me n bryan

Lucy and I are sitting here updating blogs and checking out Facebook while Kel feeds Bryan. Its a great vacation so far!! Mom says I have to put some pics of my on here with the kids, so here we go... Pancake, Me, Lucy, and Bryan (swaddled on the couch)

Watching Elmo (again...)

The 1st time I got to hold him.

Meet Bryan

Hello from warm Florida!! Our flight here was really goof, especially after they de-iced the nose of the plane. I got a lovely short run in this morning and forgot how much I missed running outside in the humidity. Fun! My mom couldn't be happier holding both of her grandkids, Lucy and Bryan.

Meet my nephew Bryan Gregory Mikolajczyk! He is the cutest baby ever. Kel is happy and healthy!

It's starting to look a lot like Christmas

For the 1st time in months, I am not having any pain in my shins or calves when I run, knock on wood!!! I have been pretty consistant with my running in the last month and while its not long distances at all, its been pretty fast and I have had some great sweats on the treadmill. I was just telling Keith yesterday that I miss running in the cold and after we get back from vaca, I am donning my tights and heading out into the freezing Indiana temps. We just had our 1st snow and ice of the season today, but all I can think about was how pretty it would be to run in the snow covered woods. I can't wait!

I am finally incorporating weight lifting back into my routine and already feel stronger. Keith is teaching me the importance of working my legs one day, arms another, instead of total body workouts that wipe me out and make me mad. I hope this will help my calves and IT band get stronger to prevent injury in the next year, so I can run the Geist Half Marathon in May. I am taking volunteers to train and/or run it with me... I am pretty sure I have Annie on board and can at least get Dave to bandit the race if not fully race it with me. I am slowly working on Keith and hoping the lure of training on the course as our local race will get him to the start line with me as well.

We leave for a short vaca in Florida this week to see my sister and her family, including my new nephew, Bryan, who will be born ANY day now. Keith will get to hang out with his brother Glenn and do guy stuff - fishing, Epcot, goofing off (his words verbatim). We are looking forward to seeing the Florida fam for an early holiday celebration... and some warm weather runs.

Its a Buck!

Keith had a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving morning, including this deer that walked in front of his tree stand. It is an 8 point, 190 lb buck. He was very proud to have shot it and at the same time, is glad deer hunting season is over. Pheasant season is still going and we are slowly acquiring a good supply if meat in the freezer. Anyone want to come over for a deer roast?

New Moon

My friend Annie knows how to throw a party! The 2nd movie in the Twilight Series came out on 11/20/09 and she had 20 women over to pre=party before the 10pm showing of the movie. She pulled out all the stops with lots of food, posters on the walls and New Moon plates, napkins, candy and cupcakes.

Annie (in the middle) relaxing with friends before we played Twilight trivia (while watching the Twilight movie of course).

Fangs!!! Holly, Annemarie, me, Angie and Jamie all donned our fangs for some fun pics. Some of us even wore the fangs to the theater... ok, I think I may have been the only one, but why not?!

The whole group (minus Annie, the photographer) before going to the theater. We got there with our tickets and sat in line to get prime seats, which we did, like a bunch of kids. It was sooo much fun!!!

Angie won 'pin the tattoo on Jacob', which was a big hit and we laughed like kids while playing it. The movie was really well done and matched the book pretty good. The actors were HOT and all the 'cougars' in the theater definitely appreciated all the movie's eye candy. Some of the teens probably did too! There were lots of screams and clapping throughout the movie, even though it was a pretty depressing plot. I'm already looking forward to the June premier of Eclipse and Annie's pre-party!

Halloween

Our 1st annual Halloween party was a blast!! It will definitely be a yearly event. It was a great night for all the adults to get out of the house, cut loose and have some fun! Victor and Lisa... is Vic being a DJ??

Getting down on the dance floor

Dancing in the garage with friends

Ashton, Amber, me, Holly and Jamie enjoying the 'snack' Amber and Zach brought

Lisa, Mike, Greg, Michelle and Angie

Chris, Josh, Sarah & Ashton. You gotta love Hooters girls in drag.

Devo and a cub scout - I am already planning next years outfits!

Where has the time gone?

Who can believe its almost Thanksgiving??
The last month has been a blur of activities for us. Here is a quick run down:

- Kel and Lucy were here for a visit and caught the fall weather perfectly. Lucy got to meet Eldon and LOVED him. She quickly learned to call him Eldi (imagine her yelling it like Elllldddiiiiiii) and now every dog she sees is Eldi. Too adorable.
- I have been consumed with lots of reading, trying to knock out some books before I throw myself into the newest Stephen King book and no one hears from me for a few weeks.
- Hunting season has started, so our trips up north are becoming more frequent.
- I have knocked out some serious crocheting projects lately. I just finished 2 baby blankets for a twin shower I am attending this weekend and played around with a wool ear flap hat for Keith to wear hunting. The hat turned out great, until I felted it and it shrunk about 4 sizes. Penny Page is now the proud owner of that hat and I am working on an extra large one now. Who knew?!
- My calves / shin splints are an on again, off again nusaince. I have decided that only running isn't helping, so I am incorporating more weight lifting and some alternate cardio. I have been to 2 spinning classes recently and loved them. The sweat factor is amazing! We are thinking about joining a gym to mix things up a little and possibly get some swimming in too.
- I am planning on running the Geist Half marathon in the spring and possibly a full marathon in the fall since its been a few years since I have officially ran either. I need something to train for and look forward to. I miss it.
- We had a kick butt Halloween party (post to follow) and I think it will be a yearly event.
- The Twilight Saga's New Moon movie came out this last weekend and I attended an awesome party at Annie's house followed by a 10pm viewing of the movie. Like a bunch of teenagers, we sat in line, waiting for the theater to let us in. It was quite the experience and we all screamed like we were 16 again. I can't tell you how much fun we had, but thats in a future post too.