Trampoline!!

For Christmas, Brittany got a trampoline! My dad and Chad put it together on Christmas Eve, and it was quite a feat. This is where the breaking of fingers that I alluded to in an earlier post may have occurred! My parents surprised Brittany with it on Christmas Eve, and we had a ton of fun bouncing on it on Christmas Day.

Brittany, enjoying her new trampoline!

Me, trying to keep my hair under control

Me and Megan
It looks like she kicked me in the head, but she really didn't!

Chad, catching some air, while Brit runs for cover

Striking a pose

Megan and Brit playing the classic "don't crack the egg" game

Christmas in Texas

Emma playing with a new toy

Chad and me on Christmas morning - apparently my face swells during the night
(also note the strategically placed hat behind me)

Emma, posing as a Christmas decoration

My sister Megan with her chihuahua, Pod

My sister Michelle and Emma

I love this picture - my niece Brittany with Emma
(Emma is quite the social butterfly!)

Alexandria pictures

Emma and cousin Miles, relaxing on the couch

Emma and Miles with their great-grandmother Mae...
Emma made herself very comfortable!

Mae, Payton, Mrs. Suzy and Mr. David during the family Wii ping-pong tournament
(Chad won!)

the Christmas tree

Steel Magnolias lights in Natchitoches - the movie was filmed there!

Payton, Mr. David, Chad, and me in Natchitoches

Dana and Emma, resting with Chad

Holiday Update

I had good intentions to blog more frequently during our trip home for the holidays, but things have been pretty busy! Since I'd rather spend my time with family instead of in front of my computer, I'd planned to blog at night after everyone had gone to bed. The problem with that is that I have been the first one to fall asleep every night! Seriously, the first three nights here in Houston I went to sleep at 7:00pm. I don't know why I was so tired - probably a mixture of being tired from traveling, wrangling Emma and all of the wonderful food!

First, we spent five days in Alexandria and had so much fun with Mr. David, Mrs. Suzy, Payton, Jay, and Chad's grandmother Mae. Emma had a ton of fun with her little pal Dana and her very large cousin Miles (German Shepherd) . She played so hard each day, and slept like a baby each night.

One night we went to Natchitoches to see the lights and to have dinner down on the waterfront. We had po-boys, catfish and meat pies at Papa's and then walked down to look at the lights and get a funnel cake. Speaking of funnel cake, I have had SO MUCH good food on this trip. Here is a breakdown:

Louisiana, part 1:
Gumbo
Shrimp po-boy
BJ's pizza
Petit fours from Atwood's Bakery,
Rocky road candy
Cracker candy
Homeade chocolate chip cookies

Texas:
Taco Cabana fajitas
Schlotzsky's "the original" sandwiches (a Christmas Eve tradition)
Christmas dinner: turkey, macaroni and cheese, dressing and gravy, green been bundles, asparagus, and chocolate cake with ganache
Morning Kolache's cream cheese kolaches
Shipley's donuts, kolaches and coffee
Fuddrucker's hamburger and fries with cheese sauce
Gringo's cheese enchiladas
Muffaleta from Spec's
California chicken burger from Cafe Express

Louisiana Part 2:
To be determined

When I am not eating, I try to get a run in! I ran a couple of times in Alexandria, and I've run a few times here in Houston. I've also done one Crossfit WOD (with another one planned for tomorrow), and have gone on a bike ride.

I did the WOD (workout of the day) on Christmas Eve, and I finally was able to walk without pain on December 28th! CrossFit is a totally different beast from anything I've ever done. My sister Megan is really into it, and she is very good at it. It was really nice of her to let me come to CrossFit Bay Area with her, and to walk me through each of the sets.

