The End of 2011...Beginning of 2012

Today is my blog catch up day! I cannot believe it's already 2012 and I haven't even posted an entry about the holidays. I guess that's what happens when you chase a preschooler and an infant around all day! So, 649 pictures later (not all posted), here is the end of 2011 update!

From the beginning of November through most of December, both Kaelyn and Rylan fought constant colds. However, the kids got to go to Longview to spend some time with both sets of grandparents over the week of Thanksgiving which was super nice for me and Robbie. We've decided this is an annual tradition because we all love it.

Two sick kids

Kaelyn in her Thanksgiving shirt

Rylan having fun!

Kaelyn also got to ice skate for the first time at the Galleria around the big Christmas tree. I'll admit, I was a little skeptical when Pop said that he wanted to take her because I figured it was going to be a lot of work on the two of us trying to hold her up, but I am happy to have been proven wrong! She was a little ice skating champ and loved it. Especially after aunt Karlene bought her some pink gloves to keep her hands warm.

At this point, the iceskating was a lot of work on

Mommy and Pop trying to hold Kaelyn up.

Figuring out how to hold on to side rails

"Look...One hand."

Aunt Karlene and Rylan watching from the side. 

We met a little friend who was ice skating for the

first time also, but her mom didn't have any help so

we all joined hands. Kaelyn loved it! 

KK and Rylan watching and relaxing.

Once again this year, our Santa sent his annual Christmas letters with ornaments for the kids. We are so very blessed by Santa Claus and the love he has for our kids!

Getting ready to open boxes from Santa. 

Kaelyn's Letter from Santa

Kaelyn's ornament...Snowgirl carrying a lunchbox

(very appropriate since Kaelyn started school this year)

Rylan's Letter from Santa

Rylan's ornament...Celebrating his 1st Christmas

with his newborn stats. 

November and December were busy days at Stonebriar Preschool Pals also. Kaelyn has learned so much since she started in September and comes home to share with us each and every day. We had a Thanksgiving party at the end of November and a Happy Birthday Jesus party just before school got out for the Christmas holidays! She is making lots of friends and can't wait to get out of the car each  morning to head into class.

One of the mom's dressed as a mouse and told the story

of a mouse on Christmas morning celebrating

Jesus's birthday. 

Mommy helping Kaelyn with her nativity craft.

The kids each brought a book for the gift exchange.

Kaelyn sat next to her friend Lucy waiting patiently to unwrap.

Jesus's birthday cake

Over the Christmas holiday and New Year weekends, we celebrated a total of six different gift exchanges and Kaelyn and Rylan loved every minute of it. The Lord has truly blessed us with a very loving family in which everyone is crazy about our kids! They are spoiled rotten.

The Killian Christmas 

I rarely catch these two on camera together. Love this

picture of my sweet brothers! 

We totally underestimated how much Rylan was going

to love opening packages this year. He really didn't

care what was inside, but loved all the paper and bows. 

Kaelyn got a new double jogging stroller for her babies. 

Rylan entertaining himself with all the paper.

Rylan and Grandad Killian in their Sooner gear.

(Our kids are going to be so confused with colleges thanks

to all the family buying them Aggie, Sooner and Bama stuff)

Rylan on his new CAT truck. 

Aunt Kim spoils the kids rotten on the Perry side.

She's always bringing gifts. On Christmas Eve she

brought the kids fun hats! 

Kaelyn in her Penguin hat

Rylan as a White Tiger

The Famous Christmas Morning shot with the Perry's

Seeing what all Santa brought 

At Nana's getting ready to open gifts...Such a fun change

now that there are 5 young kids again.

Rylan getting some daddy time.

Loving Mommy on his First Christmas morning. 

And more paper...

Playing with one of his new toys (drool and all)

Rylan with Robbie's grandmother, Memaw

during the Hudson Christmas celebration.

(She is one of his biggest fans!)

Uncle Dale from San Diego and PawPaw

Daddy chopping up candy canes for

our hot cocoa bar!

Kaelyn being a ham!

(For some reason she thinks that she needs

to lean over and pose when we ask to take

her picture...Getting to be really frustrating) 

Kaelyn and Daddy getting Santa's milk and cookies ready. 

