Home for Christmas

Christmas went by entirely too quickly!

Thankfully, the Thomas side is getting together this weekend for their family Christmas, so it's not over for me yet!

This was my first Christmas home since I started working. I've been home for a few Christmas Eves, and almost, almost got out of working Christmas in 2011, but I was called in at 10am (then got snowed in at the hospital on top of that!), anywayyyy. We left Monday night after I got off work, so we got to Meagan's around 10, then stayed up for another hour chatting and helping Meg put together McKenzie's gift...or rather she and Matt worked, while I watched from the couch :)

Christmas Eve I got up at 7 to go for a run- a very, very cold run where the bridges I run over were frozen...so I had to walk over them carefully, very carefully. Around 10 Matt and I headed over to Jimi and Christopher's, along with mom and dad, Steven, and my grandparents, to open presents with Riley since she wouldn't be able to make it to Christmas lunch. Matt and dad went to play golf afterwards and mom and I braved the mall so I could finish off Jimi's birthday present and so I could visit Gap (who has the BEST running shirts that I've just discovered...not that I need any more running apparel). 

We met up with Meg and McKenzie at the movies to see Frozen- such a fun movie!! I'm a huge fan of Disney and Pixar and I fell in love with the snowman, Olaff, and am waiting for mom to buy me one :) We hurried home so I could shower up and look presentable for Christmas Eve service at Kiokee. Back home at 7:30 for Chinese food with my parents and Meg, Adam, and McKenzie. Iced a million cookies so McKenzie could pile up the sprinkles. Read her a story before bed. Started to fall asleep on the couch at 9:30. Bedtime!

Christmas morning I really thought I'd get up and run, but it was even colder than the day before so I said nah; I didn't want to rush around anyway. We took our time getting ready and playing with McKenzie and her Santa toys before everyone else joined us at lunchtime for more presents and food.  After lunch an incredibly fun and loud game of pictionary took place...with McKenzie's new art board; she was not pleased. We helped Meg clean up a little, then Matt and I hit the road to head home.

We stopped by his parents house to puck up his truck and ended up staying for dinner (he ate, I held Gracie Bea so Megan could eat since I was still stuffed) and leaving without his truck, go figure. I've worked the past 2 days (and tried to finish this post both days, to no avail) and I'm heading up to the Thomas' in the morning after a quick run. Should be a great time seeing everyone!  

Lots of pictures...

...not a lot of words :)

Mainly because I haven't updated in awhile and I can barely remember yesterday, much less anything from nearly 3 weeks ago!

We just got back from dinner with Megan and Scott to wrap up this Sunday before the crazy travel stuff begins. I'm at the hospital tomorrow then we're leaving from there for Augusta for Christmas with my family, heading back Wednesday afternoon so I can work Thursday and Friday, then time for the Thomas family Christmas over the weekend. Fun times ahead!

My boss doesn't know my name...

Matt wouldn't let me help with the building of this masterpiece...

Our weekend afternoons...

I did a lottttt of goodies baking for our neighbors and coworkers at Seaside...

Matt's Saturday morning...

My Saturday morning...

This is how Matt and Macie recover from their Saturday mornings...

And this afternoons masterpiece...thank you Pinterest.

 Happy Sunday-before-Christmas!

Hmm...

...that last post was supposed to have published yesterday, but I guess I forgot to save it!

First off, this Auburn v Missouri game is nuts! I'm enjoying it immensely. 

