Long time and no blog

I know, I know.  I am a total blogging slacker.  Life just happens that way.  The last 5 months have been crazy busy and so exciting.  We sold our home and moved.  We are in love with our new little town, but that deserves a blog post of its own.  This summer was spent unpacking, getting acquainted in our new community and making our house a home.  I think it is safe to say we have successfully completed all of that, and more!


Chris and I spent 4 nights on a cruise this summer with some really good friends.  It was great to be away together on the sea.

The girls and I took a mini vacation to the beach.  They are such good girls and travel so well.  It was a good trip.

I finally allowed a dog to become part of our family.  We named her Stella Lou and we are all smitten.  

We have a new church home that we love and so excited to be part of. The children's programming is outstanding.  This is a picture from VBS.

Maddie and Ava starting swimming this summer.  We were very excited to have this opportunity.  They both love it.  Maddie moved up to the swim team this fall.  They have both made such great progress.  We are so thankful for this opportunity.

A trip to watch the REDS play with the Best Friends ever.

We had the opportunity to see a few plays at Barter.  We enjoy being so close to such a great theater. 

I found time for a short, but awesome girls weekend with these awesome ladies.

We visited Hungry Mother State Park often, this is our paddle boat adventure.  I pedaled and they laughed.

Ava participated in a kids triathlon.  She rocked it. 

We had some fun with go-carts. 

and family away time

And then school started.  First day of School 2015/16

Sometimes just for kicks we have random dance parties on the back porch :)

Maddie and Ava created these masterpieces, more about this later.

We are busy and happy and in love with life.  We are very blessed and looking forward to many more adventures.

The Flying Pig 2015

 Last weekend I participated in the Flying Pig Half Marathon in Cincinnati.  It was my first half marathon and it was SO MUCH FUN!!

I was so nervous that something would go wrong, shin splint, hip pain, etc.  I am not going to say it didn't hurt, because it did!  But it was so worth it!  My goal was to finish in under 3 hours.  My official time was 2:38.  The course was beautiful and very exciting, but also very hilly.  Miles 6-9 were pretty terrible, but the downhill that followed was rewarding.  The spectators were great and the entire race was so well organized.  My friend, Leigh Ann, who is much more of a real runner :) participated too and beat her previous pr.

A few pictures from after the race:

 The girls participated in the Piglet races on Saturday, it was somewhat chaotic and disorganized, but they loved it and they got a t-shirt and medal.

Will I do it again?  Maybe?  13.1 miles is a really long run, very physically exhausting, but such a rewarding experience.  

The "new house"

Our lives are changing.  Chris has taken a new job and we are moving!! Of course, this means we are going to be leaving our "new house".  The kids like to give each house we live in a name.  I am posting pictures here because we put lots of time and effort in choosing the items as the house was built. People keep saying it is so sad to leave your new home.  It is a little sad, but what I love is the people I share this home with.  When I look at these pictures it reminds me of great memories.  I am looking forward to making many new memories.