Wrapping Up 2012!

Trying to catch back up again on my blog. Since my last one 2 months ago here are some of the things going on. Now that we are getting back to somewhat of a normal routine again....hopefully my blog will stay updated more. But no promises. :) 

 

Last blog I has just ran the Battleship half marathon. My friend Christina and I trained for this race. She was unable to run it so since we worked so hard together to train we decided that 2 weeks after the battleship half we would run a half together on Camp Lejune. They have free half's you can sign up to run each month. There just happened to be one right after the battleship one. So we sign up and finally got to run a half together. What we didn't know is that it would be completely full of hills. By the last 2 miles our legs were hurting so bad but we knew if we stopped to walk we wouldn't be able to start running again, so we just kept pushing through thinking of anything to keep our mind off the pain. I am so glad we got to run it together. She has been a great running buddy and now that we are moving I will miss her bunches!!!!

 

 When we got back from the race, Chris and my girls along with Christina's husband and their two girls came to see us finish. They made a sign and brought us flowers. It was FREEZING cold on this day but they braved it to show us some love

 Little Bree has started to lose teeth. She had her bottom 2 come out and now 2 more are loose. She has the cuties smile now and sounds so cute when she talks.

 School stuff that happened. We had Science and Math night for Kindergartners. We had something in each of the class that we had to do as a family. In her classroom they were building shapes with spaghetti and marshmallows and we had to see how high we could go. I have to say this was very challenging but Chris' engineering degree came in handy. :)

 Katie and her class worked on a science project. They all had to do research, test, take pictures and design their presentation. Katie and another classmate where picked to present their project to all the other 2nd grade classes. She did a great job, so proud of her!

So other things going on during the month of December, we found our temporary apartment to live in until our house in SC is built. This is our new place. It has been awhile since we did apartment living but for 6 months I am sure we can handle it. The apartments have lots of extras, one in particular that the girls are excited about. It has a movie theater room you can reserve and watch your own movies on a big screen with movie theater seating. They can't wait for us to have a movie night.

 And of course Christmas was in the mix of all the other things going on. Can you tell that they were excited....they couldn't keep their hands off the presents. :)

 Christmas Eve we went to Christmas Eve service at our church. Nana and Papaw were here as well and got to join us.

 Santa made his stop...I guess the girls were good this year.

 The girls had a great Christmas and got all they asked for. The one item that Chris and I bought them that we didn't even play on was Rock Band. We saw it in a store that had them on clearance. We thought they would like it and it turned out to be the gift they play with the most. It has beginner levels for the guitar and drums so it makes it super easy for them to play. We have had lots of fun jammin' as a family.

My Christmas gift and I was so excited to get it!!!! Garmin watch for my running. It is basically a computer on my wrist and does way more than I really need it to, but I love it!

 

For New Years we headed to Georgia to see Chris' side of the family. We went out with his brother and wife for New Year's Eve. This is honestly the first time since we have had kids that we have stayed up for the new year. I remember why now...because going to bed at 1am and kids get up at 7am is no fun. But it was fun to hang out and ring in the new year with my love. 

It is hard to believe that we are already in 2013 as I make this post. Starting 2012 I started training for my first half marathon, thinking that would be the one and only one I ran....I never thought I would have ran 3 halfs by the end of the year and possibly some in 2013.:)  We had lots of new things happening in the end of 2012 with our upcoming move to SC and lots of new things happening in 2013. As always, we are blessed to have the family we do and the life we live. God has allowed us to know some amazing people in all the places we have lived. I have many friends that I would not have had otherwise if it wasn't for Him. I am looking forward to move to SC to see what He has in store for us there and how He will use us to further his kingdom. I pray for blessings and love for all of you in 2013.

Some Major Catch Up!!

So here is a big ole combined blog to get caught up since I have not blogged in over 2 MONTHS...yikes!

So here's whats been happening. 

Someone lost her very first tooth...and at school of all places. I didn't even know she had one loose. Katie didn't loose her first tooth until 1st grade so I didn't even think that Bree would start this soon. BUT she was so excited. Could not wait to show daddy and for the tooth fairy to come.

 Katie had a sleepover with her BFF Kelsey. They are too cute together and are such good friends. Kelsey is a sweetheart and thankful she has been such a good friend to Katie.

 Bree had to get in the mix as well.

