4th Annual Cookie Exchange

Tonight Nicole hosted the 4th Annual Cookie Exchange! I can't believe we've carried on this tradition for four whole years! It's one of the highlights of my holiday season, and each year we all improve on our baking. This year I made Paula Deen's red velvet sandwich cookies, which consist of super rich cream cheese frosting between to cake-like red velvet cookies. Everyone's cookies were delicious, and it will take some time for me to snap out of this sugar coma.

Nicole really outdid herself this year with a delish Christmas ham and other holiday comfort foods. And for favors she made the most adorable apple pies in jars. So creative! Tonight's party sort of kicked off our holiday festivities - we have lots more to come! And now John has lots of cookies to eat!

Some of Nicole's craft handiwork!

This year's crowd!

YUM! John has lots of work ahead of him!

2nd Annual (and probably last) Rock n Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon

Mom, John and I traveled to Las Vegas over the weekend so that Mom and I could run the half in Las Vegas. Running this race was sort of a last-minute decision, and as a result I was totally unprepared. I ran this same race last year and had a PR, but I also ran 400 miles over the year to prepare for the race. This year, I think I have run a total of maybe 25 miles, so I suppose I should be proud of myself for finishing.

Let's face it, I really only went for the post-race concert -- Bret Michaels! He was awesome and sounds just like he did 20 years ago. He was also filming the concert for his VH1 show, so I will have to look for myself in the audience on the show.

Other than the pain associated with the race, we had a fun time in Sin City. John won some money playing blackjack, and it's always fun to people watch at all the casinos. However, I think we had our fill of Vegas for awhile!

Pre-race, bright and early!

There were over 30,000 runners that took over The Strip

Really gross shot of Mom and me after the race.

Bret Michaels singing "Talk Dirty to Me"

Mom and me before dinner at Lavo

More Thanksgiving Pics!

Running toward the finish (with the Tulsa "skyline" in the background)

Little Cousin Gracie with some sparkling cider

Steph and me before dinner

Golden Eye -- what the guys did all weekend long

John and David lovingly massaging the turkeys with butter.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Blogging from the St. Louis airport during our layover on the way back from a fun trip home for the holidays! We ate lots, played tons of Rockband and Michael Jackson The Experience with family, and did lots of hanging out! It's always such a quick trip home each Thanksgiving -- we are looking forward to a longer trip at Christmas.

As usual, the weather in Tulsa was beautiful (as compared to Chicago). We had a combined family Thanksgiving this year -- my family came over to John's family's house, so we did not have to have two big meals on turkey day, which was great. On Black Friday Mom, Kirby, and I went out for our second annual Thanksgiving tradition -- running the Turkey Trot. The course was in downtown Tulsa this year, an it was fun to look at all the new restaurants and businesses as downtown Tulsa is in the process of being revitalized. All the scenery could not distract me from the crazy hills on the course -- whoever heard of a hilly 5K?

All in all it was a great weekend with lots of family time. Can't wait to see everyone again at Christmas!

David, John, and Pancho pre-dinner

Mom, Nannie, and me

My family - Mom, Nannie, Kirby, and John

Almost to the finish line!

Pre-race and freezing!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...

CHRISTMAS! Normally people wait until after Thanksgiving to put up their Christmas tree. But, it's my favorite time of year -- so much so that I decided to put up our Christmas decs super early this year! I figure the more time we have to enjoy them, the better! Now I just need to get some presents for under that tree...

More Nashville Pics (i.e. more pics of Chris Johnson)

The fam (without John)

Niel, Steph, me, and Dave!

12th (or maybe 13th) Annual Adams Family Reunion

There have been so many that I've lost count! But, last weekend I trekked to John's family reunion in Nashville (without John because he was engrossed in catalog hell). It was so fun to see everyone -- now that all of us are spread all over the country, it's not often that everyone gets together -- but it was also super fun to see my fave football player, Chris Johnson. It was a great game and a good win for the Titans, the weather was beautiful, and the company was great. The only thing that would have made the weekend more fun is if John would have been there! Looking forward to hopefully a 14th (or maybe 13th) annual reunion next year. Go Titans!

CJ!

Blake, Steph, Niel, Lisa, and Eric at dinner on Saturday night.

Jeff Fisher in his hot pink sunglasses for Breast Cancer Awareness

(or at least I hope that's why he wore them)

Pre-game

Stephie and me stalking out Chris Johnson