Happy birthday Tia!

Tia turned 25 this month! As usual, she chose dinner at the Melting Pot for her present. I think it's like 9 years running or something...and she wears the same outfit. Every.single.year. It's a tradition!

Maddie was excited to go again!

Happy birthday tia! We love you!

As for Sydney, she's up to her usual tricks. Every day, her school sends out an email with info on her day; what she ate, how long she napped (or didn't!), and they usually include a few pictures. On this day, I laughed and laughed. The teacher wrote "Only Sydney would make a face out of her tortilla."

She's rocking gymnastics though we did have to have a discussion about staying ON the beam. She liked to cannonball off like a rocket ship the first time so we had to talk about how the goal is to stay on.

Maddie got moved up for her level so she's on the high beams now.

We took a break from dance for the summer and I think we will stick with gymnastics through the fall. The girls are really enjoying it. Madeline's favorite is the uneven bars, Sydney likes beam and bars. 

We are wrapping up summer break with a lot of playdates!

We just got back from vacation (next blog post!) but we started one night early at Gigi's cupcakes.

We took the girls to the "fire" restaurant (Fuji) and they loved it. 

What's next? Maddie starts FIRST grade! We've registered and she has her teacher. She was worried she wouldn't have any friends in her class. This, coming from a child who got moved 3-4 times for talking this past year. Ha. But, of course, she has some great friends in her class so she's pumped and ready to go back to school.

  

My Half-Ironman Husband!

A few years ago, Chris got serious about running. Biking shortly followed. We went to watch a friend compete in the Louisville Ironman in Oct 2015 and it struck a chord with him. He started running a little more. And biking a little more. And swimming again (he swam in high school.)

Early this year he decided he wanted to do a Half Ironman. A 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride and 13.1 mile run -- for a total of 70.3 miles. I thought he was a little crazy but I knew he could do it.

Because when Chris has a goal, he goes for it. All in.

He trained an insane amount for this race. He'd be in the pool at 5:30 in the morning (or, on his lunch break), he ran after work and he biked for 50 - 60 mile rides on the weekends. Workout, work, sleep. Repeat. 

Last weekend, he and I drove to Muncie, Indiana so that he could compete. 

Unfortunately, I don't have too many photos. (I took a lot of video.)

 Pre-race, at the staring line. 

His wave, about to enter Prairie Creek Reservoir.

Waiting for the horn!

After 56 miles on his bike - he was still smiling at me. I couldn't believe it! 

The transition area looked like this. I had to shout at him while he was changing. 

Just under six hours later, he completed the course! 

 When he ran under the arch the announcer shouted "First-timer no more, welcome Chris Hughes to the Finish line!"

Here's his splits.

Six hours is the goal for most first time Ironman events. It's an EXCELLENT first race time.

On the way home we stopped in Indiana for tacos at my aunts. I expected Chris to drop me off, thinking he'd be too tired. Instead he stayed. And ate 3 plates of tacos. And seven of my grandma's famous cookies. He had to replenish those energy stores. :) 

What a great weekend! I'm so proud of Chris! When he puts his mind to something he does what he needs to do to get the job done. I've always said he's the hardest worker I know! 

July 4th Festivities and our first summer 'skeeto bite.

Every year I think to myself, "Is this THE year Sydney outgrows her mosquito allergy." Well, I'm here to say that 2017 is NOT that year. 

Little miss came downstairs the other morning telling me that her eye hurt. I casually turned around and gasped. 

Judging by how they appeared, they had been on there several hours. Chris had put her to bed the night before and didn't notice the bites so we wondered if she got bit while sleeping.

She was in great spirits so we kept our plans to go to the zoo with friends. 

By the time we got to the zoo, her eye had already started to swell so I called and made an appointment later that day with the doctor. 

She got an antibiotic to prevent infection and we went about our business. 

She woke up Saturday and her eye was swollen shut.  

 I mean WHAT IN THE WORLD? Poor little Syd. Fortunately, after a few days of Benadryl and her antibiotic, she is starting to look normal. We are a week out though and you can still see the two bite marks. :(

Maybe 2018 will be the summer the skeetos stop loving her. 

Let's see, what else? Maddie is learning to snorkel and loves it.

We had a pool party at nana and grandpas with our cousins.

We went to a big fireworks party at one of our friends houses. 

It was supposed to be a small cook-out but...there were more than 100 people!

The sparklers were LEGIT.

We spent the actual Fourth with K and D and Sloane and Hudson.

The kids always have a great time with each other!

The girls were worn out and both fell asleep in the car. 

We were just about to go for the transfer when some different neighbors invited us over for a "few fireworks." Except not. They had so.many.fireworks. It was a blast!

We let the girls stay out until 10 (which is a solid 2 + hours after bed time) and they both slept until after 9 the next day. I didn't even know what to do with myself. 

We are having a fun summer!