What to do when NOT running a (half) marathon...

So it's FRIGID here, and I'm a Northerner. The roads are not icy, but the windchill is in the low teens. Everyone is getting cabin fever. Somehow, good spirits remain!

Most of the gang went to Graceland… 

 one of Elvis' tacky rooms

 What Cora wants to get Daddy for Christmas

 maybe not...

 What Greg wants for Christmas

 Keeping the fire going

 Enjoying some hot chocolate to warm up

 Working on cute gingerbread picture frames

the finished product

 On the tree!

 Dinner? HUGE Pizza!!!

"Iced in?"

So we essentially got iced in here…. all 15 of us (so happy to finally USE our 5 bedrooms!)… Yes we have 9 kids ages 12 and under. Thankfully these kids are great and get along wonderfully :) We adults enjoyed the time to catch up, as well...

 Even the Daddies enjoyed the craft projects :) 

 Performing "Sisters" from White Christmas

 Wonderful chaos

At the "kid table"

 Playing Cranium

 Greg kept the fireplace going all day...

 Bonny watching the weather

 Maria, Julianna and Cora made chocolate-chip/M&M cookies for all

 

George helped

 Louisa watched them bake

 The kids tried out Cranium

 

 Godfather/Goddaughter

 Making smores in the fireplace 

  Yummy!

The adults a bit more relaxed once we learned the Marathon was cancelled :(

Cancelled

Due to ice storm and poor weather conditions, the St Jude's Marathon has been cancelled for 2013 :( The contributions still count and the registration fee can be applied to another race… Arizona, New Orleans or Memphis again. So proud of these friends who raised over $1500 combined toward a wonderful cause!

Celebratory martinis

"The Sound of Music" live

The girls lined up eagerly to watch "The Sound of Music," live… their critique, the old one is better!

What brought everyone together...

"The Runners" on Beale Street

A trip "downtown"

Today we met Reed and his family (wife Maria, Valentina, Nicolina, Julianna), who flew in from Arizona. Best place? The Peabody Hotel, of course! These ducks are going to know us soon :) 

Kaitlyn and Cora

 The kids lined up awaiting the arrival… 

Will, Cora, Kaitlyn, Emilia, Lindsay, Nicolina, Julianna, Valentina

These ducks were FEISTY today!

 Attempting a "Sound of Music" line-up

 The beautiful Peabody Hotel lobby was decorated for Christmas

 And a fancy choir gave a concert following the march

The Dube's arrive

This weekend is the St. Jude's Marathon and Greg has agreed to run the 1/2 with college buddies George and wife Karen and Reed. The Dube's (George, Karen, Will, Lindsay and Kaitlyn) arrived tonight safely from Virginia. 

 Dinner at Dyer's, Lindsay holds Louisa

Kaitlyn holds Louisa

 On the town square in Collierville