I DID IT!!!!!!

I know you are all wondering if I completed the 1/2 marathon. You are probably just thinking I collapsed and have been in the hospital for the past two weeks. But that is not the case.
I DID IT!!!!

I completed a half marathon!!! 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 55 minutes. My goal was 3 hours! So I was happy that I "beat" my goal by 5 minutes. I ran all but about 1/4 mile. Mile marker 12 was depressing. I really thought I was almost done when the sign came into view. But I still had another 1.1 miles to go. Doesn't sound like a lot, but by that point I was ready for it to be over. Will I do it again??? YUP! I think I may go up to Austin in Feb and try out that course! Although I had not run in two weeks and thought it would be a good idea to get out and get moving. I could barely run two miles yesterday!! What's up with that?

But it has been a VERY BUSY two weeks! Right after my friends left, our niece (Maja) came to stay with us for a week while her parents went to Costa Rica for their 10 year anniversary.

So, I had a taste of what it would be like to have 5 kids and two being twins since Luke and Maja are 4 days apart. I did what any good, smart mommy would have done....

I put them to work!!!

No really, we all had a great time with Maja and Luke keeps asking if she is coming back over to stay. Two days into her visit, I got a phone call I knew was coming but hated to hear. My precious Aunt Ann passed away last week. So, Ellen and I flew to MS Friday afternoon to be with family. Ann had battled cancer for ten years and fought hard!! She never let it stop her from doing anything up until the very end. She was so loving and caring and always would go out of her way to see us, even when it hurt. The picture below is of Ann and her kids. This picture was taken one month before she went to be with Jesus.

And yes, Joel kept Maja and my other three for the weekend. While we were away he took them to a playland, made french toast and got to church on time, took them to the grocery store and then on to choir. And had them in bed early. WHATEVER! He keeps rubbing in "getting to church on time".

We had a great Thanksgiving. Very relaxing. This weekend has been really nice. I didn't go shopping on Black Friday. No thank you! Don't want to get trampled to death in Wal-Mart of shot at in Toys-R-Us. So I stayed my happy little self at home. But I did get out today and got most of the extended family shopping done. Now for my kids...I have NO idea what to get them.