End of November and Beginning of December

When I went to upload pictures for this post, I realized that I hadn't posted since before Thanksgiving...so there is a lot! We enjoyed being in Georgia for Thanksgiving and the kids seemed to have a good time. Since being home, December has already gotten off to quite a busy start! Ro Ro was in town last week and that's always fun. Ethan and Nina loved having complete attention - Ethan especially! Ro Ro was a huge help around the house - unfortunately she came in the middle of the Christmas decorating, but she just jumped right in and did more than her part! I have 6 full size trees in the house this year!! We will be back in Georgia for Christmas, but I just couldn't not put everything out - I love it all!!!

Saturday morning I ran in my first half marathon. It was freezing that morning and the wind was blowing pretty hard during some of it, but I survived and had the best time! I ran with a friend from church, Kelly. She and her husband Jason have 4 girls and they both find time to train! He was in a coral ahead of us and finished in under 2 hours. We ran together the entire time and finished in 2:35:07 - I would have liked to done it in under 2 1/2, but that will be my goal for the next one. The race started in downtown Memphis, went by Bealle Street and by St. Jude's (thus the name St. Jude Marathon weekend), through Overton Park where the zoo is, and then back down Poplar and into AutoZone Park for the finish. It was a great course! Jason was waiting for us at the finish line and we went for the food.....HOT McAlister's soup, Domino's Pizza, KRISPY KREME donuts....was worth the 13.1!!! I'm going to sign up for the Country Music half in Nashville with Kelly (that's the end of April) and I might sign up for one in Atlanta in March. I never thought I'd do this - and at the half marathon and full marathon split, I thought there's NO way I could keep going for more - half is quite enough accomplishment for me! An incredible experience!!

The rest of the month is packed full, as I'm sure everyone elses is too! It's just that time of the year! Happy December!!! Papa on Thanksgiving Day with Ethan and Nina

Nana and Mema with Nina

My cousin Ryan with Nina - which one needs a haircut worse??

Ethan holding baby Hunter

Mommy and Nina about to have Thanksgiving dinner

Nona with her 3 grandkids

Courtney showing Ms. Margaret baby Hunter

The Friday night after Thanksgiving, a bunch of us met at Partner's in Peachtree City to have dinner and catch up - the Abrahams, Sims, Craddocks, Thompsons and Justices - we all had a great time!!

Matt Craddock with Melanie and Mandy - some things never change!

Mema with Hunter on his first trip to Partner's Pizza

The "kids" with their "kids"

Nana and Papa with their great grandkids

Mema with her great grandkids (but Nina wouldn't let Nona go, so she's in the pic too)

Picking out our Christmas tree

Ethan and Nina picking out our tree

For the 2nd year we've got to Collierville with the Maunds for the tree lighting and Santa's arrival. It was a lot of fun again, but very cold!

Nina was tired on the way home and I was running out of things to give her, so I gave her some gum....she LOVES gum - my child for sure - loves sweet tea and gum! But she was quiet and I looked back and this is what I saw.

Nina with her Christmas tree

Ethan with his Christmas tree

Nina getting her first haircut

She didn't really know what to think - but she didn't care because she had a sucker!

Mandy and Kelly after the half marathon - we finally found Mark and Ethan in the waiting area at AutoZone Park...and lucky us, he brought the camera!

Can you tell Ethan's looking into the sun???

Very proud - now it's time for a HOT shower and a nap!!!

Ro Ro with Ethan and Nina at the Bartlett Christmas parade

Santa arrives on Bartlett's Ladder truck - Ethan was so excited!!

There were numerous bands in the parade and Ethan loved them - I made the mistake of telling him that Mark had a trombone at home...so as soon as we got home, this is what happened. He loved it though and Mark actually could still play!

Below is the beginning of Christmas card attempts. I think I got one that I'll use, but if you notice wet spots on Nina's dress it's because Mark kept putting a sucker in her mouth before I'd take the picture so she'd smile - so there are drool spots on her dress! What do ya do though???