Kaelyn decided to eat the reindeers' carrots! Oops! 

Santa arrived again! 

Not sure what this face is all about, but it's funny!

The holiday season is behind us and while it was a lot of fun, we are very thankful to be getting back in a routine and starting a new year with new blessings! 2012 is going to be a great year with lots of adventures. I also promise to be a better blogger. I've got to remember not to get so behind because it's much easier doing a little at a time.

Rylan is pulling up on anything and everything. 

These two absolutely adore each other.

Poor Rylan is already getting dressed like a girl...

In a headband here and just got his hair blow dryed by sister.

Too big for the bouncy seat since he started climbing

out of it while buckled.

My two Lowe's buddies...Every store should

have carts like these! Genius concept. 

Over MLK weekend, we did lots of family things

including feeding the ducks in a nearby pond.

Kaelyn got another haircut and April curled her hair...

Thanks to her, I now get to spend an extra 15 minutes

per day curling Kaelyn's hair since she demands it!

"Look at my curls!"

So precious with her bow! 

Rylan getting into the magazines

(reminds me of when Kaelyn did the same thing)

Running the Rock

Last weekend on Sunday, December 4th, Robbie ran the White Rock Marathon! The kids and I couldn't be more proud of him for "Running the Rock." Since it would be hard for me to share all of the details, I asked Robbie to write them down so I could post it!

From Robbie:

After completing the Sprint Triathlon, I was looking for a new physical challenge.  My employer, Behringer Harvard, is a big sponsor of the White Rock Marathon, so I decided to give it a try.  However, I only had six weeks to transition from triathlon training to marathon training. As I would find out around mile 18, I probably should have had a little more endurance running training before tackling a marathon.

One of the best things about getting ready for the marathon was that Bentley decided to run the half marathon.  I really enjoyed all the training, strategizing, and commiserating with him in the weeks leading up to the run.  It would have been so much harder without him.

The night before the race, we all met at Olive Garden for our last carbo-loading meal.  After dinner, Kristen and the kids went home, and Bentley, Lisette, and I drove to our hotel by Fair Park.  Lisette’s company was also a sponsor of the marathon, and she was able to get us a hotel room and VIP parking for the event.  We went to sleep around 9:00 p.m. and woke up at 6:00 a.m.  Nerves definitely got the best of me that night.  I took a series of about fourteen 30 minute naps, but woke up refreshed and ready to run.

One of my biggest fears leading up to race day was the weather.  The temperature was in the mid-40s all day, which was perfect for running.  However, it rained the entire day, and the occasional wind was pretty demoralizing at times.  The wet conditions would become a factor as the day continued.

We parked at around 7:30 a.m. for an 8:00 a.m. start.  Because of the VIP parking, we were about 100 yards from the starting line.  We made our final preparations in the car, and we were ready to go.  At Lisette’s suggestion, Bentley led us in prayer and we began to make our way to our starting corral.  As we approached the starting line, one of Kaelyn’s favorite songs (Justin Beiber’s “Baby”) began to play, which of course made me think of her.  While the song was playing, I reached my hand into the pocket of the sweatshirt that I was wearing and found a small toy alien about the size of a fingertip.  It was a toy that Kaelyn had asked me to hold for her a few days earlier.  I decided that it was my good luck charm and put it in the pocket of my running shorts.  After stretching and giving Lisette our excess clothing, we got in line for the start.

Bentley and I just minutes before the start!

There were 5 starting waves (A-E) and three corrals in each wave (1-3).  Bentley and I were in corral D-2, which was essentially near the end of a long line of runners stretching back from the starting line. The gun went off at 8:00—Bentley and I crossed the starting line at around 8:25.  At the last minute, we put on $0.88 ponchos that we purchased at Target the night before.  We were both really glad that we did.

