My 2011 Before Pictures

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Coco

Before the GW Parkway Classic

Before the Zooma Annapolis Half Marathon

Before the Army Ten Miler

Before the Hot Chocolate 15K

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Home For The Holidays Virtual 10 K (Race Recap)

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Coco

Last week I registered for the Home for the Holidays Virtual 10K organized by Ashley, Robin and Stephanie at A Healthy Happier Bear, mostly for the motivation to get in a decent run over the holiday weekend, but it didn’t hurt that they are offerring amazing prizes!

I thought I might be able to do the 10K on Christmas morning before my kids (teenagers) got up, but my daughter left me a note saying that she was going to try to get up at 8:00, so I decided to wait until Monday.
 
When I went to bed on Christmas night I was glad that I had signed up for this race, because I knew it was going to motivate me to get out for a run in the morning, even though I was exhuasted from two days of baking and cooking.
 
Monday I slept until the sun woke me up at 7:30, fed my daughter’s cat and then emptied the dishwasher and set up the coffee pot while she ate. It was in the low 40s, so I wore my running tights, a thick turtleneck top, light weight gloves and a hat. I set my Garmin for 6.2 miles, put my “Xmas Run” playlist on shuffle, and headed out.  After my walking warm-up, it was about 8:30 when I hit start on my Garmin.
 
I ad-libbed a hilly neighborhood route and enjoyed the crisp air, bright sunshine and blue skies. There weren’t very many people out, but I saw a few neighbors walking their dogs and a few runners. I was surprised at my pace (9:20-ish splits), but I was pushing myself up the hills and burning off the residual holiday stress (and possibly putting a dent in the holiday calories!). 
 
My route ended up being the perfect distance. I hit 6.2 miles about 1/2 block from my usual stopping point.
 
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I was very happy with my finish time (57:44) and ready to enjoy that coffee with a Christmas cookie while I fixed myself a fried egg with cornbread stuffing and cranberry relish for breakfast!
 
Did you get any exercise over the holiday weekend?
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Not A Creature Was Stirring

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Coco

It’s my favorite time of Christmas Day.

The stockings are hung (and stuffed) by the chimney with care.

The presents are ’round the tree.

I’m sipping coffee by the glow of the tree, listening to traditional Christmas carols, waiting for my kids to get up.

But that whole “not a creature was stirring” bit?

This mouse must not have gotten the memo (or read The Night Before Christmas).

 

Merry Christmas!

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25 Questions (Christmas)

Posted on December 24, 2011 by Coco

These questions are making the rounds throughout the blogosphere. I took them from Erin’s blog, but you may have seen them on other blogs too.

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate?

Hot chocolate. But I probably will have one glass of eggnog, since my son asked me to make this Chocolate Eggnog Pie for dessert.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Santa fills the stockings and leaves unwrapped presents in the vicinity of the tree (usually Santa’s gifts are too big to fit under the tree–ride-on toys, play kitchen, etc.).

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

We have a white tree with white lights. We have colored lights outside.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

Nope.

5. When do you hang your decorations up?

Usually mid-December, when I realize that it’s now or never.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

My mom’s whole berry cranberry relish.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?

We used to spend Christmas vacation skiing in Switzerland. For several years we went to Saas Fe, which had a ban on cars! Transportation was by foot, cross-country skis, electric cart or horse-drawn sleigh. I distinctly remember playing at the old hotel with other children. We spoke different languages, but still managed to communicate and make up games to entertain ourselves. We had the run of the hotel and I have no idea what our parents were doing! I still can’t believe the hotel had real candles on the big Christmas tree in the dining room. I’m sure that would be a fire code violation today.

8. What is on your Christmas wish list?

The book Mile Markers by Kristin Armstrong.

9. Do you open a gifts on Christmas Eve?

Sometimes we open one gift on Christmas Eve–I used to buy everyone Christmas PJs and that would be the present we would each open on Christmas Eve. I really like the anticipation of opening presents on Christmas morning.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

With our white tree, we have to keep the decorations simple–blue balls and silver and white decorations. Some day we will have a green tree again and I can use the more sentimental ornaments.

11. Snow? Love it or dread it?

Love it. We don’t get much of it in the D.C. area, but when we do it is so lovely!

12. Real tree or fake tree?

Couldn’t be much faker.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

My fuzzy Nike hat with a pocket and built-in headphones for my iPod Nano.

14. What’s the most important thing about Christmas for you?

Getting together with family and friends and attending Christmas service at church.

15. What is your favorite Holiday dessert?

My daughter’s apple pie.

16. What is your favorite tradition?

Baking cookies and then enjoying them for breakfast–one of my ginger crinkles goes perfectly with a cup of coffee!

17. What tops your tree?

A white crochet angel.

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?

Definitely giving.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?

Silent Night

20. Candy canes, yuck or yum?

Yum, for the first few licks. I’m not a big candy person but I like peppermint.

21. Favorite Christmas movie?

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

22. What do you leave for Santa?

Decorated sugar cookies and milk.

23. Do you have a Christmas morning tradition?

Now that my kids are teenagers, my husband and I enjoy a quiet morning having coffee by the Christmas tree and wondering if they will ever get up so we can open our presents!

24. Do you prefer to shop on-line or at the mall?

Both. I definitely get most of my gifts on-line, but I also like to do a bit of shopping at the boutique stores in Old Town and make at least one trip to the mall.

25. Christmas letter or Christmas card?

Christmas card.

There’s no question about a Christmas sweater, but there should be!

Merry Christmas!

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The Blessings Of Christmas Past

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Coco

Last Christmas we had our family dinner on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day like we usually do. It took a bit more planning and organizing to be able to prepare and enjoy a feast and still make it church for the 10 pm candlelight service, but we did it.

I knew my daughter didn’t want to come to church with us (and I wasn’t going to force the issue with a 20 year-old), but I thought my son could be convinced. I took advantage of his status as a relatively new driver eager to get behind the wheel, and made him our “designated driver” for the evening. (That also meant that the adults could enjoy a glass of wine with dinner without setting a poor example of drinking and driving.)

Although my Mom often goes to church with us, my Dad hadn’t been very often because he was an active member of his own church. I was glad when he agreed to join us on Christmas Eve, because our candlelight service is so lovely. The church is warm with the glow of dozens of tealights hanging from the ceiling over the altar, and festively decorated with red and white pointsettias and fragrant evergreens. At the end of the service, the lights are dimmed and we sing “Silent Night” by candlelight. Then, all of the lights are turned all the way up while we sing “Joy To The World.” The contrast of dark and light, solemn and exuberant, is very moving.

When we got back home, my Dad told me what a special evening it had been for him. He enjoyed the totally-from-scratch apple pie my daughter had made, was impressed by my son’s careful driving, and was touched by the church service.

(My Dad with my kids, but not last Christmas)

As Christmas approaches, I am relishing my memories of last Christmas, and the very special time that I had with my Dad. If I make it to our Christmas Eve service this year (which I am talking myself into by writing this, even though it will be hard), I am sure that I will cry for him (as I am crying now just thinking about it), but I also am sure that the magical glow of the candles will lift my spirits, and that the Holy Light of the Holy Night will fill my heart.

Treasure the blessings of today, so you can treasure the memories of yesterday.

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