Tim & Danielle's Wedding in Wisconsin

This past weekend has been much anticipated, not only because Mike's cousin was getting married, but also because Izzy was asked to be a flower girl. Danielle sent Izzy a package about 6 months ago with a flower girl shirt (see below) and a book that described all of her responsibilities as a flower girl. We've been reading and practicing and just waiting to wear the dress and walk down that coveted aisle.

We loaded up the car Friday morning (yay for year-round flex Fridays!!!) and took off for Wisconsin. If you know the McCullochs, one thing you definitely know is that our girls aren't huge fans of long car rides. I won't tell you what we resorted to, but let's just say the car ride up north was a touch tumultuous so we visited a CVS. Let's just say the car ride HOME today was MUCH more pleasant. We arrived into town and had a quick visit with cousins/uncles/family and then checked into the hotel. We spruced up and then headed to the church for the rehearsal:

Daddy prepping Izzy for her walk down the aisle
Laney and Grandpa
Of course Bug had to walk down the aisle, too!At the dinner after rehearsal, Danielle gave the two flower girls a Build-A-Bear BRIDE complete with their names monogrammed on the dresses. They also got pearl necklaces and bracelets. Danielle really went above and beyond for these two princesses (and there's even MORE to come!)
Laney loved the Bunny Bride, too!
Quick family pic before we RUSHED back to the hotel for bedtime (which was 2 hours past their bedtime...Bug was d.o.n.e.)


Saturday morning I went for a 12 mile run on a pretty neat trail that runs all the way through the state of Wisconsin called the Ice Age Trail. Returned to the hotel just long enough to clean up and then we headed out with Bob & Laura to our favorite Janesville shopping places: Woodmans (for cheese curds & Spotted Cow) and Farm & Fleet (for amazingly low prices on the girls' clothes/shoes!). A quick lunch and rester before we had to clean up for the wedding.
I just adore this pic of Izzy - her Grandma blew out her hair that morning to she just looked so stinking cute! Just the girls

Izzy with her buddies: Danielle and Claire

Waiting to start

The girls were enamored by the bride

You can see daddy in the background, he was the "launcher" and I was the "receiver." I asked Mike how he got the girls to walk down the aisle so calmly (Izzy RAN down it in rehearsal). Mike said it was easy, Izzy had a captive audience...it was her show!

I really wish I had filmed this because as soon as Izzy saw me, she bolted. Through the ceremony I kept Izzy entertained with crayons and candy. But nothing could stop her from climbing down into the aisle. To check out her shoes. She kept on pulling her dress up, bending down, and staring at her white glittery shoes. Too funny.

Madelyn & Laura

Blowing bubbles

Photos

Family photo

And here is where Danielle crossed all of her "T's" and dotted all of her "I's"...she made personalized activity bags for all the kids, complete with books, crayons, coloring books, butterfly wings, toys, games, you name it...she supplied it. Priceless. I believe this will be the first wedding I go to that I will be sending the bride a thank you note!

Buggie finding trouble (and looking so cute!)

And how adorable are these butterfly wings? The girls absolutely LOVED them.

Bug dancing alone...

...and with Grandpa

Izzy did so much dancing that she had to take a rester!

Ring around the rosey with Grandma Great and Grandma Laura

Here are two hilarious videos from the reception:

Sunday morning we met Mike's Uncle Jimmy, Grandpa Marcks & Linda for an early breakfast before we hit the road. Was fun to catch up with them!

Visit from Grand Roo...

My mom was in town last Sunday through Wednesday, as she had her high school 45th reunion in Detroit. She stayed home with the girls M-W to have some special one-on-one time and it was just so much fun to come home to the three of them (Mikey was out of town) each night. The girls bonded and simply loved having my mom here. Mom took them on walks, to the park, to the library and shopping. Wednesday afternoon we took the girls downtown to the Childrens' Museum, here are some pics:

Just Bug

Climbing

Water fun

Picking flowers

Carousel

My girls!
Izzy loved this...it's kind of like an extra large "Mouse Trap" game with pool balls
Izzy would put the balls in the start position and then mom would help her scoop them up and send them on their way
Izzy's favorite: pretend play in the ice cream parlor
While Bug relaxes in the playhouse

Nick's Wedding on the Farm...

Saturday after my run we headed up to Fort Wayne to celebrate Mike's step-brother's wedding on the farm. I took the opportunity to take a few pics:

She is such a ham
But yet so stinking cute

Laney was showing off by walking barefoot in the grass

Mike & his girls (do you not love the matching dresses? Laura got them for the girls.)

Bob & Laura with Rachel & Nick

Izzy wanted to dance, not take pics

Just the girls

Laney with Grandpa Bob

Izzy participating in the toast (hers was juice/water)

Izzy's kind of a scene stealer: she got in on the mother/son dance!

