BAM Trail Run

The kids ran their first race along with this cool family....

and then enjoyed this...

While I hit this...

So, this was so stinking beautiful! Ahh Midway is always a slice of heaven. The kids had a good time and already want to run more races, now that they know the bounty they get at the end of the race! And I think I'll bring them and the Peterson crew along for every race--they are the best cheerleaders ever!

Grandma Trish

It's been four years today since Casey's mom, Trish's passing. We got to go down to her headstone--brought flowers and some of her favorite treats. The kids colored messages with chalk, Jeannee made special little Grandma Trish coloring books for each of the kids (seriously--we could not love her more), and she and LaRon had us over for dinner, games and to thumb through some photos. It was absolutely wonderful.

I'm surprised that when I see pictures of her, that it still hurts a little and I just plain & simple miss her. I don't know very many girls who have felt like their mother-in-law was ALWAYS in their corner, but I most definitely could be the first in line with my hand raised high for that award! She was fun, thoughtful, beautiful, easy to chat on the phone with, always up for a good time, endearingly quirky, and always serving everyone around her. This woman didn't know how to sit still, I just don't think her body got the memo!
But of all the traits that made Trish so great, hands down, being a grandma was her calling in life. Hands on, down on the ground, playing, loving every square inch of these kids and them ADORING her right back. The outside world stopped when they were at "grandma Twish's" house and they became the center of hers. She particularly had a special bond with Ash that she still feels so tangibly now. In fact, I see so many little things in Ash that remind me so much of Trish and it makes her not feel so far away.

So grateful to have a husband raised by such a great mom, for kids to know how it feels to be unconditionally loved by their grandma (and still feeling that love today from my mom, Kathlene & Jeannee), and to have a true friend.

12 Months

Don't know that I can bring myself to type the words.......
O-N-E Y-E-A-R O-L-D.

Because it can't possibly have been a year ago that Bree joined our family.

The big milestones of sitting, eating first solids, first teeth, crawling, & cruising couldn't possibly have already been hit.

Nope--not possible that we've already cycled through 4 stages of clothing, changed more diapers than we'd ever want to really know the count on, had less sleep than we'd like to indulge in, and "protected" Bree from her adoring brother and sisters and somehow you've miraculously survived. And survived you did, despite being the baby that gets a cereal bar that was rummaged through my bag to find after you've been carted all around the city in lieu of a pleasant nap at home. You are the 4th, the caboose, the baby--and we are relishing you.

So, instead of being in denial about turning...I guess I can say it...ONE, I'll reflect and delight in the fact that you are growing. Growing from a sweet, smile-so-big-that-you-just-might-burst baby to a happy, curious, contented toddler who has endeared us all to you. Our life is happier, richer and fuller because you are in it! Can't wait to watch you take on those first real steps, and eventually wings to fly in this big, wide world. Happy 1st, Bree-doll!

My Secret Identity...

24 hours of the day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year since 2001, I've been wearing a rather large name badge....

And boy do I love this badge.

But sometimes a girl has got to play--tuck the mom badge safely in a drawer, join forces with other girlfriends and put on our secret, maybe hidden or forgotten identities. And I've been lucky to have had some fun, inspiring, good-to-the-core friends throughout different stages of my life.

Last weekend I got to hit Chicago with these gals...

And yes, we did rent a 6-seater bike, rode along the coast of Lake Michigan and raced 4 teenage boys (we let them beat us...) We didn't feel so bad about the defeat when we realized that we had 24 kids between the six of us. Together, we form a small village!

It's hard for me to explain just how dear these girls are to me. We all lived in crummy University housing together, met at the playground every day together, started raising our kids together, became FAMILY to each other. These are my bonus sisters--we laugh, encourage, "get" each other and I just love them dearly! Thanks for a memorable weekend C-villers! And because I'm a lucky, lucky girl, I thought I'd give a shout out to all my girlfriends (wish I had pix of all of you!) who help me come back more fulfilled and ready to tackle all that the mom badge entails... And these are too ridiculous not to share. This is what happens when you see your back-door neighbors light on at midnight and throw an impromptu "rump chuck" .....

Vegas

We took the two oldest for a quick spring getaway to Vegas. This is what 6 hours in a car does to these people......

And it wouldn't be Vegas without BUFFET'S. Ash had finished off a whole plate, and decided that this Chica wanted bacon. She wasn't about to share with her dear, old dad. Because she just didn't have enough to share....

We hit the awesome aquarium...

Played in M&M World

Ty struck a pretty fierce pose with Red...

And spent a majority of our time here.... We'd almost forgotten what 70's feel like on our skin!

And the trip was a big thumbs up!