CCR 2009

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Trails

So, we are home, unpacked, Christmas decorated, and caught up on laundry and it feels GREAT! What a great end to a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving weekend. We celebrated this year at Clear Creek Ranch in North Carolina. This marked my 6th trip to the ranch--the previous two years were just short, girl's weekend trips with Kinsey. This year, the whole Pitman, Putman, and Patrick clan met for the break. Max and cousin Thomas had their first experience as real cowboys!

Highlights of the holiday...snow flurries on Thanksgiving, line dancing, karaoke night, fishin' at the trout pond, marshmallow roasts, waterfall hike, and of course LOTS of horse fun!

What a great place to make sweet memories! I feel a slideshow coming on, but in the meantime... ;)

This Old Couch

This old couch has seen a lot of good times. Seeing the kids, getting all big, sitting on the couch tonight reminded me of one of the earlier pictures I have of Kinsey with her best boy buds. It makes me wonder if when the three of them go to the prom together, will they get their picture made sitting on this same piece of furniture?!? ;)

I love this shot of one of Kinsey's best girlfriends...

Please don't tell our dentist

And we wonder WHY Kinsey had to have a "baby tooth root canal" last week?!?

It was a family affair trying to get 2 dozen turkey cookies baked and decorated for Kinsey's Thanksgiving festival this week. Thankfully, the ones that are going to her school did NOT look like this one that Max in enjoying. GROSS!!!

One Last Hoorah!

The end of one sports season (at least HOME games) marks the beginning of another. Here comes middle school basketball! If only we got to tailgate for THOSE games!


What do you get when you put 4 middle school teachers together at one tailgate??? :)

Damn Good Dawg

RIP Uga VII

Class of 1995

What a fun blast from the past this weekend, except all week I have been a bit sad and nostalgic. Three old high school friends came to town for the UGA vs. Auburn game and since my children were visiting their grandparents in SC, it was a fun chance to remember the good ol' days of no cares and no responbilities. We had a great time reminiscing and catching up and will hopefully make a new tradition out of our little reunion!

You Might Be a Redneck...

You know that you live in a small town when there is a running race called the Backyard Hoo Hah Half Marathon! You really know you live in a small town when that race has 18 participants. BUT, you really, REALLY know when the 18 participants must be transported to the starting line via a cow trailer and the prize for the first place runner is country ham and grits. I love this place!!!

"Sweet" Afternoon

The weather we have had this week reminds me why this is my favorite time of year. The rains and flooding lately have made it hard to see, but it was worth the wait. This is my favorite weather for early-morning runs and late-night marshmallow roasts in the backyard.

It was also PERFECT for a little retreat to Atlanta this afternoon. After church, we headed to Sweetwater Park past Atlanta to visit my Aunt Brenda and Uncle Robert, and my cousin Catherine and her adorable baby Graham, who have been visiting for the weekend. The park was beautiful and much of it is centered around this amazing lake. The little kids really enjoyed each other's company (as well as the company of many brave ducks and geese.) Jack and I definitely considered it a successful trip to the park because Max never ended up in the water, although we were sure he would, and Kinsey didn't fall out of any of the big trees she climbed, although we ended up sacrificing a pair of tights at the end of the day!

It was so great seeing everyone (even if I felt like I hardly got to complete a thought or sentence before Max was either at water's edge or eye to eye with a goose.) Precious family is what it's all about! Love you guys!

Oh yeah, it was confirmed today that we REALLY live in the country, when my children announced as we drove through ATL, "Wow, look--the CITY! I want to go to the city sometime." We gotta get out more often! ;)

Kinsey loved climbing trees with the help of a very patient Uncle Robert

Max's version of tree-climbing

Is Graham the CUTEST kid ever or what?!?

Max meets his match

Kinsey figured these guys out pretty quick.

How perfect are these two?

Homecoming Family Fun

What better people to spend a beautiful, crisp fall day with that family and what better place to spend it than "between the hedges" at Sanford Stadium? Shutting out the opponent was sweet icing on the cake!

Nicole and Steven, it was great seeing the both of you and we will see you soon!

Thanks for the Support

After being out all, week with cold/flu-like symptoms, Kinsey returned to school Friday to a nice suprise. Her school had an assembly to conclude their "Dash for Excellence" contest and fundraiser. She was so excited to find out that she had placed 2nd in her grade. Kinsey thanks all of her great family who sponsored her in her running event!

Fall Pictures, a Santa Dawg and a Weiner Dog

What I'll Miss Most About Halloween

Besides the constant supply of chocolate, the single thing I'll miss the most as we say goodbye to October is our daily concerts with our favorite skeleton duo, Boney and Cher (thanks Alex and Anna), singing "I got you babe!"



Last night, we went to some friends' house for a tailgating party followed by hayride trick-or-treating. While the football game and the weather were less than desirable, the fun was at a peak. Aside from Dorothy's spill resulting in dirty tights (oh, the drama), the kids had a blast. Max tore up and down the driveways in search of candy, only stopping for an extra moment at the porches that had singing decorations. Go figure!

What a Difference 10 Years Makes

10 years ago, we were in the beautiful mountins of NC beginning our lives together. Two children, two dogs, two houses and a handful of careers later, here we are still, against all odds, running the race, fighting the fight, living the life. I'm not going to lie and say that the past 3650 days have all been perfect, but in the words of a favorite song, "it ain't about how fast you get there, it ain't about what's waiting on the other side--it's the climb!"

It's been a great climb! Happy Anniversary, Jack--I love you! Here's to another 10!

No Spookley Here!

Trunk or Treat

Wednesday, our AWANA kids at church enjoyed trunk-or-treating in the parking lot.

Max the "Square Scrow" and Dorothy Kinsey really landed a haul of candy and had a great time.


Here are some of our sweet Cubbies that Jack and I teach.

26.2

What an AWESOME JOURNEY, simply put. The training, the weekend, the race itself--all of it together--an amazing experience. So much to reflect on, so much to remember and so much to share.

Georgetown, the White House, Smithsonion, Ray's Hell Burgers, fried Twinkies, the Metro, Lincoln, Vietnam, WWII, and Korean War and oh, yeah, the RACE!!! :)

My new tat!

Me and Teresa at the White House

Me, Teresa, and Julie on the Key Bridge

In front of Paul Revere, or "some man on a horse" :)

Picking up my race day package

In front of Washington Monument near the starting line

About mile 10 through Georgetown, having a ball!

Post-race--what a run!