Connor Turns Double Digits!

 

I still remember my dad saying "You are now double digits!".  I guess I thought that was really cool. Haha.




So Connor is 10.  Well as I type he's really closer to 11.  For his birthday we had all his friends over and painted wooden race cars.  Then we attempted to race them down a homemade ramp made by super mom.  Honestly, this turned out the be not too fun and they didn't do it for long but it looked good.



So happy birthday my first born.  You make us laugh all the time.  You are a great friend and a even better brother (even though you antagonize her).  We are proud of you and can't wait to see what's next for you!

Kim and Erin's Marathon--Proof that Miracles Still Happen

Well, I can't believe we did it.  I'm not really sure how it all started.  I do know it was Erin's idea.  Why I actually agreed I don't know.  It was on my bucket list so I guess that was it.  It was good that we had no idea what we were in for.

We started training in January 2014.  We got up to about 6 miles and then Erin went away for a month in the summer.  When she came back we had both lost ground and started back at 2 miles.  But we kept on going and trained all fall and winter.  I remember when we were able to run 9 miles for the first time.  It was running from my house to McKinney all the way down Eldorado.  It actually seemed easy.  That was the first time I thought "maybe we can do this".  I think at that point we felt we had come too far to turn back so we kept on training.  We ran in cold, rain, ice, snow, and wind.  I don't know if that was worse or the heat of the summer when we would have to start by 6 a.m. or it would get too hot.

Our farthest run was 23 miles down at White Rock Lake.  That was the day we both crashed.  Erin at around 13 hit a wall with her sciata but kept going.  I was nauseus at 20.  Somehow we made it.  That was in January I believe and the race was Feb. 15.



Race day came and the weather in Austin was projected to be warmer than we preferred (up to 60, we liked 40).
 



 I started way back in the pack because who are we kidding.  The first 6 miles or so we slightly uphill but we both felt good and it went by fast.  6 miles by that point had really become a warm up for us.  After that we settled in and were distracted by all the interesting people and running in a place we'd never been.

      

At the split we couldn't believe we were going to the left with the marathoners.  The crowd thinned out tremendously.  It was as if we had taken a wrong turn and wondered where everyone went.  From here on we were going through neighborhoods which is nice with lots to look at and people cheering on their front lawns.

  

By 20 we hit the wall.  The kids met us there so we did stop and walk with them for about 5 min.  Then we were off again.  At this point it doesn't matter how much you hurt you're gonna finish.



The last mile-ish was uphill.  Are you kidding me!?  We were so mad.  It was like an insult.  We trucked it up the hill slowly (past the lady trying to hand out cookies--No one wants a cookie at 24) and could then see the finish line.  I really couldn't believe it.  Nor could I believe there were still people cheering at the finish line.  I started crying which led to hyperventilating.  I actually felt like I couldn't breathe.  It was quite scary actually but I forced myself to calm down.  Can you imagine if I has passed out!

We finished in 5:55.  Way past our goal but on a first marathon who cares!  We did it.

    

Looking back we endured because we had no idea what we were getting into.  We sometimes admit to each other that we have had thoughts of doing another.  I really would but it's the training that is so time consuming.  Both of our families gave up a lot of time with us especially towards the end on Saturdays when we had to do our long runs.  I remember the kids wanting me to "just be done with it Mommy".

So, who knows?  Maybe a half.  We'll see.

  

Papa---April 4, 1941-May 3, 2015

I don't even know where to start.  Papa wasn't feeling very good right before we left for Disney World.  By the time we got back he had several dr. appts scheduled which is no easy task during the holidays.  Around the new year he was diagnosed with cancer.  Papa said "I'm going to fight it" and Daddy got serious right away.  I have never seen this side of him.  He called every dr possible, wouldn't take no for an answer, and was a pain in everyone's butt until they answered him.  I was so impressed.  It made me feel like if anything was ever wrong with me or one of the kids he would heal us just by sheer will.  He spent the next several months going back and forth on the weekends to Lubbock, setting up home health and eventually hospice, berating Nana for not checking her blood sugar :), and trying to do his regular job too.  Papa fought as long as he could but passed away with everyone around him on May 3.

This is the house in Memphis TX where Papa grew up.

Kids sitting on the front porch probably like Papa and Roy Don did.

Nana came and lived with us until the end of June which was really nice for Connor and Charlotte. Charlotte even learned to crochet and knit!

