E at 18 months

I'm on a five-day vacation! Today Alexis and I were total bums. Managed to make it to the mall and got E's 18 month picture taken. I was pleased for this sweet photo she gave us because I don't have an 18-month professional picture of either of the older girls. It's a hard age to photograph due to stranger anxiety and the fact that they can't be still for long! Cheers to $8.55 spent at JCPenney portrait studio and a $20 daycare discount per week due to E turning 18 months this week!!!

Happy 18 Months, Precious Baby!!

Running + Summertime = Limited Blogging

While most sane people I know were enjoying the comfort of their air conditioned homes on Friday evening, my family packed up and headed out to watch me run a 5K at the Cornhusker State Games. Survivors included 286 fellow runners. Temps made it close to 100 degrees, and I hate to know what the "index" was... A good starting point at a time of 31:12 without passing out made it a success.

Next race??

Summer Lovin'

Here are some pictures from June (really behind on this). The girls have had a good summer thus far. E is nearing 18 months old already! Little A has her fourth birthday in a few weeks, and Big A will be heading to Phoenix for a little vacation with some of her family down there, complete with riding in an airplane solo! Can't believe it.

I've been dedicating much of my free time to race training, and as Chris would say becoming friends with my new phone. I love it! Smartphones are amazing, and I absolutely love my CardioTrainer app that keeps track of my workouts. The GPS tracks my routes and distance. It's way cool.

I have a 5-day weekend coming up at the end of the month. It will be a "staycation," and I'm so looking forward to it.

This photo cracks me up

At friends' home in Omaha, June 25

Last Friday I took the day off work. Alexis had spent a few days with my parents while my dad was on vacation last week. Chris and I and the little girls met my dad, niece and Alexis at HDZ! My parents got a grandparents membership at the zoo this year, so we took advantage of it. Hot day, but we got an early start which made it a bit more bearable. Ended up staying well into the afternoon, so it was pretty steamy by the time we got back to our cars. My niece, being a new sister, was able to get away from the chaos of a brand new 3-day old baby for awhile. :)

Cooling off in the aquarium

Desert Dome!

Petting zoo - E loved the goats

Holiday Weekend Getaway

A last-minute weekend trip without the girls was just what we needed last weekend! Drove to Kansas City after work on Friday, stayed in the Plaza, enjoyed a late night spicy Chinese dinner and jogged around the area on Saturday morning. Just me and the hubby! This was my even first overnight away from E. Thanks to Grandparents Raasch for taking the two little girls overnight times two!

Saturday morning we packed up and headed another three hours down the interstate to Hermann, Missouri where we bummed around all afternoon, visiting a couple wineries on the Katy trail. Beautiful area.

We saw lots of flooding during the drive - close to home all the way to Hermann.

A photo just outside of the Stone Hill Vintage Restaurant where we stuffed ourselves with some German cuisine for dinner

Expanding Family ~ We Are Blessed

This morning my family welcomed baby Braxton! He surprised everyone by coming four weeks early. He's such a sweet little guy and is the first grandson for my parents. His five older girl cousins will have him dolled up in no time!

7/5/11, 9:32 a.m.
7 pounds 15 ounces
21 inches

Momma holding a baby is NO good says an envious Elsie...

Braxton with his oldest cousin, Alexis