Again this year we went up north to Camp Schwabb and stayed at the cottages on Oura Wan beach. It was fantastic. We had 7 families, tons of kids, tons of food and great fun. The kids biked, played, did a treasure hunt and just ran free. Every night we put them all to bed and gathered in one of the cottages for games until late. We pulled all the tables outside for our Thanksgiving dinner and it worked out great. I cooked the turkey the day before because we had no oven up there and it still tasted good! We had an awesome turkey bowl with real flags and some serious competition!

One of the days we went over to the Neopark and had a blast checking out all the animals and the unusual petting zoo with dogs, ponies and guinea pigs! We had a blast!

This run was a crazy run. When we first signed up, it was 6 miles with a big climb at the beginning but not bad. A week or so before the race, we went on a checked the site to find that they had changed it from a 6 mile to 7 mile run and the elevation profile was insane.

Meagan and Cory Allen came down from Battleground to run with us. They stay over at our house Friday night with Harris and we had a friend from our ward watch our kids and Harris while we all went to the race.

It was a beautiful day luckily after a week of rain. It was muddy and snowy though. The trail went all over the area there that is actually closed to the public and only open for logging. The race officials got special permission for the race to be run there. There was a lot of jumping over logs and the sort which definitely was a change for me. We were able to run behind the falls which was just awesome except for the fact that after you did that, you had to climb like 3 or 4 flights of stairs. The trail went back onto the logging roads and some of the hiking trails until it took us to "the hike" - basically a huge hill that is meant for mountain biking only (there were signs all over saying "Mountain Bikes Only"). It was quite the hill but the run was so beautiful and amazing to tun all through the trails and roads up there.

Meagan came in first of us 4 (6th in her age group), then Peter, then Cory, and then I came in Last of us 4. If you look at the results page, it will have Peter and me switched. When I checked us in, I grabbed both of our numbers and accidentally gave Peter my number and I took his. My brain wasn't working so well that morning :).

Overall, it was a blast and I cannot wait to do another one. Totally different than road running and I love the change in scenery. Peter has gotten me hooked. Now Meagan, Cory and Peter are planning to get me out Mountain biking. That will be interesting :).

-Anne

Overall it was a failed attempt but we did get a few useful shots.

In case you haven't noticed yet, I have a new blog. The link is to the right in the "Our Favorite Blogs" list. It's called "marnables barnables".

Nothing groundbreaking - just my own finds, thoughts and musings. Its main reason for being is because I want it but also because I need to learn how to use Wordpress for work.

Now you know my secrets. Feel special.

Here are a few shots from this Thanksgiving at M&Ds plus a couple from the 5K/10K Turkey Trot we did that morning. All shots can be viewed at my MobileMe gallery.

We hope you enjoy today especially now that you are entering the next decade of life. Thank you for being such a great friend and brother to Peter and I and a great uncle to our kids. We love you and hope to see you sometime in the near future!

Love,

Anne, Peter, Andrew, Beck, and Camie

Happy Birthday!!! We hope you had a wonderful day and were pampered and spoiled all day long! You deserve it!!! We miss you so much and are so glad you got to come and visit here! We look forward to moving there!!!

Love,

Tom, Tracey, Hayden, Danica and Alyssa

You are truly an amazing example to all of us. I am so happy that in what many would consider the "later" years of life, you have developed yourself in so many ways. It shows youth is really just a mindset (a nice lesson for your 40 year old son!). We love you very much and hope you have a great birthday.

Mike

Thanks so much for everything! I love you!