Sunday, December 29, 2013

Sunday, December 22, 2013

cousins by choice

Sweet Abi made the trip to see Hunter get baptized. She is getting so big!! (Abi is the daughter of a family friend and the kids call her "cousin Abi")
 
could eat her up

sweet girls

Abi, Hunter, Jammy and Hayley

Oh, Christmas Tree

 
Usually I am the freak who puts the tree up November 1st. It wasn't happening this year!  I was kind of sad about it but at the same time it was nice to wait for a while. For the record it was up the weekend before Thanksgiving--this was the only weekend that was opened to do it. Life is a whirl wind spinning out of control.
 
 
Excited to put our new Disney ornaments on:

 

These are some of my favorite Christmas things ever:

My Momma made this for us girls--its an ornament covered with buttons from my GG, girl scout pins (that big green/gold thing) and locket pictures from when we were little.
 
Our first married ornament


Great Grandpa Joseph's snowman. My aunt made these for all the nieces when you got married. Its a snow man made from (Clean) long underware from my Great Grandfather's stash. I never met him but love the fact that he is not forgotten.


Hunter and Hayley made these when they were 2 and 4--they have topped our tree ever since and will continue to do so.


My Granny (Daddy's momma) always made ceramics, she made this boot and it was always filled with mini candy canes when I was little. It was the only thing I wanted when she passed.
 
 
 
Love my little tree that was decorated by my children

aau phone dump

took this picture for Alicia...
 
this will be as close as I get to ever getting an iron man medal!
 
 
Georgia was 68 and sunny while KY was having ice/snow.  I didn't feel bad one bit about laying on the side walk basking in the sun.

 
Poor buddy--13 hour bus ride wore him out.
(yes, that is his blankey that he has slept with every day since he was born--11 years and still going)


ready to head back to Ky---notice all the shorts?? weather was amazing


figured since the kids need to carb up, I could too!
 
Coach got some octopus, sea creature looking thing

 
excuse the hair-sharing a moment with my boy

 
still not thrilled to have pictures with mom. this was post race lunch at wendys



hunter and coach tally--would love to hear the conversation they were having. this man is someone who has been made hunter a better runner.

Hunter’s Baptism

My baby boy got baptized--One proud Momma 

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CCCNYM

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Hunter got invited to the CCCNYM at the State meet for Cross Country. I was very hesitant to let him run just because this race was the week before AAU National meet--we have no time for injuries. It's been major practice mode around here, Hunter has been training with the HS CC team and its been so different in a lot of ways. Since Oct 27, he has been on a major training schedule. 8-10 miles a day and let me tell you, I have cried watching how much this is paying off. The leg turn over, times, breathing, confidence and learning level has been out of this world different!
 
The meet was at EP Tom Sawyer Park--HATE this park--we were scheduled to run here 3 times this year and it poured, like flooded each time we were there. Today, its was just cold as all get out--I was in layers, unlike my poor child. He HATES to wear clothing when running.
 
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Coach Jelks and Coach Stevens make the drive from Bowling Green to watch him (Tab and Braelyn) run.  This was the first time that they have seen him run in person and not just follow him on Milesplit. I was very nervous---it was like my child was getting scouted! Not ready for that!!
 
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Trying to stay warm and have a little fun while waiting---these kids just don't seem to enjoy a friendly game of whiffle ball like when I was younger.
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Let me tell you about Tabitha. She is SO my child from another mother!!  Hunter and her could SO be brother and sister--they fight, act, play, etc. like they are. LOVE their relationship they have and know that it will be one for life. Its like they are twins--they have logged so many miles together and have that competitive  push for one another that they each need.
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Hunter has gotten into this habit of giving me a play by play of his race after he has decompressed. I have not asked for this and have tried to video tape this many times but always get caught. I asked him to write this down, to look back on and share with Coach Tally. It made me cry--so grown up and mature in so many ways.
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Hunter PR on this course!!! 11:04:28 and came in 14th over all!! I was in tears--this was the most emotional race that I ever watched--it all paid off.
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Coach Tally really knows what he is doing and has a totally different approach to coaching. It still is hard to get used to--Coach Smith (his MS CC coach) is all about joking and having fun--if you do well its an added bonus. Coach Tally--total opposite-he is driven, smart, determined and has literally written a work out plan for each child after doing much studying on Mile Spilt. I have had to learn to totally trust this Coach and his ways.  Hunter started off this race LAST---this was SO HARD to see but was totally worth it. Hunters finish was so much better, he PR'd on (this is a killer course) and had to learn to listen to his body and find his pace. I am SO thankful that he (actually we) are given this chance to run and train with another coach!

Necklace

 
LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.  my cow necklace that I ordered from Keller Kreations.  This is a company that my girlfriends daughter has started. I am addicted to all their cute necklaces and did lots of Christmas shopping from them!!