We took Nana to Nebraska Furniture Mart and we accidentally stole someone's wheelchair.  We thought it was just one you could borrow from the store until a manager came up and asked where we got it.  Whoops!

Daddy and Nana went to Grief Share meetings together and really enjoyed it and found it helpful. 

We miss Papa but know he is healthy now and we will see him again soon! 

Kids Say the Darndest Things (Episode 35)

Some of the funny things the kids said in 2015

Charlotte:

• Doing homework one night:  "Somehow the letter "D" is missing from the alphabet".  She was serious.

• I told her she was funny because she said something cute.  Her response:  "Do NOT call me funny!  That's not my style.  Call me kind or best friend".

• "My birthday is a huge disaster!  All the holidays are in November!"

• "I'm trying to work on my evil laugh".

• In February she informed me "I don't want to wear bows anymore".

• Char:  "I want to go to work with Daddy".  
• Connor laughs, "Daddy doesn't have an office!"
• "Then I'll take him to Nebraska.  I always wanted to go to a different country."
• Connor laughs again, "Ha! Is it in Canada?".
• The funny thing is that this whole conversation apparently made sense to both of them.

• "I love you more than Japan and the other place where the war is".  Afghanistan? Iraq?

• "Oh Craigslist! Momma Mia!" (I have no idea what this was about)

• When Jon was visiting and taking a nap on our couch she said, "Don't worry.  Papa's just trashed out".  Hahahahahahahaha!

• Again this was soooo funny but makes no sense (I'm sensing a theme with her)
• Char:  Knock, knock
• Me:  Who's there?
• Char:  Chick bar at a restaurant
• Me:  Chick bar at a restaurant who?
• Char:  What if they dooooooooo (spooky voice)?  What if they dooooooooooon't? What is they ghooooooost?

• Cooking with Daddy
• AC:  I think it just needs a pinch of salt.
• Char:  Yes, just a piss of it.

• "My dog speaks English"

• Annie peed in front of the shoe closet and Char told Aaron it was because he didn't greet her.

• What Charlotte learned in the first month of public school:
• "What does this mean?" and she gave me the finger.

• I was trying to explain the whole "real men wear pink" thing and she said "Well MY dada wears Purple!"

• "McDonalds is healthier than Whataburger"

• "I REALLY hope I get a Walmart gift card.  It is soooo much better than Target!"

• Teaching Char to do the dishes:  "I need gloves to do this"

And Now for Connor!

• On the way back from Lubbock Connor learned how to blow bubbles with his gum.  Aaron thought someone was throwing rocks at the car. :O)

• "Does McDonald's have good customer service?

• While Gramma and Grampa were babysitting:  "They let me have a vanilla milkshake with whip cream.  In MEDIUM!"

And last, but oh definitely not least, Aaron

• He called me at work one day and said that someone had broken into our house.  When I asked why he said because the front bathroom toilet was clean.  So let me get this straight.  Someone broke into our house and cleaned the toilet?  Sweet!  Unfortunately that was just me. 

Charlotte Turns 5! And More.........

Talk about the most random post ever.  So I uploaded these pics back in early 2015 and it is now early 2016 and I'm finishing it.  Good Grief!  I'm telling you 2015 was just a challenging year.  But that's another blog.

Connor started Tiger Rock Taekwondo in August 2014.  He really loved it and we had alot of fun going to the testing.  This is him trying for his green belt.

And Charlotte turned 5!  We had a Princesses and Pumpkins party.  This was her favorite dress for quite awhile and she did really try to wear it everywhere.

And then Gramma and Grampa came for a bit before we all headed to Abilene for Thanksgiving.

Uncle Kevin and Aunt Rebekah's house is just the best.  Kids can run around (half the time I don't know where you are!).  And here is Uncle Kevin's redneck golf cart. 

And of course it wouldnt be a get together without the girls doing mommy and gramma's "makeup".  

It wouldn't be a family gathering without the twins injuring each other. :)

And, Aunt Rebekah took some beautiful photos of us.

Back to the house and Daddy making the first fire of the year!

And gramma can't stay out of the pinata!

Annie....because it's always a good time to insert an unrelated pic of my sweet girl.

And of course perspective is always appropriate......My day could be worse.

Now this is gross and interesting.  Daddy is on a rat/mouse killing spree.  I think he is really enjoying himself.  We found this guy under the grill and he is completely mummified!  Zoom in for a close up and you can see his teeth and whiskers.  Still has fur but no insides.  This is grossly intriguing to me.  

And here's a little guy.  He looked so cute :(,