My adrenaline was really pumping at the start.  Thankfully, the crowd was pretty packed, so that prevented us from overexerting ourselves at the beginning.  Our strategy was to run to each of the aid stations, which were separated by about 1.25 miles, then walk for one minute, then run to the next aid station.  While we were together, we were able to execute our plan almost flawlessly.  For the first three of four miles, we were having to bob-and-weave our way through the crowd, trying to avoid runners and massive water puddles.  After about mile 2, my shoes and socks were soaked—and that was the biggest negative for me.  It felt like I was wearing ankle weights and my entire body started to prune up from the wetness.  Carrying all the extra water weight definitely slowed us down and required us to burn more energy throughout the day.

The atmosphere was really great at the beginning.  The crowds were big and loud and all of the runners were fresh.  Bentley and I ran side-by-side almost the entire time, except for when one of us had to pick our way through a crowd.  The first 8 miles passed very quickly for me, and I felt really good.  We were just under a 10-minute per mile pace.  At the 8.5 mile mark, the marathon and half marathon runners separated.  I didn’t realize what a big deal this was going to be for me.  As we approached the fork, I remember telling Bentley that I would be “running with him” mentally until the 2:20 mark—then he was on his own.  Hours later I would find out that he never had to run alone—he finished in 2:20 exactly.  We gave each other a fist pound, said “Love you, bro” and parted ways.

At around mile 11, the marathon route took me around White Rock Lake.  This is where I hit my lowest point mentally.  After talking with Bentley, we both seemed to experience an overwhelming sense of loneliness at about the same time.  The growing physical pain, combined with the weather, losing Bentley, and the dissipating crowds, started to take its toll.  At about the 18 mile mark, I had to abandon my “run-to-each-aid-station” strategy.  From that point on, all I could do was run until the cramps started, and then walk until I could run again.  I never had to stop completely, but my legs—particularly my calves— would get very, very tight.  The slightest change in elevation, incline or decline, would wreak havoc on my lower body.

At around mile 20, the loop around the Lake was finally over.  The crowds began to gather again, and my mood greatly improved.  At this point, I knew I could finish.  My body was definitely breaking down, but I knew I only had about an hour and a half left.  The aid stations were definitely a big help.  They each had water, Gatorade, fruit, candies, etc.  Some people set up make-shift aid stations in their front lawns, many of which had an interesting definition of “aid”.

I decided not to run with ear buds or music because I wanted to “soak in all of the atmosphere”.  There were tons of bands, cheering spectators, and signs to provide a welcomed distraction from the monotony of running.  My top ten favorite signs were:

10.       “Remember, You Volunteered To Do This”

9.         “The Couch Misses You Too”

8.         “This Is A Motivational Sign”

7.         “Just Keep Swimming”

6.         “Chuck Norris Never Ran A Marathon”

5.         “Chafe Now…Brag Later”

4.         “Worst Parade Ever”

3.         “Your Feet Hurt Because You’re Kicking So Much Butt!”

2.         “You’re Running Better Than Rick Perry”

1.         “You Have Stamina…Call Me!”

Over the final six miles, I was only able to run about half of the time.  However, I was able to maintain a pretty quick walking pace the other half of the time.  At the 24 mile mark, I finally discarded my poncho.  I couldn’t believe how much colder I got when I took it off.  I checked my pockets one last time to make sure that I had exhausted all of my supplements, and I found the little toy alien!  I had forgotten all about it.  I held it in my right hand for the last mile, remembering all of the sacrifices along the way—I couldn’t have finished the race without the support of my family—I thought about them a lot on the course. 

As I came around the final turn, I heard “Come on, BRO!” in a familiar voice.  I almost fell down when I saw Bentley and Lisette cheering me on down the final stretch.  I ran over to see them before stumbling across the finish line.  My first thought upon crossing that line was “We did it!”

Video of me crossing the finish line

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVPpUCG_Sko

Before the race, whenever someone would ask what my goal time was, I would say that if I didn’t finish in under 4:30, I would be disappointed.  After finishing in 4:45, disappointment was the LAST thing I felt.  I couldn’t be prouder of my time and my accomplishment.  White Rock definitely beat me, but I left everything out there—and I finished. 

Here are my final stats:

Official Chip Time - 4:45:28

Average Mile Pace – 10:53

Overall Place – 2,786 out of 4,556

Division Place (M 30-34) – 287 out of 401