Kris Kringle

A Day of Good Cause

  
  With over 30,000 participants raising more than 3 million dollars, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure was certainly a sight to be seen and I was fortunate enough to be a part of it.  Our team, "Barb's Bosom Buddies", graciously raised over $2,400 in honor of the beloved survivor, Aunt Barb.  I also personally ran for my mother who is a survivor going on 6 years now!

  "Run 4 Life" is the motto of the Dustin Bauer Memorial 5k.  This 4th annual fund raiser provides scholarship contributions for educational and athletic purposes to Calvert Hall College High School and Mount Saint Mary's University.  Held at Oregon Ridge Nature Center, we as runners experienced a beautiful cross country run, not lacking in it's share of rolling hills!  The fastest time recorded yesterday was 17:30....Dustin used to finish it in less than 16:30!!

  To have the ability to participate in not one, but two of these great causes in the same day is not taken for granted for one second.  Thanks to all of the Aunt Barb's and Dustin's in this world who give us hope, inspiration and love in all of our lives.

"People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily."

                                                                                                                                      - Zig Ziglar

Autumn Afternoons

 

 

A~B~C

Alexandra ~Bridget ~Chris

     I am not sure what I find more endearing?  

    The fact that, before our daughter was born, my wife was the most amazing person I have ever met.  Now that Alex is 17 weeks young, my wife has embraced the role of motherhood and I have an undefined level of admiration for what she has done with that amazing person I knew. 

or

    That it is truly surreal to wake everyday to find that the sun is shining brighter than the morning before.  That with every breath, my body fills with an energy not known, to my soul, before Alexandra entered my life.  

I am sure I do not need to choose ;-)

ABC, easy as.......

Click here to see our pride and joy!

Seven Pound Miracle

An AnGeL is among us!  On the Twenty Fourth of May, Two Thousand and Eleven, Alexandra Grace Lloyd blessed our family with her arrival.  This journey through life is an absolute adventure.  Just when I thought I could not love someone more, along comes this new wonder into my life.  Now, two women bless this breath of mine.  The first - beautiful, strong, confident; my best friend.   The newest - purer than pure, innocent, precious, angelic. 

Alexandra.....the sky is yours!

 "May your heart always be joyful.

May your song always be sung." -Bob Dylan 

Click HERE to meet our miracle.           

                                                                                                      

                                                                                                 

Big Sky Country

In the later part of February, three friends embarked on a journey to the western state of Montana.  The spark for this trip began with a silent auction bid during a very noble charity event for the March of Dimes, called the Signature Chef's Auction.  A three night stay in a log cabin in the middle of  Nowhere, Montana was the perfect ticket.  Fueling the spark was a long overdue adventure with my father and the motivation to get one of our closest friends, Tom (who we consider family) out west and into the mountains. 

Darby, Montana was our final destination, deep in the heart of the Bitteroot Mountains.  To get there, a flight into Spokane, WA, followed by a scenic 190 mile drive from through Idaho and ending up in the very western part of Montana.  Darby is a spit of a town with a population barely pushing 700.  Just what the doctor ordered! 

Rye Creek Lodge is where we would call home for three days.  During this time the agenda called mostly for R & R.   The only exception to this was a highly anticipated day of snowmobiling in the back country of the Bitteroots!   

With a continuous snowfall all day, we rode unguided over epic proportions of snow while traversing miles of groomed trails that lead into the heart of these mountains.  We encountered majestic landscapes and a full proof day of adventure.  Indeed the day did not end without it's challenges.  To sum it up, search and rescue were called because we were more than 2 hrs. late to our rendezvous.  The ability for my companions and I to stay calm, communicate and make educated decisions made us a great team that got us out of the mountains safe and sound.  All said and done, we made it back in time to cancel SAR before they fully mobilized.  "We never take anybody out that far!" stated one of the owners after we showed them on the map where we were that day.  

Following a wonderful three days at Rye Creek, we decided to take the long route back to Spokane, via the 202 mile Route 12 Northwest Passage.  Absolutely stunning and almost untouched with very sparse civilization, it proved to be a great decision.

To be able to spend a full 6 days with my ever loving father and one of our best friends was priceless.  The laughs, camaraderie and ability to pull through tough times is invaluable.  Perhaps the best part of the whole trip for my father and I was being able to see this experience through the energetic and surprising eyes of Tom.

Click HERE to experience the ride!