Whoa, how could I forget this too...

Let's back up to May again. Chris Chadd- KT's teacher that is training Laney, also wanted to do the Mini Marathon with Julie G and I. I had inadvertently opened my big mouth last year and told Julie and was going to see my committment through.

However this year proved to be very difficult in training as we started out the year with such horrible weather and lots of ice. It made things very difficult for Rei and I to get out and walk along with AC being here at home with me, so we got a very late start on training. :( We did get some miles in and I worked on at least getting the longer miles in as we got closer and closer to May.

So we did do the race and finished it again, but BARELY in time. The last few miles were with excruciating pain and burning in both of my feet, as the hammer toes and bunion toes, and as I've since found out- a Neuroma of the nerves in my feet too were not happy with me. We crossed the finish line together and made it the full 13.1 miles! Woot!

Here were are crossing the bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It had just rained enough to get everyone wet and then the sun came back out, so we are wet people with wet dogs. LOL! Thankfully though it was another overcast and cool day for the dogs too! God was sooooo good to me both years!

Kacie and Rei on the left and Chris and Laney on the right, both dogs first paw forward touching the row of bricks across the track.

Here we are as we are rounding the turn down pit road and about to head off the track. Chris is on the left looking forward and Laney looking at the camera. Kacie in front looking foward and Rei leading.

On the home stretch and about to finish- Kacie with backpack and handed coat off to Mike and the kids on the sidelines. Rei moving on forward with the end in sight!

Crossing the finish line with our official time. Kacie on the left looking down at Laney and Chris looking over at Rei. Rei and Laney looking forward and as if to say, Who gave these crazy nuts the idea to do this thing??? LOL!

At church we had a family fun picture day and it had been several years since we'd had a faimly picture taken. Our all time favorite picture has been of the girls and us in Colts jerseys, so since everyone currently has one, we decided to give it a try again and we were very happy with the picture we got- that was taken by Mr. Wayne Brown of Wayne Brown Imaging

Here you can see our family, including Rei peeking through a large frame:

Here is a fun face shot of AC, Rei, and I together- he was being silly and took a picture of us:

Also as I mentioned- Mike took KT to the Indy 500 for the first time this year, here is KT giving her ticket to go into track:

HUGE crowds that day, and here is a shot of corner 4? I believe? Lots of people filled the stands that day:

July continued to see us hopping and moving, as we went to Bub's Burgers on July 3rd and Mike and I took part in the burger challenge there. Goodness- WHAT was I thinking! LOL!

MD is still doing gymnastics and has moved up to the competition team and level three as of July.  Here she is at the promotion celebration.

Late July and early August brought us a record breaking wave of heat where we had 23 days of 90+ degree days, in which the heat indexes were up on the 100's. HOT HOT HOT! The kids like to watch the squirrels out the picture window and this little guy was showing us how hot it was too- as he sprawled out on the branch as flat as he could, trying to stay cool in the bit of shade he'd found:

Mike and I are still leading our bible study group, which we long to see each week and reconnect with God too- bringing us that accountability too through the week.  Our Groupies are the best!
Alrighty, back to 2012! GRINS!

Goodness, it's been nearly a year since I've last posted. The kids are all back in school and I'm taking a long hard look at things again.

Since my last post- there's been some changes around here. I became a board member of AADB, the American Association for the Deaf-Blind. I've had my hands full of working hard with the current board of trying to pull through some rough times within AADB. Prayers to complete the projects I have on my plate for that soon.

The kids have really grown by leaps and bounds in the last year, both physically and in their activities.

KT has completed her first season of AAU basketball with the Lady Gym Rats. She has improved significantly and upon going out for the school league, was rewarded with her hard work and many hours of practices by making the "A" team for her age group. The Lady Gym Rats were able to place third in the national championship tournament too.



KT in her red and white uniform holding the team trophy in front of a wall of plaques with a huge grin on her face.

KT also completed her 5th grade and last year in elementary school. She is now attending middle school in all advanced courses to go with her high abilities. She tested in at the beginning of the year with a L exile score of over 1300- Collegiate level! While it's a good thing, it's a struggle as a parent at times to keep things appropriate content wise when she's reading this advanced. However I will say that I am very proud of the young woman she's becoming, the strong faith she has in Jesus, and the strong character she has in knowing that she can stand up for what she believes and does not have to conform to the "norm" of today's society.

MD successfully completed her first season of competition level 3 gymnastics, in which she placed at the State South meet as 14th overall for 8 yr old level 3 girls. She was very proud of this accomplishment!



