Pre-Rust Reunion Travels

We left Phoenix on Saturday morning, July 13th, and flew to Detroit for the 11th Rust Reunion. Prior to going to Whitehall, MI for the reunion we had a little over 24 hours to spend in Detroit.

Saturday night we had dinner at Republic. The place was packed so we ate at the bar - this was probably my favorite restaurant of the trip.

Sunday morning we cooked breakfast at the Airbnb (we had gone to Whole Foods the night prior) and then got coffee at Populace.

We walked around the little bit of the city that is actually nice.

The famous FOX theater.

Dave wanted to go over to Canada (we had planned ahead and brought our passports).

There really wasn't much to see across the border except for a view of Detroit from across the river.

Dave got some doughnuts and coffee at his favorite place.

We drove to Canada through the tunnel and back to the U.S. on the Ambassador Bridge.

Our last stop for the day was to Belle Isle Park. 

This is the famous fountain - if you watch Indy races you will know what I am referring to.

We got back to the Airbnb mid afternoon and took a nap and then walked to dinner. I think I got my share of Detroit and it is not a city that is on my list of places to return to anytime soon.

Turkey Day 2015

This Thanksgiving Day was another year of continued traditions with friends and family. My morning started early with the Turkey Day 5k in downtown Phoenix.

This was my 4th year running it. The first year I ran with Kellyn, Kathryn and Heather and we ran into the Kruckenberg's and every year since I have run with the Kruck's. 

Bella and Kylie dressed as Indian princesses.

Amy, Gina and I. None of us were really in running shape this year...we still work out - hiking, hot yoga, BODI - just hadn't been running. So, we made turkey bows and wore tutu's instead. If we weren't going to run fast, we were going for the fashion show. Gina texted me the morning of the race and said bows and tutu's required more makeup than usual. My response was that usually I wore no makeup for this race, but this year had actually put on makeup.

Ready for the race to start!

Amy, Kylie and I ran together the majority of the race. Kylie said "I told myself I wasn't going to walk this year" and she didn't! Amy noticed the last photographer, so we posed for him to take some pictures. 

My time this year was 31:25, which translates into a 10:07 min/mile. Not fast by any means.

After the run we went back to the Kruckenberg's for Thanksgiving brunch. Brian set up a TV outside so we could watch the Macy's parade while we hung out.

I made the low-carb pumpkin muffins.

Amy made a gluten free quiche...

...and so did Gina.

Brian was our barista again this year.

Some of the group sitting by the fire. It was actually a cold Phoenix day.

Gina and Eli.

After brunch I came home and made a Brussels sprout dish to take to Kevin & Jocelyn's for the family Thanksgiving dinner.

I made this same dish last year, but it took me forever to find the recipe. So, linking it here in case I need it in the future.

Mom's Pinterest veggie turkey creation.

A canvas Jocelyn had hanging up - need to remember this.

Mom made cake-filled teepees for everyone. Uriah enjoyed his.

Uriah also enjoyed playing football with the big boys.

Kellyn brought over the espresso machine that we used for the Rust Family Reunion this past summer. After being closed since June, Rustbucks was again open for business.

It was a good Thanksgiving day, other than the fact that I started not feeling well Thursday night. Was going to #optoutside on Friday, but spent the day watching movies and taking naps instead (and that has continued into today).

Thanksgiving Day 2014

I am so far behind on this blog, so decided I should just blog today so I don't get even further behind. This morning started out with the Phoenix Turkey Day 5K. This is the third year I have completed this race, and I had no plans to run it until yesterday at about 10am. Gina and I were originally talking of going to hot yoga since it didn't seem like anyone wanted to run, however, got a text from Gina yesterday saying her whole family was running as well as the Browns. So, I couldn't not run. My official race time was 27:02, which was 2 minutes slower than what I ran last year. However, today was more for fun than for a time. I did move up age groups this year, so was 9th out of 208 for 35-39 year olds - I guess that is a benefit of getting older - lower places in races :)

Amy, Gina and I before the race.

Pre-race girls picture - Kylie, Amy, Me, Bella, Gina and Faith.

Brian and Eli - Eli beat Brian by one second.

The kids did great on the 5K.

Amy, Gina and Faith almost to the finish line.

Post-race group picture.

The Browns and Kruckenbergs are neighbors, so we went back to their houses for some post-race brunch. Brian was the barista.

We all earned that brunch - mimosas, GF/DF/SF cinnamon rolls, GF pumpkin pancakes from TJs and scrambled eggs - that's my kind of brunch :)

After my morning with good friends, I came back to my apartment and made some Brussels sprouts to take to my parents for our Thanksgiving dinner.

Cranberries.

Roasted Brussels sprouts with cranberries, maple syrup, ginger and grass-fed Irish butter - yum.

Uriah's first Thanksgiving. (There might be a lot of pictures of him in the remainder of this post.)

Uncle Kyle entertaining Uriah.

First time for Uriah on the trampoline.

Colby, Kevin, Shane and Jocelyn playing a little bocci ball.

Lulled him to sleep by bouncing him on the trampoline.

Post-dinner family time.

After dark it got a little cold outside, so Coby built a fire.

Dad, Kyle, Colby, Shane and Randy sitting by the fire.

Uriah with his grandpa.

All in all a great Thanksgiving Day.

Psalm 100 - Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.