New Year's Eve

We went out with another couple from the gym, Regina and Shaun, for New Year's.  We had a great time getting dinner and then having a few drinks out before coming back home to ring in the new year! Now if only I could grow to be her size!! haha..not happening anytime soon:)

Yeah, Look at those GUNS of hers! 

Apple Picking!

It was a beautiful day for picking some apples!  Oh and yes, eating some apple cider donuts...  There was no denying that I was going to inhale at least one or two;)  These are the times when I do not even feel like it is a cheat.  We get these donuts once year and I do not eat donuts any other time of the year, so what is there to feel bad about, seriously?

I can't wait to make some clean eating desserts with these bad boys:)  My wheels are already turning with ideas!  We came home with braeburn, fuji, golden delicious, and granny smith apples all ready to be eaten.

Excited after she got over her fear of being held up so high.

Laughing, but yep that's a tear running down her face...someone Rich knocked her head into a branch. 

Cheese

Look at those beauties

Time to eat 

The monkey in the group

I'm 15 1/2 apples tall! 

4-Miler 2012

In Honor of Betty "Mimi" Stokes

I'm happy to report that although I didn't make my goal of running in under 30 minutes (31:51), I did make my last minute goal of placing in the top 200.  I was 146 out of 3,024 racers.  I really wanted to place within my class (top 19), but that fell out of reach during the last mile.  I ended up placing 26th in my division.

Who invited these characters? 

The compartment syndrome in my leg really started acting up so I slowed to a walk for 10 yards while 20-30 people passed me during that last mile.  Agh.  I was not happy, but I picked it up again and finished strong.  I guess I'll have to get this leg checked out after all.

Regardless of the goal and the rain, Jennie and I had a great time.  I was so proud of Jennie for completing her first race! Rich and E were there to support us and we rocked out our "High Kickin' Bettys" outfits for Mimi.  Unfortunately, Mimi wasn't able to be there with us, but she will be the recipient of her own t-shirt and plenty of pictures! It is inspiring to be around 3,000 other runners who are running for the same cause.  I was also rather impressed at the total organization; we were parked and ready to rock in just a couple of minutes.  I can't wait to do it again next year!

All of the High Kickers

Jennie forgot her socks, so we split them:)  

Boy do I look small?! 

Getting it done. 

Almost home! 

Soaked from the rain and sweat! 

6th Anniversary!

To round out our fun-filled weekend, we went to Flying Rabbit Sporting Clays this morning.  Coincidentally, this weekend was the one weekend each year when instructors-in-training give free shooting lessons.  They provide everything that you need; guns, ammunition, clays, etc.  When we called last night, the owner was very excited about our inquiry and told us to come on down.  

Getting some instructions

Rich getting set

There were about 15 men and 2 women there for lessons and just as many instructors-in-training.  I had never even held a shotgun before, but they threw me right out there with everyone else.  After a few rounds I caught on to what I should be doing and started hitting some of the clays.  It was a huge change from shooting handguns the day before...totally different type of shooting/aiming, etc.  Having something moving to shoot at was awesome and challenging at the same time.  I think I have a new hobby for sure!

Almost ready

I met up with one last instructor who was awesome.  I'm not sure what it was that he did differently, but I liked his style and I crushed both fast moving clays that were thrown out.  It's a shame that our two hours were up because I was just getting into the groove.  I think I'll be purchasing my own shotgun in the near future! 

After shooting, we went to Outback for lunch, then to the movies to watch Ted, and ended the night with a nice steak dinner:)  I feel like we had round two of our honeymoon...lots of activities and very little downtime.  Just perfect.  

I'm so glad that I found Rich at Wild Wings 10 years ago this month:)  We are a perfect match of outgoing and reserved, funny and silly, messy and neat, carefree and structured.  Thank goodness we even each other out;)  Here is to a lifetime of more adventures and new experiences together!  Love you, honey.   

Fueling Up

After all of that shooting, we decided to go out to dinner to celebrate our anniversary a day early.  We headed over the mountain to Wild Wolf Brewing Company.  Unfortunately, my mashed sweet potatoes were cold so we HAD to get two free desserts. Shucks.  We devoured fried Oreos (Jennie hates me!) and a brownie sundae.  Not so clean eating.  Oh well!

Okay, so back to dinner.  I had the cider brined pork loin with brussel sprouts and mashed sweet potatoes and Rich had the shrimp and grits.  Once the heat issue was resolved my meal turned out fantastic.  The shrimp and grits disappeared in about 2 minutes as well:)

Mine

Rich's

We had a wonderful night out despite the rain!  And, yes, for all of you who see me in jeans day after day after day, I fricken wore a dress.  The shoes were a nightmare in the pouring down rain, but I sucked it up.  Take a good look because I won't be in another for months:)

And for good measure...here is one of Rich chugging his beer:)

Locked and Loaded

The first activity during our weekend of anniversary celebration was hitting the shooting range.  It's our "Activ-ersary" weekend;)

I know you are jealous of my pink shooting glasses:) 

It's something that I've been talking about for months.  My desire to learn how to shoot stemmed from wanting to be able to protect myself and probably watching a little too much of American Guns, Duck Dynasty, and other Discovery television shows.  

Getting everything set. 

After a quick run this morning, we headed to Hite Hollow Shooting Range.  We brought along a 380 and 45 to practice.  I  started with the 380, but then moved to the 45.  I'll admit that I was a bit freaked out when we first got out of the car because there were rifles firing really loud and there were already people on the pistol range.  Once I was out there and knew the people around us were being safe, I was ready to rock.  

It didn't take long before I was tearing up the clays that Rich hung up for us and even destroyed a shotgun shell that he hung just for kicks to see if I could hit it.  I preferred the 45 over the 380 even though it has a pretty strong kick.  My aim was much better for some reason, maybe the heavier weight?

The 380

Would I do this again?  Heck yeah.  I loved every minute of it.  On to shotgun shooting next....  Oh yeah, and maybe a blinged out gun of my own?! 

Knocking them down! 

Rich tearing it up. 

The 45....picked two off the top and the shotgun shell!

Random wild turkey crossing the road...

Happy 4th of July!

Not a lot going on here, but we did make it out for lunch with my parents after doing some work at their house this morning.  I don't have the energy to grill anything up in this heat, so we are going to spend the rest of the day inside:)

Shut eye?

What can a girl do to buy a little shut eye around here?

Don't you know that is my side, McSchmackal?! (Saturday night)

My magic potion...that and 1/2 cup of oatmeal! 

If it isn't one, it's the other!  (Sunday night)

Random Weekend Pics

We had a fairly relaxing weekend...got my hair did and picked up the new shoes on Saturday and then attended a very special 7 year old's bday party!

The squash are starting to grow! 

What a hottie! ;)

The theme was orange, can you tell? :)