Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving started off with me running the Turkey Trot and Ian and the boys playing football. I'm happy to report I did NOT have to stop for a Dr. Pepper. I did pretty good - I ran the whole thing except for about 3 minutes of it (I took my stopwatch).

We raced home after because Thanksgiving dinner was supposed to be at 12:00. I was in charge of the mashed potatoes and rolls - luckily Ian helped. Although, it's never good to have an artist in the kitchen. When I ran in from the bathroom to check on him he was just about to put some vanilla (yes, you are reading this right) in the potatoes. He'd already put some other spices in. I had a little freak-out (just enough to let him know it was NOT o.k. to take liberties with my potatoes). He then made his own little batch where he added all sorts of stuff (cheese, bacon, parsley, ect).

When we got to my mom's the football game was on.

The boys watched that for a while. Also, we all took turns sneaking some of my aunt Denise's rice krispy cookies that Kim had made. Mmmm....

Ben tried to sneak a roll.

Above is his sneaking face.

Finally...Dinner! Complete with brown sugar'd sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, 3 kinds of stuffing, turkey, rolls, corn, green bean casserole, assorted veggies and fruits. Delicious strawberry lemonade. And pie! Adam made Aaron's cream cheese pie. And Kim made her pumpkin delight. Both were awesome. I brought an apple pie and an apricot pineapple pie (my dad's favorite).

Evan voted to play instead of eat. I think he ended up eating 3 rolls and some whipped cream. Awesome, huh?After Trina, Darrel and my mom cleaned up while Kim played with the little kids. I helped here and there...but mostly I sat around and napped. Running + eating makes me tired!

I followed Ruby and her roll around for a while. She tried to feed me some and when I pretended to take a bite out of it she wasn't fooled. She pried my mouth open with her hand then shoved the roll in. She is one determined little girl!
It was a wonderfully relaxing Thanksgiving. We hung out at my mom's for a while - talking, playing and watching football and watching Modern Family. It was a great Thanksgiving.

Turkey Trot...more like Turkey Crawl

Picture from last years race. After mile 1 those smiles were wiped off our faces.

Every year I run the Turkey Trot. I blame Trina. She's the one that told me about it. The first year I started to run it with Trina - she insisted that she was slow and wouldn't be able to keep up with me. She passed me (pushing a jogging stroller) after the first 1/2 mile.

Today I woke up with butterflies. I was worried because #1. I ate french fries last night at 10 pm and #2. I couldn't bring myself to eat the bowl of oatmeal that Holly suggested I eat so that I'd have lots of energy. I couldn't eat anything. Not eating was a mistake (actually I think my biggest mistake might have been signing up for the Turkey Trot in the first place).

Trina kept insisting she was "out of shape" and there was "no way" she'd be able to run it very fast. She left me in her dust after the first 5 minutes (mind you she just had a baby in June - but whatever). "That's o.k.," I thought, "now I'll be able to run it at a slower pace." I now realize that I always need to run with someone. Not only does it motivate me but it helps me keep a consistent pace.

Normally I run 3.5 miles three times a week. I figured that was all the training I need. By mile 4 I was feeling it. And it didn't help that we ran right past a Circle K. Let me tell you if I had money with me I would've stopped and got a Thirstbuster Dr. Pepper and a candy bar. I'm not kidding. I almost asked a bystander for some money. But by then my lips were crusted shut so I couldn't. Lots of cursing in my head.

By mile 5 I was trying to motivate myself. I'd pick a person and say to myself, "I'll beat that person in." Soon all the people I picked were passing me (I tried not to take it personally) and I felt like there was a fire in my chest. And then a man with one leg passed me. I'M NOT KIDDING! He had a mechanical leg and he breezed passed me like it was no big deal. I started to pick up the pace. But he still was in the lead. I looked over to my right and a man as old as father Christmas (with a beard just as long) was passing me! Seriously. There was NO WAY a hundred year old man was going to beat me.

As we came down the final stretch I tried to pick up the pace, but OLM (one leg man) was still in the lead. It was neck and neck to the finish line, but he beat me by a leg. My ego wasn't completely bruised because I did manage to beat Santa. Barely.

Many times I thought about giving up. Just running back to my car. But I did it! And I learned an important lesson: I DO NOT like to run.

P.S. To add insult to injury when I tried to get my friend Liz's attention by repeatedly screaming her name, she totally ignored me! Whatever. Just because her husband beat the turkey, doesn't mean we can't be friends.....or does it?

P.P.S. Can someone PLEASE remind me of this post next year? PLEASE????

Thanksgiving

I spent Wednesday afternoon and evening baking. Here are the results of my efforts: a luscious apple pie (recipe courtesy of Pioneer Woman) and homemade rolls (recipe courtesy of my mother). My boys were so excited for the rolls - they are their favorite.

This morning I ran the Turkey Trot with Lisa and Tricia. Sheez, I look rough - I can't believe I went out in public like that. Oh well, we had fun. Until my knees started hurting. But I still finished with an o.k. time (for me, that is).

Below is a picture of Evan stealing my piece of Meg's homemade cranberry upside-down cake (delicious by the way). It is the only picture I took at our Thanksgiving Feast at Ian's parents house. Man, I am lame. I didn't even jump up and get the camera when Sean and Meg announced they are expecting. I was too busy screaming. For joy. The dinner was awesome, as usual. My mother in law is one excellent cook. I think my stomach doubled in size. And that was before the pie. Mmmm...pie.

Tomorrow we are heading up north to the Lodge. We are all hoping for snow. Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey Trot

Tricia and I are doing the annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. It's a 10K - easily doable. Let me know if you want to join us. I do it so I can eat pie all day and not feel guilty. Mmm...pie.

http://www.getsetaz.com/event-detail.php?item=402560