Walking Video

Makenna started walking a week after her 1st Birthday!

Boys will be boys!

This what brother's do when they get together.

Brotherly Love

Brett and his brother's Curtis and Grant!

Merry Christmas from the Lilly's

Left to Right: Curtis, Grant, Polly, Bethany, Dan, Makenna, Star & Brett

Grandpa & Grandma Esslinger with their Grandkids

The Real Reaction!

Makenna's First Encounter with Snow

Makenna has been crawling over to our sliding door that leads out onto our deck, and kept pointing at the snow. So Brett and I decided to dress her up in layers of clothes, since she doesn't have a snow suit yet. Needless to say, the content face didn't last long. Glad we got one good picture.

Taking some steps!

Makenna is slowly, but surely learning to take some steps on her own. She has taken more than 4-5 steps. If we are close enough, she will just try to lean forward and fall into us. She is walking behind things well, but only time will tell before she starts adventuring out on her own.

Our Christmas Tree

We picked a really COLD day to go get our Christmas Tree, but we had so much fun decorating it and listening to Christmas music. Makenna does not seem interested in the tree so we are happy about that. We were a little nervous about getting a real Christmas tree.

Yummy Cupcake!

Makenna had a small Birthday party with her friends at our house this week. The birthday party was on December 5th, which was actually my due date with her. We had a lot fun and a house full of babies and toddlers.

Happy 1st Birthday Makenna

Makenna's 1st Birthday!

We had Makenna's 1st Birthday Party a little early. We decided since we were going to be with my family for Thanksgiving, we might as well celebrate her birthday. That way my family members wouldn't all have to travel up to Chicago a couples weeks later. She just had the stomach flu 24 hours ago, so she wasn't quite herself. She did pick at her cupcake and taste it, but didn't devour it. She got lots of cool toys, but didn't unwrap half of them. She was a little clueless, but her cousin's helped her unwrap her gifts.

Our Friend Tim and a worthy cause!

Here is a story about our friend from San Jose, CA. His name is Tim Borland and he just accomplished something no one has ever done before. We first met Tim and his wife Michelle at our Church in San Jose. They are such an inspiring couple and have the Biggest hearts. If you get a chance, read what Tim has done, and even take a look at his videos on You Tube. They will inspire you to be a better person, and to become aware of such a horrible disease that affects young children. Article is from the A-T Children's Project Website.


Tim Borland

made history by running

63 marathons

in 63 days
from coast to coast
while pushing an Axiom Racer!

Imagine a disease that combines the worst symptoms of cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, cancer and immune deficiencies. The A-T Children’s Project is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to support and coordinate first-rate biomedical research projects, scientific workshops, and a clinical center aimed at finding a cure or life-improving therapies for ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), a rare, fatal genetic disease that affects children. Children with A-T are usually confined to wheelchairs by age 10 and often do not survive their teens. And, because A-T causes various symptoms and the disease involves many different systems in the body, scientists believe that A-T research will help more prevalent diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, AIDS, and cancer.

• Documentary: Independent filmmakers will be producing FEAT, a feature documentary that will follow Tim every step of the way.
• 63 Marathons in 63 days: Tim RAN a full marathon distance of 26.2 miles each day for 63 days in 63 different communities.
• Local & national publicity drew great event attendance and offered excellent media exposure for sponsors.
• Tim Borland, an ultra-runner and trainer, raised awareness and critically needed research funds for A-T.
• September 3 – November 4, 2007: In a coast-to-coast running tour starting at the DISNEYLAND® Half Marathon in Anaheim, California and ending in New York City, Tim pushed a jogging stroller to increase awareness of A-T. The stroller sometimes carried a child with A-T and sometimes remained empty in memory of a child who has passed away.
• RV Cruising: Tim’s wife Michelle and their two young children travelled with him between cities in a highly visible A-T CureTour RV.

About Tim

Tim has been running since 1998 when he trained for his first triathlon, a half-ironman, in order to lose weight and get into shape. Since then, he has run cross country for his junior college, raced on the triathlon team and worked as an endurance coach in a corporate fitness facility. Several accomplishments, along with over 25 marathons and other events under his belt, have led Tim to continually challenge his body. After feeling that he conquered the distance of “regular” marathons, Tim decided to join a small subculture of individuals called ultra-runners who run ultra-marathons. Tim’s training started to take such time and energy that the idea of exerting such significant physical and mental energy solely for his own benefit was becoming less and less important.

Tim decided to partner with A-T Children’s Project to create The A-T CureTour through his friendship with the Achilles family whose 15-year-old daughter Cathryn has A-T. Her incredible sense of spirit despite adverse circumstances inspired Tim to raise awareness and funding for A-T research. The Tour allowed Tim to use his talent, passion and energy to accomplish an extraordinary goal that is much greater than any one person, while investing in a cause that is doing great things in the lives of children and families around the world.

Makenna's Cousin's

Makenna and her cousin's.
Top: Drew
Bottom Left: Mae & Noah
Bottom Center: Makenna
Bottom Right: Mason & Michelle

Precious Time with Sister's

I recently spent some time in Peoria with all my sister's. My sister Robin lives in Florida, so it is hard for us all to get together. We had a great time and took lots of pictures. It's so amazing to see how our families have grown and continue to grow.

New Bloggers

Yes, we have jumped on the blogger.com band wagon. We have so many friends and family that have started their own web page, so we are joining the team. It's important to me that friends and family find ways to keep in touch, and the internet seems to be the easiest way for us. Brett and I are not phone people, if you didn't already know. We hope you enjoy our site and check it out often to see the new developments in our life.