Jacob turns 9!

Jacob turned 9 this year! Where has the time gone!

We managed to trick him really good about his presents, which was really fun!

Christina turns 7!

Christina turned 7 a few weeks ago!

She couldn't wait to open her presents!

Tina took her to get her ears pierced!She got a cheerleading outfit that she's been asking for.
And we shared her "flip-flop" cake with the neighbors!

Our first 5K!

So it may not seem like much to all the athletes out there, but Jared and I have been training since May for our first 5K. Who would have thought we would get up voluntarily before the kids to run?! We both found we enjoyed the habit and that we make a great team encouraging each other! So, here we are at the Mahomet run in August. (Never mind how we look - it is really early in the morning!) Our only goal was to do the whole 3.1 miles without stopping...which we did!

Our friend Tina went with us, but she ran the half-marathon - that's around 13 miles. And when Jared and I finished and realized that Tina still had to go 10 more miles than we just ran, we decided we probably wouldn't be attempting the half-marathon anytime soon! She says it's just a mental game, but we think we get enough of that with our kids!After the race, we went to pick up our kids and got back just in time to see Tina finish at her best time ever! The kids were dying to give it a try, so when all the runners were in, we let them make a lap around the track. They started out strong, but then realized that it was a lot farther than it looked. Jacob ran the whole thing, but the girls cut across the grass to the finish line! At least we're starting them early!

Another new school year...

Summer was finally over and the kids (and I ) were excited for school to start.
This year Jacob is in 3rd grade and Christina is in 1st.
Here they are on the first day at 7am...

What you don't see is Jared who went back to bed because he
had 3 more days before his classes started, Caroline still sleeping
because preschool doesn't start until the end of September, and me jumping for joy!!!

Our 10th wedding anniversary!

For our 10th anniversary, my sister Michelle stayed with the kids and Jared and I got to go to Chicago for the weekend. We had a wonderful time and are so grateful for the chance to get away. We left Thursday night and drove to the city. We stayed at Michelle's apartment that night and ate out at one of our favorite mexican restaurants LaLos. Then Friday morning we got up and drove to the temple and had a marvelous time.

From the temple we drove back downtown and checked into the Renaissance hotel which was beautiful! We spent the rest of our time eating delicious food and walking around the city.

Jared was thrilled to see things from an architectural standpoint.
We went to Millennium park, which was on his list and that was fun.

We saw the "bean" as they call it!

Here's our reflection in the bean...

Down at the Lake, behind me is Navy Pier

Buckingham fountain...we could hear the symphony
playing because they pipe it over through speakers.

Jared on Michigan avenue

Jen in front of the Art Insititute

The skyline from the new bridge between Millennium park and the Art Institute

Jared with the Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower) in the background

The fountains down by the river walk

Here we are on the boat that we took down the river for the architectural tour.

Jared took this picture of the new sky decks at the Willis tower. We ended up not being able to go because by the time we got there there was a 2 hour wait, and we needed to get home.

All in all, we had a great time and really enjoyed just being together!
I told Jared - for our twentieth I want to go to Paris...we'll see!

A trip to Grandma's house...

In August, we went to Grandma Lewis' for the weekend. Harmony was there with her family and we had a great time just visiting and watching the kids play together. It was good to see everyone one last time before school started.

Christina making eggs at Grandma's

Christina and Caroline in the kitchen with Grandma

Jacob playing on the computer

Jared took turns with the kids on the treadmill.
They would start out slow, then he would gradually
turn it up as fast as it would go and they'd be
running to stay on and not fly off. They thought it was a riot!

Caroline with our newest cousin Elena

a surprise for Mom...

A couple of months ago, the kids were playing outside. Christina came running in the house to tell me there was a bunny outside and asked if she could have a bucket to catch it. I figured bunnies are pretty quick and I figured she would never actually catch it. So I said sure, and gave her the bucket. Not a minute later, she came running towards the house. I went out to see what happened. She was running and swinging the bucket saying ,"I got it, I got it!" I was dumbfounded. I really didn't think she would catch it. So I said "let me see". I leaned over to look in the bucket, only to find a dead baby bunny. I jumped about 3 feet back and yelped. Unbelievably, one of the cats in the neighborhood had killed a baby bunny and Christina scooped it up with two sticks and put it in her bucket. (This is the same girl who freaks out if there's a spider within 100 yards of her!) If I had realized that this animal had already died, I certainly wouldn't have let her take a bucket outside! At least it made a great story to tell our friends!

Several weeks later, the kids came running in again to ask for a bucket to catch another bunny. I made sure to clarify that this bunny was still alive, then let them take the bucket again. A little while later, they returned (Christina and several of the neighborhood kids) with a tiny baby bunny! They gave him carrots and grass and wanted to keep him. He was really cute, but we already have a dog and a cat - my max for living creatures in the house!