Marine Corps Marathon is done!

The marathon is behind us, and with a finishing time of 3:43:28!  Thanks to all for the support, and especially my wife who is caught red-handed below!

Thanks for the motivation Coach!  ;)

Getting some nutrients at mile 20, just before the 14th St bridge.

Just havin' fun

Just a few pics of recent playing, decorating and enjoying donuts!  Enjoy!

Candy corn dress made for Maddie by Grammy.  Can you tell she's been eating chocolate?

Just hanging out.

Enjoying the local park.

Decorating mini pumpkins.

Krispy Kremes decorated for Halloween!

Our beloved dane.

Follow Bill along the Marine Corps Marathon!

You can sign up at the following website to receive emails, texts, tweets or Facebook messages of all the splits as Bill runs the marathon this Sun. Start time is 0800 EST, and he's hoping to finish in under 4 hours.  Results will be delivered instantaneously.  Sign up and cheer him on!

Follow Bill here!

Fall camping

So we took off from the big city last week for some fall camping in the Shenandoah mtns and it was awesome!  We found corn mazes, pumpkin patches, caverns and a southern kitchen serving great food!  It was our longest venture in the camper thus far, and we continue to learn tricks of the trade to make each trip a little better.  The leaves were starting to change and it was beautiful.  We landed in New Market, VA in the heart of Civil War history, but admittedly didn't take much of that history in this time around.   It was a wonderful trip....enjoy the pics.

In the corn maze!

Funny lookin' haybale.

Sporting some new boots.

Inside Luray caverns.

Supporting the Vols, even though they were playing #1 LSU!

Bill got in on the fun @ the corn maze farm!

Happy Birthday Maddie!

So our 'little' girl just turned 4 years old!  Grammy & Pop Pop were able to come up for the week, and everyone had great fun.  Bill had to fly to AZ for a couple days, and ran a Marine Corps trail race through Prince William Forest, so having them around to help w/the kids and the house was wonderful.    Shannon may have had a b'day too, but unfortunately we didn't capture any photos of that.  Her big gift was tickets to see Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center, and that's where we're headed today!  Woohoo!  Grandma/Grandpa were up just a couple weeks before, and so we were prompted to keep unpacking and getting the house in order.  Thanks to both g'parents, as they both helped so much around here!  Enjoy the pics...

Surprise!  Her new Dora tent.

Maddie loves her new Dora tent from G'ma/G'pa!

Can you say 'all boy'?

Grammy & Pop came for a week....Charlie wanted in the picture too!

Maddie in her new tutu on her big girl bed!

Maples Family photos

This post is for all those who haven't seen the pics from our Maples' outing to Cannonsburg (in Murfreesboro) this May.  It was in the midst of the cicada season, so Maddie was petrified for most of the outing.  Hunter on the other hand was fascinated, but he also showed his true colors with an occasional fit.  Nonetheless, it was a good day and we have wonderful memories to share.  Enjoy!

Swimming & Camping

This post is mostly pics from recent swimming occasions, but also a couple from camping and around the house. We enjoyed a visit from Grandma & Grandpa while Bill was on travel to Vegas. The visit helped expedite furnishing our guest suite downstairs, so this is an open invitation to come visit! After their visit, we hooked up the camper and spent a long weekend at Lunga Park again. It was a nice break and we enjoyed catching up w/friends as well. Still getting the house arranged and furnished, but trying to mix in some camping and site-seeing along the way. Enjoy the pics and come visit!

This used to be daddy's fun cape!

Keep that look Maddie....for the next 20yrs! :)

Maxin' & relaxin' in the camper.

These guys came right up to our camper. And they hiss!

Enjoying the kiddie pool.

Maddie's swim lessons.

Maddie's new haircut & her yearbook from Montessori.

Grandma & Grandpa doing the spoiling thing! DONUTS!!