Ethan's Run 2012...

This was the Third annual Ethan's Run- Hope for Heart Defects.  I love this event because it is such a great way to connect with other local heart families. 

We were super honored that Braden was chosen to be a Mile Marker.He was super excited too. It was sweet to see people recognize him.  He always gets stopped about his shirt and I love that he is getting old enough to answer them himself. 

We were so blessed that a bunch of people wanted to run the 10K on Team Braden. All in all I think we had about 30ish people there. My parents got to come this year too.  We decided to grab a team photo before the runners took off.

Team BRADEN 2012

Then the 10k started and we watched them make the loop and come back by us. That skinny thing in the top left picture is my Kenyan of a husband...

Then we started the fun run.  My parents pushed my stroller so I could wander behind taking pictures and talking to families we know. 

Not long after the fun run ended (actually some finished the 10K before the walkers did!) it was time to start watching for our runners to cross the finish line.  The first handsome guy I saw wearing a green Team Braden shirt happened to be our very own 'heart dad.'  So proud of him, he ran a great race and ended up placing 2nd overall in his age division! 

It was fun watching the other runners come across too.

While they finished the kids enjoyed the bounce houses, face painting and cotton candy!

 Remember last year when I lost my mind and made a bajilion shirts? Well this year I did it again. But I did at least have my fancy Silhouette and their uber cool heat transfer material that made my job a ton easier. Even starting 3 weeks early I was still making shirts up until the night before. Cr-A-Zy me.  I made each of the boys new shirts, new ones for me and Rusty. And for all the 10k runners we did the performance shirts.  also made 5 shirts for 'Team Tempest" and helped make about a dozen for 'Team Zoie'  I think they all turned out awesome. Braden's was my favorite. Hands down. You can't tell but the ones in the lighter green lettering and red hearts are all this fuzzy material. And the black was flat, so they had real texture.

And one last picture of Mr Boss, the littlest Team Braden supporter.

Can't wait for next year!

Ethan's Run 2011...

I am so happy that we did this event again this year. It was amazing. We were up and loaded in the car by 7 am and headed to the race. Rusty, Rhonda and a bunch of friends ran the 10k, and we even knew a couple (crazies) people doing the 1/2 Marathon. So many friends of ours came out that day to support us, and the cause, and I am so so so glad. I got to reconnect with other Heart Mom's I met last year, and meet a few new ones. And I learned even more about the support community available for CHD kids as they get older. (Like Braden qualifies to go to a summer camp on Coronado Island for free, cool huh?) Here goes picture overload.

Heading to the event

 The boys met Clifford

 Brenner trying to stay warm.

 This is Heidi, Ethan's Mom. She is amazing. This event raised $10,000 fo CHD families here in AZ.

 Rusty with some of our neighbors and friends Rhonda and Andrea, who all ran the 10k

 Me and one of my closest friends Ami

 Me and fellow Heart Mom (to Angel Jake) Elizabeth. She maes the softest blankets for CHD kids, I have her button on my sidebar.

 More friends who came to run the 10k or just to run the fun run to support us! Steph, Me, Ami and Sheri

 Rusty and Dave waiting for Rusty to start his run.

 Ami and Sean ran the 10k in honor of their nephew Angel Tate.

 The Farnsworth's brought their kids to come support Braden. So nice. Bethea's kids came too!

 These little guys we met at the Zoo. Lincoln has TGA and his brother's heart is fine. Such cute boys. Insisted on walking the whole way. Good job to their Mom and Dad for keeping up with em!

Gabrielle with the boys at the kids zone.

 Team Braden before the Fun Run Started -
Pops, Jill, Ryan, Gabrielle, Nana S, Noni, Me, Jaci, Berk, Braden and Brenner

 Rusty getting into his pace for the 10k. Proud Dad to a CHD Warrior!

 Aunt Rhonda tossing her jacket to the crowd. Gotta love me an action shot.

 Braden running the fun run.

 Rhonda survived the 10k!

Brenner had to fuel up after his walk.

 Braden met another DORV TGA kid, Will. His family lives in our same neighborhood. Small CHD world. (And that is flames painted on B's face fyi)

 Team Braden

Next year I want to make shirts for everyone who comes to walk with us. It was so fun seeing all the different teams. I love that we stood out in our green shirts. Most were in red or white. Plus it made spotting our runners very easy! 

Team Braden...

Tomorrow is the big race day for Ethan's Run. We are so excited. It's like seeing a bunch of old friends, with stories no one but you understand. I finished up all 15 Team Braden shirts last week, and we will proudly be sporting the green shirts. FYI, they are green since that is Braden's favorite color.  I actually have one more to make tonight, Rusty decided he wants to run his 10k in a dry fit shirt, so I get to make him a second Heart Dad shirt. It's okay, he's totally worth it.

Berk's 

 Brenner's

 Braden's- I laughed trying to fit his whole diagnosis on his shirt, it was pretty funny. 

 The Back

I know you got a sneak of the others, but here is our family's shirts.  I don't think you can tell in the photo, but my heart has glitter on it, cause I can, cause I made them and cause I'm the HeartMom.

(I think I will have to do a tutorial on how to make these, since all it takes is a Cricut, freezer paper, and iron and paint. Really so simple- if you're not doing a million)

Hope to see you there, if not I'll post pictures from it soon. One heart family that won't be there is the Simmons. I have Owen's button on my blog. He is another brave heart warrior who is actually at Stanford, where Braden went, and underwent surgery yesterday. He is doing amazing. Jump over to his blog and give his family some love.

I Wish I Had 4 Arms...

Because you see, for the last two weeks, I have battled all three kids being sick, with a husband out of town and I have been in the middle of a huge project. I need more arms. Well, and more hours in the day would be nice too. You see when you are dealing with a toddler getting over the flu and currently cutting molars, it is pretty hard to get anything else done. It's been one of those weeks where I literally use the bathroom with him on my lap. Yep, it's been a fun one.

Add in two older brothers who stayed home from school quite a bit this last two weeks, and well, with fun things like this going on, you can see why I haven't had time to blog...

(the toy box is he funnest place to play, but only if you empty everything out first.)

(yeah, not exactly how I had that photo arrangement set up...)

So, when he goes to sleep I have been working on shirts for this year's Ethan's Run. We have about 15 people running with us this year. Should be fun. Please register, it is such a good cause. The more active I get in the Heart Community, the more I realize just how lucky we are to have Braden. It is also fun for these parents to see what a healthy, thriving CHD kid looks like. Most of the kids I follow are under 3. SO Braden is an old survivor.  I got it in my head to make them myself, so with a lot of time, a Cricut machine, freezer paper and paint, they are nearly done.  I jut have to finish up the backs on a few of em, my own included.

 Braden's shirt took 10 times longer than any others, his dang CHD is so long to spell out!

The backs of some of the shirts, I customized them to each person wearing  them. I need to take ones of our family ones all together, cause Brenner's little one is so dang cute.

I am really excited about this year's CHD Awareness week, so I will be posting more about it once that kicks off on the 7th. And we are also in the middle of Rusty's little brother Ryan's Eagle Scout project -making the cutest hats for newborns to give out at the hospital.  His goal is to have 100 by the end of the month. And not that I am an overachiever or anything, but I have done 32 myself in the last two weeks...