I was inspired by a runner friend a few months ago and decided to start training for a 12K (7.4 miles).
I usually train on my own, but this time I trained with my dear friend, Honora, which really made all the difference. We pushed each other, encouraged each other, and helped each other get and stay motivated. It really ended up being like therapy for both of us…ha! And…we did it…we ran 7.4 miles around 12th Avenue South in Nashville at a 9.40/mile pace on a drizzling cold morning!!!
Roman tested tonight and received his 2nd Level White Belt in Tae Kwon Do!!! It was so amazing to watch him out there on the mat, putting all of his heart into it. Here he is with his teacher, Mrs. Mast (who teaches the white and yellow belts), and her husband, Mr. Mast (who teaches green belts and beyond). Roman started just one month ago (he fell in love with Tae Kwon Do after attending a friend’s birthday party at the dojo) and has already come so far. We are so proud of our little warrior!!!
Roman just finished up 6 months of OT with Mrs. Savannah at Pediatric Therapies. He worked really hard on some big things, and we are so proud of him.
Here’s Tom on his annual golf trip with his best friend, Jim…I love these faces so much.
I got to see one of my dearest friends from college this morning…Kim!!! She was in town with her husband for a conference at the Opryland Hotel, and all of my boys were in VBS…so we were able to steal away for a few hours and catch up over coffee. So precious those lifelong friends that no matter how far away you live from each other or how long it’s been since you’ve seen or talked to each other…you always just pick up right where you left off…like water for the soul!!! Praise God for dear friends.
I loved getting to run our local 5K with my dear friend, Honora, this morning. Her husband, Ryan, ran it as well…but he totally left us in the dust pretty early on…haha!!! I’m already looking forward to and training for a 10K coming up at the end of the summer.
I was so excited to finally run the half-marathon today that I’ve been training for for three months now!!! It’s been a great way for me to keep my spirits up over the winter (spending time alone, listening to music, being in the great outdoors, boosting serotonin, and having a goal to work towards). I’ve had good days and bad days…fast days and slow days…feeling good days and feeling rough days…running through all of them. I’ve been learning how to pace and race myself. I even felt like Rocky a few times…haha…running in the freezing cold, crossing over snow-covered bridges…and running in the pouring rain, finishing up those last few miles. I felt somewhat young while I was running and really old when I stopped.
The last (and only) half-marathon I ran was about 14 years ago. My goal after Roman was born was just to get back to where I could run 3 miles 3 times a week. This fall, I started bumping up the mileage on the weekend a little bit just to see if I could do it. I’m so grateful to my chiropractor, Dr. Todd Smith, for inspiring me and encouraging me at that point to “resurrect the dream” and try to run another half-marathon!!!
It ended up SNOWING the day of the run. Crazy. Tom was so great and set up a course for me at Crockett Park, where I did the majority of my training. He and the boys met me at different points along the way with precious signs and exuberant cheers which really helped…especially past the halfway mark and beyond. It was so beautiful running in the snow…even though at times I could hardly see for all of the snowflakes blowing in my face. I was surprised but not to see quite a few other runners out there on the trail, grinning from ear to ear. Tom even set up a finish line for me, complete with dear friends and family cheering me on and a medal!!! So fun. So grateful.
Tom and I will have been married for 9 years in February!!! We were SO excited to celebrate for five days at a resort in Florida, while Grandma and Grandpa so graciously took care of the boys for us. What a treat!!! We relaxed on the beach, played corn hole and paddle ball in the sand, went down an inflatable water slide, swam in the ocean (brrrrr) and in the pool, ran on the beach, ate super delicious food, enjoyed hanging out on the balcony, ate dinner and lunch with friends (Evan and his precious wife and son), visited the Clearwater Marine Aquarium gift shop in honor of Xander (we decided to save visiting the actual aquarium for him), paddle boated and played put put golf, went karaokeing, and took a peaceful boat ride (we saw manatees!). We were so thankful to get away from the winter weather and soak up the sun together. What a blessing!!!
