A Utah Thanksgiving

I can't remember the last time we spent Thanksgiving in Utah. It made sense to meet in Bountiful this year rather than try to get Ariel all the way to Vegas, for just a few days. My sisters from Bozeman came with their families. We were missing Stephen's family, he's still working in Australia. Michelle went to Idaho to meet her soon to be in-laws and Lisa's family was sick and unable to come, we felt bad about that. We still had a big crowd. Wednesday night I made coconut cream pies and a chocolate cream pie. 

 Ariel and Megan were busy making these edible acorns for the place settings

 We sampled a few spoonfuls of the pie after we put it in the shell...can I just say...it was beyond delicious!

On Thanksgiving morning, I ran my first 5K race with my brother, Jon. I was excited but a little nervous too. I wanted to have a good finish time and I didn't know what to expect on an organized race. I was used to running on the treadmill. I knew the higher elevation would be an issue for me and the fastest time I had run a 5K in Vegas had been 31 minutes. I was expecting to finish around 35 minutes but I was secretly hoping to run it in 30 something.  

 A little stretching...

 Even my mom got excited about the stretching part

 Sterling came to cheer us on

 Jen, Spencer and my mom woke up early to come too

I was expecting Jon to leave me in the dust after the first 30 seconds, but I managed to stay with him for seven minutes. Jon had told me the course was flat, but it wasn't. So by the time we hit the first incline, I bid Jon's back a good-bye and good luck, and was on my own. It was a hard race, at times I thought I would throw up, at times I wanted to walk for a minute...but I didn't do either. I just concentrated on the songs coming from my "race day" play list and kept going. Jon finished in 27 something and I finished in 30 something (I don't have the seconds) I was so happy to have made it in 30. I was surprised considering the inclines and the elevation. I was so glad when I crossed the finish line! I felt a huge sense of accomplishment. What a great way to start Thanksgiving day. I am thankful for my health!

 What a great brother, he gave me a lot of encouragement!

 Getting ready for dinner 

 We  got two exciting announcements at dinner. Jon and Meg are expecting baby number 4, we also got this picture from Australia announcing Stephen and Brooke are also expecting baby number 4. They are both due in June. So all of my brothers wives are expecting babies right now. Mark-David and Jessie are due in January.

 Thanksgiving was also the first day I got to meet my newest nephew, Tanner Romain Cochran. He is so sweet and I love that he was given my dad's middle name.

 Ariel made each family member a name card and asked us to write what we were thankful for on the back of it and hang it on the "thankful tree" some of them were very creative!

After the delicious meal, a crowd gathered on the driveway for a game of basketball. It was a super competitive game...imagine that? 

 Jon didn't even give the younger kids a break, he was doing all sorts of illegal plays

We had such a wonderful day together, I hated to see it end. I am grateful for all that I have to be thankful for.