Spoiler alert: I said yes

Seventeen years ago today, this guy got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. 

Being married to Jacob Allen has exceeded my expectations in every possible way.

September phone pics

 This boy loves it when he is ready for bed and I ask him if he wants ride
his bike alongside me as I go for a quick walk. Win-win for sure.

 And this darling in her redneck pajamas doesn't mind accompanying us also.

 Colorful much?

I literally had to pull the car over to get this picture. The gorgeousness took my breath away.

It has become so dark when I head out for my morning walk. Crazy. But cool. I oddly like it.

Elementary jog-a-thon

Cousins and cupcakes

Jacob's morning run vs. my morning walk

Jacob emailed me photos from his morning run today. And I loved them.

And couldn't believe the similarities between his morning exercise and mine. 

I'll let the pictures do the talking.

 

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Granted mine didn't include, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial,
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the White House or the Washington Monument.

But then his didn't include one toddler on a bike and one toddler in stroller, then two
toddlers in a stroller and a bike on top of the stroller, then one toddler running

in her cowgirl boots, then one flat tire on the jogging stroller a mile from home.

Who's jealous now?

That's what I thought.

Can you imagine...

...a world where your body weight was literally not substantial enough to open a door?

No. No I most definitely cannot.

Still shaking my head

Sometimes I get used to it and don't realize how amazing and unusual Jacob's
job can be, until I get texts from him with photos like this attached. And then
I shake my head with the incredibleness of my awesome husband and the
opportunities his hard work and mostly, the Lord's kindness, has given him.

And yes, that is First Lady Laura Bush, First Lady Michelle Obama and

a darling Afghan woman moderating the discussion. Very cool to be sure.

And another special day for Cam

You know, there have been quite a few occasions that have made my mother's heart
burst with incredible gratitude, but today was, without question, near the top of the list. 

It was such an honor to there as our Campbell was ordained to the office of a priest.

Love the three men in this photo to the deepest part of my heart.

The Dirty Dash

Jacob's company sent an email out a few weeks ago to ask if there was a group of employees (and their family) who wanted to run The Dirty Dash Mud Run together. And it didn't take long for Jacob to be on board, as well as Campbell and Matt. (I actually really wanted to join, but being six weeks out from major surgery, it didn't seem like a good idea.) So the boys signed themselves up.

And just a couple of days ago, Jacob called to tell me a few of the original signer-uppers couldn't make it and did I think Annie would also want to run it. I asked her and she said she would.

So this morning, we drove ourselves (actually, Campbell drove us, which still throws me for a loop to think he and we are that old) to Midway. Where three kids and their dad ran 6.1 miles and completed many mud obstacles along the way.

 Nice and clean. For now.

 The Cicero family ready to go.

And they're off.

The first hill was about sixteen feet after the starting line. These people don't mess around.
And that was the last I saw of them before they were down to the last three obstacles. It isn't a
route that is easily followed by the paparazzi. And especially paparazzi with three other children.

 But when they reappeared, something about them looked different.

 They were still in good spirits though. I was impressed.

 

 

 

 I think these were my favorite shots of the day. There was just so much mud and water.

 This skinny punk was nearly shivering to death, but it didn't slow him down.

 And this darling girl had a drop or two of mud on her.

 While this man-child was literally dripping muddy water.

 And the last obstacle. I think Cam might be a little happy the end is in sight.

But not before one final stroll through the mud. Yeah for my amazing family.
Boo for the absolutely blurry photos at the finish line that made this photo the last.

These people I love rock. I'm so impressed. But less inclined the run this ridiculously

dirty race then I was before I witnessed it with my own two eyes. Eww and eww.

Rain dance

Sixteen

Sixteen years ago today, Cam the man made me a mom and joined our little family.

And so we thought it would be fitting to celebrate him and his incredible self all day.

Present opening started out with great excitement. If he only knew what was coming.

And one more fun gift from his parents before the big reveal.

But first, one of the coolest and most creative gifts I have ever seen given.
And every part of it was his siblings' idea. I loved watching him "open" it.

I'm so very grateful for how much my kids love each other.

And finally, the gift we have been dying to give him.

A trip to LA with his dad to watch the US play Mexico in a big time soccer game.

I think he was kind of happy with it.

And the reality is finally sinking in that this is kind of a huge deal.

Oh this young man and his amazing heart and hilarious self.

Campbell and those ridiculous candles mocking my old age.

We really like this guy. A lot. And are so incredibly grateful he is ours.