Thanksgiving Week

About three weeks before Thanksgiving I decided I was going to abandon my family and book a plane ticket to Utah to spend Thanksgiving there.  We usually have guests ranch guests for our Thanksgiving in Arkansas and I felt like having a more traditional version of the holiday as well as visiting with my Grandpa. Not to mention Daniel and Jenn would be in town this year. 

The traditional "Astle" Thanksgiving table

The turkey is ready!

Everyone busy in the room - it still is strange not having my Grandma in there.  (A little sad).

All my nieces and nephews. 

Time to eat!

Drew started his Thanksgiving nap at the table. 

I have never experienced "Black Friday".  I guess technically this is not black friday because it was on Thursday.  Jennifer informed me it is more fun and better when the sales start at 5:00 a.m. in the morning.  It was interesting.  We are in line outside of Old Navy. 

Wal-Mart was the crazy place to be. 

Jennifer and I ran almost everyday while I was there.  I decided we needed to do 400 repeats.  So we headed to my old stomping grounds Murray High School where I use to run track.  I am not quite as fast as I use to be, that is for sure.  LOL.

Later that day while Daniel and Jenn (plus kids) were down visiting Jenn's family we took my mom and Grandpa out to lunch at Red Lobster. 

Alex - so happy! 

Drew with his sweet thoughtful spirit.

I am very glad I went and the trip went too fast but it was great to get back to Arkansas to Barry and the kids.  

Jasper Pirate Spirit Week!

To get everyone excited for homecoming Jasper school puts on spirit week.  Each day has a theme and ach grade gets points for how many kids participate and one student is awarded the Spirit award and some money at the end of the week. .  Our kids really get into.

Roll Out of Bed Day

Camo/Razorback Day

 Crazy Day

Nerd or Famous/Movie Star Day

Sierra didn't want to be anything or anyone so she brought a dollar to get counted.

Black & White Day

Cameron won the spirit and money award. 

Bouldering Competition

If you asked Cody what his favorite thing to do is he would say climbing/bouldering without any hesitation.  Cody loves to climb.  When there are climbing competitions and our schedule allows Cody will be there.  This competition was in Little Rock at the Little Rock Climbing Center.  This was Cody's 2nd year to compete and their 9th year to host the event. 

There were 30 bouldering problems, each was worth points from 300 to 3000.  The higher the points the more difficult the route.  Your score consisted of your top 5 scores. 

Each problem had a route to take to get to the top or the end of the problem.  This route is bright orange...so you follow the holds that have orange under them.

Falling off the problem is fine, it takes a % or several points off (up to three falls per route) of your score. 

Near the end of the comp Cody is covered in chalk. 

Tired

The competition was 3 hours long.  It can be quite exhausting. 

Cody did a great job and really had a good time.  He came in 5th in his age division. 

Arkansas State X-Country Meet - Congratulations Cameron!

It's that time of year again, our state x-country meet.  Cameron competes in the 2A division.  He ran against 96 other runners. 

Cameron talking with Charles Yeager. When Cameron was in the 6th grade and started training with the Jasper team, Charles was a senior. 

Can you find Cameron?

 This course was probably one of the hardest Cameron has run so far.  It had hills, big hills.  

Coming down the home stretch.

Afterwards we hung out with Sara and Nathan, who use to be Jasper Pirates but moved to another school this year. :(

Cameron came in 10th place and made All State.