So, yesterday afternoon I got to hang out with sweet Emily and Molly and loved it. I got to catch up with Molly while snuggling with Emily the entire time; she is a sweetheart for sure. I left there about 4:30ish and waited on Matt to get back from fishing since he wanted to do a date night. We went to Tavern 46 for dinner, picked up some ice for the cooler (and the fish he had in it) and were in bed by 9:30. I always say we are awesome party people ;)

Matt was up earlier than usual for a Saturday because they were doing some scavenger hunt out at Palmetto Bluff. I got up when he left and picked up a little before heading out for a run. Have I mentioned how incredibly sore I am from yesterday's workout? I'm talking total body soreness, like after a marathon kind. Ouch. 5 mile progression run; still not sure how I kept running faster when my legs felt like lead. I'm trying to work on increasing my mileage again this month while working on speed too...good times ;)

Megan, Chance, and Gracie picked me up around 10:30 for the Bluffton Christmas parade. Besides it being 80+ degrees outside, we loved it! I got in some good snuggles with Gracie while Megan helped Chance snag lots of parade candy. We dipped out before it was over since it was going on 2+ hours and we were seriously sweating a lot!

Got home, had some leftover spaghetti for lunch, and attempted cooling off before Matt made it home around 1:30. Once he got back he set off in the kitchen and cut up fish and shrimp for 2 hours while I lazed around on the couch. We watched the the first half of this crazy tiger v tiger game before he showered up and headed back out to Palmetto Bluff for the second part of this wildlife event they sponsored. Macie and I are resting up- she's resting before their early morning duck hunt and I'm resting to get rid of this soreness so I have a pain free run in the morning! 

And here is a little picture of my newest nieces. Love that I got to see them two days in a row and for all the snuggles their mamas let me steal and enjoy!

Happy December!

...six days late :)

Oh, and happy Thanksgiving...also a few days late! 

I worked Monday, half a day Tuesday at the office, then Wednesday and Thursday at the hospital last week. I called out sick Friday...for actually bring sick. I stayed at home, cleaned, and pulled out all the Christmas decorations. Matt went up to his parents to hunt that afternoon and Saturday morning. 

We got our Christmas tree Saturday afternoon and I decorated it while Matt napped. 

We headed over to Megan and Scott's to watch the SC v Clemson game that evening. Fun night! I held Gracie as much as I could :)

Sunday was church, then a new members class, groceries, errands, and an early dinner/late lunch. Bedtime was early, per usual!! 

Monday was an office day, then 3 days at the hospital. Today I'm OFF!! Took a boot camp type class with Jenn this morning and I'm already feeling sore. I thought I could do a quick 3-4 miles afterwards, but nah. We'll see how I feel later this afternoon. I'm waiting on a load of clothes to dry then heading up to Ridgeland to visit with Molly and little Emily. 

Happy Friday!

Heyyyy

Helllloooo...it's been a couple weeks, eh?

I started on my own in the unit last week, so I was wound up quite tight during those 3 days of work. Also had my first week day off in over a month...flipping heavenly. I slept in and ran a billion errands and felt like a good wife again.

We went to CS Thomases sponsored event Friday evening and while the boys mingled, the girls drank a lot of yummy wine and chatted it up. 

Saturday morning Matt and I slept until almost 9 before getting up to a big breakfast (blueberry buckle I baked Friday) and an easy run for me. We watched a lot of football and did a lot of couch sitting. We did make time to shop at Dicks for stuff we don't need, took Macie to chase birds Matt shot at with a slingshot, and I made my first pork tenderloin. In bed by 8:45 on a Saturday night; real party animals over here ;)

Sunday morning Matt got up at 3:30 to hunt birds..crazy talk. I rolled out of bed at 8 and took it easy ;) He made it make in time for church, we had leftovers for lunch, then he settled in to take a nap and I took off grocery shopping. Fun times. We rented Hunger Games and watched it while eating salads from the BiLo salad bar and some surprisingly good duck Matt cooked up. Pretty good 3 days in my opinion.

Worked yesterday at the office and half a day today. Already having my own personal pity party that I'll be stuck at the hospital the next 3 days :/
But we'll be getting our Christmas tree Saturday so I'm pumped about that :)

Anddd I'm pumped my watch finally came in! I'll be heading out for a run between all the rain at some point this afternoon to test this baby out. Now I just need to convince Matt that a running jacket is a necessity!

