Swing Swing!

While we were visiting in Kansas, my dad put the baby swing back up for Linkan. I remember when Tim was little enough to use this very same swing. :) Molly was making Linkan laugh and cracking us all up.

Playing horsey with Grandma

Bahama Mama

For our 10th wedding anniversary at the beginning of September, we took a family vacation to Florida and the Bahamas. We spent the first half in Orlando. My sister (Jessica), BIL (Bryan) and Brody (nephew) drove down from Georgia and met us there. It was the first time that we got to meet 3 month-old Brody! We tried to let the kids plays but all Linkan wanted to do is pinch Brody's face and lick him! We had a great time together, lazing in the pool and visiting Sea World. (I broke the pics up. The first group is from Orlando and the second group is from the Bahamas.) After visiting with the Ripples for a few days, we all said our goodbyes. They went up to Daytona Beach and we flew to the Bahamas. We spent a week in Freeport, eating everything in sight (the conch salad is to die-for!), lazing on the beach and in the pool. We slept in and went to bed early. haha - now that is a vacation! We did some amazing scuba diving in "Shark Alley" where the reef and nurse sharks were too numerous to count! We did some sightseeing in downtown Freeport and the Lucaya National Park. It's a beautiful island with lovely people and we hope to go back someday.

ORLANDO PICS

Climbing the ship in the hotel pool

I'm in love!

Watching Shamu!

It rained on us a little but it was a nice cool-down!

Having fun with daddy in her new stroller

Brody and his daddy

Linkan giving Brody a big ole sloppy kiss!

The cutest lil Ripple I know!

BAHAMA PICS

Beautiful beach right outside our hotel room

Linkan was 9 months old and still crawling at the time. She loved playing in the sand.

I found out just a few days before we left that Ben's cousin, Jennifer would be at our very hotel for a day at dock. What an amazing coincidence!

Enjoying some yummy fresh conch salad in the Freeport town square.

Exploring the Lucaya National Park

Gold Rock Beach in the National Park

Checking out a tiny crab.

I worked hard to get into that bikini! ;)

Up close and personal with a reef shark.

Coolest dive ever!

The Orchard

In early October, Linkan and I went to "The Orchard" in Emporia to pick some apples with mom and Molly. Linkan spent more time eating the apples than picking them. :) They were yummy!

Rock Creek Pumpkin Patch

Fall is my absolute favorite season of the year. So many things to love about it...including one of Ben and my favorite holidays - Halloween! We got into the festive spirit by taking Linkan to her first pumpkin patch last Friday evening. We had fun picking out pumpkins and cutting them off the vine and then petting some farm animals. Linkan reached out and pet a pig! As she was doing that, another pig rushed up to her and scared the pee out of her! She was screaming but it was hard not to laugh. :)

Denver Rock N Roll Marathon

Just a few weeks after finishing an IronMan race, Ben ran the Denver Rock N Roll Marathon this past weekend. He was sick and had an ear ache which slowed him down but he finished in 4:45 and we're so proud of him! Linkan and I rode all around downtown Denver in my bike and buggy to cheer him on. It was a beautiful day in Colorado. Ben is done racing for a little while. Probably until the Spring, at least. :) We are looking forward to having him home a little more often!

Running through Wash Park

Daddy left his camel back from Linkan to enjoy. She loves that thing. :)

Daddy's little cheerleader!

Ben "The IronMan" Postlethwait

A few weeks after my Linkan was born, Ben started training for an Iron Man. What is an Iron Man? Well, it's a triathlon on crack really. It's a 2.4 mile swim followed by a 112 mile bike ride followed by a 26.2 mile run. Yup, ya heard right...a marathon at the end. So where was this crazy idea born? Well, we have to rewind the clock to May 2008. We had just finished running the Bolder Boulder 10K with Sara (Ben's sister) in Boulder, Colorado. This is the coolest short distance race ever and about 50,000 run it every year. Try it sometime! Anyway, we were walking through the vendor tents and happened upon an IronMan tent. The nice lady gave Ben an IronMan luggage tag. As we were walking away, he said to me, "I can't have an IronMan luggage tag if I'm not an IronMan. It's not right." As Ben tells the story, he finishes by saying that in that moment, the voice in his head said, "You can't do an IronMan." and to the voice he said, "F you." :) Normal people would believe the voice of doubt in their head but not my husband. What I love and adore about my crazy husband is that he doesn't let anything stand in his way. He inspires me. Some would say it's just a stupid race but it's much more than just a race. It's about conquering doubts and fears. It's about discipline...and enduring pain and discomfort because the reward is great.

Close to 20 friends and family joined me in Oklahoma City, OK on September 25, 2010 to cheer Ben on. We can't thank them enough for coming. We love you all! Not only did Ben finish the RedMan race (which is an accomplishment all by itself!), he placed 1st in the Clydesdale Division (Male over 200 pounds). The spectators had a fun day hanging out, catching up, and cheer leading. Ben was overwhelmed by all the support and we just can't thank everyone enough for coming to OKC! I am so proud of my man. He is my hero and now, my IronMan too. :)

The race has just begun! Sara and I were there to see him start!

In the transition area, changing into his bike clothes.

The bike race is his strongest leg. He says he has the Postlethwait legs and thighs to thank!

Running alongside Ben, reminding him of what he said to me to encourage me about an hour before we met Linkan for the first time.

Grandma and Linkan.

Linkan and Aunt Sara.

Modeling our TeamPost t-shirts.

Just across the finish line. Yay!

Family shot with the Finisher!

Group shot of all the family cheerleaders.

Posing with Brian, Keith and Norby!

Ben and big sis, Sara - the two Triathletes

Pooped after a LONG day!

Post race BBQ at Keith's house! We stayed there for the weekend. We had such a great time hanging out with him, Jayme and Kennedy! Thanks again Keith!