SNOW!!! and Christmas

Mara looking at one to two new, really cool puzzles she got from Papa and Nana Vickerman.


Trying on her new shirt.


Helping Great Grandma Lilly unwrap her presents.

Doing the same as above with Nana.

Throwing away the paper, being a big helper.

Checking out the turtles at Kent and Toni's house.

Having a snack of Cheerios with her friends.

Checking Daddy's ears to make sure he is OK. What a bedside manner!

Playing with Great Grandpa Reuben Nonn.

The awesome baby she got from Great Grandpa, which she can't put down now.

Said baby, getting carted all over.

Mara loves to close her eyes or squint, but here she is anyway with cousin Maddie.

Opening a present at home.

Working on her letters! She really enjoyed this! Well, actually anything that has to do with coloring or drawing she loves.

SNOWNAMI 2011: These drifts were 6-7' high at around 6am 2/2/11. We got at least 22".

More drifts; there is supposed to be a road in between us and the roof of that car. FUN!

Drift outside our front door. Thank God we don't use it during the winter because it is too drafty!

Nana's, Accessories, Bears and Parades

Hangin with mom at the parade, wondering what all the fuss is about. I don't see anything exciting...


This is getting ridiculous. I am cold, the hot chocolate cup leaked, I feel like a mummy, and the Harley riders make my ears hurt!


Racine Historical Society, at night.

Can you find me under all of this. Daddy thought mommy was being overprotective, but it was pretty cold!

I am just dealing with this hug, hoping it will bring some kind of treat or time playing with mommy.

Let me introduce you to my bear backpack from the Smoky Mountains, Blackbeard.

Sometimes, Blackbeard scares me.

This is when I wish I had Blackbeard to save me from the stuff my daddy does to me, like stuff a caterpillar down my shirt.

Really, I am happy with the hat and scarf my mommy made me.

Oh, I just had the best time playing with my Nana. I think I wore her out. Better get her some 5-hour Energy for the next visit.

CHOCOLATE!!!

Hot Chocolate 5K in Chicago with Rachel and Heidi. This race was so fun and the end was great cause they gave out Ghirdelli fondue, hot chocolate and chocolate bars!!

Park Visits, Pumpkin Farms, and Pretend Play

Playing with real cookies and Mara's pretend kitchen.


At a local park that we just found out we can bike to from our house.

On the trail to the park.

Another visit to the pumpkin farm.

Not too sure about sheep.

We play hide-n-seek outside our house in these bushes (or whatever they are).

I caught her!

Another park that we bike/run to from our house. This one is much better because there are no nearly as many kids there, thankfully!

Summer Wrap-up

Just hanging out, playing with Titi Rachel's old phone, looking cute and grown up.

Ready for the jump...

Jumping!

Imagine our surprise when Mara got this amazing outfit in the mail from Gretchen and Gary and the twins! THANK YOU!!

Trav does such an incredible job at doing Mara's hair. Really, he did this!

Danskin Triathlon

Rachel finishing up the Danskin.


Nice Stride!


Finishing up the Danskin, about to begin my stride.

Heading out on the bike.

On Sunday I completed my third Triathlon of the season and it was my best so far. My goals were: swim under 19 min, bike higher than 17.3 mph, have better than an 11 minute mile, and have a better overall time than any other triathlon. I accomplished three of the four!!! I biked 17.7 mph, had a 10:15 minute mile, and posted my best time of 1:37:04 (14 seconds better than my last tri three weeks ago). I just missed my swim goal by 9 seconds. We are still throwing around the idea of doing another one in 3 weeks in Lake Geneva; I think that I will have to check out the course, because there is a hill on the run called 'Killer Hill.' We'll see!

1, 2, 3...

A biking trail Trav found right by our house.


Mara and Trav heading out on the trail.


Mara and Rachel at Illinois Beach State Park. We ventured here one Saturday while Trav was stuck in So. Ill/KY with work.

At the lake at the state park.

Mara counting to 10!!!!