Title quote is my Father in Laws. According to my wife he said this (half seriously/jokingly) after all Christmas morning gifts were opened. In one way, I understand. Especially, having done the late night Family Christmas Eve Tradition (Santa's Workshop) for 4 kiddos for 5 years now. Yet "ALL shot"? Hardly!!!
We may have had the funnest Family Christmas Eve. It involved a break from tradition. My family, although we are not Catholic, have enjoyed the tradition of the "five fishes" Christmas Eve dinner for maybe 5-6 years now. This has meant each of these Christmas Eve's I have made Cioppino (Italian Seafood Stew). Ingredients containing - Halibut, Scallops, Mussels, Clams and Prawns (the five fishes) over sourdough bread bowls, or garlic mashed potato's some years. Yep - it does! It tastes Fantastic! This is one of my all time favorites dishes to eat!!! Sadly, NOT my favorite to make. LOTs of work and I can never get the right amount made for our family. Always way too much.
This year - no stew for YOU! Instead, I went back to my own family roots. Growing up Christmas Eve was all quick easy appetizer eats. Leaving no big mess to make or clean up. So, more time to play games!! Our Family play, acting out the Nativity scene from Luke Chapter 2 in the New Testament. Then songs - lots of Christmas Carols and Christmas Eve gifts. New PJ's for us all and a few smallish toys. It was A BLAST!!!. Kiddo's all of them cute, fun and cuddly all night. Finally, off to bed with hopes of St. Nick. While St. Nick and the true Saint in our home (my wife), made Merry and LOTS of wrapping till 1:30-2:00 AM.
Christmas Day?
FUN!!!
Up at 5:00 AM of course. You do the math on the actual hours of sleep? Worth - every - lack - of!!! All the typical yearly popular toys. My favorites for now the remote, walking, talking Buzz Lightyear, the new camera for my wife (she needs a new hobby which has nothing to do with work), and the top one - violin for Runner Dude 1. Who in the future of this Blog will be called Violinist Chair Number 1 Dude (VCN1). Can't wait for the potential of that gift!!! Lessons start next month.
Dinner was Thanksgiving for us. We went up to Utah at Grandmas this year for that. Our kids ALL wanted Turkey in our own home this season. I make killer stuffing! So, with the 4 hour at (least) cooking time for the bird - I went running. Trying to stay on schedule with three runs a week - it was a long run day. Yet, this was my first NON SMOOTH run post Tucson Marathon. Also my longest since, it was about 12.5 miles.
I was tired to say the least. My wife was pretty amazed I compelled myself out the door after all we have been doing with no sleep. Slow and very hazy-fuzzy feeling in my head with each stride. Until mile 6ish. Finally drank from my water bottle. It went down wrong - hate that! Yet, the reflex coughing for a number of strides really jarred my heart rate or fired something to my brain - I WAS ALIVE! Man, something kicked in. Speed (for me) and energy was found. Three very nice miles after that. Then it hit me.
My left knee/IT Band! Yuck! Started with a twinge that was brief than a full on pain for the next 3.5 miles. Kept running as best I could. Got home checked on the bird, then ICE, ICE, ICE!!! After dinner took a rolling pin to it. Yes, literally a rolling pin we use rolling out dough (it works for me). Then more Ice. Off to bed - or should I say the great collapse into Zzzzzland.
During the night, and now this morning - tender. Will see how it goes. I will keep icing (which I am doing as I type) and roll it. Rest - no runs till Tuesday - see how it does for a 5-6 miler and then evaluate things. Puddle Thumper, you might be right? I probably needed more down time after Tucson. Getting old SUCKS!!!!!!!!
Anyway, Happy New Year everyone. The fun has not stopped in our house. Another upcoming Merry week home with kiddo's and Bowl Games of course!
GO HUSKIES in the Holiday Bowl on the 28th! Sorry Meg - I will not be going to SD to see it. Bummed!! Yet we will see ya this upcoming year and soon!
Have a Great New YEAR!!!
CHEERS!!!
