Lillian's Build a Bear

For her birthday, Lillian received a gift card to Build a Bear (thanks Uncle Caleb and Aunt Susanne).
It was a special treat to have Daddy all to herself for the excursion (Daddy took Madi to Build a Bear when she was 4 too)

Lillian had a blast selecting, stuffing, naming and dressing her bear and an even better time showing off her new friend.

 Meet Jezebel!

Lillian and Jezebel (and Mo) are in-separable and having the best time playing together.

Bounce House Shenanigans

Each year the kids look forward to Nana's last day of school and not just because they like having Nana all to themselves in the summer. The last day of school marks the arrival of the Bounce Houses.

After school the kids head to Nana's school to bounce!
Even Cooper enjoyed the fun.

 It didn't take long before Nana freed him from his buggy and put Cooper in the bouncy house too.

 Jumping Sparkles

 Chasing each other around

 Cooper was happy as can be to be in the bounce house

 Climbing to the top of the big slide

 Still happy

 Gladiator Lillian attempting to pick up her jousting stick (first attempt knocked her down)

 Second attempt was a success... until she tried to run with it

 Taking a break on the toadstools

 Cooper managed to crawl his way to the middle where there was more bounce

 Climbing up for a better view

After an hour of jumping in the hotter then normal May temperatures (that day it reached 90F) we gathered the kids toward the car and headed home for dinner.

Another year of bouncing memories :)

Dirty Girl Mud Run: Part II

Almost 3 week since the race and I guess its time that I fess up....

 (For all our UK readers.... the Truth is out. I am the Stig)

I broke my foot during the race. Obstacle 7- the tire high step to be exact. And yes... I finished the race (as shown in the pictures). Half my team did not even realize I was injured until after the race (when I was in the medic tent).

I could give a long explanation but the reality is it was a fluke...
maybe I was a bit overzealous in my attempt
or
maybe I was a bit cocky and tried to be faster then my skills allowed
or
maybe the genetics were so strong (thanks mom) that I had no hope of overcoming my klutziness
or
maybe Air Casts are the summer fashion


After a Saturday visit to the Immediate Care (they had no wait and could complete x-rays) and an early appointment with the Sports Medicine Doctor Monday following the race, the conclusion (though it was obvious) was a broken foot and 6-8 weeks in a walking cast.

I am on the mend and itching to get back into racing.

Sparkle Princesses

Its hard to believe that another school year has drawn to a close.

I can't believe that I have a daughter going into the  5th grade and another going into  Pre-K.

These girls are truly the sparkle in my eyes. I am blessed...

10 months ago

...we were blessed with our son, Cooper Alton.

It is amazing how quickly he is changing and learning new things.

Cooper now weighs 19 lbs 10 oz. There is a reason I call him Mama's tank

 Ok, I had to include this picture because it just makes me laugh. Oh the captions I could write...

 A more somber pose

 Hi Daddy (Cooper loves his Daddy)

 Standing on the chair looking for his sisters

 Look I can kneel

 Wrestling with Goober

 His Thinking Face

 Come on Goober, enough of these pictures

 Playing with is Train- best friend and favorite toy, life is good

 Finally a shot of the bear and Cooper isn't looking. Oh well.

The pictures are only a sampling of the many tricks and talents of our little man and how quickly he moves from one thing to another. He is a very curious boy.

Cooper now crawls, pulls himself up to stand and has finally given in (he does have a double dose of stubborn) and tasted the wonderful flavors of "real" foods. 

I am sure the next month will be full of many adventures of Super Cooper as he is off to explore his world. 

Dirty Girl Mud Run

Saturday marked Race #1 in our 12 in 12 race series and what better way to start the running season then with a Mud Obstacle course and 13 amazing women from church.

14 of us embarked on a laughter filled 5k Mud Obstacle course to benefit Breast Cancer Research.
Here we are before the race. Team Peeps decked in yellow.

 Mel and my first race of the year

 Obstacle #1- Barn Burner- Hay Bale Climb

Obstacle #2- H2OMG Water Pit

 A friendly wave to the spectators on the way to the next obstacle

 Obstacle #3- Over and Under the wires

 Here come the Tunnels at Obstacle #4

 The tunnels were filled with water, mud and little pebbles

 Cheering each other on

 Obstacle #5- Rope pull
You had to slide down the embankment, wade through the water and then climb up the other side. Our Team did an amazing job of cheering one another on and working together until everyone was up and across.

 (Okay this picture was too funny to not include. While Rob was waiting for our group to reach the next obstacle, this is what he saw. Piggy Back Grandma- and it was her idea :)

 Ready to scale the cargo net at Obstacle #6

 Reaching the top together

 Cheering on our team mates (and other teams too)

 Obstacle #7 Tire Pump- tire high step

 Obstacle #8 Just Get Over it- wall climb
(this was probably my toughest obstacle that day. It was not bad getting to the top but when you were there it the drop on the other side was high and there was no good grips for your hands. But I did it)

 Obstacle #9 (not photographed) was another dip in the water and a rope pull to get out.

Obstacle #10 Mud Crawl to the finish

 What we started together, we finished together.

 We are the Dirty Girls!

 1 Race completed, 11 more to go

 My awesome husband who came to support me at my race and took all of these amazing pictures to capture the day. Thanks honey for being my biggest fan and supporter.