Saturday, July 19, 2008

Relay for Life

My mom was one of the speaker's for Relay for Life this year. We all had a fun time and we are so proud of Grandma for being a cancer survivor of almost 3 years!!

Here's a look at my tatoo and my cool breast cancer ribbon flip flops - thanks Mom!




Ava with Aunt Bug getting ready for the festivities to start.
The fam all waiting for the start of the relay.
Sisters...

This is my great Aunt Berdine, also a cancer survivor, with mom



Here's grandma, dong her survivor lap....yea grandma!!
After the survivor lap, all family and other support got to do the second lap.

Releasing the balloons.
Mom was the first speaker at the relay. She had a great speech! During the speech she asked for Carson and Ava to come up, since they were born the day after she was diagnosed with cancer. We weren't for sure how they would do, but after about a minute on stage they were waving to us shouting "Hi Mom, hi Dad!!"
Then, Ava put her arm around Carson which was super funny!
Mom's "lady bugs"
Then her daughters went up on stage...
she told about how we all got breast cancer tatoos in her honor.
All of mom's supporters!



Thursday, July 10, 2008

Family Vacation!!

Here we are...all ready to go on vacation to St. Louis, with our headrests in place!
We had a great time checking out the amazing butterflies at the Butterfly House...pretty cool, they were flying all around us!



Carson and Ava enjoyed playing by the BIG butterfly too!

We went to fireworks on the 4th with Uncle John and Aunt Laneta. Carson and Ava became quick friends with their newly introduced relatives!

Here we are enjoying the horses at Grants Farm.

These goats were crazy! The minute we stepped into the fence with bottles in hand, they were practically knocking us down to get the bottles! Carson and Ava were scared at first, but were okay when Daddy and Mommy were holding them!



Enjoying the elephants....and then doing their own elephant impressions!

Dad and the kiddos heading into the Magic House.

They weren't so sure at first, but thought it was pretty cool when they looked at the pictures and their hair was standing on end! It's a good look for us!
Playing ring around the rosey with a pretty neat art exhibit.

More horsies at the Anheiser Busch Brewery.

Can you find Chad, Carson, and Ava at the Arch?
There they are!
So....only Mommy and Ava were brave enough to actually travel all the way to the top of the Arch! Daddy and Carson stayed down below and watched a movie on the Imax about Lewis and Clark. It was a good fit for all...Ava had a great time looking out the windows!

Acting silly!

Don't they look adorable in their new Cardinals get up? Too bad they couldn't pull off a couple more wins against the Cubs! Go Cardinals!!
Checking out all the cool stuff at Ozzie's Restaurant.
The whole fam all decked out in our Cardinals gear.
It's been a good but tiring trip!

Transporting the last bit of cargo from the hotel....they thought that was pretty fun!
Ava swimming with the fish at the zoo
The penguins were definitely a favorite of both Carson and Ava.

...except Carson wasn't too crazy about posing for this picture!

...but he will flash one of those smiles when he's looking at the monkeys!
It was really cool to get to see zebras this close!
Cooling off after a HOT day at the zoo!
Just pulling in the driveway and we're still happy!
...although this smile is a little fake...about 2 seconds prior Ava had been crying...but I decided not to post that pic. We had a GREAT vacation!!