Weird memories and the St. Jude 5k

So I'm a little weird when it comes to memories. Only because I can barely remember anything, and I mean anything, before the age of 10. And since then I do remember a lot of things - but whats weird about it is that I remember the most random things and I remember them essentially in full color. Meaning I remember the place it happened, the people that surrounded me, the conversation that took place, and sometimes even the clothes that were worn. Now, I think this is normal. Morgan, on the other hand, thinks its weird. {but in a good way.... I think. :)}

Ok anyways - I remember this one night in the summer of 2009 - when Morgan and I were not officially 'together' yet - it had been a few months since I had moved here and I had just been to a branch FHE. I know this because there was a big group of us at Buffalo Wild Wings watching the monday  night football game {actually it was pretty much only Morgan and I watching the game and everyone else being loud and obnoxious} ANYways, our friends Lara and Ryan were there {they are married now but were engaged then, and thus in the singles ward with us still} and Lara and I were talking about our work out regimes - or lack thereof - and she told me that she wanted to run the St. Jude half marathon that December and wanted me to do it with her. {psh. she obviously didn't know me that well... yet} Morgan was apparently eavesdropping on the convo and immediatly interjected that he had ran it the year before... to which I promptly rolled my eyes... {ok actually I just made that part up but it is plausible, he was always trying to impress me, and I was always {jokingly} rolling my eyes at him {as I still do}... } - anyways so I just flat out told both of them that I didn't like to run long distances and had never ran in a real race even though I loved to run, and they both started giving me a hard time about it, so I jokingly suggested we start out by doing a few 5ks {lara had also never ran a race either} together... and they both agreed. I was sort of caught off guard, not only that they were serious about it, but that a 6'1" 250 lb guy agreed to run a 5k. So I looked into it and we all signed up for a 5k in September - and blogged about here in October.

Then the rest is pretty much history, since then I've done 6 5ks - {all trained with the Morgman.} Got 1st and 2nd(s) in my age group. Got 126th overall. Got asked "what's wrong, is your leg hurt?" during a race. Gotten cheered on from the sidelines. Got cramps, ear aches, and hunger pains (yep.).  Got 4 medals, a trophy and a ceramic tile (big time right there). Got runners high, courage, confidence.  Even with the {made up} eyeroll he managed to inspire me, and he has every day since.

So fast forward a year and a few months and we found ourselves not at the St. Jude half marathon {he does know me well}, but the 5k and it was so much fun to do together, creating more memories :)



friends from work - janell and nicole also ran
pope was in a boot due to a stress fracture ... from running.



Thanksgiving 2010

So now that it's officially my holiday break I actually have some time to update, since as always I'm way behind, while the Thursday night football game is on in the background and the morgman studies (for his OAR test, oh how I can't wait for that to be over!)

This Thanksgiving I actually didn't travel anywhere - but I did have some special guests - My mom and stepdad! {though below you will not be able to find photo evidence - he was, in fact, present}

So to preface, at this point I had been sick for 2 weeks before they came in - I was feeling a lot better by then, but then my mom called me Wednesday before they left town and they had woke up with sore throats, headaches, etc - it was so sad. Then to top it all off Morgan got the flu bug on Thanksgiving morning. He got a fever and was sick all day - it was so sad. He was hurting pretty much the rest of the weekend. 

BUT we still managed to have a lot of fun and enjoy our time together.

Friday we went and got my very first Christmas tree!! We went to a local tree farm and everyone helped me pick one out - my mom actually spotted the final decision. Morgan cut it down and everyone helped transport it back to my 3rd floor apartment and decorate it.

Mr. Tree has been probably the biggest reason I have been in such a cheerful Christmas mood - I can't wait everyday to come home and turn it on and water it - I like to turn off all the lights at night before I go to bed and just sit with the Morgman and talk and enjoy it all. 

And I'm proud to say that I have singlehandedly {except for the 5 days I was in St. Louis and Morgan babysat} kept Mr. Tree alive, which according to my step dad lost him 5 dollars to my mom - Who bets that I will kill a beautiful Christmas Tree?!!? In your face, Gary.

On Saturday we went to dinner with Morgan's family and afterwards headed to YoLo of course!  It was a hit - and a wonderful way to end a wonderful visit. 

Thanks Mom and Gary for making your way to see me this Thanksgiving, I love you!

List!

So my "holiday break" {consisting of 1 vacation day and 1 flex day} starts around 3:30ish tomorrow afternoon

and I can't wait!

