as requested ...

So, you really want to see what I used to look like? Well, here it is.

Me, 10 years ago, pre-children at my highest weight and largest size ... 220 lbs and a size 16.

And now (pre-marathon photo), after three children, hovering around 150 and a size 2.

Not too shabby, if I do say so myself ...

O Skinny Jeans ...

So, I'm not really a festive person. I can't stand Christmas music. My decorations are minimal at best. If I didn't have children, I'm not sure that I would even put up a tree. I'm not a scrooge, but I just don't get what all the fuss is about. I would rather look at other people's decorating efforts than bother with my own.

But, there is one thing I LOVE about the holiday season (other than the food) and that is watching my children take it all in. They love it. And their smiles make me hate it all a little less. J is trying to get me to "get into it all." I'm trying.

So, here is my first feeble attempt to combine Christmas music and something I am thankful for ... my skinny jeans (which I purchased on Black Friday - would you look at that? I'm covering Christmas and Thanksgiving all in one shot).

O Skinny Jeans (sung to the tune of O Christmas Tree)

O Skinny Jeans
O Skinny Jeans
How lovely are your stitches

O Skinny Jeans
O Skinny Jeans
How lovely are your stitches

Your denim hugs my A Star Star
The one I got by running far

O Skinny Jeans
O Skinny Jeans
How lovely are your stitches

The size 16 that I once knew
Has now been melted to a 2

O Skinny Jeans
O Skinny Jeans
How lovely are your stitches

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

awesome giveaway ...

Have you checked out Mel's latest giveaway? It's awesome. Too bad for everyone else that I am going to win it! But you should at least look at it anyway.

All you have to do is click HERE

Happy Turkey Day!

dinnertime discussions ...

Did you ever have a day when something your child said made you laugh? or cry? or feel loved? Today was that day in my house. During dinner, Dizzle said two things that I want to remember. Mainly, so that I can remind her of them when she is older.

First, is on the subject of death. It's her current obsession. She wants to know why things die. When they are going to die. And CONSTANTLY tells me she doesn't want to die EVER! Anyway, she was going on about about dying and asked me if I was going to die. I responded with the very neutral, "Yes, Dizzle. Everyone dies someday. Hopefully, that day won't come until I am very, very old." She then told me, "I will miss you when you die. How about we die together so that we can play together when we are dead?" I instantly got choked up on the sweetness of that statement. Then I laughed, because really, it was kind of funny in a morbid kind of way.

Dizzle's second hot topic today was bedtime. While we were eating dinner, she asked me what we were going to do after we finished. I said, "Nothing. We are going to go to bed." Dizzle looked at me and said, "OK, but I want to stay up for ten minutes."(Mind you, it was 5:30). I said, "OK" Then she tried to negotiate 11 minutes. Then 20. I said, "Yes, Dizzle you can stay up for 20 minutes, but you have to go to bed right after that." She smiled and screamed,"Really?!?! WE CAN STAY UP FOR 20 MINUTES!" She was so excited and I couldn't stop laughing because she had just given herself a bedtime that was an hour and ten minutes earlier than usual.

Oh to be four ...

Thankful ...

Tomorrow afternoon, the family and I will load up our car and head to Rhode Island (yes, that is a VERY.LONG.DRIVE) for a Blanchet family reunion of sorts. While most of the B Clan live in New England, there are a few of us who have flown the coup. This year, however, all of us out-of-towners, have decided to travel back for Thanksgiving. I'm super excited about this. I love watching my girls play with their cousins and since that only happens about once a year, I eat up every second of it.

Our trip does have a downside though. Over the past few years, it has become a tradition to run our local Turkey Trot 10K on Thanksgiving morning. Our travel plans had me missing the race (my busted foot doesn't help either). And unfortunately (or fortunately, perhaps) this year, no one else registered in time. So instead, all my running buddies are staging their own Turkey Trot - with awards and everything. It sounds like a blast and I am super bummed to miss it.

But even though there are some things getting me down right now (my busted foot, our LONG drive, not running), there are lots of things "filling my pie":

I am thankful for my loving husband and three beautiful daughters. They are my world and I would be lost without them.

I am thankful to have good health, a positive outlook and stability. There is something to be said for not rocking the boat.

I am thankful that my foot injury is minor. It could be so much worse. Only six more days until bye-bye boot!

I am thankful that my children don't really get what time it is and that if it's dark I can put them to bed. Even if it's only 6 p.m.

I am thankful to have such amazing friends. It's great to know that you have people you can count on no matter what.

I am thankful that I can run. Eating is so much more fun when you don't have to feel guilty about pigging out!

I am thankful for EVERYONE who has touched my life. Both good and bad. Every interaction has helped shape the person I am and that is something I will never take for granted.

funk ...

OK, so it's day four of this whole cast thing and I am already in a funk. It is a total pain. I can't really drive and when I do I have to take the boot on and off every time I get in and out of the car. I haven't found the best way to shower, so although my hair is clean, I'm pretty sure I am starting to stink. And it itches. Totally itches. I'm pretty sure I would never make it through a serious injury. Not with this running addiction anyway.

When I was 12, I broke my pelvis, dislocated my hip and ripped my hamstring all at the same time. I was in an immobilizer for three months. I was home-schooled. My doctors didn't know if I would play sports again. I did (obviously) but it took seven months to get back and even then, my parents thought I was going to hurt myself every time I stepped onto the field (or court). Somehow I got through that. I look back now and I don't know how. Wait, I do. I replaced exercise with eating and gained 70 pounds. Not exactly the best plan. I'm not really sure how I would approach that situation now, but I really hope I wouldn't self-soothe with food. But I never want to be tested. This foot injury (which should be much better when I get this cast off on December 1) is enough of a test for me. Running withdrawal is not fun.

On a much happier note, the foot itself is starting to feel better (much less pain than earlier this week) and I am ready (mentally) to get back out there. I know that this is the exact reason I asked for the cast. So that I would HAVE TO take it easy. So that I wouldn't do more damage. But I'm not 100 percent sure that I will make it the whole two weeks. I might cut the cast off myself and jog around the block. Things might get serious around here and I'm probably going to need some backup.

post break up ...

Apparently, my ex, Mr. Marathon, is mad at me. He didn't take the break up too well. Things got ugly and I left with a busted up foot in a cast (two weeks - no running).

He was just so upset that I wanted to leave his 26 miles of agony for his much more pleasant brother, Mr. Half. He couldn't understand how I could find fulfillment in a mere 13.1 miles. There was yelling and crying (all on my end, by the way). He begged and pleaded and offered discounted race fees. But it wasn't enough. It will never be enough.