Preparing for Mercedes Half Marathon

So what did I do today? I got up early and met a running buddy(John) and we ran 13.2 miles. I'm preparing for the Mercedes Half Marathon on Feb. 15 in Birmingham, AL.
I'm running the half, and a buddy is running the Full.

Did I tell you my goal is to run a Half Marathon in each state? My marathons count as a half in each state, so I've got a decent start.
(Hawaii, Minnesota, Illinois, South Carolina, North Carolina, DC, Florida, Georgia, Maryland)

Early Valentine's Day

Since I'll be out of town Valentine's weekend, Ron and I celebrate Valentines Day last night.
Ron made reservations at Del Frisco's Steak House. It's one of the Best Steak Places in Charlotte. It was sooooo good. Ron got the Filet Mignon and I got the Salmon(I was trying to be good). Of course we got a salad to start, with crab cakes with cajun lobster sauce. Meal came with some yummy potatoes and sauteed mushrooms. Dessert was a Chocolate Mousse with was sooooo yummy!! And we topped it off with the V.I.P Martini.

Check out the yummy food: http://www.delfriscos.com/index.php

Eagles Concert

Last week, a friend of mine had two club seats to the Eagles Concert. She had a client (she's a lawyer), that wanted to treat her to dinner uptown and the concert. We had a wonderful dinner and the concert was just awesome. Those old guys can still play and sing. I forgot all the songs they actually sing!! My friend has a condo uptown behind the building I work in. So instead of driving home late, I crashed at her place. Man, it was so nice getting up and ready for work and just walking across the street. NO COMMUTE, and I got to sleep in late!

I know I'm a bit behind, but Merry Christmas!!

My brother & sister-inlaw at mom's Christmas Eve.















Christmas Breakfast at my house. Jack(step father), Ron, Stanage, Chase, Drew(Brittany's boyfriend), Brittany, Mom.

























































WOW~ All the croissants were eaten. The ones we ordered from Williams & Somona from a French Chef were awesome. (A Christmas Tradition!!!)






























My mom's Homemade Candies! YUMMY
I have some Coconut Balls still in my freezer!

We had a great Christmas. That's the nice thing about families living close to home. We didn't have to travel too far. :-) --- And yes, we went to the Bowling Alley this year~ (no pics though)

We went to my mom's Christmas Eve and enjoyed a wonderful dinner and mom's homemade desserts/candy. Christmas morning as spent at my house opening gifts and having a wonderful Christmas breakfast. For lunch off to the bowling alley for Ron's extended family. After lunch the afternoon as spent at Ron's mom and dad, with his brother's family(sorry, no pics I forgot the camera for the bowling alley and Ron's parents. Really, it was an accident..hehe) Christmas night is usually spent at my mom's home for left overs, but we were just too tired this year so we passed.

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

The weekend before Christmas Ron decided we would go out to dinner, then take a ride in the Corvette, but he wouldn't tell me where. He likes to keep me guessing sometimes, but I know him so well it doesn't take me long to figure things out!

After dinner we headed down 485, and once he took a particular exit I knew where we were going. We went to see the Christmas lights at "Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden". We also took a horse and buggy ride, which sounds all nice and romantic. It was not! Ron was sadly disappointed. I, on the other hand wasn't expecting much so I was fine with the ride. The carriage was for 6 people, and there were 2 couples that talked the entire time~ blah, blah, blah...I just wanted to hear the horse clip/clop on the road in the dark. It was so soothing & quite except for the loud people in the carriage with us. They didn't have a carriage for two. Lesson Learned: I won't do that again!

Anyway, the lights were what I expected. Ron again, expected a bit more. Here's a few pics.

Late Blog --- How we spent Thanksgiving

Ron's brother(Jeff), Chase & Jake(Ron's nephew)














Ron's Mom & Dad















Brittany & Drew














Chase & Drew playing in the water

















Chase & Drew horsing around. They were friends before Brittany & Drew started dating.










My wonderful family enjoying the beach......


Happy belated Thanksgiving!

We had lunch with mom the Sunday before Thanksgiving, as usual. It was a great meal. We missed my brother being there because they were on a trip in the TN mountains somewhere.

We left the Wednesday before Thanksgiving for the beach to spend time with Ron's family. His mom and dad spend the whole month of November at the beach, along with his aunt and uncle and cousins. Drew, Brittany's boyfriend of 2 1/2 years came, along with Chase's new girlfriend, Ashley. Even though our kids live at home and go to school, we never hardly see them. We get up and leave before them each morning. When we get home from work, they are either at school or working. By the time they get home we're in bed.

Here are some pics of our Thanksgiving beach trip. We also celebrated Ron's mom and dad 50th wedding anniversary while we were there.

I'm still here......

Oh my, I just looked at my blog. It's been a long time since I've blogged. So sorry, but does anyone really care. lol

I promise I will post what's been going around the Griffin household in the next couple of days.
Work has been crazy trying to finish up 3 projects by end of the year. I've been spending a few weekends working. When I'm not working, I've been trying to get my Christmas shopping done.

Right now, I'm wrapping a couple of last minute presents for the kids, cooking for tonight at my mom's. Cleaning up a bit. Candlelight service at church before we go to mom's. Tomorrow will be breakfast here at home with the family, Stanie and Brittany's boyfriend Drew, if he can get out of bed and get here by 9am! And of course the ole' bowling alley lunch, with a gathering afterwards at Ron's family. I'll try to take a few pics to share.

Merry Christmas~ Love and miss you all.