On Halloween...both the girls wore the shirts from last year. Surprised they still fit them.

 Time around here as been crazy for us. Chris has been traveling more and so it has made it a little harder to do all the things we normally do this time of year with the girls. So I have been feeling a little bad about the girls missing out on somethings, so I decided for Halloween dinner I would make a quick Halloween themed dinner. I made Pizza Puff Mummy's...not really sure they look like mummies, but the girls loved them and ate them up.

 We did trick or treating around the hood....Katie when as a vampire and Bree went as Daphne from Scooby Doo. Essentially they both wanted costumes with wigs and this is what they found. :) Bree said Samson could be her Scooby Doo.

 They picked out a Hot Dog costume for Samson. Doesn't he just look THRILLED to be wearing this. :) Poor guy...he did good though and wore it all night.

 I am still running (my only sanity check some days). My friend\neighbor Christina has been a really great running buddy. We run at least 3 times a week together and even though she wasn't sure if she would be able to run the half I was training for she stuck with me during the entire training and ran all the short and long runs with me. This was just after we finished a 9 miler with hills.

 The half I was running was the Battleship Half and it was dedicated to all the men and women who have and are serving in the armed forces. I thought it would be a great way to show honor to my brother by running in his memory. I had a running shirt made with this on the back. I also had this scripture noted on the shirts: 2 Timothy 4:7-8  "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing"

Day of the race. Christina didn't get to run, she still has a little one that is on a feeding schedule. So it didn't work out for her to be there, but I got to run with my other friend Maria (in the middle) and her friend Cait. I had good company along the way.

 The course for this half was scenic, which was nice, but it was also very hilly. We crossed over 3 very high bridges as well as some steep downtown hills. I have to say I was not quite as prepared for the hills as I thought I was.  Chris and the girls staked out several place to see me, it's hard to tell but I am in the mix here, over to the right in red.  This was at about mile 3 or 4.

My little cheerleaders and their sign for me

Yeah, this was around mile 7 or 8 I think...this was the flat part of the course before you hit hills again and one last monster bridge around mile 11.

Me and the ladies...still smiling after it was all said and done!

Since Christina could not run, I am actually running another half tomorrow morning with her on Camp Lejune base. I know I am crazy....but we both trained hard together and I really want to run one with her.

Now...what's in the future for the Reneau's....we are moving again. :) Chris was taken a job in Lexington SC, where we used to live 7 years ago and this is where Katie was born. We love the area and it offers a lot so we are looking forward to the move, just not the moving part. So stay tuned for more on what's happening with that. 

First Days of School

School started back up for us last week. We are getting back into our schedule of getting up, homework and other activities.

Katie started 2nd grade this year. It is still hard for me to think of her already in 2nd grade. It really is going by fast. She was so ready to go and couldn't wait. She told Chris and I that we could walk her in but no photos of her with her teach like I have done the past two years. *sigh*...guess she is getting to old for that.

 Bree(my baby) started Kindergarten this year. She had to wait until Wednesday to go as that was her phase in day and then all the K kids started on Thursday. This was a big milestone for her, she has been counting down the days that she got to start school ever since she turned 5 in February. Her grin was permanent on her face all day and pretty much has been every day since then. She loves school! 

 I pic of both my beauties before they went to school together.

 We walked Bree in and I had tears in my eyes but she was just so darn excited to be there it made it much easier on Momma. She has Mrs. Law for her teacher. She is the same K teacher Katie had when we moved here. Mrs. Law was really excited to have Bree in her class, plus I think she is an AMAZING K teacher so I was thrilled she got her as well.

 Once last hug of encouragement from her sister before Katie went to class. Love those girls!

 On the second day of Bree going, she came downstairs and asked if she could walk in all by herself. I told her I would really love to walk her in again (mainly because I was afraid she wouldn't find her class...she is a little directionally challenged just like her daddy). :)  But she was very persistent that she wanted to do it herself and she finally agreed to let Katie walk her to her class. I have to say that when I pulled up in the car drop off line my heart sank a little and I made more tears in my eyes I as I watched her climb out of the car(again with an ear to ear grin) and walk away with her sister. She is just so ready to be big and I am so not ready for her to big, but I guess these days are coming. :(

I tried to snag a photo of them walking in. Katie is a great big sis...she make sure Bree is going in the right direction each morning and on the bus ride home each day she has her sit with her on the bus. Even though they may fight like cats and dogs it is sweet to know that deep down she is very protective of her.