We had our first snow day on Friday!!! The boys had SO much fun playing in it…they were in and out all day…sledding, playing with friends, scooping and piling up and eating snow, and enjoying our first winter wonderland this year.
Tom drove one of the fire trucks in the Veteran’s Day Parade…here he is waving to the boys and our precious little friends, Claire and Katharine. A heartfelt thank you to all of our veterans!!!
I can’t believe my first baby turned 8 years old today!!! Happy birthday, Jonas!!!
Here he is with his very best friend, Ethan. They met in Mrs. Watkins class in 1st grade last year, and even though they’re at two different schools this year…they’re still keeping up like true friends do. They just love each other so much and are like two peas in a pod when they are together…cutting up, laughing, and into a lot of the same things. Jonas celebrated his birthday by having Ethan over for a sleepover. They played in the woods with walkie talkies, ate pizza and birthday cake (cheesecake) for dinner, watched Finding Dory, stayed up late and woke up early, ate pancakes for breakfast, played with birthday presents, went on a hike at Long Hunter State Park, had a picnic, swung on the rope swing and built a fort in the woods, and were totally bummed out to say goodbye to each other. They had a TOTAL blast.
We went trick or treating in our neighborhood with my namesake, Isabelle Leigh (the daughter of one of my dearest friends, Lizza). It was so sweet to see all of the kids together (it’s amazing how they grow) and to walk around the neighborhood with Tom and Isabelle’s aunt and grandparents, marveling at the droves of trick or treaters that turn out on Halloween night in our neighborhood.
Tom was an “I don’t know”, I was Pikachu, Jonas was a wizard, Xander was Pikachu, Isabelle was a fairy princess, and Roman was Ash the Pokemon trainer.
I was SO excited to be able to get up and sing some harmony with these precious girls tonight at the Station Inn…Elizabeth Foster, Julie Lee, and Sarah Siskind. What a joy!!!
Tom bought me tickets to see Bob Dylan for my upcoming 40th birthday!!! I went with my dear friend, Honora, and loved it so much. We walked in jamming out to Mavis Staples, ate some super yummy food truck food, and enjoyed catching up and listening to the incomparable Bob Dylan and his band. Yay!!!
Jonas, as one of two first graders in the county, had the high honor of having his artwork chosen to hang in the Frist Museum as part of the Williamson County Schools Superintendent’s Art Show!!!
His artwork is the pink and green piece that you’ll see in the photos…painted and woven for an African Kente Cloth inspired project at school.
Here he is celebrating with Daddy, Mommy, Aunt Jeanne, his fabulous art teacher Katie Boothe, MeMe and PaPa and Aunt Jean, his godmother Julie Lee, and Maw.
Tom went on his 7th annual mancation with his best friend, Jim. This year, they went to Houston, TX where they got to stay with and visit Tom’s Aunt Ruth and Uncle Rod while getting in three days of golf!!!
Roman played his last soccer game of the season this morning. His coach, Mr. Matt, who he LOVES…affectionately nicknamed him “The Stopper”. Here he is after the game, receiving his trophy and a congratulatory hug from Xander, and proudly holding his trophy next to Coach Matt, chocolate donut-faced and all.
Tom met up with his best friend, Jim, in Virginia this weekend for an outdoor adventure! Â They backpacked and hiked a little bit of the Appalachain Trail and camped out under the stars. What a perfect time of year for an adventure in the woods!
Tom and I were so excited for our trip to Cape Charles, VA to celebrate his best friend Jim’s 40th birthday!!!  We are so grateful to Grandma, Grandpa, and Cousin Kaitlyn for coming down to stay with the boys so we could go. We had a wonderful time catching up with old friends and getting to know new ones…hanging out at the beach, going on boating adventures, enjoying good food together, and  listening to music and laughing on the back porch.  It was good times.  We love you, Jim!!!
