Yule log. Christmas Pyre. Foxy!

Eli helped me burn the cardboard boxes and wrapping paper. It was fun and took me back to burning stuff as a kid. 

We love this puppy. Emmy keeps saying "Ooohhhhh, so cute."

I'm sure the dog is scared of Tessa. 

Merry Christmas

We had Bridget's family over last night for dinner and a program then we had all her cousins over for dessert. 

Pretty proud of him for making thank you cards already. 

Neighbors Garage

These guys are pretty awesome. Someday it would be fun to have a shop and work on cars.

Pralines

I have Grandma Jean's praline recipie. She was Papa Don Stuckey's mother. I made a couple batches this week to carry on the tradition. 

I love Christmas time. Bridget made caramels that were way WAY better than my pralines. 

Here is Emmy she is so excited. She was screaming "happy Christmas!" Note her favorite pajamas, they were Eli's and now they are Emmy's favorite!

Puppy.

We got a puppy for Christmas. I wanted to call her Kojac because she is the opposite of bald. Bridget named her Foxy in the way home. 

Words cannot express the excitement in our house. 

Christmas time

Dora and I built a gingerbread castle! Once the icing dries we will be decorating it. I'm proud if it. I even built a drawbridge. Dora kept licking the icing off it. She then put a gummy bear in her mouth and "polished" it before making it a sentry. Gross. 

Here is the finished product. Kids decorated it

In our neighborhood. 

Ginger bread failure

We attempted to make gingerbread houses from scratch. Bridget's recipie was perfect. Tasted great perfect texture. We didn't have patience to let it dry/stale a bit so it was floppy. 

It initially looked good, then it started to sag. 

After bath time it had fallen apart, completely. I tried putting it back together. I used chopsticks and toothpicks without success. Only one thing to do. Eat!

Bridget pressuring

I was surprised by a meeting on Thursday. They told me I had a quality meeting with CEO  I was kind of nervous. Fortunate for me I had clean pants and shirt. 

It was the annual awards from hospital for employee and volunteer and doctor. They called my name and Bridget and all the kids were there. 

Bridget had pictures but her phone fell in toilet. 

I love Christmas

So Bridget has been making cookies to take caroling. The kids and I told Christmas stories then looked at old blogs from when we lived in Pennsylvania and actually had snow. 

We then decided we needed to put up our second Christmas tree. The kids entirely decorated it without adult help. It's in the entertaining area if house. Looking back at Christmas 2008 and 2009 and seeing Eli as an 18 month old and Dora as a 10 month old was kinda fun. It makes me miss the snow up north and the cold and sledding, and hot chocolate. 

So here we are at Bass Pro Shop enjoying Santa village and commercialism. 

Here we are at the Stuckey Christmas extravaganza  note that all the grand kids were carefully placed by their parents. Oh wait. Colin   Where is Colin? Oh yeah. He was playing. He was in the next picture. 

Here are the kids decorating the tree in the entertainment room

Dora is such a good big sister. 

And a good helper. Eli tired out and wanted to play on the iPad. 

My first marathon

So I have wanted to do a marathon for 3 years. Bridget pushed me this year and said to stop talking about it and do it. 

 This year I did it. During training I developed blisters, rash, knee pain, shin splints, performis syndrome, but, eventually I was able to hit the longer distances. After I did my first 16 miler, I registered for the 20th Baron Rouge Beach Mararhon. It's one of the few Saturday marathons. The day before the marathon, my buddy Dave mailed me a running shirt and socks and hat. 

I parked and walked a half mile to the starting line! Here was my view at sunrise    

People from all over started to show up. Couple people were wearing shirts showing they had done marathons in all 50 states. 

This is start/finish. 

It was 34 degree with wind. 

Highest was 39!

Here I am lined up at back of starting line. 

I didn't have a pic of me crossing the line. My official time was 4:17:30. 

588 people did half marathon. 300 did full. The winner did it in 2:45 I think. For my age range it was 3:20 I think. My goal was less than 4:30. I'm thrilled with my time of 4:17:30. 

Here us the stuff I got in my bag. 

Shirt, bag, socks, gloves, drink holder, and stickers. I gave the bag and stickers to Eli. 

Briefly I want to talk about the physiology of a marathon and training. 

You need at least 3 months training and running. Stretching is important to prevent a lot of the joint and tendon issues. 

You need good shoes : every step you are putting your whole body weight on one foot and pushing off. Think of it like hitting the bottom of your foot with a 200 lb board every second for 4 hours and 17 minutes. Good shoes save your feet. Shoes are cheaper than podiatrists or orthopedists. 

After 70 minutes of exercise, your sweat starts to  evaporTe. The water leaves the salt behind. This creates a fine salt sand residue on your shirt, socks, shorts. Functionally it turns your shirt turns to sand paper, your socks and shoes become pumice rocks. Invest in a good tech shirt so your shirt goes from gritty to a very fine sand paper. Sensitive areas are under arms, between, legs, nipples, and any other area where skin rubs. 

Underwear. Spend money on anti bounce, anti rub, and anti stink. It is worth it.  

Socks. You want your feet as dry as possible wet socks will turn your feet to fungal balls of blistered hash. Good socks will save your feet. Even with good socks, I lost two toenails, and gained 3 blood blisters, in training. 

Hydrating and carb loading. You loose 1-1.5 liters of sweat per hour. Drink Gatorade for electrolytes. Eat good meals several days before hand. 

Lastly. The promise of the word of wisdom is to run and not be weary, and to walk and not faint. I'm not sure yet if I am getting hidden treasures, but I do feel better about myself. I'm happier because I'm healthier.  I feel better. 

D&C 89

18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.

 (D&C 89:18-20)