Last But Not Least

At the end of July first of August we had our last round of visitors for the summer. The Morgans came for a visit. We have know then since our South Carolina days back in 2003 and we have been great friends with them every since. We love spending time with them...it is always SO MUCH fun. The only down side was that Chris had to travel the week they were hear so poor James had to put up with 7 ladies all week. He was a trooper. :)

Best Buds hanging in the pool

 We got to go to the beach one day that they were here. We had lots of rain, but the day we did go it was absolutely perfect weather.  Silly girls striking a pose

 Snorkel time

 This picture cracks me up...it is too much :)  Katie is a super model in the making. LOL

All the pretty girls with their bun heads

So sweet. 

 One of the rainy days we went to Monkey Joes and let the girls run and bounce out some energy.

 BRAIN FREEZE!!!

 Hum...Mom...I am bored can be go yet??  Someone thought she was too big for bouncing anymore. :)

 Me and my girl. :)

 The evening we pretty much just hung out at the house. Entertaining themselves, they were all watching you tube videos. This one was "Charlie Bit Me".

 We did nails one night as well. We found these press on sticker nails at Claires so Cara and I sat for what felt like hours putting them on all the girls nails. Only for them to wash off the next day in the pool.

 The last day that they were here we took the girls to Sweet and Sassy and let them get all dolled up. Don't they look gorgeous?  Five sweet, sweet girls and a few have a little more sassy in them though. :)

After Sweet and Sassy, we dropped the girls off at a place called Giggles so the grown ups could have a few hours to ourselves. YAY!! Chris was back in town so we thought we would have a double date just like we used to do all the time in SC. We had dinner at a really great Italian place and then we took James and Cara over to one of our fav spots in Wilmington. We brought Chris up to speed on all the happenings of the week. We laughed alot, talked about old times and started planning our next vacation. :)

One more of me and my bestie or aka sister wife. :) Since Chris was gone all week whenever we went out we took Cara and James' car since all the girls could fit and I would ride upfront with Jame and Cara. James would drive, Cara was in the middle and I was on the end. We got some strange looks from people and we started joking that we were sister wives and all these kids were James'.

It was a great week with them. I miss them already and can't wait until our next vacation. They have the best girls and I love when we see them it has if no time has passed at all and we just pick up where we left off. Friends like these are hard to find and so thankful for them!

Short-n-Sweet Visit

The month of July was a busy month, but I am very grateful that I got to see not just one but three of my best friends in July. Heck, I am think I pretty blessed just to be able to say I have three best friends. :) But this trip was one I was really looking forward too. I haven't seen my girl Joy in almost 2 YEARS! The distance between us always makes it a challenge but I love that when we have the opportunity we both make it a priority to see each other. Joy and her family were headed over to NC for a week to spend some time with her husbands family. They were about 6 hours away, so since we were going to be in the same time zone we decided to meet up for a day. A big thank you to her family for sharing her with me while they were all on vacation. :)

We met up in a small town about half way between us both. We decided to spend the night so we would have a little longer to see each other. We both got to our hotel around 7pm and we decided to have a late dinner. Shortly after we arrived we freshened up and then headed out to dinner. We got to chat, have a drink and just talk about all the changes going on in life. 

After dinner we headed back to the hotel to relax in the hot tub....we changed and headed down to only find out the hot tub...was not so hot, it was cold and very disappointing. So back to the room to relax, talk and laugh. We both were just laying in our beds talking about stuff and laughing. It reminded me of back in the day(before kids) I used to travel to Nashville to see her when we lived in Knoxville. I'd spend the weekend up there hanging out and we would always stay up late just talking and laughing. :) 

The next day we decided to go and do a little shopping at the outlet mall and we grabbed some lunch. We tried to take a photo of just the two of us. 

Love this girl and would do anything for her! 

 After lunch we went to get pedicures....as we were getting our feet rubbed I looked over and Joy just looked so relaxed I had to take a photo. Hehe...don't be mad Joy I didn't post it to FB. :)

 Our pretty toes.

Chickie and Chickola :)

We had less than 24 hours to visit with each other...too short but was very thankful to at least be able to see her and hug her. She is one friend who has always been by my side and I know no matter what I do she always has my back and will be there for me...even if we are 2000 miles apart. :)