Merry Christmas! 🎄

Out on Tuesday for an early morning run over the Androscoggin before heading into work for the day. Cold and calm, with a nice sunrise. (6.5 miles) 

There was a big snowstorm overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday morning, and we woke up to 16" of fresh fluffy snow! WOW! That is a lot of snow. Wanted to run but it really wasn't the best out there and I didn't want to be stupid. Instead got some work done, did some prep for Christmas and then ran out to the store before we headed over to Mom and Dad's for the afternoon. Mom, Sam and I decorated cookies and Sam and Mom put together the gingerbread house while Ryan helped Dad set up their new laptop, and then we enjoyed our traditional Christmas Eve dinner of Indian food and gingerbread cake. It might be an odd combo but it sure is delish!

Christmas morning, I was up early to enjoy my breakfast by the Christmas tree and then headed out once the sky started to lighten at 7:00. It was a snowy, sloppy, messy screw shoe run on the Highland Green roads before everyone woke up. Definitely not ideal conditions, but the snow was still all stuck to the trees and was very pretty! (6.5 miles)

Then it was onto the present opening and breakfast! Gigi enjoyed all the paper and even found her own present under the tree 😹

Around 1:30, we headed down to Portland to Tom and Sarah's for Christmas dinner. Irene and Dad met up there as did Theresa, Dave, Susie, John, Alan, and Sarah's friends Brianna, Miguel, little Eleanor and friend Gabe. It was a full house! No photos but it was fun to catch up with everyone, and dance with Eleanor (to ABBA no less - very Christmasy! 😂), and of course, Tom's lasagna, all the appetizers and desserts were delish! I am so grateful to be able to spend the holidays with so much family - we really are lucky! 💗

Then it was home to watch Home Alone on the couch and try not to fall asleep 😉😆 A fun but full Christmas day! 

Spent Friday morning getting some errands and work done, along with doing a bit of organizing around the house after Christmas Day and then headed out around 2:00 for a run through Highland Green. Still quite messy from the snowstorm. And cold out. Brrr. (7.0 miles)

But the real excitement of the day was that we picked up the car for Sam! She is very excited. It is not new but it is in good shape and now we don't have to juggle cars between the three of us!

Saturday morning dawned cold, very cold, and I decided not to run feels like -8 degrees and waited until the afteroon, at which point we were down at Irene and Dana's for Christmas #2. Ran the roads around their house. Much warmer this afternoon although in the shade still chilly with the melt becoming a bit slippery! (8.1 miles)

Sunday morning was filled with gifts and relaxing, and then I headed out around 1:00 pm for a break from the chaos for a run 😂😜 before Christmas dinner.  Nice to be out on a nice afternoon. (10.0 miles)

Last Week Before Vacation

The travel, work and a cold caught up with me at the beginning of this week, so didn't get out for a run until Thursday. 😳🫣🤪😂😬🤷‍♀️ Ran out through Highland Green at 5:30 am. Calm and mild with a few icy spots. (6.0 miles)

Out early again on Friday in an attempt to beat the rain (I did!) and get in a run before I had to go into work for the morning. A 5:50 am run through Highland Green. Foggy, dark, windy and mild. (6.1 miles)

Saturday, I got some work done early and then headed out to do a few errands around town and pick up some veggies at the farmer's market. Headed out for a run around 11:00 and ran down to the river. All the rain on Friday really wiped out the snow, leaving some ice underfoot but definitely a fair amount of clear trail and gravel. Ran out to the river and back. A few ice pancakes in the eddy along the Cathance! (6.0 miles)

Got some work and house stuff done on Sunday morning and finally headed out for a run around 12:30. Finally feeling better but didn’t want to push it too much. 10 seemed enough. Windy and either squishy or icy on the trails/cart paths. (10.0 miles)

Then it was off to Boothbay for Gardens Aglow! As usual, some amazing lights, and always fun to walk around and marvel at the creations! (1.68 miles walked)