The WOD consisted of:
Back squat
5-5-5-5-5
(after the squats my legs were shaking like a leaf, and we hadn't even started the workout yet! )

Then..
4 rounds for time of:
15 wall ball (6 lbs.)
6 ring rows
5 shoot-thrus (with paralletes)
15 box jumps

Megan's coach, Coach Laura, had mercy on me and said that I only had to do 2 rounds instead of 4. I did two rounds in about 7 minutes, whereas Megan knocked out all four in just about 8 minutes. Like I said, she's really good. The wall balls weren' too bad - it consisted of squatting down and touching your butt to a medicine ball on the floor, and then tossing another medicine ball up to the wall on your way up from the squat. The ring rows were pretty tough - especially since one of the rings I grabbed wasn't clamped in and I went sliding down to the floor. It was pretty funny, and Coach Laura came to my rescue and helped me get set up with the rings. The shoot-thrus were horrible, and are not ideal for people with long legs. As much as I tried, I don't think I did even one correctly. The box jumps were pretty straightforward, but since I was so shaky and wanted to preserve my shin bones, I did most of the "jumps" by just stepping onto the box.

It was a great time at the CrossFit gym, but it was also kind of embarrassing being so bad at something! I am definitely going to incorporate some CrossFit type workouts into my training plan, as I know that weight bearing exercises can really help me with my running, swimming and cycling.

Christmas Eve was an absolutely crazy day at my parent's house that involved a series of unfortunate events that were strung together in quite rapid succession, involving plumbing fixtures, jammed doors, loose dogs, a broken tea kettle and possibly a broken finger or two. It was very wild, but at the end of the day we were able to all take a deep breath and laugh about the events of the day.

As far as running, I've done a 2 mile run, a 3.3 mile run and a 10.52 mile run. The 10 miler was done with my sister's CrossFit affiliate, CrossFit Bay Area. Megan is training for the Pelican Challenge in Seabrook in March (back to back half marathons on Saturday and Sunday). Megan and I headed out for a 2 mile run before meeting up with the group, in order to get in a little extra mileage. Once we met up with the rest of the group, we headed out for 7 miles. There was a little miscalculation with the route, and we ended up doing 8.52 miles, for a total of 10.52 miles for me and Megan. We headed straight to Chipotle for lunch afterwards!

me, Megan, Wendy, Sonja, Melissa, and Coach Laura

I've been hanging out with my niece Brittany the past few days while she is out of school, and we went and saw Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakqal yesterday. It was pretty cute. I love being able to spend a few days with her!

Chad has been in Denver for the Love Mercy 2009 Wesleyan Youth Convention since the day after Christmas, and he will get back into Houston tomorrow. On Friday, we are heading back to Alexandria for a day and a half before driving back to Kentucky. It has been a wild and fun time with both of our families, and I continue to look forward to the day when we move back to Louisiana.

My next few posts will be of some pictures from the trip so far!

Bittersweet Days

Training Log
Wednesday run
Distance: 3.87
Time: 33:50
Average Pace: 8:44 per mile

Thursday run
Distance: 4.18
Time: 36:01
Average Pace: 8:36 per mile

It has been really chilly these past few mornings - Wednesday morning was 19 degrees, and this morning was 20 degrees! I really was very warm after the first mile though. Running in cold weather really isn't bad if you dress appropriately. Other than my face feeling like it was going to fall off for the first mile, it wasn't too bad!

Today is really bittersweet, as our friends Rob and Kat (and daughter Harper) are moving today. Rob graduated from Asbury, and got a job as a counselor in Virginia. I am so happy for them to be starting a new life in a new place, but it is very sad to see them go.

Rob and Kat are truly one of a kind people. Kat is one of the sweetest and most faithful people I know. She is perpetually optimistic and encouraging. She is a great mom to Harper, and a great sister and daughter. Kat is just one of those people you want to be friends with! I've had a great time over the past three years working, running, hanging out and being in a small group with Kat.
And Rob - what can you say about Rob Raborn? He is simultaneously the most hilarious and sincere person I have ever met. (Megan, you are the most hilarious - but not quite the most sincere, ha ha!) When I was saying goodbye to Rob and Kat last night I burst into tears after seeing that Rob had tears in his eyes. Gets me every time. Rob is a great guy, and a great dad to little Harper. Rob and Kat are a one of a kind couple, and I know they are going to make fast friends in Virginia, because they just draw people to them. And I know lives will be changed in Farmville (their new town, not the Facebook game) because of Rob's contribution to the counseling profession.

