Oh, the irony of it all...

So, today was my 20th Nielson!

AND

I PR'd and FINALLY broke 24!

AND

I've never come in last

BUT

today I was last.

I could say it was cause it was freezing cold with snow on the ground so there weren't many runners but I guess it was just the odds finally caught up with me but I didn't mind being last because I ran the entire 2 miles and was the fastest I have ever been!  Ever, in my whole life!

For you astute blog readers, yes, that is an old picture.  Had to go down to HQ so no time for a new one.

Moral of the story...just keep moving toward your goal and eventually you can catch it!

UKROPS 10K- here I come!

I

Family Pics

It's amazing this rag tag group...

Can get this high of percentage of people looking pretty good!

 Those are some good big eyes!

We were one very happy set of parents having all of you home.  Thanks for being here!

The Best Christmas We've Ever Had...this year!

These are in no particular order and just a total random, chaotic, fun-filled, joyous gathering of Happiness!

Happy gift openers! (except maybe Daniel, who really enjoyed his spot on the floor)

Grand baby #7

Our new "dog" biscuit and her owner Ally.

LOTS of eating!

Aleisha at a surprise shower for Charina.

Handmade Hogwarts scarves! Cool Charina!

And cool matching PJ pants for all the cousins, by Jamie!

The best Nativity ever! (well, except the original...)

Decorating the tree to Alabama, nostalgia at it's best.

Thanks for gathering family!!!  It was AWESOME!  We Love you!

And it sure is quiet around here and Doug thinks he's starving to death without all the free handouts!

Birthday Boy

Dad had a great start to birthday week.  He looks hot, huh?   Oh and the fire looks warm too.

Nielson Goal-Check!

In 2010 I made a goal to run 9 of 12 Nielsons.  I did it so I thought I'd do it again in 2011.  This morning I heard the wind blowing like crazy and then when I looked outside it was snowing!  With a groan I laced up my cool black and pink Nikes, put on about 4 layers of clothes and was ready to go when Dad staggered out and said, "I'll go".  COOL.  So we went and battled the elements which wasn't too bad cause Dad had his hot air balloon bursts keeping us warm.  I had a respectable time (for me) and resisted the urge to stay in my nice warm bed and knocked off that goal for 2011.  Now only 4 more weeks of at least 5 miles a week and I'll have clinched that goal.  Pretty good for an old lady!

Thanksgiving

I guess this is all old news but here's the Roy scoop on our Thanksgiving...It was GREAT!

The Hot Pot Trot might have seemed like a mild mannered event, but as this starting line pictures show, it was highly competitive!

There are few things in life as good as licking beaters...especially from whipping the cream.

We headed out for a great bowling adventure.  Eric had a 200 game!  And Krista and Eric both were turkeys, oh, I mean had turkeys (3 strikes in a row).

Luckily Ram had his lucky tail on!

 All too soon we had to leave those beautiful grandbabies and kids but we sure did have a great time.

 Thanks for hosting all of us Carters!!!!  We're looking forward to some awesome Christmas adventures.

Too bad this blog doesn't reek

Cause this is what would tickle your noses!

That's about all we have to blog about.  I guess I could have put that I worked all of the last two weeks or that Dad worked 16 hour days for the past two weeks putting together the great Reagan Gala, or that we had 19 people at our house for dinner last night, or that this weekend is the much anticipated single adult conference or that Doug is as cute as ever but I didn't.  Wish you were here to sneak some of the jerky, but the good news is YOU WILL BE here pretty soon!!!!!