St. Jude 2009

I have to admit that I'm so behind in my posting I had to double-check that I had not already blogged about this yet. So almost 2 1/2 mos. late here it is.


This year Brad and I participated in the St. Jude Bloomington to Peoria run. The difference this year from previous is that I ran. Yes, you read correctly I ran. I started "training" around the end of May. I would walk 1/2 mile and run 1/2, then built up run/walk 1 1/2 miles, 2 times a week. Finally one day as I was heading out I thought eventually you are going to have to start off running, so I did and ran a mile, and after many run/walk distances I was running 2 miles at a time pretty comfortably. I was O.K. with this because I knew that many of the run legs were 1.0 to 1.5 miles.


I'd hoped that once I began doing this on a regular basis I would really start to like running. I've heard many say that in the beginning it's hard but once you get used to it you start enjoying it. I can honestly say that didn't happen. There were a few times when I wasn't able to stick with my normal routine and felt guilty about that, but I can't say I was excited when it was time to go run again. However, St. Jude is a powerful and very motivating force and that organization is really what pushed me.


Race day came and I was excited. I thought maybe I would be nervous but I really wasn't. The weather was perfect for running, especially since it was the first Saturday in August. It was over-cast, and sprinkled a little that day, and unseasonably cool. I thought it was great! It is such an amazing experience and I highly recommend anyone try it. In fact next year some of us are thinking about starting another team. The more the merrier, right? So if you are interested keep it in mind. It's always the first Saturday in August. The great thing is you don't have to be an avid runner. There are so many people who only run this one day and some don't even train before. Obviously they are a little more sore over the next few days, but it can be done.


I was pretty proud of myself I did 10 miles over all, Brad did 22. I did 2 legs that were 2.1 miles, and the rest were 1.0 to 1.5 miles. Towards the end of the day my left hip joint and knee were hurting but that's what happens as you age and overuse your body in a way it's not use to.


I didn't get as many photos as last year, since I was running, but my mom took a few once we got to Peoria and were running into the civic center. I do want to say THANK YOU to everyone who donated, whether to our online account or by sending a check. The Bloomington-Normal teams raised a total of $210,000. We are up from last year which is amazing considering the economy this past year. It just goes to show how worthy of an organization this is. I think of it as one of the best places available that I hope I never have to use. For every person who donated you had a part in that grand total and you had a big part in assisting these families! We hope we can count on you again next year! The great thing about St. Jude is no amount is too small every little bit goes to a child to assist in the fight of their life! So again I say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!


Here we are getting ready to run around the block and into the parking lot across from the Civic Center. They make us spread out here because a lot of teams arrive at the same time so it helps avoid a traffic jam.

Here we are getting closer to the corner that we turn onto to run into the parking lot. There are always a lot of people gathered, from all over, to cheer on all the teams.

My mom took these. After the teams come into the parking lot we all go to the baseball stadium, or Civic Center, and use the locker rooms to shower and get dressed in our matching shirts. Every town has a different shirt with a different color. Ours were red this year. As the teams run into the Civic Center through the people they are announced and their total amount raised is announced.

This is our team. I think Brad and I were in the middle of the pack somewhere. I would like to note that in this photo, the young girl who is in the middle, of the 2 women in front, is a cancer survivor. She and her dad ran last year as well. An inspiring story with thanks to St. Jude for their service!

Congratulations!

As many of you may, or may not, know my brother Brian is getting married. He and Sarah got engaged on July 14th, easy to remember as it's my wedding anniversary. The wedding plans have gotten well underway. The girls in the family are enjoying this and are excited to help out. The boys are your typical boys when it comes to the discussions...but I'm sure deep down they are enjoying all the wedding talk(she writes with sarcasm) The wedding will be November 6, 2010. We are very excited for both of them and look forward to their big day and sharing in it.

Congrats Brian and Sarah!

