Marathons Aren't For Sissies

Mac's sister Elizabeth came out to Houston to see us and to run the Houston Marathon. She is an amazing runner and this was her 5th marathon. She finished the marathon in 3:19:46. Seriously. And her personal record is actually 3:09.
Crazy, isn't it?
Crazy good.
Anyway, she made the front page of the Houston Chronicle. That's her on the left in the yellow visor. She came in 48th among the women, and she isn't even Kenyan. That is awesome!

Mac and Elizabeth at the Expo the day before the marathon.

The morning of the marathon. It was pretty early, but it's never too early for them to ring their mini cowbells.

(I have since confiscated and hid them. I mean...I'm saving them for next year.)

Just after crossing the finish line. Cool and collected.

(They would have been scraping me off the pavement.)

You rock, Elizabeth.

We already pumped up for next year!

Merry Christmas 2009!

We had a great Christmas! After opening gifts, we headed out for our Christmas movie. This year it was Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Squeakquel. Then we came home and ate a real Christmas dinner. No nachos and popcorn this year. We had turkey and dressing (thanks, Luby's) and other sides and apple pie. The kids were pleasantly shocked.
I think it's a tradition the whole family is on board with.

Here are a few pics.....

Just before the madness begins.....

or maybe just after the madness begins...look at those eyes.

Holland opens her gift from Grey. Another Barbie.
Between her birthday and Christmas, Holland aquired 14 new Barbie dolls. Apparently, we are running a shelter for well-dressed homeless Barbies.



Grey receives an airsoft gun from Holland.

A rare moment, worthy of being photographed. They never hug. (Grey isn't and has never been a hugger.) I usually use it as a form of punishment reserved for when they are fighting.

(And he's actually checking out his gift and not really savoring the tender moment of giving.)

I give up. There's no moment here.

Thanks BB and Mac for the ornaments!

Is it me or do the kids look kinda creepy in this picture, kind of like Stepford children?

Holland got a Papsan chair from Santa.

Wish I could have seen him get that down the chimney.

That's right, my kids each got Snuggies, and they love them.

(Personally, I think they look like a pair of mini monks.)

Seriously, how comfortable does that look?

Demonstrating the many uses of the Snuggie, Grey reenacts the angel pointing out the star that would lead the shepherds to the baby Jesus.

Holland and her loot. Yes, that is a Touch-n-Brush toothpaste dispenser (as seen on TV).

She has been asking for one for months.

Friar Grey and his loot.

(There's a Nintendo DSi in there somewhere.)

Though his pile appears smaller, he got electronic stuff and as we all know,

electronics= expensive, so he doesn't get the quantity of gifts from Santa like Holland, but rest assured, he hasn't been shorted.

Holland is a victim of her own stocking stuffer; silly string.

Never challenge us to a silly string war.

We take it seriously.

Very seriously.

Hope you had a Merry CHRISTmas!!