I gained one pound since I last mentioned weighing myself, so that’s just fine for now, particularly after all the dessert I’ve been eating.  My sister made this UNBELIEVABLY yummy Alton Brown coconut cake with 7 minute frosting  , and flan – which she sent home with us, and I can’t stop eating.  I guess I should consider that my Christmas present from her.

I’m trying to get out the door for a run…  I hope my dad doesn’t mind me dumping the kids on him for 90 minutes.

I’m so glad to be in my taper time for the race.  That last 21.83 mi workout nearly did me in!

I stayed up late doing all sorts of little things last night, none of which I can recall.

I slept with Zevan in Zander’s bed, and I heard Zander wake up. I had a horrible sinus headache again when I awoke, so I was trying to get a few more minutes shuteye. I called him into their room, and he snuggled with us a bit. Then I finally said, “Do you know what today is?”

“Christmas!” yelled Zander, all bright eyed and smiling.

Doug was up, and so we all headed downstairs.

The first thing they saw was the Rokenbok. “It’s what I’ve ALWAYS wanted,” beamed Zander. It was so precious.

Before we started playing with it, we reminded them that they had lots of gifts to open. Each one was greeted with a lot of enthusiasm – it was so sweet. In Zander’s excitement, he accidentally opened one of Dad’s gifts. Then Zander started handing us our gifts. Zevan just quietly and methodically opened each one of his gifts – just as enthusiastic as Zander, but not quite as loud. they each got Leapster chargers and cartridge cases. Zander finally got his long requested Lucario Pokemon Cards, and Zevan got a Chutes and Ladders game. Zander got a Teen Titans plate/bowl/cup set and Zevan got a Superman set.

Doug is not a fan of getting gifts, so I just go practical most of the time – 2 packs of underwear (because he NEVER shops for himself), a brand new body showerhead for his shower (because I took a shower in his bathroom the other day and was like, eww, he so needs a better showerhead!) and a gift certificate to Jun. His favorite gift? A mixed media art piece from Zander (magic marker and foam stickers).

From the boys (via Doug), each gave me a $50 GC to Tuscany Day Spa. Doug got me a GC for a facial at Imaage. yes! I cannot wait to use those!

In all my preparation the night before, I forgot to charge the batteries for the digital camera. But by turning off the LCD screen, I was able to get a decent amount of pictures taken on the last charge.

Lastly, we had them check their stockings. They each got a new PC game (Stanley for Zander, Lego for Zevan) and a Pokeball that you can throw and a Pokemon comes out (Starly for Zander, Buneary for Zevan). They had a lot of fun playing with the Pokeballs. Zander figured it out right away, but Zevan kept throwing the ball with the Pokemon. Which was a tad dangerous.

For breakfast we made pancakes.

And we stayed in our pajamas the entire day. All of us.

We snuggled on the sofa and watched a Christmas episode of the Justice League, and then a Holiday House of Mouse. (I slept through most of that – I got another sinus headache). When I woke up, Doug had made the boys lunch.

Doug actually said this year, after it was all said and done, that he would really like to be more involved in the gift giving next year    I said, “But you don’t like shopping.  Or the whole gift giving process.”  He said that he wanted to be more involved in the gifts *for the boys*.  I shop all year around and mostly on eBay for their Christmas and birthday gifts, and I don’t know how to fit him into my buying schemes.  I really wish he would get more involved in the gifts for his family, but that’s not what he wants to help with. 

I have to say it was really a perfect Christmas day – just the four of us, all low key and relaxed. We played games, played Rokenbok, watched TV, and also had time to do our own thing. In fact, I finished The Subtle Knife today.

At the risk of sounding totally cheesy, my best gift today is the sound of the guys cracking up downstairs while playing with their gifts. 

Today, after a quickie easy run, we headed up to Lakewood to have the Carpio Family Christmas.

I’m sure some would cringe at the thought, but I have to say that I just *love* the built in DVD player in the Montana – for trips an hour or more, it’s a sanity saver for me.

I admit I was less than happy about having to drive up there, but I guess in all fairness we need to take turns hosting.

