Holy cold, Batman!

I woke up this morning at 5:15 a.m.  I laid there until 5:25, talking to myself about whether or not going for a run was a good idea (why is it that my bed feels its most amazing when I have to get out of it?!?!).  Running won (but just barely), so I checked my phone to see how cold it was, and then got dressed for the weather.  Or so I thought!  I didn't realize that my phone was still telling me how cold it was when I went to bed last night: 31 degrees.  I walked outside and thought, "Man!  It feels a lot colder than 31 degrees.  Oh well, I'll warm up once I run for awhile."  Within a minute or two, my lower legs were stinging from the cold, but I just kept telling myself that I'd feel better soon...I just had to keep running.  Wrong!  But I persevered, mainly out of pride, and also because running back home to put on more clothes would mean that I wouldn't have enough time to run as far as I wanted to.  After awhile, both legs and my poor bum were freezing.  Six point one miles later, I walked through my front door, ran straight to my beloved fireplace, and found out that it was actually SIXTEEN degrees outside.  And I was wearing this (plus shoes, of course):

I've run in much colder weather before, as any self-respecting Alaskan runner has to, but never with bare calves!  BRRRRRR!  I'm giving myself a few Bad Ass Runner points for today's workout.  And maybe a few Stupid Prideful Runner ones, too.  :)  

Yesterday's workout began with a 5:30 a.m. Body Pump class.  I hadn't gone to one in awhile, so it was rather hard, but it felt good, too.  My goal is to go to a Body Pump class once a week.

I'm the one in the light blue t-shirt...taking the picture.  Duh.  :)

After Body Pump, I cranked out three miles on the treadmill.  I was serenaded by many a musician, including Shawn Mendes.  As you can see, he gets pretty worked up about my workouts:

The Valley put up a ton of Christmas lights on the outside of their main building, and it looked so cool!  Christmas lights are the best!

I like how you can tell that my face is super red, even though it was dark outside.  I've perfected Sweaty Beast Mode.  

Yesterday morning, Tess and I helped two of our friends redecorate a bulletin board at church.  Tess was a good sport, and played with her cars, ate her goldfish crackers, and decorated a white board with her marker masterpieces.  

Time to eat dinner!  Thanks for reading!  

Glad That He Was Born

Yesterday began with a great 6.6-mile run with three of my running buddies: Danika, Christine, and Michelle.  At first, it was wickedly, miserably cold because of wind, but after half a mile or so we were warmed up enough to not mind it too much.  

Post-run, driving home and marveling at the way the cold was radiating from my bum and thighs.  Brrrrrrr!  

A couple of hours (and a long, hot shower) later, we met up with my parents and brother for lunch at Happy Teriyaki.  'Twas in honor of my brother's upcoming birthday (he'll be 35 on the 8th), but he left for home (California) today, so we had to party early.  I really enjoyed my meal (teriyaki chicken and gyoza) and the company.  

My "little" brother, Taylor, Maddie, and Maia the walrus.  

Tess chose frozen yogurt, but would only eat the sprinkles.  With her fingers.  

My wonderful parents!

The dude I married, and my dad giving the girls a chopsticks tutorial.

Me 'n my Tess

Maddie entertained herself for awhile with taking pictures of us while we weren't looking.  Yay.  

After chillin' at Chez NelsEn for awhile, I went to Taekwondo with Maddie while Tyler and the other girlies went to my parents' house.  After Taekwondo, reunited at Casa NelsOn, we had pizza for dinner, and my dad's AMAZING orange cake for Taylor's birthday dessert.  Along with ice cream, because no NelsOn/NelsEn celebration is complete without it.  

Honoring (hilariously) the glorious birth of The Taylor:

Paying homage to the deliciousness that is Dad's orange cake!  

"Wait...if he's 35, then I must be how old?!?!"

The party ended with a few fun rounds of Catchphrase and some more goofy pictures:

We love Taylor, and can't wait until we can see him again!

Today, the girls went back to school, Tyler to work, and Tess and I resumed our semi-lonely normal routine.  I began the day with a 2-mile walk with this guy:

In the 20-degrees-Farenheit dark (but the stars were out, and that was gorgeous):

And I have since cleaned a bunch of stuff (including my previously-nasty, now-sparkling-clean shower), folded some clothes, and read some books to this babe:

Now I'm going to spend the rest of naptime reading and eating yummy food.  Wild, wild stuff.  :)

Thanks for reading!

Fresh Tracks

Happy New Year!  

2016 was a rotten, piece-of-pooh year.  It was full of gut-punch trials and exhausting problems and so many damn tears.  So, I now kick 2016's sorry bum to the curb, and embrace 2017 with open arms! 

*Disclaimer (lest I be thought an ungrateful wretch):  2016 also holds many happy memories.  I know that Heavenly Father greatly blessed me and my family (as He always has) and that He will continue to do so.  

I began the new year with a 5.6-mile run (the above picture was taken right before I left to go running).  Now that we don't go to church until 1 p.m., I think I'll start running on Sunday mornings, and then take a rest day during the week.  That way, there will be one less day that I'll have to get up at 5-freakin'-o' clock in the a.m.  Yay!  

Normally, I don't run on Sunday, but I decided that it would be alright (and not breaking the Sabbath - for me, personally) if I used that run as a time to focus on all the things that I'm grateful for.  I did just that, and I had the best run!  I felt so stinkin' happy!  It was frosty and gorgeous outside (and a bit slippery), and I trotted along mentally listing things that make me happy.  I thanked Heavenly Father for my legs and my healthy body.  For the beautiful, tall trees that are all around me all the time.  For awesome, inspiring music (Tom Petty!).  For chocolate and good books and my favorite people and so many other things.  It felt like a really cheerful prayer.  

Post-run, high on endorphins and gratitude.

It was a big day at church today for Tess.  Now that she is 3, she officially enters Primary and becomes a Sunbeam.  She no longer attends Nursery (read: snacks and toys for two hours).  She was pretty happy to be a Sunbeam...until she realized what that meant (no toys and a lot more having to sit still and listen).  It's a big change for these little ones, and she didn't want me to leave.  I did, but had to come back after just a few minutes because she was crying pretty hard.  The poor kid spent most of the second hour of church on my lap, and then Tyler spent most of the third hour with her.  I know she'll make the transition eventually, and I don't mind spending time with her in Primary, but I hated seeing her so sad!  Luckily, her two teachers are kind and wonderful and patient.  They obviously really cared about trying to cheer Tess up.  That meant a lot to me!  Before the tears came, I got these cute pictures of her:

My wee babe is growing up.  Sigh.  

Our day ended with delicious pancakes for dinner at my parents' house and hilarious YouTube videos.  All in all, it was a good day.  So far, so good, 2017.  Keep it up. 

Thanks for reading!