Chevron Houston Marathon

I am still mad at the marathon for rejecting me and the Marathon Muthas.  However, Eric did get in since he is considered a veteran - he has run more than 6 or 7.  So even though I think they are bunch of dumb heads, we "celebrated" around here.

In addition, Kelsey and Sophie had the opportunity to go down and cheer on one of the elite runners sponsored by Adidas.  Adidas sent out messages to local JR HS and HS cross country and track coaches and offered the the opportunity to come on race day and cheer - and they gave them 2 shirts, a pair of running shoes and a cool Adidas bag.  I signed them up thinking someone else would take them and I could sleep in.  Due to a serious of unforeseen circumstances, that person going down there was me.  We had 2 carloads of girls, and a couple of boys from the JR HS.

Oh yeah - and we got to cheer on Eric at mile 7.  Can't forget that.

We had to be downtown at 6:30, so it was dark and once again I am having camera issues - so pics are not great but show the girls had fun.



Whole group waiting to cheer on Brett.

 


 

More waiting - getting bored of waiting (in the rain I might add)



How much longer ?  Getting cold

 And the runners come - the elite runners, this front group, was by us in like 2.1 seconds.  They were flying by.  Our runner, Brett Gotcher, ended up not having a good day.  His pacer came in second and he fell apart.  They are in the green below.

Then Eric came by our little mile 7.

He saw the girls, and we were able to cheer.  We stayed at mile 7 for about an hour, then had to go to mile 23 to cheer in Brett - who had already fallen behind so we ended up cheering Nick.  Never a dull moment.  Then we wussed out - it was cold and raining and it would be at least another hour before Eric made it to 23, so we went home.

The girls had fun- and I think Kelsey would like to train for a run a 1/2.  That was a good outcome of the outing.  Sophie thinks it would be just too boring to run that long.  Maybe in time

Friday Night in Tomball Texas

Friday night in Tomball - what do you do for fun?  Go to the FFA (yes that is Future Farmers of America) end of year show and auction.  There is a more official name than that, but I can't remember (and I was fighting some sickness all weekend so the fact I was anywhere was good).

Kelsey's friend, Brooklyn, has been raising a pig and was showing it - which entailed walking around and trying to control the animal in a show arena type of thing.  I had no idea what I was getting into by going, but it was fun and Allie and Caroline loved it.  Allie loved the thought of working with the animals - although she was not so keen on selling them to get killed.  Caroline liked the jackets....

This was the scene - controlled chaos.  See the jackets - high fashion!

Here is Brook and Fiesty - I know the pics are blurry.  I am having some user errors with my camera....

Our old neighbor, Brian, and his pig.

These are then judged and someone is the winner.  I could not tell you what they were judged on - or why who won did (BTW neither of our friends had winning animals).  It was a little crazy, lots of hats and boots, but also kind of fun.  We might have a couple of future FFAers with Allie or Caroline.  Who knows. 

When in Rome...

Happy Birthday Sophie

Sophie is 14.  I can't believe it.  They tell you time flies by, and I never really believed it when my kids were little and I thought those days would never end, but now I do.  She can go to dances - and next year hits the high school!

Sophie is my overachiever - she is a perfectionist in all she does.  I have to remind her it is OK to let something slide a little bit (I have the opposite talks with her two older siblings).

Where might you find Sophie?

Playing soccer - she still loves to play soccer.  She is developing into a great soccer player.  She has a great work ethic and the coaches enjoy coaching her.  She tries to be nice to everyone - and is really a nice person so when I see her going after it on the soccer field it surprises me (and a side note - she is not the only player who wears headgear as this picture shows.  It is from her tournament this weekend - they won!)

Playing basketball.  She just added basketball to her bag of tricks this year.  She has really loved playing - too bad the HS soccer and basketball seasons are at the same time - she would enjoy trying to play in high school.  She finally fouled out of her last game - her only thought?  That should she have taken the girl out if she was going to foul out (it was a bogus call for foul 5).

Running - she runs cross country and the long distances in track.  She has a real talent for running, but does not love it (even though this makes her dad sad).  She will keep running, and I think she will run the rest of her life. 

She is not just a jock - she tried out for percussion in 6th grade and made it.  She still plays today.  We are just starting drum line stuff.....  Heaven help us now.  It will be fun to see where she ends up.  She wants to do marching band in HS.

Sophie is a great student - I have to tell her sometimes that a B is OK (Chinese Tiger Mother I am not).  She works really hard and I think she is going to give herself an ulcer at 14.  She is hardest on herself. 

As I watch her grow and develop, I am amazed at the young woman she is becoming.  She has a strong faith, and strives to live her life in accordance with Gospel teachings.  She tries to be nice to everyone (except maybe Kelsey), loves her family, and looks for ways to help.  She is the only one of my children who bought Christmas presents for all the family with her own money. 

I am grateful everyday to have her in our family - she keeps us running, but we would not want it any other way.

Happy Birthday Sophie!

The Marathon Muthas

I have a wonderful group of women I run with - 3 to 4 times a week we meet as some ungodly hour, like 5:00 AM and we go and run.  We needed a name, so we are the Marathon Muthas (for a short time we were the marathong muthas, but decided maybe that was not appropriate - funny but not appropriate).