Sister Sarah with Delaney. I'm serious when I say Buggy was doing this for 30+ minutes...she just wanted to be upside down!

Touching some of the pretty decor

Mom & Bug

Showing off yet more walking!

**My mom is arriving in town tonight...the girls will be quite surprised when they wake up!**

GS Trike-a-thon

Last Friday was a Trike-a-thon at Godd.ard. The girls are too young to fundraise but they were able to participate in the day's activities:

Izzy was wreckless on her trike
The teachers said she was on a mission and nearly ran over 3 of them (she tends to focus on the peddling instead of the stearing).

Meanwhile, Laney had a taste-test in her room among a variety of fruits. This was the lemon and she did not care for it!

Bug is obviously too little for a bike, but she managed to do some serious walking behind the push toys.

PS-Buggy started WALKING this week!!!

I did it!!!

I ran 20 miles yesterday. I'm still in shock my body allowed me to do this to it and that I survived to talk about it. It's just not natural. But I did it. And I don't hurt all that badly. Who'd have thought? Me? Me!

I set out at 6am complete with iPod, a fuel belt consisting of $2, 20 ounces of Gatorade, 1 energy bar and 1 pack of Gu Chomps, sun visor, two tendinitis knee bands, long sleeve jacket, 1 watch, 1 blinking red light and 1 Power Balance necklace. That's a lot of gear for a sport that requires minimal equipment! It was dark and chilly and within 2 miles I had stripped myself of the North Face jacket, tossed it to the side of who knows where. I realized once I hit the Monon Trail that I couldn't see anyone approach me until they were virtually right in front of me so I was immediately paranoid. Around mile 4 I was convinced there was a man chasing me (I don't turn on my music until it is VERY bright outside so I can hear said chaser). I sprinted over a half mile as the adrenaline that I was about to be attacked kicked into my running legs. Phew, he didn't attack. Mile 11 I stopped at a McDonald's to refill my fuel belt and sat down (bare-@ssed on a PUBLIC toilet - gasp!). Around mile 12 I ran into my sometimes running partner & fellow marathon trainer, Meggie, and fell into her arms crying. Meggie: You doing ok? You look great! How's it going? Me: (sobbing) I can't believe I'm doing this, my knees hurt, I miss you with me, Am I really doing this?, I took pain meds, I sat on a public toilet, someone was chasing me in the dark, I STILL HAVE 8 MILES TO GO! After another hug I was off. On my way home I FOUND previously mentioned North Face jacket and as soon as I got to my street I was in tears. Not so much out of pain, but out of disbelief. I did it. 20 miles. And in 3 short weeks I'll have to do 26.2. Holy. Moly.

Anyway, I've completed 15 weeks of marathon training and have 3 more to go. Three weeks of tapering. I'm probably going to go crazy, as this whole running thing is 99% mental and about 1% physical. But just knowing I ran 20 and have that behind me is a huge confidence builder. Huge. And I still can't believe I did it.

Do you think she loves school?

And I was worried she'd have a hard time transitioning back to school...

I'm pretty sure she LOVES going to school...
Don't ya think?!

Indoor Pool & Big Girl Undies...

Mike headed up to Ft. Wayne for Saturday/Sunday for his step-brother's bachelor party, so we girls hung out at the library and the indoor pool all weekend. Saturday it was overcast and rainy/chilly...so we the indoor pool seemed natural. However, Sunday was beautiful and it was just strange being inside when it was so warm outside. So we played in the backyard the first half of the day until Mike came home...then we went to the pool again. Izzy is becoming VERY brave in the water, swimming across the entire pool by herself in a life jacket and even jumping in from the side (and going under while holding her breath!!!).

Laney enjoyed playing in the shallow end
And we also did some swimming in the deep end with Izzy. I had my hands full with both girls alone but did surprisingly well. Had Izzy not been in a life jacket I would not have been able to man them both in the water alone.


The girls loved having Mike in the water with them, as he swims underwater while they climb on top of him. I suppose he's much more fun that I am :)

Some cute pics of indoor playtime Sunday morning


Mike took the girls on a long walk while I stayed home to get some things done around the house after he came home.
And here is Izzy showing off her big girl undies, Elmo style. We have officially been wearing undies full time (with the exception of nighttime pull-ups...and she wakes up dry every morning!!!) for about a week. Accidents here and there with #2 but we're WELL on our way of being dry. We've pottied in public places all weekend: the library, indoor pool (on the potty, not in the pool!), out for breakfast, Sam's club, etc. BIG time change in daily activities and such a big girl. Izzy even dresses herself and once the undies are on she will look down and say, "Don't worry Tinker Stinker, I'll keep you dry today!" Love it! She's growing up before our eyes!!! Can't believe she turns 3 in a few short weeks!