Relay For Life

We had a great event, and thanks to all of you who made that possible! Thanks to KB Photography we had a "photo corner" which allowed all at the event to get any picture taken, so I took major advantage of that!! The weather was hot, but the bugs were in hiding and we had a great day! If you were able to make it I would love to hear about your experience!! I was up for around 42 hours straight, which has left me tired yet on Wednesday!

Major thanks & props to Chad for being super dad/husband, not only throughout Relay season, but especially the week of Relay! He understand the commitment it takes, and fully supports my efforts! If it was not for him I would not have been able to do 1/2 of what we did! It is important to him that we work for this cure...and he will do whatever it takes too!!

4th of July weekend, excited to see Charli light up at the fireworks!

Enjoy the few pictures...and hopefully I will upload more later!

the family! pictures like this, with all four of us, don't come around very often!! While it only cost me $5 for the donation to get the picture it is really priceless! Look how sweet Charli is with her arm around Harper, that was totally NOT staged!! love it!

the Borg girls! Rachelle with her two girls Ryen and Macey, Vicki, mom, myself and Charli.

Charli's Angels team!! This was not our complete team, we are even bigger than this!!

Janelle (my co-chair and also Chad's aunt) and I

crazy girls!! Janelle, Stephanie (our ACS staff partner) and me!

Why do you Relay....

Why do you Relay?

Do you Relay because you have lost a loved one?
Do you do it because a dear friend has been crushed by what cancer can do?
Does walking mean that you show the world you will stand strong against what this beast has done?
Do you Relay for yourself?
Do you Relay for others?

I Relay because my daughter was diagnosed with cancer, before she could drink from a sippy cup.
I Relay because we had too many firsts that happened in the hospital room and at ER visits.
I Relay because I am blessed to have my daughter.
I Relay because I don't want Charli and Harper to go through what I went through.
I Relay because my grandchildren still have a chance to have a cancer free world.
I Relay because I have been scared.
I Relay because it is one fight we all are in.
I Relay because rather than be ashamed cancer has touched me, I am proud of what I have done to cancer.
I Relay because I have a mother, father, sisters, brothers, and friends who will ultimately fight this some day too...if we don't stand up to cancer.
I Relay because I have HOPE.
I Relay to CELEBRATE.
I Relay to REMEMBER.
I Relay to FIGHT BACK.



We care WHY you Relay. We care THAT you Relay. Cancer has made it's mark...and now it is time for us to make ours. Leave a comment and tell me WHY YOU RELAY!

Relay For Life of Platte County

June 25th - 26th

7:00 pm

Pawnee Park

Email me for details!

Happy Birthday Harper!

Harper had a great birthday, and big sister did great with him getting all the presents and "attention".

He just woke up different yesterday!! He is more cuddly now, he is even more goofy, he has a different personalty - is that possible?! Charli thought it was hilarious that he went to bed at "zero" and woke up Saturday "one"!

He got a ton of presents, more than I thought were even out there! He got an awesome cellphone that transforms into a CAT truck, jack in the box, lawn mower, awesome tractor he loves from grandma and grandpa, a fun bench is trying to learn to climb, fun trucks, clothes, and maybe his favorite...a camo hat! He is really loving his mower and the hat - among everything else he has also given special attention to today!

He was funny to watch eat his cake! There is a before and after picture below...he ate the frosting circles one by one before he event paid attention to the rest of the cake. We had to poke a hole in the frosting to show him what was under the sugar! (more sugar!)

he got two pair of excavator PJ's! right up his alley! I guess it is a good thing I haven't been shopping for so long, or I would have snatched them up too!!

the "after"

the hat made him smile the second it was put on this little round head!

hanging out with dad, reading the JD magazine

he picked the blue, then red, then dark blue circles..then picked at his name!

sorry...it wouldn't flip for me!! :-)

I'll post more pictures later, my memory card was full, so my sister took over as photographer, and I have to wait for her to send me the pictures!! So...maybe if I mention it here, she will be reminded to go do it now...hint-hint Rachelle :-)

i'll tell you a secret

Charli has really shown her grown up colors this week. She looks more grown up, she acts more grown up, and it is obvious to us that she just IS more grown up. When did it happen? I look at Harper and try to remember the days between when Charli was that age and now - and it all blurs together. It makes me so sad to realize how quickly their little lives change. In the meantime we make the most of the minutes we have!!

Our Church's Relay For Life team is raising money to decorate bags in honor of Charli and another friend, Andy, from our church. It is humbling to see all that people are willing to do to honor your child. Words can't explain it!

Harper will be turning one in a few days,when did I become the mom of a 1-year old and a 4-year old?! I imagine my next post will be of our big boy and his birthday celebrations! :-)

enjoying an m&m ice cream sandwhich --> they looked delicious!

seriously, charli pops up in the most unusual places! yep...this would be Charli in the refrigerator.

harper enjoyed the slip-n-slide that Charli got for her birthday from Aunt Jen! He didn't attempt to walk down it alone, but did have a great time!

Charli had a great time as well!! Sadly for our yard, we have gotten about 8" of rain this week so the grass was a mess after our playdate with the slip-n-slide! The water was cold, the air was hot...and of course the time was too short!

so pretty :-)

monkey see -- monkey do at our house. Charli was shaking her cup of chocolate milk and harper thought he needed to dot he same with his cup. His sippy cup didn't have a stopper in it - and it went all over!! He will copy about anything she does - lovely.

she is a great-big helper! She can shave about 10 minutes off our mornings if we are all having a good day!

