Winter is....

"snow" much fun! Even though I'm over the large amounts of snow that have been falling and sticking around for weeks, I quite enjoyed them last night! Just as I had decided it was time to shower, get in my pjs, have some dinner, and settle in for a long winter's nap my neighbors called and invited me for sledding! They go over to Erin's parents house for sledding. They had left early afternoon and the husband Aaron (yes, they share the same name!) was coming home to pick up a few things. So, I jumped in the truck with him and went back for dinner first. After dinner, it was time for sledding! I can't remember the last time I went sledding! They had been doing this all day, so the path was slick and you could pick up speed quickly! Of course, I had a few tumbles which almost made it better somehow! We came back home after 9 trying to make it before the roads froze back over. I certainly rested well last night! I'm not as young as I used to be!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

here we "snow" again

Fridays' forecast consisted of a heavy snowstorm that was heading our way. We began our school day knowing that this storm wasn't supposed to hit until 3:00 at the earliest. This meant a whole day with super excited kids...yeah! I prepared myself for the "best" and headed to work. As we were coming back from lunch, we found out that there would be a 1:00 dismissal...thank goodness! We sent our kids on their way and waited until the all clear from the county. We looked out our windows around 2:30 and flakes were just starting. At 2:45, we were finally dismissed and the storm was in full force! The grass was quickly being covered. I parked my car in the driveway at 3:30 and by 3:45, it was covered along with the street. It snowed 2 inches per hour for the 1st 2 hours of the storm. It slacked off a bit, but was still steadily coming down! The most I could find in my yard was 10 inches even though the news reported that the most around the area could be found where I lived...13 inches!!! We woke up Saturday morning to sleet packing the snow down. So, today has been spent lounging. Pattie and I have gone outside every hour or so to "play" and check things out. The last time we went, I was beginning to get a little stir crazy. So, we took out the chuckit and frisbee to play. A few times Pattie was able to dig out the ball from the snow, but the last time it was lost in the heap of snow. No sweat, I know the general area and we'll find it when it thaws. So, we just switched to the frisbee which worked much better! Who says you can't throw the frisbee in the snow? My next trick is to teach her to throw it back to me!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I tried to build a snowman, but it's not good packing snow. Maybe next time...I mean next year!

The Running Bug...

has bitten! After running the race this past weekend, I began thinking about upcoming races. Last night, I went to alumni night for Team in Training. Over a beer, appetizers, and good conversation I was convinced that I really should be thinking about some more races! After the alumni night, I met up with some friends at a local pizza place for a little pregame basketball dinner...Go Heels! It was during this time that I decided that I would shoot for another half marathon this coming Fall. I now want to beat my time; which I hope is possible. The first race came at a difficult time in my life; and I think that with more confidence, training, and determination I can at least beat my time by one second if nothing else! I don't think that it will be through TNT again, but instead just running with my group of friends. You can breathe a sigh of relief that I won't be attacking your wallets...just not yet at least!