So… we got there right around noon, and the boys sat in the car finishing up their movie while we unloaded. My parents were already there. Anderson was just as cute as ever. I’m sure he’s super friendly with everyone, but I just love how he smiles and looks at me – like I’m his favorite Aunt in the whole world.

We waited for Lester to arrive before we started eating, although Berni made siopao which we snacked on as we waited. Lester called again to say that he was going to be even later than “Filipino late” so we decided to go ahead and eat. They made macaroni & cheese for the boys. Zevan also ate rice. Zander ate eggrolls and rice, too.

Berni made sinigang that was delicious. She also made pancit. Of course, I was saving room for her leche flan – which she made for me. She also made an Alton Brown coconut cake with 7 minute frosting, which was awesome, too. Reminded me a lot of the almond butter cake at Shuga’s.

After we finished up, Lester, his girlfriend and her brother arrived. We sat around the table and talked while they ate. Samantha’s brother looked remarkably like Keanu Reeves. :shades::eyebrow3:

Turns out Lester and Samantha will be in Florida, around the same time as the marathon, because she has an interview in Tampa the day after the race. So Lester may be able to hang out with Doug and the boys to see me finish! That would be pretty cool.

After that we did the gift opening. The night before, I asked my mom to wrap up the stuff at her house for Anderson’s gift. Well, she forgot to do that. Luckily, I had wrapped up a side gift for him. I knew that he was totally into Thomas the Tank Engine, and that he was at the perfect age for lift the flap books and board books. Turns out to be all he really needed anyway.

The boys were thrilled with the gifts from my parents (I did the shopping)- they each got a little art tray/desk and Transformers flannel sheet sets. Zander got a Pokemon Card Set and Zevan got a Spiderman outfit. Berni split a four pack of pen toys from Costco between the two of them – Zevan got Nerf gun and Play Doh, Zander got Operation and a SpongeBob Etch a Sketch. Zander was hoping to get the same ones as Zevan, which were age appropriate for both of them. Zander was visibly disappointed with the ones he got. They were a little old for him, so I could understand. When I asked him to be gracious, it was hard for me to explain that in a way that he could comprehend. I ended up distracting him with the fact that we were going to open more gifts the next day at home.

We got Berni a GC for Target and Andy a GC for the comic store. We meant to get him the contents of his hold file as a gift, but when we tried to pick them up from the store before we left, his hold file was messed up. I picked up a Marvel pint glass for Lester. I wish I thought of something to get Samantha. They got us a bottle of Merlot.

I got my mom a Tupperware lunch set, and my dad a 3 month subscription to www.filipinomovierentals.com

My parents gave Doug and I money, which is always nice to have.

We all hung out and talked until it was time for the evening mass where Anderson was going to dress as a sheep in the manger. We bowed out of the service and headed home.

The boys went to bed pretty early and I started on the task of setting up Santa’s gift under the tree. Doug and I set up the Rokenbok and played with a bit to make sure it all worked.

I filled their stockings, and realized I didn’t have anything for Doug’s or my stocking, so I just put stuff in there that we had around so that when the boys – ie Zander – inevitably asked what was in our stockings, we could show him something.

I can’t wait to see their faces in the morning! I’m so looking forward to just the four of us together for Christmas day.

After my long run on Friday, I felt terrible, tired and achy, with a headache. I thought it was just from the long run.

Nope. I am pretty sure I have a sinus infection. I’ve been taking Excedrin sinus, which works well for the headaches, but I am wiped out. I didn’t make it out for my easy run today.

Greg and Joshua came over this afternoon. I made meat sauce and pasta (ravioli and angel hair) for dinner. Afterwards, the boys played Godzilla. And Zevan and I played Yoshi until he decided to join the Godzilla game, too.

Tomorrow we are going to Lakewood, for the Carpio Christmas at Berni’s…

What a nice day. I got to bring the boys over there early so they could hang out with Joshua, their cousin and hero.

I finished up my last minute shopping by myself, which was really nice to do.

Doug and I drove over there together for dinnertime. The table was set with the 12 days of Christmas glasses. Last year, mom broke one of the glasses, and I found her another whole set on eBay.