MD on a photo platform with the word State behind her, doing the gymnastics salute with a proud grin on her face for the medals she has hanging around her neck.

MD completed her 2nd grade year and is now in 3rd grade and doing VERY well. We made some changes for MD and with some medications, we are now doing really well and learning more and more how to help her reach the capacities of her abilities. She is able to focus more and is growing by leaps and bounds as a result. She too started this school year off with a L exile score of 971.... following right behind her big sister in reading and having excellent grades.


AC had a busy fall and winter, as he played his second season of flag football, then played his first season of basketball at our church. He is now in his first season of Rookie Tackle Football with full pads and gear. It's so fun to watch them at this age, as they learn what to do and make the plays.



AC with one of his coaches, listening to instruction with a basketball in hand.



Mike & AC in yellow "Steelers" shirts walking across the football field.



AC in his first game of Rookie Tackle, number 84, in a white helmet and white jersey with purple numbers and black pants. Mike walking to the left of AC in purple shirt.

AC also finished his first year of school in Kindergarten, doing well just as his sisters had. His teacher found it hard to keep him challenged in class, but Mrs. H did an awesome job of keeping him out of too much trouble!

AC has started his 1st grade year also excelling and advanced in reading with a 607 L exile score too. He is doing very well and Mrs. D. is keeping him busy now. He has also just joined up Cub Scouts and is looking forward to the fun there with several teammates/classmates from school and football.

One major highlights for me over the past year, is that I finally got to talk to my sister, Chelsea last October. Chelsea and her now husband, Dayne bought their first home and we got to visit as they had their wedding reception at their new place. MD was absolutely in heaven as she is a fanatic about horses and was in love with Fergie, daughter of family raised mare, Bucky.



MD delightedly patting the face of Fergie, a bay colored mare with her head over the board fence. Bucky, a buckskn mare and momma to Fergie, is seen in the background looking off into the distance.

The new year rang in and excitement was all abuzz here in central Indiana as the Superbowl was held in Indianapolis. We had the opportunity to take the kids to Superbowl Village one night during the week before the game and while was need to see some of the sights, it was also a well ingrained lesson to the kids of what alcohol will do to you. The kids all three were repulsed at the sights and smells of too many people drinking alcohol and openly voiced their dislike of alcohol. Hopefully that lesson will still remain in place once they hit the later teen years.... Mom can hope!



Image of Superbowl roman numerals, XLVI and the Superbowl trophy on the side of a large building, downtown Indianapolis



Mike, Rei & I posing with the Kids in front of Monument Circle in the heart of Superbowl Village with the large roman numerals behind us.

In April, KT's best friend, Miss L. had a birthday party in which she was unable to attend due to basketball. Thus we picked up Miss L. and had a fun day out with her and our family at the Indianapolis Zoo and our favorite place to eat, Bub's Burgers . It was a super fun day and we even had a new experience with the animals at the zoo! Typically the "Cats" will respond to Rei's presence, however this time we had a new animal take notice of Rei being there.



The Siberian Tiger, getting a drink though the very thick glass about 4 feet away from Rei and I.



Rei looking through the glass at the tiger, twice her size, only feet away from her. Amazingly, the tiger hadn't taken notice of Rei, even though she's intently watching and it is only a few feet away.

We head on back to the plains and see the giraffes, other "Cats", rhinos, and such.



The kids, KT, Miss L, MD, and AC, all lined up with the giraffe and baby giraffe in the background.



The lions were snoozing away as it was during the heat of the day, as seen her by the male lion sprawled on his side and sleeping away.

We then moved on around to the Cheetahs, which almost always come running to the glass portion of their enclosure to check out Rei. The kids all love seeing them, as they typically are pretty dormant animals and sleep as the lions were doing. True to fashion, they came up when they caught sight of Rei at my side.



The cheetah takes notice of Rei and is sitting up on alert to our movements.



Cheetah and guide dog, literally nose to nose, intently watching each other through the thick glass, with AC to Rei's right, at her side.

We then moved on to the Elephants and saw baby Kalina, the female elephant calf born earlier in the year.



Baby Kalina with ears extended and walking towards the camera

We then made our way back up towards the front to go through the Oceans exhibits. First off, was the shark petting pool, which is a favorite of my kiddos.






Miss L, KT, MD, AC, and Mike all at the edge of the pool to pet the small sharks.

And now for our surprise animal.... We made our way through the Oceans and the kids asked to go see the walruses. Typically you see them move around, and not much else. Well, this time the bull took notice of Rei being there!



Walrus face to face with Rei through the glass





Here the walrus follows Rei along the glass and interacts with her as well.

To be continued....