Bellingham Bay Marathon Pictures (part 1)

Every person at the race on Sunday has a special place in my heart. You all showed your love for our Taysen. By doing something many of you never wanted to do. Something that you never thought you could do. By simply "getting it" and being there..I am so thankful and happy to report that we collectively have raise just under $8,000 for SMA research! (www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/taysen/runfortaysen )

Taysen at the first spot where our family and friends were waiting for us. Mile 3 i think?

Some of our fans! Tawnee's family, mine, mom and dad in law, and Kells/Kandi were at the first stop.

My mom (Gigi) ran the half marathon and shaved quite a few minutes from the first half she did a few years ago. Great job, mom!

Tawnee and I. I think she could run an ultra marathon and not even break a sweat! A total rockstar

Kelli ran with her sister in law, Melissa. Kelli used to hate running :) I think she secretly loves it now.

This is Kandi. She is the girl who never gives up! It was fun for me watching kelli and kandi go from grumbling about running and barely making it through 4 miles to rocking a half marathon with smiles on their faces!

Jay ran his first half too, after working all night before the race. He loved it and did a great job!

Carter and River

Taysen and River.

TJ took all the pictures and got as many as he could of everyone... the 2nd half up next!

marathon DONE!

and I'm a little sad about it...

... The reasons behind the decision to do this marathon made this such an emotional and spiritual journey for me it is difficult to put into words.

I have a ton of pictures to post of our huge and amazing Team Run For Taysen... but it will have to wait for now, my sweet River got the stomach flu, and I have been busy caring for him and disinfecting in hopes to keep it from Taysen.

I know many of you were praying for us on Sunday, so I wanted to share my favorite picture of me and Tawnee crossing the finish line. More to come!

*blogger is not letting me create paragraphs tonight* that's why this post is so squished together.

only TWO more days until the race!

I am so thrilled that we have met our commitment to raise $5,000 as part of the 200 Commitments for SMA. We are currently at 5,827 dollars (and climbing)

THANK you to each and every one of you for supporting us in any way you are able! Of course we are happy and grateful to raise money for a wonderful foundation, but simply raising awareness for SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY is the ultimate goal.

Saturday, September 24 there will be 2 ways to support us

1: We are having a car wash on the corner of Grover and Hannegan from 10:30-2:30. Taysen and his cousins are also putting on a concessions stand (which Taysen calls a "concussion" stand) where they will be selling candy and drinks.

2: SUNSHINE COFFEE will be generously donating 20% of their proceeds to our Run for Taysen fundraiser! (www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/taysen/runfortaysen) How awesome is that? I know I will be getting myself a latte there tomorrow, and Taysen and River will probably get treated to a "pink soda" as well... THANK YOU Sunshine Coffee!

I can't wait for Sunday... (mostly for AFTER the race is over) but also to do something that never in a million years did I think I could do. I will be thinking of all of the sweet and spunky SMA kiddos we have become friends with, and the many angels taken too soon while I'm running... Thank you for your support!

ELEVEN more DAYS

until our BIG RACE! I am happy to say that we are 85% of the way to our goal having raised $4,265 for Sophia's Cure Foundation. I am so thankful for everyone who has donated, shared the link (www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/taysen/runfortaysen , sent out emails, and posted to facebook. All of these things have contributed to us (almost) reaching our goal!

This picture was taking after Tawnee and my 20 mile run. We are in our taper period now, to rest up our legs until the marathon. Kandi and Kelli, who are running the half marathon, ran part of it with us, and biked the remainder. Thanks girls! It is so nice to have the support... running for those little heroes who can't is WHY we are doing this. TAYSEN is my hero.... always will be.