Trip #2

We took our second trip with "Harvey" on Saturday. It was a lot less complicated compared to our first trip (which you can read about here!) We didn't have a lot of time, just one night, but we had a really good time.

Site#19, Comlara Park, Evergreen Lake, Bloomington, IL

When we left Saturday morning, it was sunny and cool, pretty much perfect camping weather. But once we got there and got set up, the clouds started to roll in and by about 3 in the afternoon, the rain started and it didn't stop. It wasn't a hard rain, just constant. Which then made it really cold, at least for this can't-get-warm-till-I-get-in-a-warm-bathtub-kind-of-girl!

But a little rain didn't stop my little campers....



Can you just imagine....cold, rainy, wet dog (yep, we took our dog Charlie on this trip) and all of us crammed into a small space. We made the most of it. We played a lot of cards. (UNO, Dutch Blitz, Crazy 8) Speaking of that, if Max ever asks you to play UNO with him, watch out, he's very sly!

After all our card playing, the kids broke out the camera. What else is there to do when you're stuck in a camper....take goofy pictures of course! Here are just a few!

our little campers are also little rappers...
we broke out the ipod and some ol' time rap music!

just layin around!

Andy and Max (still rappin') getting ready to make some s'mores!

All bundled up....nice and cozy!

Happy Birthday Andy!

To my very loving husband on your birthday!

You love your family and are such a great daddy....

You are caring and compassionate and ALWAYS think of others....

and you're a little wild and crazy too!

Happy Birthday!
We ♥ you very much!

Crack Me Up!

The kids and I literally just got home from getting their flu shots. Well, actually they got the flu mist (up their nose) but that's not really part of this story.

As we were driving home, the kids were talking about Max having gum in his mouth while he got the mist. Of course, Maggie got rid of her before she went in (because she is such a good rule follower) and so she asked Max if he thought the nurse knew he had gum.

And his reply almost made me have to pull off the road so that I didn't pee my pants.

In a very serious tone, he says, "Yeah, she (the nurse) knew I had the gum...cause of those eyes in the back of her head!"

And then he says, "Right Mom, all the parent moms have those eyes?!"

"That's right son, that's right!"

Sweet Treat!

We attended a wedding Saturday night, and the kids had their very first shirley temple.
I totally remember getting them as a kid. It was one of my most favorite treats!

Do you think they liked them?

Pumpkin Festival!

My favorite little pumpkins!

With their darling pumpkin friends!

Mags could have used every single ticket on this ride!

or this one!

Hanging with friends...


(the best of them...)

and family....

is what the Pumpkin Festival is all about!

Traci's Troops!

Once again, Traci's Troops! was a huge success. Beautiful day plus a great group of supportive family and friends made this years event AMAZING! Here are just a few of the great shots my friends took!





You are all truly amazing and I couldn't have done this walk without every single one of you! Thank you all so much for being a part of my team!

We will never forget!

13 years...

ago today, God gave our family a surprise blessing!
What a beautiful blessing she is!
Happy Birthday Leah!

Seeing lots of Orange!

This year's MS Walk is just days away, and I can hardly stand the excitement. There is already a sea of orange....and that's just sitting in my living room. What's that mean?, you say....Traci's Troops! t-shirt are done and ready! I think they look pretty good!


I decided to be a little bit more thrifty this year and NOT put the date on the shirts. This way they can be recycled and worn again next year. Another thing I changed from last year, was to put "Traci's Troops!" on the back of the shirt. While we were walking last year, it was hard to tell (in the sea of orange shirts) if the people ahead of us were "with" us or another group! This way we will know for sure!

So I'll be out and about the next few days, delivering as many shirts as I can before Sunday! I can't wait to see you all and keep your fingers crossed for a beautiful day!

Pump It Up!

We spent the long weekend in Iowa visiting friends while Andy was a hour away doing a 24-hour mountain bike race. Yes, you read the correctly, they rode their bikes from noon on Saturday till noon on Sunday. Doesn't that just sound like great fun?!

On Sunday, my girlfriend and I took the kiddos to Pump It Up! What a great place. Basically it's a building with great big bouncy houses inside. My kids were the perfect ages....I could see smaller kids getting bounced around too much, but her kids were able to hold their own too. They even let the adults jump. Andy would have loved the place.

The best thing about it was it totally got out tons of energy the kids had bottled up and it made them a tad bit tired, but oh so happy! Just look at these smiles!

Oh, and Andy's team won the race...and that made him tad bit tired, but oh so happy too!