United Way Day of Caring 2010

Bill & I at the State Farm sponsored Kick-off Breakfast

Our VPO, Peggy Echols, me and Megan Greany the Day of Caring Coordinator

Nearly 200 State Farm employee volunteers for Day of Caring

As the State Farm 2010 Campaign Chair, I'm leading the fundraising efforts for 6 states!! (VA, DC, MD, DE, WV & NC). Day of Caring is a big push for State Farm's committment to the United Way - we had nearly 200 employee volunteers participating in many local projects. Bill was on a team that painted murals at a local school. Great teamwork!

Day of Caring 2010

Ellie's Half Birthday

Ellie's Half Birthday Pizza - half mushroom/half sausage

Ellie and Daddy getting ready to eat half the pizza!

Ellie's Half Cake - Chocolate with Chocolate Frosting & M&Ms

Ellie & Mommy ready to enjoy the half cake!

As many of you know we celebrate Ellie's half birthday each year. We also consider that the day that we give back. This year our chosen charity is the Charlottesville Women's 4 Miler. It seemed fitting that I ran it this month, and fundraised all summer - and now as a family we've chosen to contribute to the UVA Breast Cancer Care Center.

Additionally today was also United Way Day of Caring in Charlottesville. More to come on that in tomorrow's post!

Playdate Saturday

Khionna & Ellie

Painting together

Eating lunch and snacks, of course!

Playing Wii - MarioCart and Figure Skating were their favorites

Landscaping!

Bill has found this great team of folks that will come out to the house - trim back or remove shrubs, weed the flower beds, edge the walkway and cut back all the overgrown plants! This was the result of 4 people, 2 hours work! Whew! IT would have taken us weeks!

"Mommy, will Ariel like my princess slippers?"

Ellie is adding to her collection of items to take to Disney. In order to have the right shoes for both Ariel and Tinkerbell costumes, we needed new shoes!!

10 Best Books over the past 10 Years

Oprah's picked hers. So I'm picking mine. In no particular order.

The Whole World Over by Julia Glass

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb

Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

The Alchemist is by Paulo Coelho

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron

Three Junes by Julia Glass

The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews

Labor Day at Carter Mountain Orchard

With temps in the 70's, we thought it would be a perfect day to spend some time at the top of Carter Mountain. Although not many apples were ready to pikc, they still had spectacular views and delicious peaches to eat. We've marked our calendar for the Apple Festival this year. Can't wait for tons of varieties of apples, lots of pumpkins and awesome photo ops at the top of the mountain!

Charlottesville Women's 4 Miler

Click here for: RACE RESULTS (placed 2555)









We were up, there and parked while it was still dark. I took Advil before I left the house because my foot is acting up again the past week. But I persevered! It was awesome to see 3,500 women most in pink, some in SF Red running for the UVA Breast Cancer Care Center. So much support, cheering and smiling faces!

Oh, How She's Grown!!

2010

2009

2008

2007

Ellie's Annual Hydrant Photo .. and more!

Ellie's Hydrant

Ellie and Francesca

Ellie and Francesca

Ellie and Francesca

Ellie's Mommy and Francesca's Mommy

Friends Night Out ...