We have a new MARATHONER!!!!!!

A HUGE Congratulations to Scott

         for completing the 

2008 Chicago Marathon with style!!!

He ran his first marathon finishing in 3 hours and 59 minutes, ranking in the top 20% of all finishers.  Wowwwwwiieeeeeeeeeeeeee!!  Is that GREAT!!!! 

It was a hot, very Sunny day here in Chicago but he didn't let that stop him.  His smallest, yet biggest, supporter eagerly waiting for Daddy to run on by.
Running with 35,000 friends, makes it very difficult to catch a picture.  Here he is, at 12 miles, coming off the course very briefly to replenish his supplies.
Scott and his groupies!!
Thank you to our possie who supported Scott all the way!!   Mom and the Z's were so great and instrumental in making this a successful event.  Mom was the first one to see Scott at the 3 mile mark.   At a couple points Kirsten ran with me (in her flip flops) to make it to the next mile markers while John and Mom watched the kiddos.  At the end of the race, John was able to find Scott and rescue him from the heat.  We definitely worked as a team to support Scott and I thank each one of you!!!

Congratulations babe...you continue to amaze me.  A triathlon, a century and a marathon all in a matter of months.  What Success and Pride you bring to our family.  You define inspiration. Love you!!!!! xoxoxo

Weekend Fun...FireKid for the day!

Having Makenna has encouraged us to get involved in our community, something we have wanted to do for a long time.  We have her involved in park district music classes, library story times and playgroups which have all been tons of fun.   This weekend we decided to take her to the Firehouse Open House.  She had fun looking at the firetrucks, playing with the equipment and even climbing into the engine.  She is getting so big so fast, but boy is it wonderful to experience life with her!!

Look at me!!!
Me and Momma, we're there to help!

And Dada too!!



"Wow...look at this!!"
Firekid MC reporting for duty!Hope you had a great weekend too!! 

Makenna and her babies

Whenever Makenna goes anywhere, there's so much to think about. Let's face it, traveling with her is not a light adventure. She's currently in a phase where everybody goes along for the ride, including as many of her babies as she can simultaneously carry as well as Ah, or "Lovie" to Kelly and I.

Some days are a little tougher than others. See what I mean?

Slideshow from Michigan

We're working on doing some more embedding of videos and slideshows to the web and this is my first effort at it using photos that I uploaded to my Picasa account.  Here's hoping it works (and works well).

Michigan Beach House Weekend

Walla... I finally figured out how to work with my pictures again..thanks to my wonderful Scott.  Here are just a few pictures from our Michigan weekend.  There are so many great ones, I am not sure how I am going to pick only a few for our scrapbook page.

Nana and Makenna shared many, many of these over the weekend.

One of MC's favorite things to do right now is to play ring around the rosie.  She loves to twirl around and lands on the ground with gusto.  Here she is going..."and they all fall down!"
One of the beautiful sunsets that we watched each night from our house.  
MC and Jack had a blast together.  They played non stop for three days straight...what a DUO they are.  Of course they had to check out the lake...the cold waters didn't frighten them away.

Ahh...the fire boy.  Brad has many names..and boy does he make a great beach fire!  (As long as he leaves out the rocks..hee,hee...)  Couple this with great conversations and smores.  Fun!
Uncle Brad in all his glory.  All I can say is...wow, BEAUTIFUL!
GOOD thing the mechanics came along for the century ride!Until next year, when all of us will return for another fun, unforgettable weekend.  xoxo

100 MILES on two wheels.....

HE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!

Scott completed the Apple Cider Century Ride this weekend in Michigan with our friend John.  Congratulations you two...what an awesome accomplishment!  And they finished in under six hours of saddle time...now that's getting it done!  We had fun rooting them on and whooping it up as they crossed the finish looking like they were ready for more!

More, for Scott, will be in two weeks when he runs the Chicago Marathon.  Our family and friends are so looking forward to being in the city to see that go down!!!  You Go Get Gem like you know you can!!!  We all can't wait!!!

 More pictures to come of our wonderful weekend!!

A trip back in time..

While Daddy is away for a couple of days on business, us girls are doing our best to keep ourselves busy. Yesterday after a little shopping, we went to Sonny Acres pumpkin farm in West Chicago and had a blast! As a kid, I went here every fall so it was so much fun to bring Makenna there now. Nana and Mommy had fun watching MC enamored by it all, running from one thing to another. Some days I feel like I surely can't keep up with her. She definitely has an independent soul and a fiesty spirit but it is still such a cuddle bug too! Oh BTW, Happy 19 months Makenna Claire....

This has to be one of my favorites...I see it on the wall already!

Here's a pumpkin Nana..
Peek a boo!!!


"I went so fast I fell off the bottom of the slide. One more time please!!!"
What fun!! We love and miss you Daddy but all is good at home. Finish up your work so you can hurry home!! And keep running...you are doing AWESOME!!! You are almost to the finish line and we can't wait to see you accomplish the Chicago Marathon in just a few weeks!! xoxo