Our 1st Family Race

Kellogg's (insert copyright symbol here) holds a 5K run and 1 mile walk each year near our home for a charity food bank called Christ's Table. My father works for Kellogg's as a consultant now and prior to "retirement" in their product development scientist role. This run is fun and I have pictures from last year's race too. On Saturday we all work up early and made the hour trek out to the race. Unfortunately the skies had another plan and decided to open up with a thunderstorm of fury approximately 15 minutes prior to the gun going off. Everyone took cover in their cars and watched the light show until the storm passed. The rain took the edge off the temperature but certainly added a stickiness to the air. The race started about 25 minutes after the posted time and Al and Dad took their turn at the head of the pack. Carson knew ahead of time that he was going to run the 1 mile with me and Eli was going to walk with Gigi. As most plans go with a 4 year old running around, things changed right before the race. Eli wanted to run "just like Carson and Daddy" but insisted on me going with him. Carson is big enough to head off on his own ahead of us on a closed race course so he ran hard as I cheered him on. Eli made it about 1/4 mile running on and off and then decided his legs just couldn't make it and wanted me to carry him. The hard part was that he wanted me to "run so Carson didn't beat him". Let me tell you, hauling a 35 pound 4 year old and running a race is not a picnic. We caught up to Carson at the halfway mark and he was standing with his hands on his hips waiting on me. He was a bit nervous and had stopped until I met up with him again. Gigi agreed to walk the rest of the way with Elias and Carson and I took off. He was smiling from ear to ear and couldn't wait to run through the time gates. By-standers were urging him to run faster and we raced through the finish line together. He ran the mile in less then 10 minutes with a rest period in the middle while he was waiting on me!! Eli picked up the pace and followed his brother across the finish line with Gigi about 6 minutes later complete with a big boy grin. I couldn't be more proud of my munchkins. Gigi, the boys, and I started to watch for the big guys and Al came running in at just over 21 minutes. My 57 year old father shocked all of his co-workers by crossing the line in 29 minutes!! It was a wonderful day with good exercise for us all.


After all of the racers were in Kellogg's provided veggie burgers galore with fruit, chips, and drinks. The air was cool and the food tasted delicious. Nothing like a spicy black bean burger straight off the grill! The boys both won a free Frosty from Wendy's and I won a free meal from McDonald's. The event was beneficial to the community as well because all proceeds from the race ($10 per person entry fee) went straight to the food kitchen. What an amazing opportunity.

Open wide!

The Tooth Fairy has arrived at our house to gather Mr. Carson's first tooth! Our wild man lost his bottom tooth the other night while pulling a straw through his teeth. He was quite shocked when his wiggly tooth was no longer attached but instead laying on his lap. After much anticipation and excitement, our big man finally lost that precious first tooth at 6 years old. Most of the kids in his kindergarten class last year had already been visited by the magical tooth fairy and Carson was becoming increasingly inpatient.

He wrote the tooth fairy a note and left his tooth under his pillow. Since he just happened to be having a sleep over at Gigi and Bobpop's house that night, the tooth fairy made a pit stop at their house as well as ours! Carson was overjoyed to find two letters (both in red ink which is her favorite color to write in) in addition to money. What is better to a 6 year old boy except a magical money giving fairy who also corresponds?! Overall the toothless wonder made out for his first lost tooth. The fairy left items at both sets of grandparents houses, our house, and several aunts. Much daydreaming ensued over the multitude of items he could purchase with his tooth loot. He decided to buy a digger for the sand and dirt. Quite fitting. But I had him read the price at the store, count out the correct money for the cashier, and buy it on his own. These lessons aren't free!


In honor of the missing tooth, the boys headed off to the dentist for another cleaning and check-up. Carson sat through it all like an old pro and was beaming when the hygienist asked him about the hole in his smile. Elias was a big more leery but once he was allowed to hold some of the equipment and flirt with the staff a bit, he opened right up. Both boys had no cavities and were given a gold star for great brushing. They picked out new toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste, and of course a little toy.



We didn't realize how soon the Tooth Fairy would be visiting our house after the visit and quickly learned that brushing your teeth can cause you to loose them too! Carson came running downstairs from his room after brushing and held up his 2nd lost tooth. The matching bottom tooth came right on out into the sink and you could already see the ideas of tooth fairy visits running in his head. If anyone sees Carson, ask him to say a tongue twister with S sounds.....it's quite amusing.

Independence Day

My work schedule has been quite flexible for traveling this summer. I ended up with seven days off in a row so we packed up the car and headed south once more. Al's parents are certainly getting to see the boys much more this year than any year prior. The 4th was fun including a cookout, some thunderstorms, and big, booming fireworks. The boys couldn't wait for the fireworks to start and we were able to watch them from the back of Uncle Aaron's truck. Carson loved all of the colors and noises this year but Eli was terrified of the "boomers". He even wanted to get back in Al's car to make them stop. All and all it was a great day and another enjoyable vacation to Tennessee.

Pilot Fireball Classic 5K

Al decided to run a 5K race in TN the night before the 4th. He bribed his childhood friend Tommy into racing as well. The whole family and Granny/Papaw decided to pack up and make a night out of it since the race began at 9:00pm and was at the University of Tennessee. There was food, music, and most of all, almost 1,000 runners! Al and Tommy both did wonderful and my hubby placed 115 overall. YAY Al!! The boys love cheering Al on in races to it was fun for them too.