10/10!!!!

I did it!! I actually saw a resolution all the way through! Last time this happened I was eight and had vowed not to watch Murder, She Wrote. 

This was not a speed race. This was 2,600 people dressed like Santa. I'm totally making the whole family do it next year (in costume, of course) and there *may* be Jell-O shots. It was SO FUN!

Finished! They gave us cookies and milk at the end of the race. And whole boxes of protein bars which was kind of random.

Cali kids so excited to see "snow"

Catching up

We had the "storm of the decade" and it was underwhelming. I also screwed up chicken noodle soup epically. It was so gross.

I took a spontaneous day off this week. The girls and I hit up the Walmart, then story time, and then picked our Christmas tree in about 2.4 seconds. Basically I walked up to the kid and asked what he had for under $50. 

Turned out $50 will buy you a pretty big ass tree. Is it just me, or are the sparser trees more popular this year? The couple I've seen, I like a lot.

We went out to dinner tonight. A marching band came through and we were stuck between the tubas and the drums. Pretty sure it was the most relaxing part of the evening.

Averson's been wearing that tiger costume as a coat. The preschool moms think C is a genius.

We're off to holiday the f out of this weekend. There's a craft bazaar tomorrow (squee!) and Syd gets to wear her Christmas dress twice. OMG.

9/10

So, there's no pre-race selfie because I ALMOST MISSED THE RACE. This was a marathon relay and I was given the third leg, which started at the halfway point 13.1.) I did basic math, subtracted an hour, and left for the relay point. 

Putting my shoes on outside to trick the dog. Totally didn't work.

So I drove ten of the fifteen miles to my spot and literally couldn't go any further. After driving like a banshee through residential neighborhoods, I managed to gain another two miles. I called a teammate for an ETA of the second leg runner and realized I wasn't going to make it. So I screeched into the parking lot of perhaps the most ghetto sports bar ever, threw on my gear, took a final swig of water, and joined the race. I ended up running 10.04 miles (instead of the seven I'd planned.) My first mile was great, but I really struggled with my pacing for the rest of it, so I alternated running too fast and walking. I think all the adrenaline wiped me out. That and there were a LOT of hills. My legs are aching already. 

But I made it and my time wasn't awful. I beat my Leg 2 runner by about two minutes and found my Leg 4 runner easily. Then I jumped/hobbled onto a school bus to the finish to meet up with the rest of the team.

So tiny! And I'm not a tall person. Also, this bus REEKED.

Our team. I'd only ever met the girl in the skirt, who was not on either side of my run of course.

The shirt is not cute, but this will always be my "Never give up!" race. Also, a reminder that I don't need to do this kind of race again. It was fun, and the course support was amazing, but I think for me running is definitely an individual sport. 

Holy crap. This is going to happen!

You guys! I just registered for my tenth race. Number nine is this weekend. At the very last minute (like two days ago), I was invited to be on a relay team for the California International Marathon. I am so, so excited! Number ten involves Santa suits :)

Out of the mouths of...

Best quote of the day

"You can only stab so many people...Besides, it's like stabbing the beast! You just keep stabbing these guys and the don't die."

Angsty

Sunday nights blow around here lately. As I was putting in a load of work clothes and finishing up a dishwasher-full of travel mugs and benefits, I had the clearest thought that I am not looking forward to work. At all. I HATE this feeling. I can usually find my ray of sunshine, but longish weekends make it harder.

I had to bail on work on Friday when a sick, feverish baby threw a wrench in the delicate ballet of pick-up/drop-off/rinse/repeat. Turns out that meant that I could go to Sydney's "feast." It was really fun, and I'm glad I went, but I was definitely the second string parent. The preschool teacher, who's been her teacher for two years, couldn't remember my name.

I also feel like I spend all weekend recovering from the week (cleaning, laundry) and preparing for the week ahead. I mustang get excited about getting up early to spend eight hours in a windowless office. I know, world's tiniest violin. But as I was whining to C, he asked what I'd rather do, besides stay home since that's not a feasible option unless we win the lottery.  I came up with some fantastical ideas, but there were actually a couple that could work. Like doing community work or opening a used bookstore :)

So that's where I'm at. If I'm going to miss 40-60 hours of time with my family, I'd prefer that it not suck.

Seven years

We found this in an old play wallet today

So then we decided to remake the same shot

Kind of blows my mind