Storytime

I have been wanting, and needing, to update our blog for quite sometime. I finally have a little time today, however don't have access to the photos I need. So, I thought I would do a little story time. The girls continue to grow and change on a daily basis. As they do there are some funny, and not so funny, moments that come too. I thought I would share some examples:

Story #1 (and the most recent as it happened last night):

I put the girls to bed. Ainsley first, then Kaylee. It wouldn't matter if I had Kaylee go to the bathroom every 5 minutes the hour before she went to bed she would still come out, minutes after I have left her room, to ask to use the bathroom. So as part of our "normal" routine, I left her room, walked into mine and was about to go downstairs when I hear her door open, and there she is asking to go to the bathroom. I say "yes", she heads into the bathroom in our room (for some reason this is the upstairs bathroom of choice, probably because it's farther away from her room and therefore allows her to be out of her room longer than if she would use the one in the hallway by her room). I am now in the kitchen and can hear Ainsley, in her room, right above me, doing her nightly antics in her room, while she is suppose to be sleeping. All of a sudden I hear a very loud crash. I head back upstairs and as I get closer I can hear Kaylee crying. Honestly, my first thought was she was sitting on the toilet playing around and fell off. I walk in my room and she comes out of the bathroom. Here's how the conversation goes:

Me: Kaylee, what happened?
Kaylee: I broke something. (crying)
Me: Take a breath...what did you break?
Kaylee: (still crying) I didn't mean to.
Me: What did you break?
Kaylee: (walks into bathroom to show me as I follow and points to wall): that.
Me: (looking at the wall, by the shower where a towel rack use to be, but now only one of the rod holders is still in place), how did that happen?
Kaylee: I didn't mean to.
Me: I understand that, but how did that happen?
Kaylee: I was swinging on it.

So we went down to tell Daddy. We all had a discussion on how we don't swing on things like that, and thanked her for being honest, and restated that it's important to be honest and take accountability for wrong choices. Then she went to bed.

Story #2:

Daddy decides to go for a walk on one of the trails in our subdivision. He asked the girls if anyone wanted to go on a walk through the timber. Ainsley agreed. She was down in the basement playing and came upstairs, when she came up she had brought a toy with her.

Ainsley: I ready to go.
Daddy: What's that?
Ainsley: It's Diego animal rescuer for the animals.
Daddy: Are you taking it with us?
Ainsley: Yes, I rescue the animals from the forest.
Daddy: Ok, let's go.

Upon their return:

Me: How was the walk?
Daddy: Good.
Me: Ainsley did you see any animals?
Ainsley: No, baby jaguar was in the trees.
Me: Did you rescue him?
Ainsley: NO! I said baby jaguar was in the trees.
Me: Ok.

She can be a bit bossy and a bit blunt.

Yes, I do still blog!

I can't believe my last post was from July. Well, maybe I can, but still where has all that time gone? As summer is winding down and we are looking ahead to fall activities I am reminded about things that I still am wanting to blog on. Some catch-up sessions are definitely in order! Since we have a 3 day weekend coming up I'm hoping to get caught-up, at least a little bit. Here are some of the things I need to work on:

• Individual posts for Kaylee and Ainsley in honor of their birthdays, 3 months ago!
• St. Jude Run
• Random summer fun!

Please check back soon and hopefully you'll see a refreshed, and updated, blog!

Turtle, Turtle

One day Brad was working in the yard. He found a new friend and brought him into visit. It was a turtle. The turtle just sat in the middle of the floor for awhile and didn't move. Eventually he got more comfortable and began to move about. Abby seemed to be very protective and would lay by him, and if anyone came over to the turtle she would stand up and start smelling the turtle and nudging him. After awhile we took the turtle back outside so he could go back to his "home".

Summer Fun

I realize I have been really behind in my posts! We have been having a fun and busy summer. Nothing big, just a lot of fun! We've been having swim lessons on Tuesdays and Kaylee has tap/ballet on Thursdays, playing at parks, working in the garden, and just hanging out. Here are some of our summer fun photos.

