We ended 2009 and started 2010 with my sister downtown. We went to the parade at First Night, which is a family-friendly event in downtown Austin, and it was a lot of fun. The kids loved all of the weird floats and funny costumes. It was really windy, though, and we were happy to get back in the car and head for home. We changed the kids into pj's, poured some sparkling cider, and did our own countdown, before putting the kids to bed. Garrett is up for any excuse to drink something sugary, but Scout practically gagged on the cider. She took about three sips, before finally giving up on it. I think she just enjoyed the clinking of glasses and cheering "Happy New Year!" After the kids went to bed, Andrea and I settled down to watch the celebration in New York. At one point, she said that she'd heard that in some cultures, they believe that the way you spend New Year's Eve is the way your year will go. We're so hoping that's not true, as it was a fairly uneventful evening spent in our robes without a man in sight.
My man was missing because he was in Kingwood, TX getting a good night's sleep before his first marathon of the year. He has challenged himself to run all of the Texas marathons this year, and the first was on New Year's Day. What a way to start the year, bright and early. He stayed the night with an older couple from the local church, who were hosting a party for their Funtimers class. So, Ryan celebrated sitting on the couch next to a 90-year old woman in a tiara, who was very pleased to have a handsome young man next to her. He ran the race well, and received the biggest finishing medal I've ever seen. The race promotes itself as having the biggest medal. It's seriously the size of a salad plate.
The next day, our friends Brett and Stacy from college and their kids drove in to town to see us. We haven't seen them since Harding, so there was a lot to catch up on. Their son is really into garbage trucks, so Ryan's landfill was right up his alley. We also fed the giraffe and saw the other animals on the ranch. Thanks, Davies family for making the drive!
Later that month, we headed to Bandera for Garrett's one mile trail race. It's the same one he did last year, only Ryan wasn't running in the 100K this year, due to his marathon goals (he ran a marathon the next day). So, basically, we drove almost two hours for a one-mile race on a day when the temperature didn't climb out of the 20's. It was all worth it, though, to see G cross the finish line. Ryan ran it with him again this year, but told him that he'd have to do it on his own next year. The course is a tough one, with some rocks so big, he had to climb. We were freezing waiting for him, but it was so great seeing him finish. He received a finishing medal and a trophy of a horned toad. He said it was a good run, but that he could have really used an aid station and some food along the way. Joyce, who organizes the run, said she'd put an aid station out there for him next year with some water. We had a celebratory dinner at Incredible Pizza and finished out the weekend with my sister in San Antonio. The kids had a great time playing at her place with her guinea pig and spending time with their sweet aunt. We parted ways with Ryan the next day, so that he could go to his next marathon.
It was a busy and fun month. We got back into the routine of school and life without Christmas parties, and I've learned to get through a church service by myself with the kids, waiting for Ryan's text that he put another 26.2 behind him. I'm so proud of Ryan for all of his races, though, which he talks about in detail on his own blog. I'd give more details about them, but I've only been to the one in Austin. Sorry, babe!
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