Just in case you were wondering

So, I decided to be a good big brother this weekend. You know, there are certain things that all big brothers HAVE to do in order to maintain their "Big Brother" status. Something things are like beating up boyfriends of the sisters, protecting them when scared, etc. Well, one that wasn't on the list, but made it this weekend was not something that I would recommend.
Kathryn decided that she wanted to run the marathon this year because "everyone else was doing it." Her loving husband decided that he would run with her even though he hated the idea. Really, he just said he would do it because he wanted a shirt that said he had run a long way. What a guy!!!
Well, in November, he tore a tendon in his knee making it impossible for him to run in the marathon. Well, big brother says, "I will run it with you." Well, if you didn't know, the marathon is 26.2 miles - that is a long way! So I decided that I would start training, but that was about the time that finals rolled around. So I put it off. I decided that I would run in Colorado on vacation - well you know about my elk hunt, so that was out too. When we got back to Houston, I said I would run for the few weeks prior. Then I started thinking - if I get tired or sore, I am not going to think that I could do it. SO I decided to just put it off till day of. BAD IDEA!!!
So Kathryn and I ran the marathon on Sunday. I did well for about 22 miles and cratered after that. Kathryn, on the other hand, was an animal. She was nailing her times every mile and then finished the last 4 with Dad (after he had finished his marathon just prior). Now I had no business running that thing, that is for sure. But when I got to mile 22, I was out of juice. But hey, I hadn't come all that way for nothing. So, I ran/walked the last four and met Kathryn inside.
It was one of the most fun times I have had in my life with Kathryn though. I absolutely loved spending that time with her and seeing her do so well. She would run up and down the crowd slapping people High-Five and shouting "Gig-Em" every time she could. She did absolutely awesome and I am super proud of her. I must say though, if you are thinking of being a good brother, there are easier ways than volunteering for the marathon - but it still is a great experience.

Our First Christmas

So we went to Colorado for Christmas this year. IT WAS AWESOME!!! One of the worst, early snows that they have seen in a long time. Yeah, and we drove it. Just in case you were wondering if it was fun to drive with the 2 little girls, it wasn't bad. 17 hours - they slept the majority and were awesome the whole time. MY GIRLS ROCK!!!

We went up for Christmas with Pee-Paw and Mee-Maw this year. How great do we look!?!

That one on the far left is our newest cousin - Makenzie. Don't we look like we are having fun? Well, we are.

We also got to spend time making a 4 generation picture with Great-Grandma -

While we were there, we got to spend time with Uncle Beau -

And Aunt JeanAnn and Uncle Scott -

And Aunt Sandra and Uncle Justin - Obviously Justin got confused some times on who he should hold. Sandra got lots of holding time this week!!! And rightly so, look at what she made the girls. -

Now, we have lots more pictures of lots more family, but you will have to see the slideshow for that one.

See you at the next post!!!

Chandler

It was Her or Me - Or BOTH

So this year was my first year to go Big Game hunting. If you don't like hunting, you won't like some of this story, but part of it will make you laugh hysterically. So, read if you dare.

So my Brother in Law was awesome this year and got me a land-owner permit. That means that I got to hunt an elk for the first time in my life. How cool!!! So I was really excited to do it and was a little nervous about shooting since I can't hit the broad side of a barn. But my BIL said I would be fine. So the first day we got there we went over the basics on what to shoot - Don't shoot it if it has horns - end of lesson. So we then drove up and down the highway looking for a target. We found a little herd up at the top of the unit we could hunt in and were really excited b/c there were so many. We then decided that it would be best for us to get permission from a guy to hunt on his land and practice shooting. Good thinking.

So we got permission and started our target practice. We took a .22 to shoot with and shot from about 25 yards. I did great, if I do say so myself. But let me tell you this, just cause you can shoot a .22 doesn't mean that you can shoot a .338 cannon! That will come up again later in the story.

So the next day we went to find our herd only to find out that some other group of idiots had shot a cow in our spot without permission. Dang Texan hunters!!! So we were really mad but we got over it and decided to try again the following day. Next day, we go to find another group of 2 and were beat out by 2 Texan shooters shooting from the highway. Such a No-No. So we called the DOW and got some "paperwork" for our hunter friends. Shouldn't have made Beau mad I guess!!!

So we try again the next day. But this time, Beau made up his mind that we were going to go and look for some. Well, that was code for, "Let's try to kill Chandler." So we hiked up and down these mountains and I was miserable. I couldn't breath and am WAY out of shape. But about 7 hours after the hike started, we finished elk-less. Probably a good thing though b/c I would not have liked draggin it down the mountain.

So on Christmas Eve, we decided to take the snow mobiles back into the National Forest. We saw a small herd and ran up the mountain after them. Well, I say we ran, but it was more like drudging up the mountain and I was sucking wind. By the time I had a shot, it was about 450 yards and not a chance of me hitting it. Oh well. Beau told me that I needed to hurry and run after them faster, but all I could think was, "Don't they have any that stand still and don't run?" We saw another group and the same thing happened again. Chandler out of breath and Beau saying, "Hurry up!"

Well, we were in some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen and all I could think was how happy I was to be riding and seeing nature at its best. So we came upon a 3rd herd and we drove up to where we saw them. We got there and I got into position. I couldn't get the scope to work so I got a little closer. TOO CLOSE! I got a shot and took it. "I hit her! Hey Beau, I think I got hit too!" Yeah, the scope came back and hit me in the head. So that streak of red running down my face is the blood from me! Oh well, I got her on the first shot and it was about the coolest experience of my life. I am going to have a scar, but it was still cool. So, it was a 275 yard shot through the trees - yeah, I am the man and can provide for my family.


So we now have Elk meat and I had a great experience. I was so thankful that I got to go and even more thankful that I got her on the first shot. I don't know if I could have seen through the blood to shot again. But anyway, it was a great experience!! Thanks Uncle Beau-Beau!

Finals

So many of you were concerned with how I would do on my finals last semester. Well, I don't need to tell you that I WAS SCARED TO DEATH!!! I was in management and in Med-Surg. Well apparently I am terrible at management and shouldn't have even been a manager for 5 years b/c I was so sorry in that class. It made my life miserable, but I finally eaked out a passing grade in the class. WHEW!!! Med-Surg was much more interesting and I liked it much more. However, the girls made the class much more difficult to pass. When you start off in a bad situation, (failing the first test miserably) you have a big mountain to climb. So staying up all night with the girls was not fun nor conducive to studying. So the last week of school, I wound up staying up just about 24 hours/day and leaving the house just so I could study. Well, fortunately it paid off. I went in and took my final and when I got through, all I could think was, "Where do I sign up to take the class again cause I know I failed that thing?" But when I got done, I did a little dance, said a big prayer, and walked out ready for vacation. So, I am now starting classes again next Tuesday. We are supposed to start on Monday, but MiLK day is Monday, and let's face it, I am going to need the help after the marathon. Oh yeah, I am running it again - start praying for me.
Chandler