The girls got to go to their first wedding this summer. Kaylee was super excited to go! My cousin, Erica, got married and we took the girls. Here is a photo of Kaylee, with cousin Jillian, after the wedding and the cake and punch reception.


Here's Ainsley trying to curtsy in her pretty dress.


We celebrated Father's Day with all of the AWESOME Dads/Grandpas we are so fortunate to have in our lives.

The girls with Grandpa Duffy. We did Father's Day and his birthday.

The girls helping Grandpa Bentley with his Father's Day gift.


Kaylee with Daddy, hanging out.


My beautiful babies on a summer day!

My little Ainsley in her outfit she picked-out to dress-up in. We do a lot of dressing-up in our house.

Ainsley had me put the wings on the back of her dress and she kept turning around going "Where my wings, Where my wings?"


Ainsley in yet another dress. She kept setting Elmo up and he would fall over and she would say "not again", but then once she would get him to stand-up and stay she would knock him over. She loves Elmo so. Thankfully he's a good sport about it. HEHE.

Kaylee was into getting her photo taken. As soon as she would see me take one of Ainsley she would ask me to take hers. So of course I obliged.

We have been doing some swimming. Ainsley LOVES the water. The girl has no fear. She just goes, goes, goes!

Skyeler, Ainsley and Kaylee taking a swim.

We love to eat outside in the summer. Kaylee is really into setting the table and helping out around the house. Which I love! This day she was very proud of carrying everything outside, so I thought a photo was in order. She's so proud!


Of course in summer there is also a lot of ice cream. Many times after swim lessons we go to eat at Green Gables. This night it was our wedding anniversary, so we also needed ice cream! Well my thought was we would be eating it outside, however when I came out from paying Brad had already put the girls in the car. I was a little leery as a friend of mine had just picked-up and gifted the cover for Ainsley's seat. While I can wash it I really wasn't happy about the possibility of needing to...because again we had just got it! Ainsley loved her ice cream and the cover fared well. So all in all it turned out OK.

Fun on the Fourth!

What a rainy 4th of July we had this year! I felt bad for Kaylee because she was SO excited for the 4th; one would have thought it was Christmas by all her excitement. Towanda usually has quite the 4th of July festival. However, given the condition we chose to skip it this year.

We still were able to find some fun though. We had my niece, Skyeler, and nephew, Koen, birthday party. Koen turned 6 on June 28 and Skyeler turned 8 on July 6th. I can't even believe it. Especially Skyeler who was a mere 1 week old when Brad and I got married! The girls had lots of fun, as they always do playing with their cousins.


Grandma and Grandpa Duffy with all the grandkids. It's always interesting trying to get one of these photos. I can't imagine why we have such a hard time getting 5 kids, ages 2-8, to stay still, look at the camera and smile all at the same time.



Ainsley is trying to put on the Uncle Sam hat that was the pinata.


I'm not 100% sure what Maddox and Ainsley are doing in this photo. Perhaps helping each other accessorise? I am 100% sure that regardless of what they are doing that red/yellow car always seems to be involved!


After the party we headed out to Lake Bloomington to watch the fireworks. However, when we got there we found out they had been cancelled. Kaylee was very sad! Which was a little surprising because the night before we had gone to a pre-4th cookout where there was fireworks and Kaylee wasn't a big fan. So Daddy, being the hero he is, took us into Fairview so we could watch the fireworks there. Another reason Daddy is a hero is because he bought headphones the girls could wear so the fireworks wouldn't be as loud. We backed into our parking spot, opened the back of the van and set a sleeping bag up so the girls could sit there and watch, and Brad and I sat in folding chairs. They were all set, with their star marshmallow snacks Grandma had sent, and we were ready to watch!


Kaylee had her headphones on well before the fireworks started! Ainsley ended-up sitting on my lap and putting hers on after the fireworks started.


Waiting for fireworks!

Yey for Daddy who saved our 4th of July!