Christmas Eve Portraits from Florida

We couldn't seem to get our act together for a group portrait so here are some singular ones.

 Merry Christmas, everyone!

Dopey Challenge Training Upate

Adam here with a Dopey Challenge update. It's less than a month from the race and I'm still pretty much on schedule with training. Unfortunately the rigorous schedule took it's toll me; I got a sinus infection and a case of shingles (something that comes from having chicken pox as a child: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shingles). The sinus infection was actually gone in a couple days, but shingles sticks around a little longer. It has been a relatively mild case, if that is possible. But still very irritating. I have still been able to run in the meantime, albeit slower, shorter distances and not as often. The illness is on its way out but has been a challenge in itself. I highly suggest avoiding it if you can.

 

Enough about ME, this is for Team JDRF, Carson, Mandy, Kerry, my coworker's son Palin and everyone else who lives with Type 1 Diabetes. Please remember this is for a great cause, the research for a cure for Type 1 Diabetes and for improving the lives for those with Type 1. If you would like to learn more about T1D and how it affects the lives of those who live with it go here: http://jdrf.org/life-with-t1d/type-1-diabetes-information/what-is-diabetes/ To learn more about JDRF and how they are working to cure T1D go here: http://jdrf.org/about-jdrf/

 

As far as the donations for the challenge goes we're doing really well. We are only about $250 away from the goal. If you would still like to donate please consider it soon and remember it is tax deductible. I created a shorter URL for the donation site if you want to write it down for later: http://bit.ly/1bGjP4N (case sensitive). Thank you to everyone who has donated I appreciate all the support I've gotten and

 

 

Before the Des Moines Marathon in October

 

My little dedication I wore during the marathon.

Westside Football Classic Tournament


 


 

This is Hunter's 7th grade Black Select team after their tournament win.  They played three games:  Yorkville Foxes from Yorkville, IL 12-6.  The only team that has ever scored on Hunter's defense.  Next they played the Johnston Dragons from Johnston, IL 36-0 and finally Lakeville, MN  33-0 in a very heated game during which our strongest player was ejected from the game for tackling the Lakeville coaches son.  After a long embarrassing temper tantrum thrown on the field by the Lakeville coach we agreed to take him out of the game and proceeded to annihilate his team without our star player.  Hunter and his defense shut them out.  I was disappointed that our MN neighbors behaved so badly.....

Hunter getting trophy.

This is Blake with one of his buds we all call Z.  They play together on the 6th Grade Black Select tournament team.  This weekend they played in the Westsude Fall Classic Tournament.  Several teams in their age division from the Midwest came to Des Moines to play.  Their team got 3rd in the Select Silver bracket.

                                                                                         


Hunter trying to look tough after this first game in the tournament.

Blake heading into the locker room to finish his 2013 football season.  Next year will be a whole new ball game!

Loop the Oaks and Superbowl - October Update




The end of the league football season was Sunday.  The 6th grade 49ers won in overtime against the Gilbert Eagles with a one handed catch by Blake Underwood.  The 7th grade 49ers beat the Lions in a double overtime win with a final 3 yard fight over the goal line dragging the entire Lion D line with him to score the extra point for a 14 - 13 win.  Hunter scored 7 of the 14 points.  Above is the traveling trophy with a life size football on top.  Big party after the game. 

 

Fall is here in Iowa.  Leaves are turning all around us.

The boys ran the Loop the Oaks 5K in our neighborhood again this year.  The charity this year was raising money for military service dogs.  Hunter won the prize for the brightest outfit.  It is really all about what you are wearing.  Hunter came in 4th for men,  Blake was 5th and Dave was 8th.  It was a beautiful day.

Spider Cupcakes

Landon cooks with his mom...carrot cupcakes with spider legs and beady eyes :)

One spider has eyes all around (right front).

Grandpa Lyle

UPDATE from Adam: "So the visitation was pleasant last night, lots of visitors, beautiful night. Today was kind of gray, but much was said about what a great family man he was. It was a pleasant funeral."

Kim's Grandpa Lyle left the earth this week.

 No doubt, he's dancing with his beloved Kate in heaven.

His celebration service will be held in Guthrie Center Friday morning.

Blake and His Buds

Blake had his annual birthday party with his buddies.  This year it was at SkyZone.  We have always wished there was a place you could trap a group of kids for an hour where they couldn't cause any damage.  This appears to be the answer.

They spent the entire hour playing Dodge Ball.



Excitement every minute.



It Was a Black-Tie Affair

So many September birthdays at the Underwood house that we decided to invade their home with one-birthday-party-fits-all-three.
I cooked up a crock-pot lunch and Kimberly made the black-and-white cake~~you know the kind~~
with Oreos on top :)

Everyone came in black and white.

I managed to get a few portraits but didn't get everyone covered,

missing Kim and a selfie~~we'll live with it.

Becky and Kim really were at the party.

 Hunter's 13 this September.

 Landon and Blake, pre-party...they're big gamers. Blake is 12 this September.

 Amy's one year older...

...and Dave got that way in August.

 Adam's a little older too...

 ...but Grandpa Al has always been old.

Yep. We did it in black and white :)

 The Oreo cake.

Blake now has his desired Oakley sunglasses... in good company with Uncle Adam.

Landon led the happy birthday song with everyone following along :)

Cousin Kyle Got Married

Majestic Oak Golf Club in Ham Lake was the venue Kyle and Missy chose for their nuptials...a ceremony outside in front of a gazebo, the reception inside the Fireside Room at the clubhouse.

Ham Lake is just a couple miles north of Ron and Linda's home in Blaine so they hosted us overnight before and after the festivities...so simple and convenient.

 Cousin Kyle waiting for the wedding party to turn up.

He's a cool, confident extremely nice dude working in marketing.

 Missy (Melissa) and her dad arriving. 

Missy is a nanny about to open a daycare in their new home.

Kyle's parents, Aunt Cindy and Uncle KK Larson

The Jerdee siblings...Cindy, Kathy, Jon, Allen

 Aunt Kathy, Uncles Jeff and Jon, Aunt Mavis

 Al and Becky, Cindy...KK was outside chatting it up with people leaving the party,

unavailable for this picture next to his wife, Cindy.

Kyle dancing with his mom at the end of the evening.

Lovely party.

7th Grade Select Team - Midwest Classic Football Tournament

The final score in the final game of the Midwest Classic Tournament for the 7th grade division.  Hunter is #18.  He is the middle line backer and defense coordinator for the team.  He also plays kick off receiver, tailback and gunner.  The team went 59-0 in first game, 54-0 in second game and 42-0 in championship game.  Yet to be scored on they are pretty excited for their next game!

The 7th grade select team.  Midwest Classic Champions.

Hunter the punt receiver.

Hunter #18 is the Gunner (guy that tackles the punt return)

The team getting their Champion medals.  Hunter is in the middle high fiving the head coach.

Hunter and his greatest fan Dad getting ready for the Championship game.

Hunter and his greatest fan Dad getting ready for the Championship game.

Another One Done

Congrats to Adam!

After finishing the Dumbo Double Dare~~a 10K yesterday and a half marathon today.

 That also finishes the Coast-to-Coast challenge,

 first part in Florida last January, the second part in California today.

The Kids' Race at Disneyland

Landon's running the race with Donald.