Family Fun!

Since Jaye was home for a week we decided to make the most of some time together. We headed down to Sea World for the day. It was SUPER crowded, but we had fun anyway! We told Hope to pick her 2 favorite shows...she chose the silly dolphin show (which is more about people doing acrobatics than the dolphins) and the pet show. We made it to our shows and then enjoyed exploring and playing together. We saw the sharks, the penguins, played in the sand, climbed the cargo nets and discovered turtle reef (my favorite part of the day).

Jaye and Hope both love the penguins. I love listening to Jaye teach Hope about the penguins and point out various things he sees or observes!

Another fun thing we got to do was go on a boat tour to see all the Christmas lights in the harbor. I had found cheap tickets on a deal-a-day sight and it was pretty fun. It was something new and different and made for a fun adventure! Here we are all bundled up!

We also managed to make it to Disneyland for a few hours since we hadn't been yet to see it decked out for Christmas. It was unbelievably crowded that day so we went on the Pooh ride, watched the parade, and saw 2 shows. Despite the crowds (for which they stopped admitted people into the park) we still had fun and enjoyed a beautiful day outside!

I am so grateful for that week between Christmas and New Years as it has become a tradition to fill it with fun family days! I loved waking up each morning to Jaye being home with us and Hope loved her "Hope and Daddy days" when I went to work! I am so thankful for this family God given me!

Christmas Highlights!

Christmas has come and gone and boy was it fun!! I love that Hope was old enough to really enjoy all things Christmas and I love that we could teach her what Christmas is really about! Jaye was off for 10 days and we treasured time together as a family!

We thought Hope would love decorating a gingerbread house, but she was more interested in eating M&Ms. She did help a bit, but would not part with any M&Ms to put on the house!

We'd been collecting things here and there for Hope, things we'd see on sale or things we knew she'd enjoy. She had fun with all of it, but I think her favorite things are her tea-set, her blocks, and her Star Wars guys...those are the things that get played with daily! Don't mind her crazy bed-head!

We baked a birthday cake for baby Jesus and Hope helped Jaye's Mom and I by telling us what colors she wanted and told us where to put things. I love that we can start this tradition with her! I bought funfetti cake and frosting (my favorite), but we discovered that funfetti frosting doesn't work very well when trying to use a frosting bag to write letters...it clogs. Oops!

Thanks to friends of my folks, Hope got the singing hippopotamus she wanted. (it was the 1 thing she asked for). My mom and I had both posted on facebook, asking everyone to keep their eyes open for a singing hippo as we couldn't find one anywhere. Their friend found this one on Chrsitmas Eve out in Long Beach. She was so excited about it!

Christmas day both sides of our family come to our house...even Great Grandma! I am so thankful to have family so close and I love that we can all be together to celebrate!! We feel so fortunate to not have to juggle family and split the day...we get the best of both sides all at once!

#716. an accident free week...GO HOPE!
#717. proper running clothes/shoes
#718. the ability to run 8 minutes straight...I think I may just be able to do my 5k after all!
#719. favorite friends at Gymboree...she was sooo happy to see her sweet friend
#720. playday with friends...it had been way too long
#721. learning new games to play together
#722. resilient kids at work
#723. great playlist...thanks hubby
#724. reclaimed space thanks to Christmas decorations being gone
#725. new roommate...

#706. Family days spent at Disneyland and Sea World
#707. Dry pull-ups
#708. Sleep overs at her Great Grandma's house
#709. sitting on the couch watching movies with my favorites
#710. happy feet thanks to new running shoes
#711. I can actually run for 5 minutes straight
#712. new roommate/housemate...glad we are able to help out
#713. sweet hubby with a better sense of fashion/style than I...
#714. cousin-in-law...thankful for her
#715. partner in crime at work

#697. hubby being off for 10 days = Daddy duty in the middle of the night...so wonderful!
#698. gingerbread house making
#699. first run outside of the gym...went 3 miles and ran more of it than I thought I could thanks to an app malfunction
#700. Christmas Eve service with "Auntie Gail" and my 2 favorites
#701. Christmas Eve traditions of fruit soup and lefse and Costa Rican tamales (Scandarican Christmas Eve)
#702. forgetting my camera at my folk's = a 2 minute drive and a few minutes of chatting
#703. time with a dear friend after 6 months of hectic schedules
#704. trip to a running store...excited to get the proper shoes needed for ultimate comfort as I continue this new adventure
#705. a tiny baby, born in a stable, lain in a manger...Mary sure was a trooper!

The hunt for running shoes

Since starting to train for my 5k, I have realized that I desperately needed some new running shoes. The shoes I've been wearing are cross trainers and I've had them for 4-5 years. Now that I am actually starting to run for multiple minutes in a row (3 was this week's magic number), my feet are starting to complain. So, I began my quest for new running shoes.

I quickly discovered that running shoes are EXPENSIVE! I've always had Nikes so I just assumed that another pair of Nike shoes would be great. The shoes above were on sale for $45...my kinda price! They weren't my 1st choice color-wise, but they are fun and the price was right. Imagine my surprise when after waiting almost 2 weeks, the following shoes arrived on my front porch:

Definitely not what I was expecting, but they weren't horrible either. I tried them on thinking, "they'll due"...but they were not in the least bit comfortable. Bummer! Back to square one. Sooo...on Monday I searched Zappos, in search of some FUN shoes that were decently priced. I came across these (see below) and loved that they were unique and a bit funky! So, thanks to Zappos.com, these were mine the next day. I tried them on and they seemed comfy, but I still wasn't 100% sure that they were the right shoes for me.

Several people have suggested I find myself an actual running store and get analyzed/fitted for the "proper" type of shoe....and here I thought that a running was shoe was a running shoe. Boy, was I wrong! Today I visited a running store, my spiffy shoes (pictured above) in my arms, hoping they'd approve them and send me on my way. After having me run on a treadmill and walk around the store, I was informed that I needed stability shoes...my ankles roll in. I tried on several pairs, none of which I loved, but 1 pair was definitely better when it came to comfort. Of course these shoes were all out of my price range, so I politely took a picture of the box and told him I'd ask for some for Christmas. Oh, and my spiffy Adidas...definitely on the NO list. Bummer! So, I came home, did some more online shopping and research and ordered these:

At least they are a little bit fun and funky and the price was definitely affordable. They aren't the latest and greatest version and they aren't the exact ones I tried on in the store, but the brand fit and they say they are for stability. I am hoping that when they arrive I will fall in love with them and they will be perfect so I can move on and continue on my journey of learning to run.

#685. a little girl who loves to wrestle and tumble with her Grandpa
#686. sword fights with Grandpa Daisy
#687. unexpected days at home with my girl
#688. lots of laughter with great friends/co-workers
#689. princess tea parties with my girl
#690. Fuse (even if we only make it on nights without hockey)
#691. our church...love to see God at work
#692. her excitement/anticipation of Christmas...can't wait to watch her experience it all
#693. her sweet words of "I just love you so much" or "I missed you"
#694. time at the gym and great "teachers" who care for Hope so I can work out
#695. the opportunity to help others this Christmas
#696. Christmas traditions