Walking on Ice

This weekend the weather was nice so we bundled the kids up and headed over to Lake Bavaria to burn a little energy and breath some fresh air.

Cake Eating Messy Hands kind of Day

Our youngest son will be turning 1 on Wednesday (1/11), and we celebrated his Birthday a little early.  He has blessed our family so much and brings happiness to our days.  He is a sweet boy that makes sure he is heard, he says Dada and Mama, waves, crawls, walks along furniture and with his push toys and has just started standing without holding on to anything.

The Birthday Boy!

Time to blow out the candle

Trying out the cake after a little help of breaking it up

This stuff is good!

A little messier

 After everyone stopped watching he decided the frosting and cake was delicious and fun to play in.  He went from kind of clean to really messy in no time!

Messy hands is what it's all about!

I love cake!

Hey guys come try it out!

The sugar coma look.

Happy 1st Birthday to my Baby Boy!

Merry Christmas

May your Christmas be sparkly and bright

Mankato 1/2 Marathon - A New PR

The Mankato 1/2 Marathon was this past weekend, and I was one of about 1500 people to run in it.  I was able to train with a great group of runners at the Chaska Community Center, without them I am not sure if I would of finished with as good of a time, or as much fun.  I was able to run 3 times a week with a group of runners, within this group I found new friends, support and encouragement.  I loved every minute of it (I can say that now that it is over!).  We joke that we wont know what to do with ourselves now that the group runs are done.  The kids even looked forward to going to the Community Center daycare to play with the other kids from the running group.

I finished the race with a new 1/2 marathon personal record, beating my old time by 3 minutes.  I came in 974 out of 1421 and 199/317 in my age group with a time of 2:10:31.  I am very pleased with my finish!

We started the weekend with the KidsK.  Both kids did fantastic!

She is having a great time!  Smiling the entire race!

At the finish line

Still happy as can be, waiting for her medal!

KidsK finishers!  So proud of them

Admiring big brothers medal, next year buddy!

Me, Heather and Dan at the start of the race

Waiting for 8am to start the race, I have my running crew with me!

And we are off!

Carrie, Rachel and myself at about mile 3.  

2 of the great gals that had to listen to me breathe during many training runs, sorry gals!

At the finish line

Mankato 1/2 Marathon finishers!  Laura, me, Heather and Dan

Ready Set JUMP

It has been a amazing fall in Minnesota!  The weather has been warm which is very unlike this time of year for us.  It's hard to believe it could snow in a couple weeks (Halloween snow is not uncommon!).  We decided enjoy the weather outside yesterday by raking up the few leaves we have in the yard and jumping in them!

The little guy enjoyed swinging while the big kids played in the leaves.  Don't worry he crawled all over the yard and headed for the leaves as well.

Getting the Silly Out

What to do on a gorgeous day?  Well, go to the park and burn off some sillies of course!

Swing and try to touch the sky

 

Play with toys while breathing in fresh air

Quench your thirst

Smile at Mom

Bounce, bounce, bounce

Make silly faces!

First Day of 3rd Grade

Yesterday was the first day of 3rd grade.  The joy of the first day of school jitters.  Seeing friends, riding the bus, recess, it was all good yesterday!

Preschool and 3rd grade

And he's off!