Hog Wild 5K

This weekend my family participated in the Hog Wild 5K in Cadiz, KY to benefit Lillian's cousin Spencer who will be born at the end of the month. Spencer was diagnosed with Spina Bifida and due to some complications they can't perform any test/surgery until he is born. Please continue to pray for baby Spencer.

All the Family ready to run for Spencer. 

This race was not my first 5K. I actually ran cross country and track in high school but I loathed running. So this was my first 5K in about 10 years and Lillian's first 5K. She of course was lucky and rode in the stroller the whole time although she probably would have liked to run it if I wasn't so worried she'd run off course. Anyways we didn't do awesome but I was running with my sister in law the last half of the race and we had a goal to make it in under 45 min. Sure enough we made it in 44.50! Kevin did run back to us once he finished to take the stroller from me but I figured I was almost done so might as well complete it while pushing a 24lb toddler as well! I have been very sore the days that followed but felt very accomplished for completing it.

Finish Line

First (and probably last) family picture at a race. lol

Homemade Finger Painting

I have been trying to find things for Lillian and I to do at home now that she has dropped her morning nap. She wakes up at 7 am and lunch is generally around 11 am then nap at 12 noon wakes up around 2 then dinner around 5 and bed at 7 pm. So I had to find something to fill our day during her awake time. We usually have a play date once or twice a week or we will go for a walk in the neighborhood or at the park. With the weather getting cooler going outside has been nice but on those rainy days it is hard to not get bored in the house all day. I did a quick search on pinterest to see what activities we could try from home with what we may have laying around the house. I found a pin that led me to this website of a mom who made home made finger paint. There were tons of different kinds to try out but I went with the one we already had ingredients for.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup of flour
1 cup of water
food coloring
1 tsp dish soap

I heated the flour and water to get it nice and thick then added a drop or two of food coloring. I also added a tsp of  dish soap which helps makes it washable. I stored them in baby food jars to use again. Easy Peasy.

 Lillian seemed to really like it. Here is a video of her painting for the first time. She liked squishing it between her fingers more than actually painting. It cleaned up so easily, with just a paper towel and water, off of Lillian and her high chair. It only occupied her for about 20 minutes but it was something different for her to experience and play.

Tennessee Aquarium

We had made plans to meet up with Kevin's parents in North Georgia to go apple picking. The closest You Pick orchard we could find was still a 3 hour drive for us and would just be too much driving for a day trip. We ended up heading to Chattanooga to check out the Tennessee Aquarium instead. It is only about an hour and 45 min drive for us and we figured if we got done with the aquarium early there was plenty more things to do. We left that morning and made it to the aquarium about 11 am EST. the aquarium is set up in two different building; ocean journey and river journey. We walked through one building then grabbed some lunch then walked through the second building. We took lots of pictures to capture the day. 

After the aquarium we headed out to the riverfront and walked around. It was beautiful weather outside.  Nena and Poppa also brought our nephews Brody and Bryson and Lillian loved getting to play with them.

We found some kids sliding down a grassy hill on cardboard boxes so we of course joined in on the fun.

I love Kevin in this picture he looks like a superhero if he just had a cape flowing behind him.

Views: Tennessee Riverwalk Lawn by Kevin Kanzelmeyer