Winter is here

It's official. In case you haven't heard, winter is here!!! We've been in a blizzard warning for the past three days and we probably have 10-12 inches of fresh powder; however, it looks much deeper because the wind is blowing snow drifts up for four or five feet! It's absolutely crazy. I haven't been this cold in my life--- the high today is 8 and the low is -12 tonight. North Carolina doesn't get weather like this.

We've shoveled our drive way four times in the past 24 hours. Jason really wants a snowblower now for Christmas. Sadly, they're like $500 for one that does a decent job. I told him that we are able-bodied young people and should be able to handle it. That doesn't mean that everytime I get bundled up to go back outside to shovel I don't think of how nice it would be to have a machine that could do the hard part for us.

None the less, we're having a ball playing in the snow. I just made a pumpkin pie and a big pot of chili for tonight! The house smells delicious. We went sledding yesterday afternoon and we've watched mindless television. It's crazy because all of the schools are closed, now for the second day, which rarely happens. The most fun of all is watching all of the kids play!

Living History Farms XC Race

Kim and I are headed to Des Moines, Iowa this afternoon to run thie Living History Farms 7 mile Cross Country race! I don't think I've run 7 miles since doing the Loco Ocho run back in the spring with Jen so it could be a long day! However, I'm so excited--- check out a youtube video of the run from last year.

Jen Kirby--- you need to come to do this with me next year!

My first turkey cookin' experience!

I must say, I was really excited to host an early Thanksgiving dinner at our house for all of our friends; however, I also was really nervous because that meant that I would have the responsibility of cooking the turkey. I don't cook. Wait, I didn't cook...

I do think over the past five months I have grown leaps and bounds in the cooking arena--- I haven't totally ruined anything and most things have been alright, if not delicious.

I read hundreds of reviews on allrecipes.com and got advice from others and decided on a recipe. The secret was to cook the turkey upside down in the roasting rack for the first 2/3rds's of the time and then flip it over to get the top (pretty part) brown. All of the yummy juices drip into the breast of the turkey and make the meat super juicy!!!

Here's the recipe I found on allrecipes.com and I followed the instructions exactly (I'm not quite at that point where I can "just throw things in"... maybe, one day).

Thanksgiving Dinner pictures

The whole group, minus the missing spouses after our very yummy early Thanksgiving dinner.

The whole spread--- not including desserts!

I made a pumpkin cake--- it was a success!:)

Before it was cut-- so pretty! Okay, I was REALLY proud of myself!

Dinner is ready!

Omaha ladies:)

I always talk about them... but these are the lovely ladies in Omaha who keep me sane when the boy's not around! :)

backrow: Wanda, Jenny, Brooke, Kim, Lisa, Ginny and Erin
front: me and Jessica

missing: Michelle, Brynn, Alicia and Tiffany

A few picture updates

Dad and I went to see "White Christmas" at The Oprpheum. It was such a great perfomance--- the music was fabulous, the pageantry was incredible and The Orpheum is just beautiful! We had the best time.

Halloween party at Jake and Kim's--- the whole bunch!


My neighbor kids--- how cute are they???

Dad's awesome last minute halloween costume--- Hello, redneck!

Jason and me at Vala's pumpkin patch after our first snow.

I'm no good...

at the whole blog thing. But here are a few pics to recap the past couple of months...

UCF @ ECU... with the UCF fans:)

the best brother in the world... we made it home for a game!

Jason and I apple pickin' at Kimmel Orchard during the AppleJack Festival

good friends at the Sarpy County Fair

Jason and I at the horse races in Omaha, where we ALMOST won a trifecta. The horse was disqualified for pushing. BOO!