I love this holiday. I have learned to love it because of its focus on food. Any day that is dedicated to beautiful creations of food combinations (like potatoes and cheese or bread and chicken broth) is a good day for me.  I also enjoy getting together with family and sharing stories (of Ireland and Paris!), playing games (whistling 'margaritaville'), hiking a NC hill/mountain, eating a lot of food, playing putt putt (awkward underground back '9') and taking photos!  This year, the Hallers (Bill&Barb, Mark- we missed you Jill, Katie and David) came to 14009 for some seriously fabulous fun...

Dan and I looking at Charlotte in the distance from the top of the Mountain!

This picture took some serious strength and trust...but look at us, we're on top of the world!!!

Katie and I making a peppermint-brownie-ice cream-chocolate trifle.

Top view of our new table with our pretty plates and everything!  It was fun to decorate and plan and organize all the food. I was in my element!  Special thanks to all who helped by eating, encouraging, cleaning (thank you Dan, youre the best husband I know!), and complimenting.

A better view of our new table! We sat 10!

Photo Booth Phun

Dan was the sweetest husband/best friend on this years October 21st. He blessed me so much as he surprised me first with Breakfast in Bed...and a teaser of cash to go shopping after work (so he could scheme up the best idea ever).  I went shopping and came home around 6:50pm. 

When I walked in, he had the table set up and a nice candlelit steak dinner (grass fed beef and all!).  After, I opened a card sitting on the table and inside was my first CLUE for a 24 RHYMING scavenger hunt!  It was a blast as I ran all over the house hurrying to find my presents. Reminder, I had not received ANY gifts because Dan ransacked the mailbox so I couldn't see any 'sized' gifts.

My last clue was to enter the guest room and over in the corner was a new MAC BOOK!  I squealed like a girl.  I have so many things I want to do with a new computer and Dan gave me something that I didnt deserve. He worked with our friend who works at the Apple store and bought 'last seasons' computers (who the heck cares?!?!)  THANK YOU to DAN!!

Now, the new computers have a fun little tool that warps pictures and here are some photos of that fun lil experience...we were on the floor laughing hysterically!!!!

HAHA. They still make me laugh so hard!

Being A Mom

Its been decided... I want to be a mom. Not tomorrow or even next year but I have finally realized that I think I'll be pretty good at it...thanks to having some practice this past Tuesday with Zach and Allie...  I was  thrilled to see them both and I think they felt the same for me considering Zach pulled the curtains down in his excitement.  There was a bit of a pooping spree on that following morning (and no dad, I didnt bring ANY flax seed to the house!) but we played around and did some fun activities that included paint, markers and glue.  We also ate a lot of food, Zach can almost out-eat me and Allie is a hoot to feed as she laughs, sneezes and resists the squash and bananas as more ended up on my shirt.  

I came home that night exhausted and happy to have spent a day with my two favorite children.  

The RACE!

The rain was falling when Dan peeked in the door and said, "They're here!"  I was pulling a Thai chicken pizza out of the oven when I heard Zachy squeal "Unkie Dan!!!"  After a dinner of fun conversations and eagerness about the next day's 10k, we played around the house with the kids. My dad even surprised us from Virginia!!  Raschelle, Mom, Rebecca, Dad, Zach, Allie, Dan...what more could I ask for?

The next morning, the rain was still falling and that alarm 'wah, wah wah wah' going off was jarring to my soul. As I stepped out using my muscles for the first time, they awoke with excitement. 

Downtown on 6th street, there was an anxious feeling about all the 10k participants, including Raschelle who decided to join us (!!!!!) for the 10k instead of the 5k.   One man was so distracted that he forgot to hit the lock button on the port-a-jon and was SURPRISED by me... (a-w-k-w-a-r-d)  

We started out together and with rain showers passing along the 6.2 miles, we split up but all came together at the end.  As I was running, I was thinking hard to myself about all the training I'd done up to this point.  I felt feelings I've never felt because I was experiencing something I had never done.   A 10k might not be a milestone in your life (either because you've run ten marathons or cant even walk the mall) but it sure was for me. I felt like I could change the world...and I did. I encouraged people around me on their last .1 mile to the finish line and with joy and excitement, we cheered Raschelle in what I hope was one of her proudest moments.  

Pictures weren't taken as much as we had planned ,there was miscommunication on the part of the finish-line destination but, we were together...bananas and powerade...and we finished