Our Christmas Eve and Christmas

Christmas Eve was unseasonably warm here in Central PA. I donned shorts and my n

new BDR short sleeved shirt or my morning 5 miler and was sweating profusely the minute I took off!

We spent the afternoon at my Grandma and Pappy's house eating fried chicken, exchanging gifts, and spending time laughing and catching up with family we only see a couple times a year. We also took the traditional family photos in front of the fireplace.

Grandma and Pappy

My brother Tyler and his daughters Ellie and Clementine.

My SIL, Debby, was sick and stayed home. We missed her!

Clementine missed her mommy too.

My mom and dad.

Paul and Grandma and Pappy's new pup, Max!

Me and Paul

Normally, Paul and I exchange our gifts on Christmas Night, but this year we decided to do it on Christmas Eve. We are going to continue the tradition because it spreads out the gift giving a little bit more.

I was so excited for him to get this Beatles piano book. I will teach him how to play the tunes, of course!

Paul got me a new ornament for our cat tree!

Puzzle!

ROUND PUZZLE!!! I didn't even ask for it. All Paul.

Paul loves Trailer Park Boys so I got him a calendar.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but that is a 15oz princess wine glass.

Want to know what was in my stocking? Kit Kats, a Coke Zero, and ICE CREAM!

Then I got out the wash basket to start loading up the gifts for the next day. Of course Christmas wanted to play!

I had check lists to make sure I didn't miss any gifts.

My Christmas Eve dinner: chips and cheese...

... and chocolate cake with the ice cream that was in my stocking!

On Christmas Morning, I got up around 6:15 and relaxed for a bit before going on a run. Paul and I left our place at 8:30 to head for my parent's house in Millersburg. We pulled up right as my brother's family did! We ate a small breakfast and then started opening presents with the kids. We took a break from presents around 11:30 when my Grandma and Pappy showed up and we had lunch- shrimp!! After lunch, we opened some more presents and then spent the afternoon just hanging out. Before Paul and I left, we stopped at my Grandma's place to say hello and give her a present. Normally she comes to my parent's house, but this year she just wanted to stay put.

Clementine!

Ellie!

I love this, she looks like my brother here.

My SIL, Debby, made my mom this sled!

My parents put up a dead tree every year because they are so cool!

Per my brother's recommendation, I got my dad a remote control helicopter for Christmas... which turned out to be a DRONE! He liked it. Here is Tyler testing it out.

Feel the Bern!

My shoulders are almost popping out of this! Better ease up on the pull ups.

My brother Tyler.

Me and Paul. We wear our pajamas every year. Those pants are new from Old Navy- $5!!!

My mom and dad.

Debby and Tyler.

"Give me all your lunch money!!!!!"

We left Millersburg around 3:30 and headed to Middletown to see Paul's family. We ate a yummy Christmas dinner complete with turkey, ham, mac and cheese, green beans, brussel sprouts, yams, and cranberry sauce! We opened presents. I couldn't wait for our niece and nephews to see what we got them! Paul's parents got me a puzzle of the Grand Canyon! It looks hard, but I'm going to DO IT.

Nephews Zay and Eden. Eden got a tablet. He clearly loves it!

Niece, Violet. "Hmmmm, what could it be!?"

The kiddos.

Do you notice Eden shows off his tablet in every picture?

Paul's mom and Swiper!

Eden!

Me and Violet. 

Funny story: I opened my phone to check a text message and 8 year old Violet says, "What's that?" I laughed so hard! "Once upon a time," I explained to my niece, "about six years ago, not everyone had a smart phone. People used flip phones and nine year olds didn't get tablets for Christmas." 

Although tablets can actually be really inexpensive these days, and my brother pointed out that when we got Walkmans for Christmas, they were probably more expensive than some of the things kids get now!

We got home after 10 o'clock. I had a headache and sore throat from laughing so hard with my our families. I think that is how you know you had a GREAT Christmas!

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

Weekly Workout Recap!

I am starting to feel like myself during my runs, but before I head out for my run, I don't actually feel much like running! Strange, right? Oh well, one thing at a time. 

You may be wondering... "Why did you run so much this week if you didn't feel like running? You could have lifted- after all, you only did one lifting session." That is a very good point, and the truth is, I just felt like I should run. I can't explain it. I had the idea in my mind that I was going to RUN and I was going to LIKE IT. Well, sometimes I liked it!

Saturday- 5 freezing cold neighborhood miles. I wasn't feeling great. I definitely did not have my mojo back. Florida kicked my ass! When I got back from my run, Paul said, "Did you crush it!?" "More like endured it," I replied. Those 5 miles were an effort.

Average Pace: 8:24

Splits: 8:32, 8:31, 8:22, 8:23, 8:12

Sunday- I did not feel like running. I ate and drank too much the night before and wasn't feeling great. However, I had nothing to do and felt like I should run. I made a deal with myself that if I felt crappy, I would only do 3 miles. Once I was running, it felt better than the day before, so I was relieved and just continued on until my Garmin hit 5 miles.

Average Pace: 8:15

Splits: 8:22, 8:16, 8:22, 7:57, 8:16

Monday- Chest @ home. It had been awhile! My legs felt fresh the rest of the day and I was hoping that meant I would have a good run on Tuesday!

Chest Press- 5x10x25lb

Bicycle Crunches- 4x40

Push Ups- 5x10

Shoulder Press- 4x10x20lb

Stability Ball Pull Ins- 4x15

Chest Press (neutral grip)- 3x10x20lb

Tricep Dips- 3x15

Plank w/ Knee Tuck- 3x20

Tuesday- I felt great! My plan was to do 5 miles, but I did 6 instead. I pushed the pace a bit because I felt like it! Maybe I am back?

Average Pace: 7:55 
Splits: 7:36, 8:09, 8:05, 8:08, 7:53, 7:41

What the hell is up with my first mile!?

Wednesday- This was my first day of Christmas break, so I got to sleep in a bit, take my time drinking coffee, and fuel up on toast and dippy eggs. It was quite warm out- low 50s, but very foggy and rainy. It turned out the be an enjoyable run and felt relatively effortless.

Average Pace: 8:08

Splits: 8:27, 8:22, 8:04, 7:48, 7:58

Thursday- It was very hot (almost 70!) and humid when I ran on 5 miles Christmas Eve morning. I was slow as shit and didn't enjoy my run. My IT band was sore for the rest of the day, too. WTH?

Average Pace:

Splits: 9:03, 8:22, 8:30, 8:24, 8:18

What the heck was up with my first mile?

Shorts and a t-shirt on Dec. 24 and I was still sweating profusely! The air was thick...

Friday- Christmas Morning! I feel like any other morning I would have looked at my workout schedule and said, "You need to lift back", but it is tradition for me to go for a run on Christmas Morning before we head to my parent's house, so I did. I ran 5 miles on my deserted neighborhood streets. It was 51 degrees before the sun even came up! Tomorrow I will LIFT FOREVER!

Average Pace: 8:26

Splits: 8:39, 8:23, 8:26, 8:23, 8:20

How long does it take you to bounce back from a race?
Do you workout on Christmas Eve and Christmas?

Merry Christmas!

Joyous Christmas, Blogland! I hope your day is merry and bright! Paul and I wish you the happiest of holidays. We did not have time to record a special gift for you this year, so instead we will re-gift you our rendition of Baby It's Cold Outside and Edelweiss!

Since sometimes the links below don't work, here is Edelweiss and here is Baby It's Cold Outside!

Have a very Merry Christmas!

love,

Paul, Christmas, & Jelly