My First Half Marathon

Well after months of preparation and looking forward to a trip to Disney to Run the Princess Half Marathon it's over!!  I am happy to report I did it!!!  Me and my sister Crystal met in Florida and shared the weekend with our husbands Ron and Jon - it was so fun.

Special thanks to my Dad who watched the girls for us so we could go.

We arrived Thursday night and met up with Crystal and Jon who had already arrived the day before, they picked up us up at the airport and we were off. 

We spent Friday going to the Race Expo in the morning and then off to my Happy Place.... The Magic Kingdom!  I love going there.

Some random pictures

Okay so it's been 2011 for a month now- every New Years Eve Day I make pancakes, it's been a tradition now for the 3rd year in a row... and then we take down the tree while the parade is on.  Anyhow, here is the annual picture..

Happy 2011!

 

 

 

And then I wanted to also recognize Madison with her winter band presentation...

Cymbal

Emily, Sara and Madison

Crash Cymbals

Snare Drum

She did such a great job.. Thanks for all who came, Mom, Dad, Serena, Grandad, Uncle Scott, Aunt Angel, Hunter, Jacob, Memere and Aunt Diana.

Lastly... this is kind of funny- I don't know why Simba does this but he likes the sink-

love you Simba!!

Okay that was all- just had to share the last few items.

So tired of snow!!

I can't believe how much snow we've gotten so far they just said on the news (Boston Station) we've gotten 70inches so far!  The record is 100inches back in 1996 I think it said.
Here are some pictures of the beginning snow up until today- notice how high the snow is now!!

Here is the first storm- see how you can see the tree in our front yard?

The Girls

Eating snow?

Add caption

Here's the latest snow storm- Ron taking off the snow and Ice

Madison shoveling the driveway

Serena got some snow in the face ...

So Here's our front yard now look at the tree!!!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

                       

I've been lucky enough to be able to work from home these past snow days.  I did drive in one day this month that we had 1-2 inches in the morning, the cold was below 0 degrees so it was making the ground so cold that the snow was turning to ice as soon as it hit the ground.  Cars were off the road everywhere, I've never seen so many cars off the road, I counted 12 off the road between Manchester and Exeter!  I hated that ride in to work.  Luckily the snow ended before I had to drive home.

Well enough said about the snow... come on spring!!!!

One of my favorite Christmas Gifts

I had to share this... It makes me smile everytime I read it.
This is from Serena my 8 year old, she came up with this idea all on her own
Here is the envelope front and back:



So Cute with er Halloween stickers for Christmas :)

 Then Below is the contents inside:

I have used one ticket so far, that's why there is one missing- I had to pass it in.  Then she scratched off the service rendered, only one service per group of coupons I guess. 

The day of my visit she put a sign on her bedroom door that read:
Serena's Spa
OPEN
Where there's always great service!

Then I walked in and she was set up sitting on the floor with her legos box as her desk and Ron's old laptop on it as her computer, she asked me my name and "checked me in."  Then proceeded to sell me another gift certificate while I was there- she'd good!  She then made sure I was comfortable, got me some magazines to read during my foot rub, asked if I wanted a drink... it was so cute.  I guess I may have already brought her to NSPJ more than once- she likes it! I do too, I'm not going to lie!


I had to share this- it was so cute!!!- Thank you Serena

Another Snow Day!

So today was our second snow storm of the season.  School was canceled, since yesterday was a holiday today made a bonus day of 4 days off!  I stayed home and worked from home... sat on the couch and typed all day!  So many brides e-mailing about having their wedding with us, I felt like I couldn't keep up!  5pm came and I was mentally done!

Ron kept busy shoveling, the snow storm last week took the snow blower out of working order so shoveling it was.  I admit I only went out at the very end to help shovel the end of the driveway, freezing rain had set in so the driveway was glare ice!  I hope the roads are better by tomorrow.

This past weekend was my family holiday party at Shane's house- a meat eaters delight!  Ribs, Chicken, Steak and Pulled Pork- take your pick!  We had fun even Crystal and Jon were able to make an appearance for 24 hours!  It was great to see them.  Leah and Logan finally decided to come too.  All was good.

Well upcoming is the Disney Princess Half- time to get my act together! I was in much better shape around Oct then the holidays hit- halloween costumes then the cold came and my energy level went down.  Then Christmas came and I was busy buying and wrapping and getting ready.  So enough of the excuses... I'm on day 3 in a row of getting back in shape.  I did put on my official running skirt today only to find out that I've gained a few inches over the holidays.  BLAH!!!  Oh well re-focus!

Time for bed, my body is definitely ready!

Christmas 2010

Wow I can't believe the holidays have come and gone already!  So much preparation, shopping and build and up and then boom... done!  Well we did have fun this year at Christmas.  We started off by going to Dad's house for Christmas Eve, he and Eleanor made a nice dinner- Turkey, Ham, potatoes, Sansoucie stuffing and butternut squash.  Everyone in the family came... except Crystal and Jon but don't worry they were present by Web Cam!  Shane and Leah's family left early and our family and Scott's family continued on with  Pie making.  Then Ron started a fire in the fireplace and we chilled out for the rest of the night.. roasting marshmallows and relaxing.  It was nice hanging out at Dad's on Christmas Eve, haven't done that for a long time.

Christmas morning was fun as well, Madison and Serena got up initially at 2:45am... they didn't wake us up until 4am how nice of them ;)  I told them it was way to early to get up and they decided to go back to bed on the couches in the living room.  We all got up around 8am and had breakfast first.

Christmas morning

Breakfast from Mrs. Claus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Breakfast we opened stockings and then Ron passed out the gifts.

Our traditional picture of the girls with the tree/presents

The beginning of the present passing

Serena

Madison

 

 

 

 

 

After all the presents are passed out I usually take one more picture before they open... it's torture I know.  They are good sports about it though.
This year Madison mostly got clothes, Serena got clothes too and some zoobles were her big "want"  this year.  Madison really wanted an I-pod, she ended up with an Adroid Tablet she was happy with that.   Serena got the U-draw for WII and a few other toys she wanted.
The day was good :)
Mrs. Claus also set up a Hot Chocolate Station down stairs for after it was the perfect ending complete with flavored marshmallows and mini mugs... so cute!

I can't end before talking about  my favorite gift from Serena, she gave me some gift certificates to "Serena's Spa"  I'll have to scan it in later so I can "save it forever" and post here.   She put a sign on her bedroom door that read "Serena's Spa, where the service is always great"  It was so cute!  So far I have had a my first service, a foot rub! My favorite.  I have 3 or 4 visits left and was just informed now that they expire soon!  Yikes!  I'll be getting a new GC in the mail Feb 1st but I don't want to lose out on the ones I still have, I need to get to the spa soon, I still have a back rub and a manicure left! 

Off to The Exeter Inn

Okay we are staying at The Exeter Inn tonight... I have a meeting tomorrow morning and Madison has a lacrosse skills class at the Seacoast.
The girls are doing laundry and then we are off!