Hot Chocolate 10K

Saturday, I participated in the Issac Dickson Hot Chocolate 10K. Waking up Saturday morning as if it was a regular work day was not my favorite. However, I had to get awake and ready to meet the girls (Maggie and Ann) at 7:00. We headed to the race site thinking the parking would be crazy only to find out we pulled right into a spot at 7:30. Since the race didn't start until 9:00, what were we to do now?! We walked down to the school and picked up our packets before walking back to the car to get warm again. It was hovering around 31 and cloudy which made for some cold bones! We hung out in the car checking out our "prizes" ( a t-shirt and a pair of socks), putting on our numbers, eating some energy chews, and chatting before deciding it was time to head down to the start line. We met up with some other friends and stood close to each other to stay warm! Finally, it was time to head to the start line and let this running begin! Maggie and I ran together while Ann, Lauren, and Amanda took off and kicked some running butt! Maggie and I only let ourselves walk through some of the water stations and were able to finish the race; including the final hill with a pretty decent time! You start the race downhill, run about 5 miles on flat ground, and finish up the last 1/3 mile on a slow incline hill. It certainly makes you dig deep! When I turned the corner, I looked first for the finish line, then second towards the ground not wanting to see how hard I felt I was pushing but how slow I was getting there. When I finally started reaching people is when I allowed myself to look up and face that finish line head on! I was able to cut 3 minutes and 16 seconds off my time from this same race last year! Now, my goal is working towards the Cooper River Bridge Run at the end of March. I'd like to keep cutting off time and run that race in an hour! We'll see what happens!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my sweet mother's birthday! We won't tell her age except that she's 30 years older than me! This past Saturday, mom and dad offered to drive up here to help me "winterize" my house. I declared operation winterize Friday afternoon and was determined to take back my house! We hung film on most of the windows stuffing paper in most of the cracks first. Luckily, I no longer feel cold wind blowing at me when I stand in front of the windows. I certainly appreciate their help! After we were finished working, dad and I took mom out for her birthday "lupper"...a late lunch/early dinner before they headed back home. We thought about going over to "stone cold slab" (it's a new combo ice cream place mom created!) for some ice cream, but passed when we walked outside and it was blowing snow again! We were a bit shocked at the size of the petite filets that mom and I both ordered...good thing we didn't decide to split them! Nevertheless, we had a good chuckle over them, enjoyed a good day together, and were reminded how lucky we are to be family. Happy Birthday Mom!

Pattie Celebrates!

A year ago today January 11th), this little ball of energy was born and I am lucky to call her my own. Saturday night, she went over to play with Chloe for a girls night. Sunday, we got together with one of her sisters and brothers to play for the "birthday party". It consisted of watching them play nonstop for about 3 hours! She didn't even eat dinner she was so worn out! She got a doggie version (instead of the cha-cha-cha, it was ruff, ruff, ruff) of Happy Birthday from the Ohio Gribbles and a card with a dog magnet frame from "grandma and grandpa". Of course I spoiled her today with extra treats and love. How lucky is she to have such a wonderful family?!

Lilly Kate Cochran

Amanda and I were friends growing up. We went to the same church and have remained friends every since; hanging out on weekends, playing Barbies, having sleepovers, and being introduced to sneaking food into the movies! Unfortunately, we don't get to see each other very often, but thanks to quick reunions at church and now the ever important world of facebook we are able to "see" each other more often. We were both home the Sunday after Christmas and I was able to meet her sweet baby girl. Lilly Kate was born in October and made her first debut to our church back home on her first Christmas.

To New Beginnings

2010 has started out on the right track despite a minor happening. After looking at my pictures again, I somehow managed to delete all the remaining pictures on my camera! I'm thinking about creating an "undo" button for digital cameras and making lots of money! Or if that has already been created, someone please tell me how to use it!
So, you'll sadly miss out on pictures but I can quickly recap the last days of my vacation. On NYE, we went to see Grandma Gribble. She and Sawyer had a good time playing "war" even though I'm not sure she quite knew what she was getting herself in to! Imagine Grandma Gribble sitting in a blue chair with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren standing behind her. That would have been inserted here. After our visit, I continued on south with Phillip and Jammie to hang out in Charlotte for the evening with an old friend. Gray and his wife Heather invited us for an evening of wonderful food fixed on the green egg, good drinks, and good conversations. Imagine Phillip and I being silly with our enormously large wine glasses and "hiding" our double-chins. Those would have been inserted here. We came back home Friday and enjoyed an afternoon of napping and playing the Wii at Kathryn's house before packing up our cars and heading home on Saturday.
Here would have been inserted some video of Caroline "throwing" Pattie's toys for her, Sawyer playing cards, G.G. reading the kids a book, and some random last minute pictures from the trip. It was sad to leave "home", but nice to be back in the mountains. Although it was freezing cold. Seriously, can you really warm up when the temperature is 12 degrees without the windchill figured in?! Wishing you all a happy 2010!