Happy Early Birthday, Claudia!

Happy early Birthday to Claudia. We had an early party this year with the family up at the tree farm. I dressed up in my blonde wig as a desperate housewife of Lake Elmo. Little Ellie didn't know what to think of my new look.

Isabel put on Nana's new Halloween outfit.

Madeline, Isabel and Claudia all dressed up.

Claudia is the cutest puppy this year.

Madeline tried on my wig and she rocks as a blonde teenager.

Isabel is going to be a butterfly this year.

Liam is a roaring lion.

Gavin is a cow.

Lil Ellie is a butterfly too.

After the Halloween parade, we went on a hayride.

Nana and Katie bundle up with lil Sophia.

Liam was so excited to go on the hayride.

Claudia was ready to start driving the tractor.

All the kids picked out pumkins and started to carve....with some parental assistance.

Time for cake!

Claudia was so excited to have us sing "happy Birthday" to her.

40th Wedding Anniversary

The other weekend we hosted a 40th Anniversary party for my parents. They still look as youthful as their wedding pictures! Claudia and Gavin took some time to relax and read a little.

Lots of friends and family were able to attend the party. It was great to see everyone again.

Mom with her sisters and brother.

These are the old friends that attended their wedding 40 years ago.

Yum, red velvet cake!

All the grandkids enjoyed the party festivities too.

Mom, dad, my bros and myself.

Poor Grandpa was so tired out from the party he fell asleep with Izzy curled up on his lap.

How special!!!! The mystery reader in Izzy's kindy class today was NANA!!!!!! She was surprised and excited to see Nana walk into her classroom.

Izzy got the best seat in the class as her Nana read several books to her class.

Momma's big race

These pics are out of order, but after my big race we had a great greasy spoon breakfast and hit the local apple farm. We got some yummy apples, apple brats for the fire pit and saw the animals in their petting zoo. The race started super early and it was a chilly beginning. Adam, in-laws and the girls got up early to see Mama cross the finish line.

Only a couple more hundred yards to go. 10 miles!

The girls, Grandpa and Nana made this great sign.

Here are some of my running friends at the Expo 2 days before the race. Half of us were running the 10 mile race and the other half were running the marathon. The idea was to go to the Expo to get "free stuff" but i ended up spending money. I couldn't take off my new hot pink scull hat for running. But I ended up not wearing it on race day because it is for colder weather.

And then of course i had to buy the hot pink matching running shirt too.

Last week we also got to celebrate Nana's birthday. We had LOBSTER and instead of a cake we tried mini cupcakes of all different flavors. They were a hit. Nana and Grandpa left the next day for a long weekend in New York City.