Nothing says "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year" like...

Kittens and Free Gear!?

Well.. maybe your answer was different. But, you have to admit, there's something special about a combo like that!

I hope your Christmas has been exceptionally full of joy. Ours has been!

We decided this year to fulfill our children's most desired material wish by bringing home (not one, but TWO) kittens.

Our ancient kitty passed away in October after having a seizure. She was 15 years old, and we knew it would happen some day. None of us realized just how big a hole she would leave in our family.

Random Updates and a "Must-Try" Recipe

No-Bake Protein Snowball Recipe
Have you eaten enough junk yet? I have probably consumed enough sugar in the last week to supply an ant farm for 3 years.

Despite this admission, I found a recipe from +Neila Rey that has my interest

Christmas : Part 1, Training Updates, and Other Scattered Thoughts.

It's not like we couldn't just walk out the front door and cut one down in our yard. We live in the "timber Capitol of the USA" after all. But one from our yard would have been thinner, too tall for our ceiling, and just too easy.

So...off for another family tradition!

The adventure begins with a short drive to a semi-local tree farm.

Then we look at a few trees, find a nice one, and walk around in the near-frozen acreage (with happy thoughts that it isn't 40 below with whipping wind) for two more hours. (This is excellent cross training, by the way).I suggest a few trees, and Nathan sticks out his tongue. Hubby says they are all too tall, or too fat, or too (Fill in the blank) for the corner we will stick it in. I know he's right....I just have a problem :  it HAS to be tall.

After looking at every tree on the site, making fun of all the ugly ones, arguing about the perfect one, we select the VERY first one we looked at. (I see a way to save some time here).

Then we spin around on the giant swing 3 or 4 times, acting silly, until we finally get cold enough to go pay for our tree.

  We get some warm beverages while the extra junk gets shaken out of the fir, then throw it in the rig.

Wing-Nut had a little meltdown over his hat, but was fine after he got a candy cane. :)

 

We had "fun" and it is surely one to remember. So glad Christmas is NOT about the tree though :)

***

Faith stuff:

I came a cross these verses in reading this week, and have been keeping them close to my heart:

^{2 Corinthians 5: 17} Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

^{2corinthians 5:20-21} Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
***
Training stuff:

I took a big leap this week. It's not a mileage jump I would recommend to anyone, but since it is NOT totally new mileage to me, I felt comfortable doing it. My legs are happy!

I feel it is important to note that almost all of my running has been easy: a little threshold pace, a few strides, but lots and lots of easy and recovery running...and recovering from easy running with running easy. A few of those runs were on the treadmill, which I am glad to say is still working. Can't beat free! Although, Amanda's treadmill and youtube combo sounds pretty good! At the end of my long run today, I felt like I could have gone a few more miles. My plan for tomorrow doesn't involve any running, just a big nap.

Have a great Sunday!

BEHOLD.

Now. Isn't that precious?!  Notice the chocolate between the eyes, boogers in the nose, and chicken hanging out of the mouth?

The kid just likes to suck his food lately. Gets a piece of something good and presses it to the roof of his little mouth. Hours later, it's still there. He's not eating much with his canines coming in, but he's savoring the flavor! I pulled the car over for this shot. Moments later I tried to take the chicken out, but he clamped down on my finger and I had to release it. He spit out the fragments when we got home. =D

I believe I found the PERFECT Christmas tree! I can't wait to see the look on Jon's face. What do you think?

Don't call the fashion police on me! It's a good day if I manage to wear anything besides old running shoes when I leave the house. Besides, in Elkton no one gives a skunk's tail what you wear. But this was Cottage Grove. I had to dress up.

Training:
Well, it seems I will have some more company in Boston! Looks like Ryan Hall made it past the computer snafu and registered for the race. (Read about it here) Woo-hoo! Looking forward to running with meeting him (in a long line at the expo).

Still trying to decide which route to take as far as training goes. Should I use a trusted plan many have done before (Pete Pfitzinger 18/70)? Or, should I use a slightly more personal approach that gives specific workouts (SmartCoach) . (I do like that I can completely revise it mid-training if needed.) Or...will I be brave and make my own plan - one that will work well for my lifestyle and specific talents/obstacles? I have a little more time to sit on the fence with this.

I did play with SmartCoach tonight, (just a little) to see what types of numbers it would spew out to me for work out paces. Interesting.....very interesting, indeed. I like it better than the McMillan calculator, and McMillan and I are good friends. :)