Happy Birthday Chris!

Well this post is long over due (approx one month) but I wanted to make sure and shout out to my wonderfully fabulous husband for his Birthday!

Lots of help from Alison during gift opening!

Our colts themed birthday party!

I can't tell you enough how much I love you, adore you, need you, admire you, crave you, and thank you for being you! You are a fantastic man, husband, and daddy! We are so blessed that you are ours. We hope YOUR day was GREAT!

Run 4 Everett

As many of you know I started running this past February to help loose weight and get in better shape. It has become a nice little hobby of mine. I have enjoyed the benefits it has given me and it has been fun to set goals and reach them. When I saw Run 4 Everett I knew it was something I had to do and I asked Chris to do it with me. It was a 10K, which is 6.2 miles..the longest I've done and it was at Fort Ben which I had heard was hilly..and that rumor is true:) A little background information: Everett was born still in August 2010 and his parents organized this run to benefit stillborn research through Katie Cares.This run was calling my name because it was one day and one year after our little angel left us. I had to do it for me and I had to do it for her.

We each got a running bib that we got to decorate in memory of Annie.

Here are our three balloons going to our girl, one from Mommy, one from Daddy, and one from big sister Alison...notice all the balloons floating in the sky...clearly God is surrounded by beautiful baby angels! It was a moving experience but heart aching, I miss her so much!!

Pounding the pavement!

And crossing the finish line...don't be jealous of my thighs{grin}!

I am so proud of myself for finishing and I was thanking Annie each and every step for making me faster, stronger, healthier, and determined! ~Hugs my angel, hugs~

Rounding out our summer days....

Chris competed in multiple triathlons this summer and did AMAZING but this one was special because it was his first Olympic length tri....he again rocked it out and Alison even got to cross the finish line with him!

The girl is a cheerleading, dance, and gymnastics fool...here we are working on some form of skill.....she would do this all day/everyday if she could (oh wait, we do)~grin!

Playing in the sprinkler/pool, we even tried something different this year...pool at the end of the slide = LOTS of fun!!!

Is there anything better than State Fair rides?! Doubtful!

Oh wait, I think there is....having Daddy win you a GIANT stuffed pig...she already has a name Pretty Pink Ballerina Pig, envious?! One proud moment for Daddy and one happy little girl!

Alway's playing catch-up

A little photo montage for how we enjoyed the month of July....

the playground

Running through the sprinkler at home: I adore this photo! She looks so happy, carefree, and athletic.

Jumping in the swimming pool. Alison became quite the little fish this summer and has hopefully progressed up to the next level of swim lessons by the time we start in winter. She is super brave.

Mommy got to help host a bachelorette party for her soon to be sister-in-law at the very end of July. Courtney is directly behind me in the photo. She is an amazing addition to our family and I very priviliged to be able to call her family!

It was a super great month!

She is my little firecracker!