Random Thanksgiving Memories

 

So try and remember that for 20 years I spent every Thanksgiving behind my desk working. I'm 3 years away from that (although last year I stayed home with a sick Kindergartener and had canned soup) and I am beginning to love this holiday for its easygoing style and lack of pressure. Here now are my random thoughts about Thanksgiving 2008.

*Getting up early to run the Gobblers Run 5k in the freezing cold with Joe, Art and Andra on a team * Running my best 5k ever but learning they "missed" me at the finish * fried turkey, bourbon and standing rib roast at Frank's * Dad playing basketball on Zermatt Court * an enormous shrimp platter * the beautiful people have beautiful (and nice!) relatives, too * red wine * Mrs. Bushey's appetizers and desserts * red wine * old friends and new ones * "walk it on out" in the flesh * Uncle Ron Ron has a great way with turkeys for a hog farmer * red wine * Lionel Richie * the kids table * dancing to Lionel Richie * "Wait, Chap's naked" * marshmallow explosion in the oven (good thing Andra has 3 ovens!) * Venus and Serena reliving their racing glory * red wine * losing my camera * Uncle Ron Ron's description of what my rear end was doing at the EXACT moment he gave Joe my missing camera * well I could go on and on.. but we have simply decided to say , "It was THAT kind of Thanksgiving. A great kind."

Hope yours was too.

Head over to Facebook to Lori's page to see real Thanksgiving photos taken by people who didn't drink so much red wine they lost their cameras!

Family Running Fun!

 

It's Joe's worst nightmare these days. ALL of us taking part in some of the larger runs around town. Remember, this used to be his "solo" passion! Sunday we all took part in the "old Reliable Run". We love it because it is tied to "Gammy's Newspaper" and it has a 5K and a 10k run an hour apart. That means we can do a quick kid switch in the middle and everybody runs! Plus, this one had face painting, inflatable jummping, snacks and vendors.

Joe raced the 5k and I ran the 10K. Despite the wind and the hills (!) a good time was had by all.

13.1

 

Now normally I am not a fan of doing things HALF way. But I made an exception this morning for Raleigh's City of Oaks Half-Marathon. I came, I ran, I finished. Not a bad outing at all. Hard to believe I used to be intimidated by 13 point 1 miles! Planning to do the next one in February at Myrtle Beach with the sole goal of removing the 1 minute and 42 seconds that kept me away from my preferred finish this go round.




I think somewhere along the way here I skipped our very busy Halloween. Here the girls are heading out with our best boy friends for trick-or-treating.








Earlier that same day Francesca was Miss Muffet in the Kindergarten Nursery Rhyme Parade. (Yes, year 2 on this costume!)




And before that -- a Fall Party for the Fours!

I Did the Dash.. the Monster Dash....

 

This weekend has been so busy I need a nap! The final event was Raleigh's Monster Dash 5K at Cameron Village. After a full day of State Fair walking and fried food, I threw on my "Runaway Bride" costume and hit the bricks. Set my personal best for a 5K and came in second in my age group by one second (if I had only known she was my age I would have run her down!). Check it out HERE.


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Before my race, my future little runner girls got some expert coaching at the beginning of the 100 yard dash. Thanks, Coach.

 

Earlier in the day we caught the final day of the State Fair. The girls rode the rides, milked the cows, and ate the food.

And have I mentioned Grandpa Tony has been here as we have galloped from one event to the next???

 

He joined us for the all this AND the neighborhood Halloween party and the Friday night School book fair and storytelling in pajamas. Phew! What a weekend!

Rock the Vote

Here in North Carolina residents are urged to vote early, just not often! I waited in line 35 minutes outside an early voting location on a weekday morning. I was pretty proud of everyone else in that line. We're part of the 1 Million North Carolinians who have already cast ballots.

Believe in change. Exercise your right to be heard whenever your polling place opens!

Another One of My Pumpkins!

 

So this morning found us in the remote reaches of Franklin County to go pumpkin picking with the 4 year olds. There was a hayride and a snack and each child came home with a hand picked pumpkin. Stop me if you've heard this before!

And yes, we are getting lots of mileage out of the adorable Lilly pumpkin pants and pumpkin shirt. We keep telling Joe that we get our money's worth out of these fun "little" purchases....

The Cutest Pumpkin in the Patch....

 

It's Pumpkin Patch Field Trip Season. My inaugural run was with Kindergarten. Year 2 of dodging rain drops on this particular outing. We still did the hayride, the maze, the giant slide, the picnic lunch and each child selected a pumpkin to take home. We didn't lose any of them either so it's considered a success!