Road Trip

Because it's not a proper road trip without stopping at a truck stop Hooters at 9PM.  And while I drink beer Currier is at the bar learning magic tricks and Rya is with the waitress learning how to hula hoop.  I'll take my mother of the year award now!

Christmas 2012

Christmas was over in a blink.  The kids woke around 6AM and had all their gifts and stocking goodies torn open by 6:30AM.  It was a mass frenzy of pure awesomeness.  Rya got a bike, a baby doll and a highchair.  Currier got a medal detector and a cage for a bearded dragon.  Santa left a note saying that live animals aren't allowed on his sleigh so he left some money for Currier to go pick out his own bearded dragon after we all return from our trip to Disney.  With Disney being part of their Christmas gift, the holiday isn't over for us until January 14th.   

Cookies & Books

I somehow got elected as "Party Mom" of Currier's class and you know I take this job seriously!  Today I helped the children decorate snowman sugar cookies.  

I also got to see the kids do their Christmas book exchange.  I'm happy to report that Currier's book was one of the cool ones and not one of the "Ugh, I already have that stupid book!"

Festival of Lights

We went and saw the Festival of Lights on James Island for the 4th year in a row.  It's become a little family tradition and each year it seems to get better and better.  The kids sat on the roof of the car while Trent kept a hold of their feet through the sun roof.  The kids thought that was so cool.    

We drove through the park twice while singing along to Christmas music in the car.  If this doesn't get you in the holiday spirit nothing will!  The bottle of wine helped us along too!    

We took at brief stop at the festival just long enough to ride the Merry-Go-Round, Climb the rock climbing wall and roast some marshmallows.  

Bedtime Stories

Sometimes Currier shows his softer side and offers to read Rya her bedtime story.  NOTE: The kid is getting pretty good at reading! 

No More Double Digits

This morning I ran 18 miles and that will be my last double digit training run before the marathon.  My physical therapist diagnosed me with IT band friction syndrome which is a common running injury caused by over training.  It stems from the hip but the pain is in the knees and it's sharp and angry!  I need to give my knees some time to heal before the big race.  It's getting close and admittedly I AM SO SICK OF RUNNING!  I saw this rainbow on my run and it couldn't have come at a better time.  I was ready to give up around mile 14 but this sight kept me going.  I just can't quit now.  I've come so far.    

Holiday Traditions

Today we took the kids downtown Charleston to do some holiday window shopping and to check out the amazing train set displayed in the prestigious Hotel Charleston Place.   Window shopping turned into roars of laughter over a naked mannequin's butt in one window.  I'm learning that my children share my sense of humor in all things inappropriate.  We ended our fun little day at the Market Pavilion Rooftop bar drinking Shirley Temples because it was too warm for hot chocolate.  This is a tradition I'd love to repeat each year!    

Flag Football Season Begins

Today was the first football game of the season.  This is Currier's fourth year playing flag football on Daniel Island and I gotta brag a little that he's getting really good! 

And this is Rya's first year playing flag football and I gotta admit she's pretty good at NOT listening and just fooling around! 

Mrs. Foster's 1st Grade Class

Training Setback

This morning I was supposed to run four miles for my training and I couldn't even make it one mile.  My knee was KILLING me so I called my doctor from the gym parking lot crying and he squeezed me in for a cortisone shot to the knee cap.  I've been instructed to stay off my knee for four days and slowly resume training.  This is a pretty major setback when the marathon is less than a month away. 

While I was getting the shot I asked Rya to please sit quietly and watch my purse.  A few hours later I found this self portrait on my phone proving that she stole a piece of my gum out of my purse.  Little shit! 

Merry Christmas 2012

Without further adieu, I present the Balent family holiday photograph.  I know it's a bit disappointing that we're not wearing matching sweaters but the Balent budget did not allot for such silly luxuries this year.  You have to admit that this is still an impressive shot with all six of us actually looking at the camera (Even if Trent looks like he just smelled a fart!).  It only took a half hour of sweating, squirming, swearing and yelling—“Can we all just act like we love each other for five freakin’ seconds!?"—to get this winning shot!  * Photo taken by Laura Hudson and edited by Ella Gamba.    

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our wacky family to yours! 

Gingerbread Village

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Gingerbread houses will turn your kids into cracked out assholes.  But oh what fun!

16 Miles

This morning I ran 16 miles.  I have definitly entered the masochism part of marathon training.  I'd be a liar if I said it wasn't brutal.  The run left me with bloody toenails and nipples (yes, my boobs chafed!), blisters between most of my toes and a very sore right knee.  However, the sunrise over the Isle of Palms makes these long, early runs so worth it.