I took a break from my online class module at work and compiled a list of what I want to get accomplished over the break.

I would say its a little lengthy for the mere 4 days I have to complete it -

 but it has me focused and super excited for all the fun things we get to do!

So here's to crossing things off the list! :)

4 things:

1.



Madeline is growing up so fast! 

She loves all things that sparkle or dangle {aka ALL my jewelry}

she gets into everything

 she waves "bye" {although awkwardly}

she knows when you say "no" and just gives a playful smile

and she is almost walking!

2.

have I mentioned that the best thing about every week is date night?

well, it is.

{and lucky for me, this guy loves them too}

maybe its because I fully support his {ok, our} addiction to YoLo.

Oh, have I mentioned our very fave frozen yogurt place, yet?

why yes I have. a few times.

well just in case you are just now hearing about it... go NOW

we go every week. :)

3.

Morgan's mom's {Karen} birthday was in November.

and since she is an amazing cook {especially her cakes}

I knew I couldn't trump her cake-making-abilities

so instead - we got her GiGi's cupcakes

{like the one's Morgan got me for our 1 year anniversary}

and they were just as delish-es as I remember.

4.

Did I mention that the Morgman cut down our tree?

He did.

and I loved it.

That's it.

Happy Friday!

sharing is caring

I stumbled upon this website awhile ago.. but I actually had to use it last week

and it worked beautifully!

I found that thing {aka my phone} in no time flat {that doesnt make sense, by the way}

and wasn't late getting out the door!

It was a miracle, for reals!

So I thought I'd share.

www.icantfindmyphone.com

easy to remember, eh?

I have a new pet

And it's a my very own

Christmas Tree!

I love it!

more to come of the very wonderful Thanksgiving weekend...

Random Thoughts

I am pretty much worthless here at work today, and I'm about to finish up my last online class for my class in December.....

{I still don't get taking classes to attend a class. I thought prerequisites were done!}

.... and I have a bazillion random thoughts running through my head. Thought I'd share so I can continue on with my work day {which at the time of typing is 1 HOUR AND COUNTING}

• Making lists helps me keep organized like for reals. My Christmas shopping is in full swing and if I didn't have a list I would be broke!
• Morgan and I have been talking about starting our own traditions - not only with Christmas but all the holidays. We've had a lot of chats about what we did growing up. As of now we both agree on Christmas Eve PJ's and a few others. I stumbled upon a post in the blogworld that gave me the greatest idea for gifts for Christmas. Morgan and I are going to tweak it a little bit to fit 'us' - and I'll share it with you after the holiday!
• CHEEZ-ITs + Diet Coke = delish.
• There are so many weddings going on in my life right now. Not my wedding of course, but people's in my life. Sandra, Kristen, Jenn. Plus all my college friends are getting hitched all over the country. There are bound to be more the beginning of the year. I love being surrounded by love!
• I've started to love feeling sore after I work out. I used to hate it - like I would seriously avoid working out hard just because I knew it would hurt later. Morgan has brought a whole new perception of fitness into my life and I really appreciate my body getting a good work out - and when its sore just a mere few hours later, that means I did the job right. Like now. ouch.
• My mom and stepdad are coming in 5 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Oh yeah and speaking of Christmas {c'mon, keep up people}, I have a lot of siblings. I'm glad we draw names, it helps to make my gift that much more special and unique. Instead of just getting 5 I-tunes giftcards and calling it a day. Though I don't think they would be sad about that at all now that I think about it. oh well.
• Oh how thankful I am for the life I have. For the freedoms that surround me. For the truth that I have. {these feelings the aftermath of watching Hotel Rwanda and crying my eyes out. How cruel this world is sometimes}
• Morgan's amazing ideas! = Double date night, complete with dinner, fire & smores.
• Any thoughts about Accutane? I'm thinking about it a. lot.
• Is it weird that I have an overwhelming urge to buy stuff {for myself!}?? And not just clothes {but yes, a lot of that}. but hair stuff. and shoes. and cameras. and film. and rugs. and coffee tables. and frames. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME. its the season of GIVING. not getting. I'm seriously demented.
• On that note... this is my favorite site for beautiful things right now. I want every one.
• Is it weird that I just 'justified' this post? Work + my OCD is ruining me.



yep - these guys are coming for Thanksgiving!



at the pumpkin patch with Madeline in October.
afterwards we realized that it looks like she's our kid. oops.
and yes that was taken on Morgan's phone = blurrific



by the way my coworker who took this immediately said afterward
"now that, is facebook worthy". wow.