PS - more lists coming soon. Have yet to post my favorite Holiday Movie, Christmas TV Specials and Music in order. What are yours?
Christmas Day?
FUN!!!
Up at 5:00 AM of course. You do the math on the actual hours of sleep? Worth - every - lack - of!!! All the typical yearly popular toys. My favorites for now the remote, walking, talking Buzz Lightyear, the new camera for my wife (she needs a new hobby which has nothing to do with work), and the top one - violin for Runner Dude 1. Who in the future of this Blog will be called Violinist Chair Number 1 Dude (VCN1). Can't wait for the potential of that gift!!! Lessons start next month.
Dinner was Thanksgiving for us. We went up to Utah at Grandmas this year for that. Our kids ALL wanted Turkey in our own home this season. I make killer stuffing! So, with the 4 hour at (least) cooking time for the bird - I went running. Trying to stay on schedule with three runs a week - it was a long run day. Yet, this was my first NON SMOOTH run post Tucson Marathon. Also my longest since, it was about 12.5 miles.
I was tired to say the least. My wife was pretty amazed I compelled myself out the door after all we have been doing with no sleep. Slow and very hazy-fuzzy feeling in my head with each stride. Until mile 6ish. Finally drank from my water bottle. It went down wrong - hate that! Yet, the reflex coughing for a number of strides really jarred my heart rate or fired something to my brain - I WAS ALIVE! Man, something kicked in. Speed (for me) and energy was found. Three very nice miles after that. Then it hit me.
My left knee/IT Band! Yuck! Started with a twinge that was brief than a full on pain for the next 3.5 miles. Kept running as best I could. Got home checked on the bird, then ICE, ICE, ICE!!! After dinner took a rolling pin to it. Yes, literally a rolling pin we use rolling out dough (it works for me). Then more Ice. Off to bed - or should I say the great collapse into Zzzzzland.
During the night, and now this morning - tender. Will see how it goes. I will keep icing (which I am doing as I type) and roll it. Rest - no runs till Tuesday - see how it does for a 5-6 miler and then evaluate things. Puddle Thumper, you might be right? I probably needed more down time after Tucson. Getting old SUCKS!!!!!!!!
Anyway, Happy New Year everyone. The fun has not stopped in our house. Another upcoming Merry week home with kiddo's and Bowl Games of course!
GO HUSKIES in the Holiday Bowl on the 28th! Sorry Meg - I will not be going to SD to see it. Bummed!! Yet we will see ya this upcoming year and soon!
Have a Great New YEAR!!!
CHEERS!!!
PS - more lists coming soon. Have yet to post my favorite Holiday Movie, Christmas TV Specials and Music in order. What are yours?
6 comments:
I'm quite certain you are the best Slomo Clause in the land! Sounds like a wonderful Christmas with the family.
Movie - Christmas Vacation / Christmas Story tied
Special - Charlie Brown - you know Schultz went toe to toe with the networks over his inclusion of Linus reading Luke 2?
Wait 'til your kiddos are older, Slomo - they don't wake up until noon normally, so 10:00 on xmas morning is early for them :). Ah, but as they grow older, so does the price tag of the gifts they want Still all a great day, just so very different from years ago when they were little. Glad you had a great Christmas....and enjoy your week off with the kids (I'm off too - yay!).
I totally remember staying up late on Christmas Eve to wrap presents!! One of our favorite memories!! Your holiday made ME tired but it did sound fun and it's all worth it. Happy you made it out on a run, despite the haziness!
Too bad about the bowl game but we'll see you guys in 2011, I hope!
ugg, hope your ItBand/Knee feels better! Happy New year to you. Glad your Christmas was Merry....the joy definitely continued today!
Aw, sounds like a fun Christmas sans sleep!
Congratulations on the violin and lessons - whoo hoo!
I just know that even though legs overall felt good a couple weeks after a marathon, it is just too easy to get injured. Better to be safe than sorry and take things a bit more cautiously coming back. At some point, I'd hope that recovery gets a bit easier with more marathons but that's still probably an individual thing. I hope it's feeling better with rest, ice and a rolling pin!
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