So thankful for family!

We picked up Dynamo's brother and sister-in-law at the airport last Tuesday! We were so excited to have them join us for the holiday!

The first thing on Wednesday was a run! Notice it's just two runners!



I'm a much better photographer than runner! After the run we got dressed and my mom stopped by to say hello! Then, we headed to town. Apparently we live really far from civilization according to Dynamo's family!



After dinner at our favorite Petersburg restaurant, Alexander's, we headed over to Wabi-Sabi for some apple martinis!



The mission of the evening was to make Dynamo's brother's famous apple pie! I have been so excited to learn how to make this pie!



So, I got my lesson!



There was lots of instruction from the other two non-pie makers.



All of the ingredients were yummy!



Then, came the top!



Professional edging and all!



I got lots of instruction on the secret to the top!



Am I really that bad of a student?



Look at this beauty!





The random cranberry in the egg! How'd that happen?



And, then the waiting came...



I think they're related don't you?

And...ta da!!



The best part was finally getting to taste it on Thanksgiving Day!



YUMMY!!

Thanksgiving was lovely! Lots of family, food, and playtime for Charlie!





Notice how I have rabbit ears in this pic!



My cousin came over on Thanksgiving and we went to a movie!



This next pic is a family joke! Get it?



Self portrait at the movies on Thanksgiving night!



The day after Thanksgiving the girls ventured out to lunch and then shopping! First, we accidentally hit an estate sale in Petersburg where the treasure of the day was found!



Yes, that's an electric skillet!! It makes the best pot roast you'll ever taste! I have had the specialty by AC! Apparently non-teflon coated ones are hard to find!



I mean...look at that smile!



Next, we headed to Penelope and Short Pump Mall!



We got our pic in front of the tree!



We ran into the boys briefly, but continued on our adventure! I was so worn out by the end of the day!

We met up at Outback near the house!



What a lovely dinner together to celebrate the great holiday.



When we got back to the house after dinner there was a fishy in the sink!



I couldn't believe my eyes. My Dad was in charge of Charlie while we all went out shopping and obviously Charlie got wild while Dad was napping and started slinging his fishy everywhere and it ended up in the sink. Impossible it seems to me, but it is the truth!

We took the family back to the airport on Saturday and off they went. It seemed like time flew by so quickly!

Charlie sure missed all of the extra love and company. He got the fireplace all to himself after AC left!



What a ham!



Hope your Thanksgiving was as fantastic as ours was! I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful family!

Mountain Bike Monday - Ridin' off the holiday pounds!

What better way to work off the holiday pounds than a ride with friends at the park!



We met up with some of our friends from last week and hit the Lakeview Trails this week!



This was a beginner ride. We stopped and talked and discussed strategy!



It was a chilly day, but we certainly warmed up fast!



I snapped a couple of pics as we ventured across my newest favorite spot in the park!



These pics were taken after about 6 miles and look...they are still smiling!



And, they came back after the week before! So, it must not have been that bad!



We had lots of fun laughing and enjoying the park!



Anyone is welcome to join our rides! This Sunday Dynamo and I are riding the Monster Cross route (around 22 miles) on the fireroads at Poco.





Hope you all had a lovely holiday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! Enjoy the time together!

I'll be back blogging next week!

Mountain Bike Monday - Lovely Ladies Ride

My friend, Elise, put together some ladies for an all ladies beginner ride and we met at Poco yesterday for a spin!

Here we are minus 1 lady!



Mariooooochhheee and Dynamo joined us!





We met up and started out riding the fireroad. We cut in on the blue trail!



After a quick whirl through there, everyone was doing so well we decided to tackle the green trail!





Everyone was having a great time! There were smiles!







My friend, Missy, was there to help with instruction.



All was fine and good until I almost rode over a black snake!





It was cold enough that I thought we wouldn't have to worry, but I was wrong!



He was so stunned as was I that neither of us knew what to do! His head was right next to my foot as I slowly rode by. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him!

So, the only thing to do after taking pics was to encourage him away from the trail. I tried to do this with a stick.



He was only interested in going his way. Not mine!



Elise did a good job of snapping pics huh? At least he was easily visible in the brown leaves and rather slow because of the cold weather!

We continued on and finished up our ride with smiling faces! 





We really had a wonderful time and enjoyed the company. I hope all the ladies will come back again.



If there's anyone that wants to join in, come on! The more the merrier! I make no promises, but we will have a great time and get some exercise!



I'd like to thank everyone for their patience and great attitudes! It was great fun!