So, for Memorial Day weekend Josh and the kids and I headed towards Houston for the Angel Race. For the past 6 months or so Josh has been signing up for monthly races in an effort to get in better shape. I think it's been good for him to have these goals, and it's really cool to watch him accomplishing them one race at a time. This race was kind of meaningful because it was a tribute to my niece's teacher that tragically died this past year due to complications with the flu, and it was also a tribute to her sister who died young as well. :( It's just the saddest story, so that's about as far as I'm going to delve into it.

My sisters and nieces also participated in the race festivities! We've never done stuff like this as a family, but I think the kids really enjoyed it, and I'd like to keep doing stuff like this...although, I don't know if my sisters feel the same way... "/

Josh and Jenny both did the 10K.  All of the rest of us did the 1-mile run/walk.  I didn't get any pics of the 1-miler though because Anna decided she wanted to be carried the entire way! — Josh and Jenny both did the 10K. All of the rest of us did the 1-mile run/walk. I didn't get any pics of the 1-miler though because Anna decided she wanted to be carried the entire way!

I haven't looked up Josh's time yet, but it seemed like he finished much faster than he did before.  There were also not a gazillion people running in this race, so every 10K finisher got their name called out as they crossed the finish line, … — I haven't looked up Josh's time yet, but it seemed like he finished much faster than he did before. There were also not a gazillion people running in this race, so every 10K finisher got their name called out as they crossed the finish line, which was totally awesome!

This was Jenny's first 10K, and she was super excited to actually finish it.  I never doubted she would.  :) — This was Jenny's first 10K, and she was super excited to actually finish it. I never doubted she would. :)

Sarah and I spent a fair amount of time hanging out at the starting/finish line entertaining the kids while waiting on Josh and Jenny.

Most of the cousins on this side of the family are girls, and they all love to be little mommies.  They'd carry Anna around everywhere if they could, and Anna was happy to oblige this time.  It's getting kind of funny though because Anna'… — Most of the cousins on this side of the family are girls, and they all love to be little mommies. They'd carry Anna around everywhere if they could, and Anna was happy to oblige this time. It's getting kind of funny though because Anna's nearly their size now.

I honestly had envisioned Anna getting all excited to be wearing a race bib and running along with her cousins...  Yeah...that totally didn't happen.  "/ — I honestly had envisioned Anna getting all excited to be wearing a race bib and running along with her cousins... Yeah...that totally didn't happen. "/

She was unimpressed by it all...she just wanted to jump in the giant bouncy.

This is about the closest she came to racing, and it was after I carried her across the finish line.  "/ — This is about the closest she came to racing, and it was after I carried her across the finish line. "/

And then she conned Hannah into holding her.

If you show Anna to a giant container of ice, she will proceed to stand there and eat all of it.  Must be the age...Cora was all over the ice too! — If you show Anna to a giant container of ice, she will proceed to stand there and eat all of it. Must be the age...Cora was all over the ice too!

Cora's facial expressions totally crack me up!  "You sure about this ice thing?" — Cora's facial expressions totally crack me up! "You sure about this ice thing?"

I'm telling you...a bunch of little mommies!  And they watch Anna and Wallace like little hawks and let me know if either of them is doing anything they probably shouldn't be doing. — I'm telling you...a bunch of little mommies! And they watch Anna and Wallace like little hawks and let me know if either of them is doing anything they probably shouldn't be doing.

So, after the race it was time for Cora's birthday party! She and Anna are only about a month and a half apart, so my emergency run to Toys R Us for a gift was pretty easy. :)

Cora seemed totally perplexed by all of us standing around singing Happy Birthday to her.  She just kept looking around in amazement.  It was adorable! — Cora seemed totally perplexed by all of us standing around singing Happy Birthday to her. She just kept looking around in amazement. It was adorable!

Cora likes to make everything a hat!  Even a cake plate.  :) — Cora likes to make everything a hat! Even a cake plate. :)

Haha!  Kevin looks thrilled with the mess.  :) — Haha! Kevin looks thrilled with the mess. :)

Cora had a ball opening her presents.  She was such a ham! — Cora had a ball opening her presents. She was such a ham!

Watch out Ruthie...she's coming to get you!

Something tells me they've played this game before.  :) — Something tells me they've played this game before. :)

Awwww!  Special time with her Grandpa. — Awwww! Special time with her Grandpa.

So...it's sad to say, but I haven't been to see my nieces since Thanksgiving...  "/  (I always joke with them that maybe another hurricane will come through like Ike and force them to flee to come and stay with me again)  I had no id… — So...it's sad to say, but I haven't been to see my nieces since Thanksgiving... "/ (I always joke with them that maybe another hurricane will come through like Ike and force them to flee to come and stay with me again) I had no idea that Cora was jumping on the trampoline now!

So, none of us can believe that Bailey is still alive.  She was just a puppy at the beginning of '98...so that makes her like 15....right?  That is crazy old! — So, none of us can believe that Bailey is still alive. She was just a puppy at the beginning of '98...so that makes her like 15....right? That is crazy old!

Since I hadn't seen the girls since I got my new camera, I tried to get as many pics of them as possible.  I probably started to annoy them some, but they were good sports. — Since I hadn't seen the girls since I got my new camera, I tried to get as many pics of them as possible. I probably started to annoy them some, but they were good sports.

Hannah's becoming quite the trapeze artist!  I remember doing stuff like this as a kid.  :) — Hannah's becoming quite the trapeze artist! I remember doing stuff like this as a kid. :)

Although I was never brave enough to ride on someone's shoulders...too scared of heights.  And trust me...Hunter's shoulders are ridiculously high off the ground!. — Although I was never brave enough to ride on someone's shoulders...too scared of heights. And trust me...Hunter's shoulders are ridiculously high off the ground!.

We broke into Anna's sidewalk chalk (an early b-day present from her Aunt Sarah).

Ruthie and the girls all love Wallace so much.  I can't tell you how many times one of them came up to me to ask "Can I hold Wallace next?" — Ruthie and the girls all love Wallace so much. I can't tell you how many times one of them came up to me to ask "Can I hold Wallace next?"

Carson was determined to get a good picture with these boys!

They were determined to not cooperate.  :) — They were determined to not cooperate. :)

Kian was a bit more willing to comply.  He's got so many teeth!  Wallace doesn't have any yet... — Kian was a bit more willing to comply. He's got so many teeth! Wallace doesn't have any yet...

Kian is the cutest thing?  Looks like the Gerber baby! — Kian is the cutest thing? Looks like the Gerber baby!

I love this one...  "dude...what's so funny?" — I love this one... "dude...what's so funny?"

"oh...now I get it!"  :) — "oh...now I get it!" :)

Little Miss Carson looking pretty as can be.

I'm so glad Josh and I were able to make this trip, and I finally got to see my sisters and all the kids....and eat like a dozen of these cookies!!!