Fun in FL

Lee and I just celebrated our 12 year anniversary!

Happy Birthday surprise for Amy by the flamingos! Ben checking it out in his own birthday suite!

Diva Sarah!!

Not another pic MOM!!

On The Road AGAIN....

Playing with cousin Ethan and cousin Brent in the slip and slide at Grandmas! The kids had a blast...especially the ice cream at the end!!!
Got to visit with my grandmother, who just turned 96!! So sad to know that she doesn't remember me.
Just got back from TN mountains and visiting with the LaRavia family. Great to see all the kids. What a special family!!!
Now it is off to packing...we move on June 15. Off to Largo, FL!

COUNTRY MUSIC MARATHON 2010

I am still excited about completing my first half marathon. I had so much fun!! Dedie and I left Thursday night and stopped about half way there. After sleeping late due to no kids and eating lots of carbs at Waffle House, we ventured on our way. Lee and Greg picked the kids up from school at lunch and drove to meet us...imagine two guys and five kids in one car!!! After picking up our packets at the Expo Center, we all met for the Inspiration Dinner sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The weather was gloomy...severe thunderstorms forecasted.

Then the real FUN began---Yes, Dedie, my alarm is set for 4 a.m. I promise to wake you!!

This is the gang I trained with on our long runs every Saturday!! GO TEAM!!

Awaiting our bus to take us to the starting area. We had two trash bags each...one to sit on and the other to wear to keep us warm!!

Awaiting the port-a-potties...no line...wow!

Prior to the start...no rain!!! Over 30, 000 people are awaiting the start!! Music was everywhere...a live band played at every mile!

Probably around mile 9 or so...the clouds are very dark!!! Little did we know that tornadoes were all around!! Ok...we made it to mile 10!!! Anything after this is new territory. Did not train past 10!!

Approaching 11 mile marker...Yeah! Just a little bit more. By this point, we can't feel our legs!!

And...the 12 mile marker---we know, we could have shaved off some time by not posing for pictures, but we needed proof of completion!! :o) Who cares about the time...we FINISHED ALIVE AND WELL!!

We made it...I am just a bit emotional at this point!!! I couldn't help but cry! Thinking about how hard we trained and being a part of such wonderful team for a GREAT cause...WOW!!

The real reason...thank you, Laura! It has been a pleasure raising money and running in your honor!!! May God continue to bless you!!!

I even got a medal!!!

On the way back to the hotel...about to STORM!! We later find out that the marathoners were diverted at mile 20 and did not get to complete the full 26 miles due to the weather. :o( How upsetting to train for this and not get to complete it!!!

What a life changing experience!!!

Ready, Set, GO!!

Just finished 'decorating' my jersey that I will wear Saturday when I run my half marathon in Nashville. Thought I would share...I am so excited. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers!!!

Catching Up!!!!!

Wow, lots have happened since the last post in October!!! We have been BUSY!!! Christmas brought a new addition to our family...a cocker spaniel named Chloe. We had crazy winter weather that brought snow several times. Both kids are now a year older...Sarah turned 7 on February 10 and Ben turned 2 on March 17. I signed up with Team in Training (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) to run a half marathon in April at the Country Music Marathon...crazy, right!!! And, I guess the most life changing is the residency match for Lee. We are going to be moving to Florida this summer to be with Dad. Lee will do one year of internship at Largo Medical Center and hopefully be accepted to their orthopedic program the following year. So...vacations for everyone at the LaRavias---we will only be a 10 minute drive from the beach!! It has been amazing to see how God has worked (and is continuing to work) in our lives!!!
Our New Addition Chloe




Snowy Weather

Bathtime for Ben--with his clothes on!



Visiting the Cabbage Patch Hospital with Meme

Cousin Ethan came to help celebrate birthdays at the Golden
BEACH BOUND!!!

A Career in Interior Design?

This is what happens when I am stuck at home weekend after weekend....I clean and rearrange the furniture. Whoa...watch out HGTV!

Pumpkin Carving

Usually this is Lee's job....but since he is not home much, I had to do the duty this year. We have stopped by Aldi twice awaiting the new shipment of pumpkins and just found out that they are not getting any more this season. What a bummer! So instead of the $2.49 price at Aldi, I was forced to stop at Publix and pay over $5 for our chosen pumpkin. It pays to shop early, right! Sarah picked out our template online and the garage became the place of our masterpiece. Ok...Sarah was more interested in playing with the 'guts' and Ben could have cared less---he was playing like the janitor and sweeping with the broom. We all were quiet impressed with the results of our jack-o-lantern. Hope dad agrees!

Had to post this pic of Ben grabbing the cat's tail....notice how fast Shadow is moving!!! HaHa!! Poor kitty!