Thanksgiving, Marathon, Zions, Christmas

 Baby's first Thanksgiving Dinner

It was a hit!

Last November I did my first full marathon. It was tough...
Lessons learned:
1) Start at your own pace- don't try to keep up with friends who are much faster for you, even for only 3 miles.
2) Eat lots! The week of the race, the night before and even wake early to eat more. (Drinking water is included with this.)
3) Even if your body says eat at 6 miles but that wasn't in the plan, do it! There is more food along the course.
4) Long training runs are important- don't skip these.
5) Finally- audio books are the best mental life saver!

 Mile 5: Cheesy picture, I know

Mile 26.2: Didn't even see my 'support crew.' 

My only thought was to get across the line and lie down, which is what I did!

Christmas Woody and Buzz

We had to put up a tree before the move, even for a short while.

I love this flower that bloomed in CA before we left! 

Don't know what it is called though...

Zion

 No snow but very cold!

 Christmas...

 

 1st present

 

 Star Wars Millenium Falcon- Is he already old enough to have toys like this? Wow, how time flies!

 Christmas morning... a little unsure

...but quickly warm-up

 Check out Eli's 'rock' face!

 "No baby, it's mine!"

 Jumping on bubble wrap! Thanks Uncle Wesley!

The force...

 Christmas morning #2 (some of the gifts got lost with the move)

 Merry Christmas!

Well, we are here...

...sort of.  We are in Utah and it has been a crazy few weeks trying to get settled! I can't believe we have moved back.  I still feel like we will be driving back to California, to our old home and I will go back to my old job. I am sure this will feel like home soon enough but for now we all feel a little misplaced. 

The story goes... Ryan's company was kind enough to pay for some moving costs. Yea! We were able to hire a company to drive all of our gear across the desert and to our new mountain home.  This was so much easier than driving a U-haul again (especially with little kids). We boxed everything and they were at our house Monday the 19th to load it into the truck.  After most everything was loaded the owner stopped by to inform us he is having difficulty finding a driver and our things most likely will not be there by Christmas. What!?! Initially we were told our things would be there within 3 days.  We only packed a few items for 2 days of travel and all our Christmas gifts were on the truck already.  Sigh... so we took advantage of the extra time and stopped in Vegas to see the Aquarium (very cool Swordfish!).  We also stayed in the Zion lodge for a couple of nights and did some cold, but beautiful hiking!  

We arrived in Salt Lake in time for Christmas and all of the family traditions.  I had an interview with Shriner's hospital (no word yet). Ryan had the week off work!

The craziness started again when we went to check out the duplex we were planning on moving into.  It smelled horribly of smoke! After cleaning the carpets, painting walls and changing the heating vent it still smelled.  So Ryan and I spent 1 day rushing around looking for an apartment that had immediate openings and will do a month-to-month lease.  Luckily we found one not too far from Ryan's work. Our things arrived on the truck the next day and we are now pretty much moved in.  Now time to look for buying a house! So we hope to be moving again in the next few months but it will be well worth it and hopefully we will not move again next Christmas (as we did last year and this).

Pictures of Christmas and our adventures to come...