THANKSGIVING!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Sometimes we are able to leave and have it with families. Other years we stay her with guests.

This year we had two guest families and some cabin rentals that reserved dinner. Chris (one of our cooks) was able to have her family down as well.


The weather was perfect. It was 65+, not a cloud in the sky and a very light breeze. The kids were running around with out coats and really enjoying themselves. It was great!


Barry took the guests climbing before dinner and horse back riding afterwards. Everyone had a good time.

Flower "parked" in front of the lodge.

Um...Jerry...we have not even had dinner yet. Maybe he is taking a practice nap.

Sierra loves it when Grandma Johnson comes to visit.

Martha and Cameron visiting.

I am sure the guests don't mind not to mention the health department.

Snacks before dinner!

WHAT WE ARE THANKFUL FOR....

CREED: I am thankful for Jesus...and you (mom), Heavenly Father & the Holy Ghost.

SERRIA: I am thankful for my family, my friends and the ranch.

CODY: I am thankful for everything!

CAMERON: I am thankful for the ranch, my house and my friends...oh and my family.

AMY: I am thankful for the beautiful area I live in and the life stlye that I lead. I am thankful for my wonderful family and the life and fullenss our children bring to my life. I am thankful for a husband that loves me and takes care of me. I am thankful for the knowledge I have of Jesus Christ's gospel and that I know why I am on this earth and what happens to me when this life is over. I am thankful for the countless blessing that I have!

BARRY: I am thankful my family is so blessed to have me. :) j/k I am thankful for everything everyone has said and indoor plumbing.

Spirit Week: CRAZY DAY!

Every year our school has Spirit Week in preparation for our Homecoming.  Monday was Roll Out of Bed Day where our kids wore their pajamas to school.  Tuesday was Hat/Camo Day - they had to bring two cans of food or a dollar to wear a hat.  Today was CRAZY DAY...I think this is our kids favorite day.   Tomorrow is Twinkie Day - not the hostess kind but dressing a like.  Friday is Black and White Day (school colors).  

What can I say about Cameron - I think he has crazy day down.

Sierra decided to go with the crazy hair and some strange clothing options - inside out shirt and a skirt around her neck plus one missing glove.

It was interesting watching Cody make his way up the hill with his "flipper" on.

Creed was in a big hurry to make it up the hill before the bus arrived.  I couldn't get him to stop to have him show me his read hair.

Then when he got home he did not want his  picture taken.

Cody did not make it through the day with his "flipper" on.  He said it made his foot too sweaty.  

It really must be crazy day - there is Barry with a chainsaw!

(He actually bought some chainsaw chaps so he won't be cutting his leg off any time soon.)

Silver Dollar City 5K Results...

Ever since I hurt my achilles tendon about 1 1/2 or 2 years ago my running has lacked motivation. Part of it was worrying about injuring myseld again, the other part was just getting motivated to get my butt out there and start running. My OLD goal was to run flat 7 min. miles in a 5K and then deep down I wanted to beat that. I came very close to those 7 min miles but then I was broken. ANYWAY - I decided I needed to go at it again - the running part - not the 7 min mile (not yet at least). My new found motivation - my pants were getting snug.

Last night Cameron and I ran the Silver Dollar City 5K for the 3rd year. Each year I have been a tad slower - I could give you the reasons but that would be long and boring. This year I had a goal of not going any slower than a 10 min miles since I have been out of it for a while and I really wanted one more month of training for this race.

They changed the course so when I was running I had not idea how far we had gone - there was not a mile marker to be found. I am quite competitive in my head ( I try not to talk smack :) and I try and encourage others although I might be thinking, "I must beat you." so it is hard for me to be somewhat not in the shape I want to be in - and I must remind myself as I am running that this is just for fun this time - no PR to be made and that if I run too fast too long I will not make it to the end which would be even worse than running slower than I had planned.

All went well - I would see Cameron WAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY far away on the switch backs and that was fun and helped distract me from thinking I could not take a deep enough breath to get more air. I finished in a 26 something. So I was pleased BUT the highlight of my night was Cameron. He has wanted to place in this race in his age group everytime we have been and he has just missed it the last two times.

He came in third in his age division (15 and under) with a time of 20:22. So he came home with a medal and even better his best 5K time yet. There was a lot of down hill and he can really fly down them. He is so smooth and fast it looks so effortless . His coach says he is the best down hill kid he has trained. This will probably be the last year Cameron gets to run this race because the AR state track meet is always the next day and he will be able to run in it as a highschool student (9th grader) next year. So it was very satifying for him to be able to reach his goal.

When Chainsaws Attack!

Barry had a "could of been really bad" moment today BUT fortunately he only had a small but deep cut on his leg.  He was cutting a tree down and it started to fall on him, when he went to push the tree away from him he swung the saw wrong and it caught his leg.    Barry said it kind of reminded him of Michael and the whole shooting himself in the back of the leg. Oops.

Fall in the Ozarks

Last Saturday I took my camera out and about on the ranch to capture our fall during it's peak.  The photos really don't do it justice...it is hard to show the brilliant colors we have this time of the year.