5 miles

I ran five miles in 57 minutes. I feel like poop though. Again, I think it is all the junk I have been eating. I have GOT to stop this!!!

photo shoot today

I did a photo shoot today of a wonderful family from church...they are just adoring parents to two gorgeous kiddos! Little Lucy is almost 2 and baby Nic is just a week and a half old. So sweet! :)

TJ's birthday party

I'm a proud mom again!

Alex is a kid with a heart of gold. He took $25 today of his own money and bought these ribbons to wear on his hat at school today. The coolest thing was that he told me he wanted to buy 24 of them (they were a dollar each) and then 1 special one just for Grandpa Jim! Too awesome! Then, today when he came home he told me all the different kinds of cancers they stood for. He got to one color and said "And this one is for Luekemia...so that is for Aunt Theresa!". Such a sweet guy I have... He wore the hat everywhere today. Even when we went shopping at Sam's Club. He looked forward to telling everyone about the hat when asked...

In my next life...

...I think I want to be cake decorator. Or, a party planner. Hmmmm... Anyway, this was the first time I attempted to make a "fancy" cake for a party. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE my cakes at my parties. I feel like they are the centerpiece for every aspect of the party! But, they cost A LOT! And so I took a whack at it and made this VERY large cake myself! I am pretty proud of it! I decided to take pictures tonight, even though the party is not until tomorrow night, because I fear the cake won't be so pretty...or be standing quite so tall by tomorrow night. :( It weighs a TON! The bottom cake is coconut with raspberry filling. The middle is marble with chocolate creme filling. The top is strawberry with cream cheese filling. I hope it tastes as good as that sounds. Will let you know tomorrow!

Alex in the Memorial Day Parade

The middle school band was in our little Seymour parade for Memorial Day! Alex did such a great job playing his trumpet!

Planting a tree for TJ

I am really behind in updating photo blogs for the last week...but I downloaded the photos today, so here I go! On the 23rd we planted a tree in honor of TJ turning 1. The cool thing is that we planted it above his placenta that we had in the freezer for over a year. Yes, you read right. The placenta. You know. That blob that comes out after the baby is born? I think it is so awesome. That was what fed him and nourished him while he was in the womb, and now it feeds his tree! :) I know it seems super weird but it actually is an old Native American tradition.

TJ plays with Daddy's trucks

Too cute! Grandma and Grandpa Hasse sent TJ a truck that Brian played with when he was a little boy. I think they found it in the attic at Grandma's house. Man, they don't make them like that anymore. This thing is SOLID!

Mackenzie receives Award

I am a proud mommy. Mackenzie is just an excellent student. She just received an award from the President of the United States and the US Secretary of Education for outstanding student achievement and hard work. She received the highest recognition and was granted the "President's Award for Educational Excellence". She had to maintain a 3.5 GPA for the school year, participate in at least one extracurricular activity and not have more than 3 late assigments for the year. We are so proud of her!

another pic

I was just going through the photos from when I took pictures on TJ's birthday and thought this one was cute of him and Natalie! :)

You are what you eat...

I ran 3 1/2 miles tonight and it was HORRIBLE. I think I did it in 38 minutes but I felt like a heffalump. I am sure it is because of the enormous amount of junk food that I shoved into my mouth today. If you "are what you eat" then I am a giant graham cracker covered in fudge, with a golden oreo stuffed with chocolate as a belly button, hair made from white cheddar popcorn, boneless BBQ wings as cheeks, and some banana cream fluff right in the middle (just for good measure). Blah, blah. There is always tomorrow, right??? ;)

another 5 miles down

I ran another 5 miles...57 minutes.  Whoo Hoo!!!!

wow. that is an unbelievable feeling.

You know how people talk about a "runners high"?  Well, I started thinking those people were smoking something instead of just running.  But I got it today.  Are you ready for this? I ran FIVE MILES in about 55 minutes.  And...it really wasn't even that hard.  I could even carry on a conversation (though, a breathless one) while I ran.  It was GREAT! :)

run today

Today was an easy 1 1/2 mile run.  I NEVER thought I would be one to say that 1 1/2 miles would be easy.  The best part???  I have REALLY improved.  I ran the mile and a half in only 12 minutes. That is an 8 minute mile pace which is MUCH better than I ever have run!

My baby boy is 1!

I cannot believe that TJ is ONE today! It has been such an amazing year with this amazing little one. Anyone who is around him knows that he just lights up the room with his smile. He is always laughing and playing with his brother and sisters. I couldn't imagine our family without him! Happy birthday my little boy!