Merry Christmas Adventure

Christmas at the Martin house is always an adventure.  Chad got a Sea Eagle boat and had to test it out down the river on Christmas day even though we were covered in snow!

Let the Race Begin

In less that 1 month, January 15, 2011, I will be running my first 1/2 marathon in Charleston, SC!

I have been training for about 6 months and I know I will be mentally and physically prepared.  My goal is to run 20 miles a week for this last month...1 week down.  I love to let my mind wander while I am running.  Some of the things I think about are:

• Will I have to stop to use the restroom?
• Will I feel the need to stop and walk...major mental training against this.  This is my biggest fear.
• I wonder what will I wear?  I want to keep my run as close to my training as possible so I won't be altering things too much.  I am that person at the gym that wears the same 2 outfits ALWAYS.  I have thought about decorating my current t-shirt.  Maybe have my name monogrammed on it, or even spell it with neon duck tape...yes that is what I am thinking about when it looks like I am staring into oblivion.  Ideas?
• Currently I train at the gym.  When a song comes on that gets me pumped I have to restrain myself from dancing on the treadmill.  That's right, I would be that person with arms swinging.  Come race day I can't wait to do a big fist pump whenever I feel like it...then of course I worry about wasting energy.
• I think about some of the cute girls who have ran 1/2 marathons and how their finish line photo is so non sweaty...and how I might have to change into a second race outfit to look as if it didn't nearly kill me to run 13.1 miles...but that would be ridiculous, right???
• I wonder what if I sweat so much that my earplugs short circuit and then I am left to run the race without music!  Should I bring a second pair just in case...
• I get excited thinking about crossing the 13 mile marker knowing I only have 1/10 of a mile left to go and how I will straighten up and finish strong!
• I want to finish smiling and hope to not tinkle my pants once I stop.

Any suggestions?

Snow Day

We have had snow, ice and temperatures in the teens the past few days and as a result we have remained inside for the most part.  However, in combination with our indoors play, Summer has decided not to take an afternoon nap.  This has resulted in a Mommy that will find a way to get out of the house!  I wrapped my little snowflake in her snowsuit and we were off to the gym. 

Summer made her first craft, a snowman. Her contribution to the snowman are a few abstract lines on his body.  Here she is admiring her work of art on the fridge. 

 I told her to hug the Snowman...

Early Christmas

We celebrated an early Christmas this weekend with Papa and Grammy.  Summer thought the wrapped boxed were interesting but mostly for climbing on.                             

One of her gifts was a Weeble Treehouse that makes music.  Summer quickly figured out how to press the music button and dance!

Merry Christmas from Papa, Summer and Grammy

We ended the early Christmas with a little snow.  The storm came a few hours earlier than expected but everyone got out safely.

Out the Door

Snow Day in AshevilleGetting a 1.5 year old ready and out the door can take a long time...these days we typically always bring a toy with us to the car. In this photo Summer is walking her caterpillar.

And here she is bringing the flower remote to her My Little Pony motorcycle.

Carolina Mountain Christmas Spectacular

We went to the Carolina Mountain Christmas Spectacular at our church this weekend with Chad's parents, Gramma and Grandad, and it was amazing!

Summer absolutely loved the first few minutes. She was dancing, swaying left and right, jumping in the air and even shimmying her shoulders like we do in the car when Flo Rida comes on!

Unfortunately the show was 2.5 hours long and she was spent after 15. I took her out in the lobby and you wouldn't believe who was sitting on the sofa...SANTA CLAUS! I think I was more excited than she was. In fact, I'm sure I was...

We hung out with Santa for about 20 minutes until our babysitter walked by and asked if she could watch her while we enjoyed the show (she was a performer). What a blessing! Sweet Emily took Summer to the teen area and played with her for the next 2 hours.

We also saw the Grinch in the lobby and he played with Summer. Strangely enough she seemed to like the Grinch more than Santa...forgive her, she's young.

December Already

It is hard to think that just a week ago we were celebrating an amazing first half. PERIOD end of commentsAnd had such a great breakfast with Jay and Jen (even though my camera doesn't show it well)
But that is all behind us now. We are pressing on towards Christmas!The tree is up and half decorated...literally, Summer would quickly identify what ornaments were hanging too low and hand them to me.(I know, we have some lights out)

Although Summer struggled with conjunctivitus in both eyes, she has now recovered. I am preparing for another issue of my Junior League magazine to go to print and trying to squeeze all of my creative juices into it...sorry, not much creativity left for the blog these days.

We are going to the Carolina Mountain Christmas Spectacular today (at Biltmore Baptist Church)...but unfortunately just found out that they aren't offering childcare...hopefully that is a dirty rumor. Can't wait to let you know how it goes.