Some people were having big birthdays this year and decided it would be fun to run a full marathon.  I am a half marathon type of gal.  I am old, and that seems like enough to me.  Well, they talked me into signing up for the Houston Full Marathon.  We were not accepted - it was a lottery and we were not good enough for them.  There was a USAFIT marathon a few weeks earlier which three very brave souls decided to attempt.

They not only attempted it, but they kicked its butt and finished.  It was cold and raining the WHOLE time, but they stayed in there and finished.  They came by after to show off their medals, take an ice bath (i.e. get in my pool) and share their post run aches with me.



Marathon Muthas - Vicki, Allison and Jennifer post run....  I think they look pretty dang awesome!



Yes it was cold - look at Vicki's face.



Entertain us now Carrie - in the rain no less - while we soak for 10 minutes.

 And in case you think the human body is made to do this, it is not.  These warriors started the race with wet feet and then ran 26.2 miles....  This is what happens (if you are squeamish click away).....



Yucky I know - but kind of cool at the same time

 Way to go Muthas.  Now we have to find a race all of us can run - but only 13.1 OK?

Life In Dallas

The week between Christmas and New Year's was spent having fun with family - playing games, eating, and enjoying each other's company.  A few pics to remember the week.

DODGEBALL - we added this to the tradition and it was really fun.  I hope it sticks.



Some of the mudbloods



Scramble for the balls



Yes - that is me getting pelted with balls....



Kelsey, hipster Crazy Uncle Patrick and Jordyn



Midnight bowling - only the cool kids got to go....



Kelsey and Shelby



Steven and Kelsey - blue steel



Joe T's  - a Fort Worth tradition!



Mark and Jeehae

 We ate too much, laughed a lot and realized how grateful we are to have such an awesome family!

LFFG

Also known as the Linford Family Football Game.  My family is as competitive as I am - many of them even more so.  We have played a family football game for years now - it is officiated by my father so he can try and keep people from killing each other - ALTHOUGH, there was this one year my new brother-in-law clotheslined his wife, my sister....  We knew he fit right in (after we made sure she was OK of course).

This year saw the mudbloods battle the purebloods.  It was cold, but fun.  Eric was not there and we missed him - but I did play.  I was not a huge contributor - but I did touch the ball more than once and I did my fair share of smacktalking.....  Fun was had by all, and the only injury was my jammed finger....  Photos by my mother.




Allie warms up




Cointoss - Josh for the Purebloods, and Allie for the Mudbloods.



Not sure who this one is going to....



On the line - very serious stuff...



Josh all air - way to sacrifice the body - would have been better if he caught it, but amazing attempt.



Who is that old lady with the ball?????



My brother Mark's gf Jeehae with the run!

 The Mudbloods prevailed - it was not even close.  I was on the Pureblood team.  We had many of the now aging members - and I think it showed!

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning dawned - not that early...  We did not get up until 7:00!  Go figure.  It was bound to happen sometime.  We were able to open presents, hang out for a little while, then drive to Dallas to eat Christmas dinner with the Linfords and Skype with Ryan.  I have to say, the skyping with Ryan was great.  Eric is not sold on the whole skype instead of talking on the phone thing....  I like to see his cute dimples, watch his expressions, and see how he interacts with everyone.  We only have 1 more holiday to go until he is home!

Anyway, some pics from Christmas morning....



Christmas Morning before the kids hit...



New bbq - dad surprised us and it was a big hit!



Post present destruction...



Christmas Eve

Since we did not have our boy around for Christmas Eve this year, we invited our local missionaries to fill in.  We had our traditional waffles, piñata, and the opening of the PJ's.  It is funny- my kids almost look at the opening of the PJ's as something boring - mundane.  It was so sweet to see the Elders get excited about opening Christmas PJ's. 

The piñata made it all the way to Elder Robbins - the second missionary to take a whack at it!  Pics of the piñata



Caroline is first up to bat - and yes we used a level as a bat...



Allie takes a turn



Sophie does not break it open



Kelsey tries - and misses



Elder Robbins with success



Elders Jepson, Miller, Maughan and Robbins



Yes, they are just 19 and 20 year old boys!



Pearson Family with Elder Robbins and Miller



Pearson family with Elder Maughan and Jepson

 It was not the same as having Ryan here, but it did make me feel good to help these great young men enjoy Christmas Eve.  I don't know what I will do when the kids decide they are too old for a piñata - but luckily I think I am years away from that.

Gingerbread Houses

I am not sure how this happened, but somewhere along the way my kids decided it is not Christmas without gingerbread houses.  This year I made Kelsey and Sophie bake all the gingerbread - which made them think this was maybe not such as great tradition....  It also made for some interesting houses.

We always have a few extras who join us - everyone had at least one friend.  Sophie and Catherine made their the day before, so they were not captured in photos.



Deep in Creation

 Finished creations - or at least finished houses!


MaryEllen Pratt shows off her design - complete with hot tub in the backyard.



Allie's house - notice the A on the side?



Caroline's house - complete with snow...



Brooklyn Bodle - her house was the most "Martha" like.



Kelsey's house



Last but not least Julia's house - it was the "hurricane" house.

 It does take a while to do, but the girls love to make these each year.  I know I will look back someday and wish someone wanted to make gingerbread houses again.  So, this will remind me of the crazy fun times we had making houses in 2010!