Arielle's Going Far!

Arielle with finisher medal after 5k
Arielle at finish

What a wonderful & BIG event! So great to see the community get together and celebrate healthy kids :)

Arielle & me at start

Arielle and her friend Anna who is in our ward and same school class as Arielle

Arielle, Me, my friend Jill and her daughter Anna

This fall Arielle participated in the "Go Far" program

at school. The goal of the program is to promote healthy habits in kids like exercise, good nutrition, goal setting abilities, self esteem, good character, etc. It was founded in NC and is now in a few other states as well. Every Monday for 10 weeks Arielle would meet with other 4th & 5th graders and they would have a lesson then they would run/walk. Slowly they built up to being able to run 3 miles. The grand finale was a 5k for all the kids in Forsyth county school district who participated in the Go Far program. I signed up to run the 5k with Arielle. We had a GREAT time! She was the pace setter. I was just along for the ride. She was amazing! She ran the entire time except for stopping to get a drink at an aid station half way. She finished in 39 minutes, had a really good time and was so proud of herself. Arielle is really GOING FAR!

This Picture Has a Story Behind It

Christmas morning 2005 at my parents' house in Heber. If you look close you can see the snow and mountains in the background (along with a ridiculous amount of presents!) We did have all the family together (does that make it any better?!)

So now you are tagged!! Erin, Melissa C., Michelle F., and anyone else who wants to play!!

Go to the oldest picture file on your computer, post the 10th picture and give us the background :)

(and I must confess, I cheated...this was not my 10th picture, but it was in the correct file. The 10th pic was a candid shot at a Christmas party and didn't have anyone I knew in it?! Why I store all these things on my computers for years, I'll never know!)

Arrrgggghh!

At Outer Banks Half Marathon finish

Outer Banks Weekend

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Crab leg !

This picture is for Jim...he stayed here on a surf trip during his bachelor days

House in Rodanthe where Nights at Rodanthe was filmed

After the half marathon

Band at finish of half marathon (downtown Manteo)

catching tons of little frogs at the lighthouse

Oh my! What a fabulous weekend!! Headed to Outer Banks for the Half Marathon. I had registered for this race this past summer when we were still in Utah. I figured it would give us a good excuse to drive the 5 hrs. to the Outer Banks. We stayed at Nags Head Beach Hotel (AKA Travelodge ha ha) It was actually a great place to stay. Very short walk to beach, friendly hotel staff, breakfast included and good location to start of race. Also right next to Jockey's Ridge and Wright Bros. Museum.

We only had 2 days and had a hard time choosing what to do. You could easily spend a few days there even in off season! We decided to head to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Hour drive each way from our hotel, but wonderfully scenic drive!! The lighthouse is closed for climbing this time of year but we were able to go into the base. There were tons of baby frogs in the grass surrounding the lighthouse and catching frogs is probably what the kids remember most about the lighthouse...LOL.

Right next to the lighthouse is an incredible beach where we spent half the day. Its breathtaking with a jetty, surfers, fisherman, sea spray and view of the lighthouse. Kids loved playing around the jetty and getting sprayed by incoming waves. Lunch at Angelo's (gosh, already forgot name but I think that's it) Great little pizza place right by lighthouse- diner theme and arcade for the kids, decent food too.

Then back to hotel for R & R. Toby & I ventured to the race expo to pick up my packet while Jim & Arielle took another walk on the beach. Expo was OK, smaller than St. George and not as many freebies. The race organizers did give out a cool pirate themed swag bag though. Saturday night out to dinner at an artsy little vegetarian friendly place (Rundown Cafe). Well- veggie stuff for Jim & I, kids opted for crab & calamari!

Next day was the Outer Banks Half Marathon. Could not have asked for better weather. I absolutely LOVED this race. Out of the 35+ races I have run, this was one of the top 5 for sure. Course was a gorgeous variety of coastline, marina, golf course, neighborhoods, highway and bridge. Mostly flat course except for big bridge at mile 10. Could not have ordered better weather! Mid 50s & sunny- PERFECT for racing. The finish line party was super fun in cute little downtown Manteo. They gave out nice perks at finish too like an ice cold towel and free visor. Would love to do this race again. Hopefully the race site will publisher pictures soon. I think they got a funny one with me & one of the "pirates".

Great little family weekend away. We LOVE the Outer Banks!

Fall in North Carolina

Aren't they frickin' adorable? (even if they are preteens ;)
Jim & I at the Fall Festival (trying to capture some of those fall colors behind us, but the camera just doesn't do it justice)

Kids with cakewalk goodies from school festival (don't they look really excited that I'm taking their picture?)

Arielle & her friends cutting loose at the "Disco" (school festival)

Southwest Elementary Fall Festival

Teddy & I were out exploring. Found really neat OLD tree (been there since before 1492!) at CG Hill park

Get to look at this kind of stuff everyday :)

CG Hill Park

Jim & Arielle , CG Hill Park

Love this action shot that Toby took of Jim & Arielle skipping

Mom & "Mags"

Arielle skating with the guys

In front of our house

Making videos on cell phone of jumping stuff (yes, there has been blood on more than one occasion)

This is a random sampler of what we've been up to for the month of October. Toby & Arielle have spent lots of afternoons skateboarding and hanging outside with some new friends from the neighborhood (I'm always happy when they hang out around MY house). We've explored some new parks- CG Hill being the recent favorite- great walking paths and an cool old tree to explore. And Arielle's school had a Fall Festival that was lots of fun. They had lots of games for the kids to play, blow up bouncy things, cake walk and bake sale. I had fun making stuff for the bake sale (and buying stuff :)

Halloween Highlights

Toby busted out an oldie but goodie for the ward Halloween party (he was this costume a couple years ago) But he decided to be something different on Halloween night

Athena (Pirate) and Arielle (Doctor) at ward party

Tobes being "a scary guy" thanks to Jim's artistic skills

Sorting candy is a science obviously - look at that organization!

Trick or Treatin' with the Parkes & Crowthers...Dr., Kiss band member, Grimm Reaper, Ballerina, Bronco player, Rockstar

Toby was too OLD to go with us- so he went trick or treating with friends

Halloween Veggie Tray

Ok, I know its cheezy to post this, but I'm into food lately and occasionally I make something that turns out kinda cute and I want to remember it :) We also had mummy dogs and Melissa's yummy mac n' cheese at the Parke's house

We came home to find Teddy with a laffy taffy wrapper stuck to his ear...hmmmm...wonder what he was doing while we were gone?

More sortin' ( check out Teddy)

Creative pumpkins from ward contest

More creative pumpkins

And more!

Our good friends who are in our ward and also in the anesthetist program: from left

Melissa & Aaron Crowther (Aaron is a senior in the program and Jim's "senior buddy") They were lifesavers helping us navigate the move, figure out where to live, which schools were best, etc etc.

Blake & Jaime Parke. Jaime is in the program with Jim. It is cool to have another couple from Utah who is LDS with kids in the program! They also live one street over.

We have lots of fun hanging with these guys and their families

We had a ward party on Wed. before Halloween- chili cook off (Jim & I actually found a meatless one to try :), pumpkin carving contest, games for kids and trunk or treating. Then Sat. night we had potluck at the Parkes then went trick or treating in the rain!