Chad took the kids to the shop to play Saturday morning! Charli is getting more confident on her 4-wheeler and it is obvious that she will be loving this for a long time!

Charli at vacation bible school this week! She had so much fun!!

Charli and her friend Lily from VBS and Sunday school

Charli was SO excited to have Harper and Daddy at her program!

this was such a proud moment for me! She was a great singer and dancer! She really did a good job, as did the other kids! It was an unusual feeling to drop her off Monday morning for VBS. I remember years ago realizing that these milestones would be big for us...her first day at kindergarten, first preschool snack, vacation bible school, sleep over, etc -- these are things that I knew would all happen as we got closer to her "5 years out". And, these milestones will not be taken for granted at this house - that is for sure!!

Harper was excited to be there to support his big sister too! He loved the music and loved the open space to walk around!

Harper can make a great mess when left alone!

lil miss independent! She will now not only pick out her clothes and dress herself but also comb her hair and put her barrette in! Who needs a mom, when you are almost four.

and...the details!

I'll let the pictures do the talking...they have lots to say:-)

my best guess is that Goldilocks here couldn't find the comfy spot in the bed!

she loves to do this to everyone who comes over! her dad loves it too...however, doesn't so much love me taking pictures of it!

showing me he was 'so big' after eating a chocolate chip cookie!

you can kind of see the remains of the bruise on his head, one of many to come! this one, believe it or not, had nothing to do with big sister.

ahhh, the memories!! While in Colorado it was discovered that the kids on Chad's side of the family never get to celebrate any birthdays together. So, Jen was kind enough to throw a "surprise" birthday party for everyone! (sneaky-sneaky...we kept it secret from everyone!!) Justin even HAND-made party hats...Charli was not a fan sadly. (results of four days without a nap!) She quickly recovered as you will soon see!

hat off and ringpop in hand...makes all happy again!! Charli and Conner enjoying the party!

I guess this was the party entertainment! They got to fly kites together with grandma and grandpa and had fun! Charli's kit did really well...it was a little piggy!

just chill'n waiting for his breakfast!

Charli got to wake up to a 'super cool' surprise on Saturday afternoon! Her daddy bought her this pink 4-wheeler! It is as real as the sky is blue...and they love to have this hobby to share!! She wouldn't let us drive, but she gave us both a ride!! When she is riding alone she wears a little dora helmet...and she looks so little on it! She drove it for a long time, until her "thumb hurt" from driving so long!! It was also 'hat' day! I had a hat on, so she had to have one on too!

she picked out her own outfit this day. Her shirt says "Will trade brother for tractor"! I think this picture is so cute, and totally fits her personality right now. Do you agree?!

She begged us to give him a ride!

getting ready to head out for the 4th Annual Charli's Angels Poker Run! We had beautiful weather...amazing! We couldn't have planned it better ourselves :-) We had a really great turnout. I need to verify everything, but I would guess that we had around 140-150 people and raised close to $2,100. We will donate this money to CureSearch and Angels Among Us this year! A major thanks to all who came out for the event and those who helped make the day possible!! Someone from Mexico, his name was Oscar, was passing thru and wanted to donate to our event, and several who were there enjoying their Sunday afternoon also wanted to contribute, such kind people in this world! Oscar was so cute! He wanted to met Charli, and give her a high-five! He asked her for a 'high-five' and she slapped his hand so hard, it made him smile and touch her cheek. She made his day! It is so much fun to see those who have come all four years, and humbling when we talk to someone new who has been touched by cancer. This year it was a man who lost his wife about 5 years ago. He asked me "why do you do it? I mean, I know why you do it. But WHY do you do it?" I explained to him why we do these things, and he said "I hope you know I will require a hug when we are finished here." Those are the reasons I do it!

Grandpa and Harper

Grandpa was a busy boy trying to play with Harper and Charli

Charli and Harper are loving their tent and tunnel this week!

Charli on her first day of Vacation Bible School! It was so strange to leave her there. Our church shares this event with another church, and this year VBS is at their location. It felt so strange to leave her in a new big building with so many strangers. She doesn't seem big enough to do these things. Of course it makes me smile with thankfulness that we get to do these things with her...and smirk in amazement in all she is going to accomplish.

she thought we needed a "group" shot that morning too! I guess, it was mom's first day of vacation bible school too...and really that deserves not only a picture, but an award ceremony. I mean really...you have been there -- it is HARD work to let your baby go...

bath time got a lot easier :-) Actually, about the time that she wants to give him baths is about the time that she wants to start taking showers! She is a good scrubber for him, and gets his back very clean while they play! As you can see, he doesn't mind! He officially has two mothers!

sneak peak!

way behind on pictures...just a sneak peak of what is to come!!!!

4th Annual Poker Run

4th Annual Poker Run

Sunday ~ June 6th, 2010

10:00 - 12:00 registration at Harley Davidson * Columbus, NE

OPEN TO BIKES, TRUCKS, CARS...anything with wheels :-)

ALL proceeds donated to CureSearch and Angels Among Us