Looks like I hit my $400 mark after all… thanks to a last minute donation (I LOVE LOVE LOVE you Rayn!!!!) Just wanted to add that in.

You can still donate by clicking here… I remind you even a dollar helps, so if you live in Ohio (or anywhere else for that matter) and read my blog, I urge you to donate a dollar or more for all the entertainment I provide you free of charge!!
Now, on with the walk!

This morning was the MS 2009 Walk at the Gateway Center in Downtown SLC. What fun! It was bitterly cold and Windy so Addie got bundled up nice and warm and we braved the outdoors with about 3000 other people.

We woke bright and early (about 6:15) and had breakfast, played about for a bit then headed to Gateway where we registered. I got my hat, shirt and gold (orange) balloon to walk with.

Addie grabbed a bagel (literally) and we sat down to wait. And wait. And wait. Did I mention it was cold? At about 9, I took Addie back to the car so we could warm up and she would settle down enough to take a nap.

At 10:00, a last minute purchase of a golf umbrella at Dicks sporting goods put my mind at ease, just in case it rained, and we were off!

Not that we raced by any means. I started walking with Team Lizard and my good friends Kat, Mat and Lukas. But somewhere along the lines lost them in the crowd and met up with Nadia, Dimitri and their German Shepherd Max. Dimitri was my reason for walking… and an awesome friend and husband to one of my BFF’s I might add!

It was a 3 mile trek through downtown salt lake. It took about an hour and 45 minutes, including a 20 minute stop at the half way point for bananas and oranges. Addie did amazingly well and didn’t cry at all, despite the wind.

At the end of the walk we all received applause and gold medals for participating, Even Addie and Max got one!

What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday Morning. I feel great for having walked 3+ miles, and feel even better knowing I did it for MS, and finding a cure!

Just a reminder the MS Walk is THIS SATURDAY MORNING!! Please come out and support those who are struggling with this difficult condition. I will be walking with Team Lizard, you can come and walk with us, it doesn’t cost a thing to walk. If you would like to donate, click on the link in the upper right hand sidebar.

Thanks to those who have already donated!! We have almost $300 which means when I walk I will be walking with a Gold Balloon!! I couldn’t have done it without you!!

Ali has to be the most giving person I know… who else would spend their birthday with a baby that’s not even hers? And what a fun day it was!

They went to Hires for Lunch

And spend the whole day playing together!
This included Addie’s version of Peek-a-boo as seen here:

and here:

Thanks and Happy Birthday Ali!!

Addie and Ali will PLAY! 

I have decided to create a new category called “Adventures with Ali… AKA: AA” These adventures will no doubt include Victoria, Grama Steph, Pop and G-Gram Juanita, but I like the flow of Adventures with Ali. (Also “AA” is just funny to me)

Grama Steph went to Chicago for a week to visit with cousins Sue and Andy. While she was gone Addie was under the care of Auntie Ali… and boy did they have some fun. Addie’s first visit to the library was filled with all sorts of AA. (Auntie Victoria helped out too!)

It was a beautiful day, perfect for an outing

From the ground floor, all the way to the rooftop gardens Addie was smiles and giggles to be spending the day with her Aunties…

Inside the library were many new and exciting things, but best of all was the Addie-Sized-Couch! (You can tell how much she loved this by the smile on her face)

They spent some time in Grandma’s Attic:

And discovered Addie may be a descendant of Superman in the Crystal Caves:

It was finally time to say goodbye, but not before saying goodbye to a Giraffe on Roller Skates

Thanks for such a fun fun day Auntie Ali and Auntie Victoria!

I bet you didn’t know that February was take a marshmallow to the park day did you? Well, it was. So we bundled Addie up and took her to the park for her first ride on a slide and to see what she has to look forward to this summer when she can run around on her own.

Alright, so she doesn’t totally resemble a marshmallow, maybe a “Peep” though….

Jess was able to get in some good practice with his camera and I got some really cute photos to blog.. just for you!

She was a bit unsure of the slide…

From 8 Months

In Fact, she really didn’t like it much at all…

From 8 Months

But surprise surprise, she loves to swing!

From 8 Months

From 8 Months

But most of all she loved to watch the children run around… What a great day at the park.

From 8 Months

This year my dear friend Kat and I will be walking as Team Lizard in the MS Walk 2009. We would love your support in any way. Join us for the 3 mile walk (yes walk, we will have children in tow), donate money by clicking one of the links to the right, or show your support by meeting us at the finish line. If you don’t have the money donate, thats ok too! My brothers company (wewillconnectyou.com) has graciously agreed to donate $15 for everyone that signs up for a free 4 week trial! So even if you can’t donate… they will help you out!! Woot thanks Tony! 

Hope to see you all there!

(If you have trouble viewing the link above, please copy and paste the following into an internet explorer browser  http://helpmichelle.wewillconnectyou.com)

Two weeks ago, Addie met up with Grams and Grumps at the bowling alley. As always she was a huge hit, Grumps just loves to show her off!

Bowling is fun!

 After the bowling alley we went back to Grams and Grumps house where Grams read Addie a story! Addie turned the pages while Grams tried to keep up… apparently Addie is a speed reader. Grams tell the best stories ever!

Grams and Addie read

Christmas has come and gone this year, and while I have a new found sense of family I have to admit opening the presents was fun. We celebrated Christmas Eve at the Skolmoski/Bennion household and Christmas day at the Nichols. Here are some pictures of the highlights:

Christmas Eve at Grandma Stephs:

Addie with her first Christmas Present from Will and Walker! Thanks guys Jess and his new popcorn maker… HEALTHY popcorn, Finally! Jess will be busy with this brain puzzle from his mom for a while Ahhh, eye cream. It’s the little things in life. Thanks Eric! New Sweater, Tank and Necklace from Stephanie. Super Cute Addie’s new jacket… can you guess who picked it out? Thanks Ali we love it! NEW BOARD BOOKS!!! WITH NO SLOBBER ON THEM??? I can fix that… (thanks Steph) Christmas at the Nichols House: Addie in her new highchair telling Grumps how cool it is Dinner… Yum! It was definately a white Christmas! Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures, but I got a lot of video:

Well, looks like Addie has a lot of careers ahead of her. You decide which one she will be best at…

This video was taken back in October in our Condo in Park City… just barely got around to uploading it. Addie sure does look young considering it was only 2 months ago! But I guess when you are only 6 months old… 2 months is a long time!!