#12 and a girly weekend

Ran my 12th half marathon Saturday and it was not pretty.  I felt good until mile 5...not good when there's still 8 to go. I will definitely attempt to train better over the next 4 1/2 weeks for Kiawah.

My sister and McKenzie made me my first sign for the race!! I saw them at the finish line and the announcer guy read it over the intercom as I finished...I loved it! Meg has the race bug so we're doing the Savannah bridge run in December, the Augusta half in February, then the Savannah half next year.  Running is addicting I tell you. 

Starting from the beginning...

Matt left Thursday afternoon for the hunting club so Macie and I had a chill evening full of new toys. I was supposed to run with my friend Jen Friday morning and totally forgot! I came home from a short 3 miles to a missed call and 4 texts from her asking where I was. Thankfully her gym is right by my apartment complex so she popped over there for a boot camp class before we headed to work.

Mom, Meg, and McKenzie arrived in Bluffton right around 4 on Friday. They came by the office to rescue me from work for the afternoon and for McKenzie to get the flu mist. Anddddd they brought me a doughnut, yum! We went home and all immediately changed into our pajamas. We ordered dinner in and watched Friends DVDs all night before heading to bed at 9ish.

We woke up before 4:45am Saturday morning to make the drive into Savannah for the race. We met up with Shane, Alissa, and Shane's parents to drive us closer to the start line. It worked out perfectly; we walked into our corrals at about 6:50...no waiting in the cold! Like I said before, this race was hard for me. No training or consistent running since the marathon made me curse myself throughout the whole run. I was so thankful to be done. 

We all headed home afterwards and I took my time showering and getting ready before lunch and an afternoon of shopping. We rented Monsters University for mom, McKenzie and I to watch while Meagan and Adam went on their anniversary date. We were in bed by 8:30 and it was awesome.

We were up this morning at 7:30 and the girls were packed up and heading out the door by 9. I showered, washed a few loads of clothes, ran the dishwasher, and headed out for errands before Matt got home at 1. He had a big hunting weekend and ended up killed two nice sized bucks. Now he's asleep on the couch. We both had very fun weekends :)

My family is coming back on the 6th of December and I'm already pumped about it!!

One day...

...I WILL run the New York City marathon. One day.

I signed up in the lottery this year, but of course didn't get in due to the cancellation last year. Maybe next year? We'll see.

Weekly work recap-

Monday- office

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday- hospital. Long, awful days.

Friday- office

Glad that week is over and very hopeful this week will be better.

Friday afternoon Matt and I both got off early at 4:30...it was great! We rented a movie, ordered pizza, and drank wine. So heavenly.

Saturday morning Matt went hunting and I somehow accomplished an 8 mile run, my first and last "long" run before the Savannah half next weekend. I'm slightly scared of running it since I feel so unprepared. Oh well, it's my fault!! I met up with Molly afterwards for some much needed catching up and girly pedicures. It was wonderful chatting it up with her before Miss Emily makes her appearance...can't wait to meet her! Matt and I headed to Savannah for Bobby's birthday bash (these boys really got spoiled for their 30ths!). We had fun hanging out and watching the GA/FL game. 

Macie decided daylight savings made her wake up 8 million times throughout the night, so she and her kennel had a rekindling at about 6 this morning. Matt and I therefore had peaceful sleep until 8:15ish...soooo good! We made breakfast together then headed to church. Lunch followed, then grocery shopping, then a whole lot of cleaning took place. Matt did the tubs while I dusted and set out our fall decorations. We ran a few more errands, threw the ball with Macie (PS- really trying to talk Matt into a puppy brother for Macie in the Spring- help me out!!!), then ordered dinner while I made my lunches for the week. Now it's close to bedtime and the start of a new work week! 

Looking forward to the weekend since my mom, sis, and niece are coming!! Wahoo!

PSS- we made the paper from last weekend! We are famous ;)