New York, New York

During July I took a quick weekend trip to New York to visit Amber, Jon and Suvi.  It was so fun to see them and tour a bit of New York.

Suvi really enjoying her Hazelnut Ice Cream.

Too cute not to share.

Getting ready for the rowboat ride through Central Park.

Me serious about my rowing abilities.

Closest I've ever been to the Statue of Liberty.

Off to church, bunny along for the ride.

Thanks Ambie, Jon and Suvi for a fun weekend! Come to Boston to visit!

Catch up in pictures....

Mom and Dad Bailly visit Boston in March:

Duck Tour

They even let me drive along with all the little kids.

 Bunker Hill Monument.  Third trip up.  

I figured out the only way to come out pain free the next day is to take it slow.

 Even David's parents did it!  

 Beth sure is happy to be heading back down.

 Tour of "Old Ironsides", the USS Constitution

Trip to Newport, RI with a friend to see the Mansions:

 "The Breakers".  This was a summer home.  Really, it was.

Pretty magnificent and the ocean is literally right behind their backyard. It's beautiful.

Boston Marathon 2012:

We live a block off the course and got front row seats with some friends, Nicole and Justin, that were visiting from Virginia.  It definitely motivated me to run another marathon. 

Boston Red Sox game with Justin:

11 runners + 23 hours + 176.4 miles = Cape Cod Ragnar Relay May 11th and May 12th:

David and I at the start of Van 2's legs.  We are still fresh and clean.  This changes in about 2 1/2 hours.

 Jeff, our friend from California, flew in to race with us.  He was incredible and it was fun to watch him  at 1am pick off runner after runner.  He ran right about 6 min miles for 9 miles and this was his second leg. 

 Jeff and Amy (team captain, Dr. Teeth).

 Pretty happy to have all my legs completed and a chance to see the ocean.

David during his last leg of the race and the last leg of the entire relay.

 Happy to be done!  But would do it again in a heartbeat.

**More relay photos to come.

Christmas in St. Louis

Christmas

This year David was on call during the holidays, so I ventured off to St. Louis without him. My whole family flew in minus my hubby and another brother-in-law. It was wonderful (not the part where two son-in-laws were missing).

It is harder and harder to get everyone together since we are spread out and have our own little families, so this was a real treat. And, to make the situation even more spectacular, my youngest sister, Ashley, went through the temple. When we were standing in the temple all together as a family, my heart was full. One of the greatest purposes of this life is to live our lives worthy to be together as a family for eternity. On a lighter note, I was reminded of why my mom and I were often separated during church when I was growing up. For some reason, the two of us can not sit next to each other and be reverent. I nonchalantly pointed something out to my mom while at the temple that sent her into hysterics with me quickly following. I don't think I have ever fought so hard to keep myself from laughing out loud.

The week before Christmas, we kept busy entertaining 7 little kiddos, or possibly it was the other way around.

Science Center

Lone Elk Park- saw Santa's reindeer the day before Christmas.

Magic House- Loved this place. Why wasn't this around when I was a kid?

Decorated a gingerbread house (although most of the candy might have been ingested prior to making it on the house.)

My nephews could have spent hours in the basement making forts, playing hide and go seek and collecting treasure chests. They asked Mimi why she had so many treasure chests.

We had a visit from Aunt Ginny, Aunt Barb and Uncle Larry

Got to eat my favorite pizza at Uno's.

Ate lots of Christmas goodies: Homemade caramels & white fudge.

Enjoyed a non-traditional Christmas Eve dinner, Bethlehem style.

The kiddos did a live nativity. The angel unfortunately had to slip out early due to illness and Jesus only stayed awhile because it was past his bedtime.

Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us ALL stay at your house and for making it a memorable Christmas! I can't wait to do it again.

Home Sweet St. Louie

Make a Smilebox photobook

I love to go home. There is something about being at my parent's house that is just so comforting. We were able to pack a lot of things into such a short time period, but when I only get home once a year that's what I have to do.

The day after I arrived in St. Louis my mom and I headed to Champaign, IL to visit my sister Kari and her family which included my super duper adorable 3 month old nephew Garrett. During our short day and a half trip to Champaign we did the following:
-Went to the Botanical Gardens
-Saw Theron's new practice (the fact that Theron is finally done with training and is now a practicing oral surgeon helps me to see the light at the end of the tunnel for all of David's training, WHOO HOO!)
-Took the kid's on their bikes down to the lake
-Learned that a two year old knows the importance of exercise and will keep herself fit by doing sit-ups and shaking her booty.

After Champaign, my mom and I took my niece Morgan and my nephew Karsten back to St. Louis with us. In St. Louis we played for a few days before heading back to northern IL. While in St. Louis we:
-Took my nephew to see the RV/Motorhome Sales Lot by our house. He is obsessed with these things. He wanted to walk through every motorhome and get pictures. It is hilarious that a 5 year old boy would love these things so much. He told my mom that she should buy one so that when he comes in town to visit he can play in it.
-Played in the pool.
-Went to Toys 'R' Us to buy legos and built a Sponge Bob rocket ship. I thought Sponge Bob lived in the sea. What's he doing with a rocket ship?

Drove to Moline, IL for a mini family reunion with my mom's sisters, their husbands and a few cousins and second cousins. They arranged it so we could get together when I was in town since I never make it back to the family reunion in December.

After the trip to Moline my dad came up with a brilliant idea to drive through Nauvoo on our way back to St. Louis. I have not been to Nauvoo since I was in high school so I have never seen the new temple. It was beautiful and the spirit there is so strong. Now I'm hoping to go back again when I have more time.

For the last few days in St. Louis I managed to meet up with my two best friends, Ashley and Heather, from high school that I had lost contact with, my good friend Whitney and her husband Drew, and my boss from 6 years ago, Maureen. I went to the zoo and the Butterfly House with my mom. And the day I flew out, my mom, dad and I were able to go to the St. Louis Temple together.

It was a great trip and next time I will remember to invite my husband :)

Can't Wait to See These Kiddos

This week I am flying to St. Louis to see my parents and then I'll go to Illinois to visit my sister Kari and her family. I CAN'T WAIT! I go through withdrawal when I don't get to see my nieces and nephews. And, I get to meet the newest nephew on my side of the family, Garrett.