Birthday Party

Thank you Ms. Stacy!  Wouldn't you know that our camera broke the afternoon of Ryan's birthday.  Thankfully, Ms. Stacy brought her camera to Ry's birthday bash and took some pics.  

This is our friend Jackson who turns 3 in a few weeks.  Ryan is captivated by Jackson who also is ALL boy and is a constant blur of activity.  I love his facial expression in this picture. . .maybe he's the one who left the dent in our wall. :)

This is Ry's friend Nate.  He took one hit and decided baseball was not for him.  Given his potential height, we are all banking on basketball anyway.

Ryan LOVED his Elmo cake.

Mommy did not prove to be a great batter. . .eventually Mommy tore through the hole in the top of the pinata and let the candy spill to the floor.  And can you see what Daddy attached the pinata to. . .an extension cord.  Ha, ha.

This is Madeline and Mr. Jamie.  Too bad this is not a video and you can't watch Madeline's head reverberate as Mr. Jamie bats at the pinata.

The kids LOVED this noise makers.  Unfortunately, I gave them out right after cake so you can imagine what spewed out the end!!!

City of Oaks Half Marathon

I have again been bit by the running bug.  On Sunday I ran the Raleigh Half Marathon and it made me excited to possibly do another marathon in the future.  It sounds crazy, but it is such an adrenaline rush to run with thousands of strangers and to cross the finish line.  My favorite part of the race was hearing Matt cheering for me and looking over to see Maddie and Ryan on the sidelines.  I am so grateful for my sweet family.

Here are Maddie and Mommy right after the race. 

Here's Mommy with her boy and a plate full of goodies.

It's the whole family!  Since I left the house before 6am, Matt got the kids ready and brought them to the race.  It was so cute to see Madeline with her uncombed and undone hair and Ryan wearing the same clothes from the day before! :)

Here are my sweet friends and running partners Amanda (left) and Anna (right).  I was SO impressed with their runs, as we had not trained on hills and they kicked butt, keeping pace like the hills were nothing!!!  Anna and Amanda and their families go to the Bridge Community Church with us, and we are so grateful for their friendships.  

Madeline and Ryan LOVED the free bread from the Great Harvest Bread Company (so did mommy and daddy)!

Here's a picture of the three of us.  We are all exhausted, but so grateful to be finished!  So ladies. . .how about the full marathon next year???