November happenings...

As promised, an update! It's going to take me a bit to get everything in, but what better way to spend New Year's Eve than reviewing November - and resolving never to get this far behind on blogging again!

Two runs - a turkey trot for church - and one on Thanksgiving Day at a local park with tons of people there! Philip did great at the church one - he was fast and won 1st in his age group - and a $5 DQ gift card! He went out too fast on the Thanksgiving Day one and ended up letting his father beat him... well, better luck next year! Rik had an all time personal best on Thanksgiving - and he didn't do the church one, so there was no comparision! Me on the other hand, thought I did OK at the church one, but, was 3rd in my age group (out of about 3 people *in* my age group!), and, did a bit better at the Thanksgiving one, but was farther behind Rik and Philip than I care to admit. Call me a turtle. Philip is pictured in both photos - in the 2nd, he's the guy just ahead of the puddle in the white shirt and black shorts.

Then, cider party! I had never seen a cider press work. Actually, I had not even thought about how one worked until we were invited to bring apples and an appetite. So, it was really quite the process - first the press chopped the apples - cores and all - into shreds - and then it pressed the juice out of them! And, what great cider it was. The leftovers that I got to take home I made into hot apple cider the next few days. It was worth getting out of bed for! PS - I need the recipe to the soup we ate at the party (hint hint Ann!). Here Caitlin is helping press the apples.

An invitation...

No, this blog isn't dead yet. Expect an update any day now. You'll have to have an entire evening of reading to catch up with all I've missed - but I promise I will. Work is over for 2 weeks and I may get to do a few things besides laundry and cooking. ;) So, until then, you'll have to entertain yourselves with this invitation to our "New Years Event." We're not big party throwers, so, this is about as good as it gets... (The rest is written by Rik)

We finally have it all together and are ready to announce the 1st and 2nd Biannual Team Brenton Fun Run. It starts on December 31st 2009. You run, walk, cycle, ski, snowshoe, skip, whatever 2.5K (1.55 miles). Then on January 1st 2010 you do the same. Amy and I are going to do ours back to back to end the year running, and ring in the new year running. Anyone who will be in town is welcome to join us. There will be finisher medals, and hand made bib numbers. All ages are welcome. Registration can be done by e-mail so I can get you your number(s) and medals. A small voluntary registration fee can be paid to either of theses charities https://www.ikat.org/make-a-donation/, or http://www.cureblindness.org/. The first link is to the Central Asian Project. That is Greg Mortenson's project to help educate girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. These girls live in remote villages and have no hope of ever being educated. He is the author of "Three Cups of Tea" (Amy's favorite book from 2008). The second link is to an organization started by Dr. Geoff Tabin. He is helping cure blindness in Nepal by raising money for cataract surgery. They are doing cataract surgeries in Nepal for $20. Normally these people would go blind, and then wait to die. There are articles about this charity in both Outside, and National Geographic Adventure this month. Both of the men who started these charities are climbers by the way. We believe these charities to be honest and worthwhile. We hope to raise a few dollars that may help change someones life for the better, and have a good time while doing it. Take pictures, and send your times so we can post them here. Hope to hear from you soon.

(Back to Amy now...)

Yes, so - this could be fun! You're first 5K of the old/new year! Email me - let me know if you want to participate - in my "spare" time during the next two weeks I'll be helping Rik make bibs and medals - so - donate to a good cause - no mandatory amount is set - any amount is great - and then ring in 2010 in a healthy way - and much more memorable than our normal fall asleep on the couch and wake when you hear firecrackers in the distance! Like he said, if you're in town, join us, if not - anything is good - even your treadmill! Happy training!