My 36th birthday-DC Hot Chocolate 15k

This Birthday was a GREAT one! I not only spent the whole weekend out with friends, but I ran a race as well. And did great. And I ate great (cake that is). And I was with friends. And I felt special and loved.

We stayed at the Westin at National Harbor Maryland, the night before the race, Dec 2. All day long we walked around the shops, at lunch at Rosa Mexicano and dined on carbs at night. Nicole, Jen and I ate pizza in our hotel room and talked like girls at a slumber party. We finally decided we needed to sleep to get up early for the race. The next morning, we were up and ready and bundled up!

We ran and ate our Ghiradelli's chocolate fondue and hot chocolate at the end. My buds even got the corral to sing Happy Birthday to me!

That night, my sweet friends Erika, Heather, Jean and Jen all took me to Sweetwater where I was spoiled some more. I am very thankful to have such wonderful people in my life that enrich me. Thanks girlfriends!

I've celebrated my 34, 35 and 36th birthdays away from Duane in while he's been in the Middle East. But thanks to dear friends and of course family, they've been great birthdays nonetheless. I am excited next year though to celebrate 37 with my sweetheart by my side.

He made sure I had a Daisy Cake dry-iced frozen sent to me so that I would have a birthday cake on my birthday. And a massage. Ahhh.

Diplomatic Security 10K

On November 18th, my buddy Nicole Svenson and I ran a DS 10k in order to get ready to run the DC Hot Chocolate 15k in Dec 3. We ran, had fun and saw beautiful scenery downtown DC. Great race, great friend!

Wreaths

My sis-in-law Jonny has helped me make wreaths for my home. Jonny-this year this is what I've done!

Boston Children's Science Museum

By far the coolest Science museum, ever. Ever. We could have spent a year there. EVERYTHING was hands-on and experimental.

While we were downtown Boston, we also went to Freedom Trail and Fenway.

Boston-Cont'd

Aaron and Reghan and Belle came from NYC to visit in Boston as well! We just needed Grant and Jonny with us! Then all the siblings would have been together. It was a great Thanksgiving. There's a lot to be grateful for this year.

Boston-cont'd

During the Thanksgiving holiday in Boston we took many walks in the streets of Needham. It's an adorable quaint little city. The kids had a blast together.

Boston Trip

This Thanksgiving we had the awesome opportunity to go visit my brother Christian in Boston. It was great seeing his sweet wife Jodi, and my nephews Brigg, Jax and hold sweet sweet Stella.

While we were there we were able to tour Plymouth Plantation (thanks Jodi!). Very cool! We saw Plymouth Rock-which is just that, a small rock, and climbed on the Mayflower. The kids loved it!! There were the Indian and Pilgrim Villages and you could ask questions and the actors stayed in true character. Uncle Chip of course asked questions just ridiculous enough to hope they'd break character, but the actors did great. We ended the day in Plymouth at the Roast Beef House for a hot roast beef sandwich. Great day with Uncle Chip and kids!

Grizzly Cheerleading Competition

Ash won Grizzly Girl Award at Battlefield High School Cheerleading Grizzly Day. They had a great routine to a Lady Gaga song and Ash cheered her little heart out!!! Congrats Ash. It was great seeing you have so much fun!

GO GRIZZLIES!!!!