

After Thanksgiving lunch, we walked around the loop and guess who could not resist a giant pile of leaves....

Collins had a blast with the "wild boys" Jacob, Jonah and Noah at Paul and Pat's house, and we got to meet Logan (Brian and Jo's new baby) for the first time. Logan actually sucked on Addie's toes in a new kind of "nice to meet you" way. :) 

Mimi and Baba got the girls adorable matching Christmas pajamas to wear to kick-off the Christmas season. They loved their reindeer feet and Mimi's little Christmas tree too!

 

Loved spending time with everybody!

Thanksgiving at the Beach

We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Forks at the beach this year, and it was so festive. The weather was terrible (as usual- a little dark cloud always follows us down I-40 to Wilmington), but we just love being there. The girls and I had an extended stay because Collins was out of school, so we had plenty of time to relax and enjoy Wrightsville!

She is crazy...

And so is her Father....

It was really special celebrating our first Thanksgiving with our precious Addie...

Sweet thing ate her body weight in dinner rolls!

Loved having Thanksgiving at the beach!

Other Fall Things We've Been Up To...

Being outside and enjoying the outstanding weather!

Modeling our new Fall wardrobe (thanks to Mimi)...

Adding a new favorite to the Fall baking mix (whole wheat pumpkin muffins)...

Reaching new heights...

Feeling the creative juices flowing...

Getting our silliness out...

Impressing Ms. Wuf....

and making it onto Ms. Wuf's Facebook page.... :)

Winning in Chapel Hill! (love our girl football weekends!)...

Making the arduous task of blowing the leaves a little more enjoyable....love this time of year!