Jessica arrived shortly after we did. I can’t believe what a young woman she is now. It’s so odd to think of her as an adult. I love how well she and Greg get along. They really seem to enjoy each other. And of course, she and Joshua. So sweet.

Georgiana and Tom arrived with the food from Silver Pond. The crab wontons were yummy, and so was the wonton soup. The mongolian beef was good, but nothing like PF Chang’s…

After dinner, it was present opening time. Josh played Santa and handed out all the gifts. It was so fun. All the kids were so cute. Although we agreed that we would only get presents for the kids, Doug and I received gift certificates for massages from Tom & Georgiana.

The boys loved their gifts – Road Rippers? I never heard of them, but apparently Grandma & Grandpa knew that the boys wanted these things. I did see Zander envying the Lucario Pokemon Card Pack that Joshua got and made a mental note to pick one up for him. They got some really cool books from Georgiana and Tom. They both got Superhero sticker books and Zevan got an Eric Carle bug board book set. The firefly one was really neat with lights in it. They also each got superhero microbead pillows. I love those things.

What I love about the Scott family Christmas is that it is always low key and, since we spend a lot of time with them outside of holidays, it seems so natural.

I just finished my hot shower after my cold bath (also no ice) after my long run.

I set out today to run 20 miles and do a 1 mi recovery walk.  Through a slight miscalculation on my out and back (because there is a loop involved), I ended up running (mostly) 21 miles and finishing up with an .83 recovery walk.

Yowza.

Today was BRUTAL. 

First of all, to pass the time, I was playing a little memory game with myself. It was pretty cold, and not a lot of people out on the trail, so I was memorizing the people I saw in the order that I saw them. It went like this:

Sewer guy, runner dude, runner dude (that looked like John Kerry), backhoe guy, 2 grouchy women, truck dudes, Pomeranian dog walker lady (she was WEARING one and the other was on leash), friendly stray dog, dog walker guy, John Kerry running dude again, two college gals… then

the bright spot of my run was that a running angel was sent to me in the form of running mom from the www.disneyrunning.com forum!  At about 2.7 mi, she appeared, recognized me, introduced herself and ran with me for about 3 miles.  Before that I was destined to a long and lonely 20 mile workout, and she helped those 3 miles go by much faster than they would have on my own.  THANK YOU running mom!

It took me 4:08:12 to do 21.02 miles.  That includes about 2-3 minutes of walk breaks.

I’m so done.  I’m starting my taper early.  I was going to do one more long run, but after today, I definitely need more time to recover. 

I am sore, sore, sore.  I just sat in that cold bath for 10 minutes, nearly double the time from my first attempt.

Last week, after my 18 mi run, I felt really good.  Today I am achy and sore and stiff.

But I was on my feet for nearly 22 miles, so I know I can finish the marathon even if I have to walk those last 4 miles!

It does get boring by myself.  I have been lucky with other long runs, because May has often accompanied me for at least 80% of the miles.  When we chat, chat, chat, it goes by much faster.  Of course, near the end we both get tired and don’t talk as much, but are still there to encourage each other.

I do have my iPod and I need to get some interesting podcasts to listen to. 

Of course, after this marathon, I am not training for another one (unless a friend needs my support to reach her goal), so I may never need them for this purpose.

Now I need to get myself something yummy for lunch.  I might have to go get me some french onion soup…

So we got the teppan hibachi table for dinner – I just love that. It’s kind of a thing that my dad and I both enjoy.

But Zander, not so much. He didn’t like the flames at all. Zevan found it fascinating, and Zander kept covering his eyes… he was kind of crabby throughout dinner, probably a side effect from the shots he got earlier. Poor guy.

Doug got sushi, which he shared with my mom. My mom shared her hibachi steak with him. The boys had miso soup, rice… but for some reason didn’t eat the edamame that they usually love. Zander did eat an entire yakitori stick, though.

The dinner was AWESOME, I have to say. We had our usual Filipino chef, Joe. He also recently celebrated his 40th birthday, just last week.

I love that place. The wait staff is always iffy, but the food and atmosphere can’t be beat. A nice way to finish up the birthday meals