Our month started off with the St. Jude Run, which is the culmination of another year of hard work and planning as Zach is the co-coordinator of the Eureka to Peoria Run. It was an amazing day!! Zach and I both ran the entire 30 mile course, and celebrated a record-high earning for the Eureka team.
The St. Jude Run is a family affair, and we loved having the kids meet us along the course (with Grammie) to cheer us on.
Having my dad run with us for the first half of the day was another highlight. At 68, my dad ran 12 of the first 16 miles. He's amazing!! I love sharing this passion for running with him.
Stopping along the route at the home of a St. Jude patient is always a great reminder of why we run. The added surprise that the patient was someone I know made the moment all the more special.
The St. Jude Run is one of our favorite days of the year. Being a part of something so much bigger than us and seeing so many individuals come together for a common cause is just amazing.
We took two trips to Sugar Grove Nature Center with cousins before school started.
We had never been, and the kids had a blast playing outside, climbing trees, and exploring. We went on a Friday and had such a great time that the kids went back with Zach 4 days later.
Although there were swings and treehouses and creeks and a zip line, Briggs found the diggers and the sand and didn't want to do anything else.
We fit in a last trip to the pool with friends.
This little gal started her first ever soccer season.
Zach and I enjoyed a fun night out at the wedding of a friend of mine from work.
Zach took Briggs to Dozer Days. It was an opportunity for kids to ride in and experience heavy machinery. Briggs loved seeing all the vehicles and sitting in them, but was hesitant about actually riding in or activating some of the equipment.
While Briggs and Daddy went to Dozer Days, we had a girls lunch out.
We went to the Community Bash at Aunt Jill's church, which is always an August highlight.
Face painting, horse rides, bouncy houses, petting zoo, hayrack rides, food, crafts, and spending time with cousins. What's not to love??
There were also emergency vehicles, a helicopter landing, and fireworks. Winner, winner, winner!
(For the record, staying up 2 hours past bedtime to catch the fireworks made for a few tired, cranky, emotional kids the next day. #notwinning)
We enjoyed a trip to Tanner's Orchard with grandparents and cousins while the big kids were in school.
It's so fun living close to family!!
A few recent trips to the zoo, picnics, library outings, and playing at the park have rounded out our month.
August has been fun and packed full of highlights. And with its unseasonably pleasant weather, it's already starting to feel like the beginning of fall. And since fall just happens to be my favorite season, I say...bring it on!!
Good-bye, August! It's been fun!!
