Makenzie - Our little TV star

This morning Makenzie and a few of her dancer friends got to tape an advertisement for their upcoming Spirit of Christmas dance show. It will air tomorrow morning on Your Life A to Z. Hopefully I can get video of it and post it on the blog.

Thankful

Hunter's class made turkeys during the Thanksgiving season. He came home with his turkey and all the feathers written on with different things the kids were thankful for. Hunter was thankful for his family, for football, for friends. But my very favorite was the one where he was thankful for God. In a public school system where there not even allowed to mention God anymore, I was thankful to see that he still knows what's most important. I am so thankful Hunter remembers who we should be thankful for.

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving we headed up north to visit with the Stratton/Hancock family. We left on Wednesday and spent a quiet, chilly night in Payson before heading to Snowflake on Thursday morning. The Thanksgiving feast was absolutely delicious and the time spent with family was special. Thanksgiving evening was spent back in the valley with the Hoffmann family for dessert and snuggling by the fire.
We have so much to be thankful for.

Madison going for her first drive on the back roads of Snowflake with Grandpa Rusty and Dad. (For those keeping track......you're guessing correctly, she's only 13! Brendon teased her and kissed the ground when they got back.)

Susan G. Komen: 0 to 60 in 3 days

Earlier this year I took a pledge with three good friends to join the Susan G. Komen 3-day event. We made a promise to each raise $2300 and walk 60 miles over three days. What an adventure it was. I had so much fun planning our fundraising events and spending three days with three wonderful friends. It was an experience of a lifetime and I'm so thankful I got the opportunity to participate. Thank you to everyone for helping us on this journey! I hope every step we took brought us that much closer to a cure!

6am Friday morning: The Tutus for Tatas check in at Park Central Mall for the first day of walking and the tearful opening ceremonies.

End of Day One: We walked 23.5 miles.

We started at Park Central Mall and walked to Westworld. Looking back this was the hardest day taking us 9 hours to complete the first stretch of the walk.

Day 2 - Celebrating

The start of our third and final day

In our ponchos, ready to endure the rainy weather on the last day, we stop to take a break with one of our favorite walker stalkers.

Three of our favorite motorcycle, music loving, dancing crossing guards. It was special people like them dressed in their pink, smiling and cheering us on that helped us get through each day.

Fun at the finish line

Tearful and emotional closing ceremony

Start of Day Two - We walked 18.5 miles this day

Celebrating the end with tasty (and well deserved) margaritas. Our final day we walked 17 miles and finished in the top 30 out of 1500 participants. Celebrating was fun, unless you sat too long and then it was hard to get moving again. I quickly learned to stay standing. :)

Our first fundraising event: Poker Run on Mill Avenue

Chilly 6am check-in on the first day

End of day 2 - 42 miles completed

Our 2nd fundraising event - Kickball tournament

Tutus for Tatas Husbands help us out and cheer us on at the Poker Run

None of this would have been possible without them. Thank you, honey! I love you!

Holly honoring her mom who passed away two years ago from breast cancer.

Hunter Football Season

Hunter finished off his flag football this season with his team winning 4th place. He is so fun to watch and I'm amazed how fast his little legs go when he starts running. I call him "Flash" and it makes him smile every time I say it. He seems to love everything about the sport but as the season progressed he really started liking playing safety. Brendon helped coach and ran the offense. I'm not sure who had more fun on game days - daddy or his son.

NYCDA Los Angeles

My little twinkle toes. She amazes me so much!

Kenzie performed three group numbers in Burbank this past weekend. Fan Tan Fannie ended up taking awards for everything. Kenzie also won outstanding dancer, finishing in the top 8 out of 150 dancers. I guess we're off to New York City again this summer!

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Stratton for taking Kenzie to this dance performance so I could walk in the 60 mile - 3 day Susan G. Komen event!