AVON Walk for Breast Cancer

Hello everyone!

I wanted to take a minute to thank you again for your support and donations towards such an incredible cause: The AVON Walk for Breast Cancer. I just completed the walk yesterday, and I won't lie, it was HARD! The truth is, I wouldn't have been able to do it without your contributions! The first step towards the walk was meeting the fundraising goal.

I am proud to say that my team mate and I raised almost $4200!!! What started out as an effort to show a friend we cared, and honor the lives and memories of many women in our lives, turned into an amazing experience. All of the months of training, power bars, gatorades, and bandages could not prepare us for the journey that we made over the last 2 days.

It was very emotional and inspirational, and I met some INCREDIBLE men and women along the route: families walking with each other, children working crew whose moms had breast cancer, daughters walking in their mom/aunt/grandmother's memory, men walking with or for their wives, volunteers whose lives themselves have been touched by breast cancer, and who travel the country just to help at these events, friends walking for and with friends, many repeat walkers, but most inspirational were the survivors themselves, and those currently suffering from cancer walking themselves!!!

I was truly touched by these people, and so happy to have been able to walk and make a small contribution in the fight against breast cancer. This year's Charlotte AWBC had over 1200 participants and raised over $2,300,000!!! Much of that money will be spent in the Charlotte region to fight breast cancer and help patients in this area.

Thank you again for your support! I have been so touched by everyone's support and encouragement through this process, and I couldn't have made it without you guys! I have attached a photo of my friend and team mate, Beth, at the finish line! Beth kept me going, and was super cheerful throughout it all!!! Thanks Beth!

I walked because I could, and I am glad that I did! I walked today to help find a cure for tomorrow.

Thank you again,

Andrea

Pumpkin Patch

Last weekend, we decided to take the boys to the pumpkin patch. The younger ones had a field trip, but it was cancelled because of all of the rain that we have been having (which we are very grateful for after the lack of rain over the past few years). The kids thought it would be fun to go on a family field trip!

The "farm" had animals (and some really stinky pigs which Drew especially loved), a hay trampoline, a corn maze, a hay fort, and a really bumpy muddy hayride! That was their favorite, well, that or the icecream at the end! I love the picture of Davis in front of the muddy tire. Somehow mud and tires and boys make me smile! Our cute little niece went along with us, with her mom and dad! She really enjoyed the time running around with the boys too!


**Pictures to come--having a little technical difficulty tonight!

Fire Station Visit

While we were visiting my mom this weekend, we made a stop at the Fire Station where my stepdad works as a volunteer. I am probably not getting this all right, but I think he works with the EMTs on a First Responder unit. Anyhow, the kids were VERY impressed. They especially loved the job of keeping the coolers full of ice! The big fire truck was out on a call, but they got to tour the station, the HAZMAT truck, and the First Responder Ambulance Unit. I think B'Pa was pretty proud to show the boys what he does! They are pretty proud of him too! Tons of pictures to come, but I just have a minute for one or two tonight...

A silly Davis story too...on the LONG way home (why does the trip home always go by so slowly? and why is there ALWAYS so much traffic in Atlanta, even on a late Sunday afternoon???) Davis asked about every 10 minutes "how much longer?" Finally, he changed it up a bit..."are we in the part of the earth where "B" lives, or the part of the earth where we live?" I told him probably in the middle, as we were half way home. Then he wanted to know "How long does it take to get out of the middle?" I couldn't help but laugh, knowing all he, and I, really wanted to know was how long until we were all home and could get out of this car!

What's new?

So sorry not to be posting so much these days...it has been really busy. My photography business has taken off. This is great, and I truly love it, but it does add onto my daily duties of being a mom, working mom, and let's see...maid, cook, taxi driver, seamstress, personal shopper, homework helper, etc...

Let's see what's new:

Jackson started Cub Scouts about 2 weeks ago. He loves it and is so excited about the prospect of camping, fishing, and all the other outdoor father-son activities that come with scouts. I think it teaches them some great life skills and am happy that he likes it.

Davis started soccer a few weeks ago and had his first game last weekend. He is the only child we have in sports this season, and I am so excited that Davis gets to be the center of attention for once. After 3 years of watching Jackson play, it's nice to have everyone on the sidelines for him for a change. Davis LOVES soccer and he's really good! He is a big kid, and he's not scared to kick the ball hard and run fast. It's fun to watch him!

Drew is the same sweet little boy, only the terrible twos have settled in, which means we don't see that sweet little boy often. Mostly, we have a moody, grumpy, boy who now likes to hit and yell and cry at the drop of a hat, or lego, or whatever else is in his way. The hives have gone away (YEAH!!) FINALLY! They lasted about 8 weeks, but now they are gone, and we are starting to re-introduce all of his "allergic" foods, and we wait and see if he reacts. We had a follow-up yesterday with the allergist who said everything is good. We go back at the end of the year. Wish us luck! Hopefully, the hives were a one time thing, and we won't ever see them again!

I am well now, and gearing back up into training. I am SO thankful for all of the support that I got. I reached my goal, actually surpassed it, and raised almost $2000!! Let the countdown begin...only 2 weeks until I walk 39 miles in 2 days! AHHH...I'm a little nervous! I hope that I can do it!!