Another run for cancer

Running alongside, in front of, or behind Uncle Bruno in a similar quest, Uncle Chris is trying to help find cures for cancer, especially in children, by running the Boston Marathon.

Through his fundraising page, http://tinyurl.com/chrisruns, you can learn a bit more about Uncle Chris and why he's doing this. Bruno kinda beat him to the fundraising punch here, even netting a donations from girldog and Cousin Linus, but no doubt Chris is still open to any sources of support from two-legged, four-legged, feathery or gill-y friends.

Wikipedia throws some doubt at the actual history of the Marathon as run by Pheidippides, which is different from the story dad remembers. You can read it and find a reference that Pheidippides ran the 26.2 miles, then dropped dead. dad remembers reading somewhere that the poor guy hallucinated a couple days, then died anyway. Either way, a marathon is not an easy thing. Both Uncle Chris and Uncle Bruno have run these before, and they're doing it for the best of causes. Our best wishes!

Let it snow

The light shone orange through a cloud carrying some of the last, maybe, snowflakes of the season ... and Lil' Genghis was there to work her magic!

She's determined to catch one on her tongue, you see -- and about the time this picture was taken, she'd just gotten one on her forehead.


DSCF3665 from album 090322-Let It Snow



DSCF3669 from album 090322-Let It Snow

Some in the air around here ...

Here is, er, Gina Simmons:

DSCF3670 from album 090322-Let It Snow


And we even got a video of her running through the snow, but you can't really see the snow:

Yeah, baby!

via Aunt Sharon, we find out Lil Genghis' and Cousin Savannah's class is already one for the record books. =)

Running from cancer

Just a quick note -- Uncle Bruno is getting ready for the Boston Marathon, and could use a little help getting to the finish line.

As far as the cancer charities go, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is one of the better ones. As far as marathoners go, Uncle Bruno is a class act.

His story is inspirational to dad, who wound up in the emergency room during the last Boston Marathon ... for back pain. That's hopefully under the right treatment at last, and dad hopes to adopt a somewhat healthier lifestyle, much as Uncle Bruno did. And it's for a cause far more painful than back surgery, far more dangerous than a marathon.

So, short version: If you've got a few bucks you can spare, it could help.

In the third year already?!?

It's hard to believe that two years and two days ago we were given Lil' Genghis and trying to figure out how everything worked. Now she's seemingly self-sufficient, capable of getting into her own bed, sort of brushing her own teeth, eating and drinking, trying to climb out a window that never got a safety grate, all that. =)

So a whole bunch* of friends and family -- and friendly family -- stopped by today to spend some time with our little future world leader. She got some neat gifts, sure 'nuff -- but seemed to enjoy the people more than anyone. For the record, party participants included**: Grandpa John, Uncle James and Aunt Mary, Aunt Liana, Aunt Jan, Aunt Linda, Uncle Josh, Aunt Rebecca, Aunt Cathy, Cousin J.D., Aunt Sussen, Cousin Rafic, Aunt Marina, Uncle Eddie, Aunt Amanda, Aunt Sara, Aunt Ann, Aunt Leeanne, Uncle Bill, mom, dad, and Lil' Genghis. A heckuva party, we tell ya, a heckuva party!






DSCF3568 from album 090315-Bel birthday via several She looked so innocent, before the sugar ...


DSCF3573 from album 090315-Bel birthday via several



DSCF3591 from album 090315-Bel birthday via several



DSCF3595 from album 090315-Bel birthday via several



DSCF3616 from album 090315-Bel birthday via several



DSCF3622 from album 090315-Bel birthday via several Aunt Leeanne insists that isn't a typo of "BC" ... Dunno. But check this out:

On the thumbnail, doesn't it almost look like "MIT"? And BU and MIT are so close together ... HRM!


DSCF3628 from album 090315-Bel birthday via several Coolest. Eyes. Ever.


DSCF3634 from album 090315-Bel birthday via several Birthday with Dora *and* Diego. Doesn't get better than that!


DSCF3639 from album 090315-Bel birthday via several One last kiss from Grandpa John, who spent a week with his favoritist little granddaughter ...


DSCF3646 from album 090315-Bel birthday via several It's just -so- fun to hang out the window while Uncle Eddie clings to my feet!


P1050606 from album 090315-Bel birthday via several



P1050608 from album 090315-Bel birthday via several Uncle Josh donates art to the birthday bash.


P1050613 from album 090315-Bel birthday via several Boots is dropping in for a while ...


P1050618 from album 090315-Bel birthday via several Yeah, a heckvua bash -- and this is after Uncle Jim and Aunt Mary volunteered to schlep Grandpa John to the airport!


P1050626 from album 090315-Bel birthday via several Another advertisement for protective window grates, with Aunt Leeanne rushing behind the scenes to hold Cousin J.D.'s feet ....

And a good time was had by all! =)



* Scientific term. Means roughly twice a (half a bunch).
** God, I hope I don't miss anyone.