Frosty 5K

Today was great, I got to run a 5K with my son Michael.  That means I have run a race will all my kids but Kellie, I am going to have to work on her.  It wasn't as cold as I thought it was going to be, and Michael was kind enough to stay back and coach me-that helped me to set a new PR.  Up to this point I have been stopping to walk for a few seconds every 1/2 to mile, last time I walked for about 20 seconds at about mile 2.  This time I ran non-stop start to finish.  We met up with a lady at mile 2 that kept me going, I wanted to talk to her, so I had to keep up with her.  After we broke off from her Michael encouraged me to sprint to the end.  I had told him I had no more left, I was already pushing myself.  He didn't buy it, and thanks to his encouragement I seriouslly sprinted the last part, coming in with a time of 35minutes 16 seconds.  4 minutes and 27 seconds better than the St pattys 5K, which is the same route.  That was my first 5K, so I was kind of holding back, not sure how I would do, this time I gave it my all.  Michael said if I felt like I was going to puke just before I finished then I truly gave it my all, and while I never actually puked, I defninatley felt like it.  Thanks Michael, it feels good to know I truly did my best today.  I also have to say thankyou to vaughan and Amy Nelson for letting us carpool with them,and waiting for us at the finish line.  It was a lot of fun, and I was shocked to see that we were in the car on the way home by 10am, quick, easy and fun.  Great way to start out the day.

I finished my stat's class this week,  HALLELUIA!!!!!  Never ever will I take that class again.  It was a tough one, but I pulled it off.  Now I just have 2 eight week sets of classes left and I am done with my BSN, That is going to be awesome.  But before then, I get a little break to enjoy Christmas with my family in Utah, I am so excited, less than a week away now, til we fly down.

I'm floating to a new unit at work, it definately takes me out of my confort zone, so it is a bit more stressful, but it is something new and different, which is nice now and again, even when you are a little more stressed.

Hope everyone has a great holiday, and Merry Christmas!!!

Our Love Hate relationship with Christmas

In our house we have a love hate relationship with Christmas, my husband hates it, and everyone else loves it:)  Since Bob works in retail Christmas to him means long hours, busy days and lots of stressed out customers and just a lot of work in general.  He gets tired of hearing Christmas music (which is piped in overhead constantly while he is working) and in general looks at Christmas as just a lot of extra work.  The commercialism of Christmas has worn him down, his favorite Christmas movie is "How the Grinch stole Christmas"

The rest of us, however, LOVE Christmas and all the happiness and joy that comes with it.  There are a lot of extra things I do at Christmas, but I pretty much enjoy them all.  Everyone is so full of love and kindess and giving and willingness to help others out, it is great.

 This year, since we will be spending it at Greg's house we went minimal with the Christmas tree, we have an artificial one that is pre-lit, and there will be no outside lights or extra decorations.   When the kids were little I used to force them out for hours looking for the right Christmas tree. Some years we went to stores, others to farms and sometimes to the local lot.  It was a family activity with a lot of memories.  I swore I would never have an artificial tree.  Then I bought one, wow!  Michael and I put it up in an hour then we were able to relax and enjoy each others company, what a difference!  The smell isn't the same, but I think I can find some freshener for that, I don't plan on going back to a real tree, ever!

Michael and I started on Candy Making and he is going to have a bunch of his friends over in the morning to help me finish...it's time for the traditional plate of Northrup candy, if I missed you let me know and I will make sure you get some!  I sure as heck don't need to eat all the leftovers.  Bob doesn't make candy,but I know he loves eating it.

I had a blast doing black Friday shopping with Kevin and Michael last week, we started at 3am that day and were shocked by how many people were up and at it, but that is completed,  and there is something exhilarating about knowing I got a really good deal on the presents I bought.  Yeah!  feels great, I can relax and not worry about gifts.  I do keep a few small extra wrapped presents around, just in case I missed someone.  Bob was involved with black Friday too...just on the other end.

Next is the Christmas cards, or should I say letter.  It is kind of cliche, but it lets everyone in our life know what is going on (because very few of them read my blog), and I think it is a little more personal than just a card. 

Another thing I love is the music, I need to did out my Manheim Steamroller Christmas CD, but as I mentioned above, I can only listen when Bob isn't around, so I think I'll put it in my car.

Finally, my very favorite Christmas tradition, pretty much the only Christmas tradition Bob loves too, acting out the Christmas story, since the children got older we went to just reading it, instead of acting it out.  When they were little we had to go through it 5 times so everyone would get to play every part.  It was a lot of fun.  This year we will be with our grandsons, and so I will get to see it actually acted out again.  I am so excited for that! 

That's my Christmas for this year, yeah, there is still work and school, but I plan to enjoy all the excitement up til Christmas and I am counting the days til we are all together again as a family for Christmas.  I hope you get to spend it with family and have a great one too!