Friendships can be odd here at seminary because you come into the school knowing that in a few years you will be leaving. Chad and I were very lucky to develop fast and close friendships with several people here in Kentucky. Our time at Asbury has been wonderful because of them - they have truly been our "family" away from family. But now, we are reaching our four year mark here at Asbury and our friends are starting to graduate and move away. This is a natural progression of graduate school - but it doesn't make it any less hard to say goodbye. We had to say goodbye to the Herons and Caldwells last year, and this year it will be the Raborns, Delattes, JD, and Strebecks. And maybe the Mostroms. Oh dear - my heart hurts at the thought of this exodus!

While I'm sad to see all of our friends go, I am also incredibly happy for them, as they are starting a new phase of life, which is (almost) always exciting. I think part of me is actually kind of jealous! I do long for the day when Chad and I know where we will go after seminary, the day we will know where we can put down roots. I know it will be in the south, though!

While it may be that time now for our friends, I know it is not our time just yet. So, for now we will stay here and continue to say goodbye. Depressing, I know! But not really, because I know our friendships with our seminary friends will continue through the years, across state lines.

2 for 2

Training Log
Monday run
Distance: 3.3
Time: 29:00
Average Pace: 8:47 per mile

Tuesday run
Distance: 4.18
Time: 36:29
Average Pace: 8:43 per mile

I did not want to run on Monday morning, but I pulled myself out of bed and made myself do it.
I had a terrible stomachache, which I knew was from eating somewhat large quantities of icing straight from the mixing bowl on Sunday night while I was baking cookies. I don't know what the deal was, but I ate horribly on Sunday! I didn't eat a whole lot, just a random assortment of bad things. I was glad I felt sick Sunday night and Monday morning - I will think of that the next time I am tempted to eat an assortment of crap. I was glad I ran yesterday morning, because I felt a lot better afterward.

This morning, I had another good run. We've had some mild winter days recently (in the 40's and 50's - that seems so warm right now!) and I am loving it. It is so nice to get a break from the 20 and 30 degree weather! All of the farmers around here are saying that we are going to get a harsh winter, according to the Farmer's Almanac, but I really hope they are wrong!

This week will be kind of hectic as we are getting ready to head home for Christmas. I know I've said this before, but I can't wait!!

Trainer Time

Training Log
Friday 12/11/2009
30 minutes on trainer

Saturday 12/12/2009
Distance: 6.66 miles (eek!)
Time: 1:01:00
Average Pace: 9:09 per mile

I decided to put some time in on the trainer on Friday morning. I listened to end of one Zen and the Art of Triathlon podcast and the beginning of a Stay Tuned Report podcast and thirty minutes flew by before I knew it. I haven't been using the trainer as much as I should, and I really want to incorporate at least one 35-45 minute session on it per week. I know it will help with my running, and will help me when I am able to get back out on the roads in the spring.

This morning I ran with Kelly in Wilmore. When I got in my car to head to Wilmore the temperature gauge showed 23 degrees. By the time I got to Wilmore it showed 18! Then a bank sign showed 17. So, it was cold! But by two miles in I was really warm and felt great. It is a beautiful morning today - sunny and clear. By the time we finished it was 23 degrees, and the high today is 42. That seems so warm compared to the temps we've been having! That is sad.
We planned on doing 6, but ended at 6.66 miles...hopefully that is not a bad omen! We were going at a pretty good clip, especially since Kelly is still recovering from her 20 miler last Sunday, but it really helped to keep us warm!

I stopped by Main and Maple after the run to get some hot coffee and a warm bagel...it warmed me right up! As I was eating the bagel, I finished watching "Run for Your Life," a documentary about Fred Lebow. I really love Netflix, because I have all of these great running movies at my fingertips! But "Run for Your Life" is really interesting and inspiring. Fred Lebow created one of the biggest (if not the biggest) marathon in the world - the New York City marathon. I think that anyone running NYC should watch this documentary, out of respect for the man who devoted his life to the race!

Now I'm headed out to finish up Christmas shopping and do various other errands...I love Saturdays!