The Brayden House Bash

This weekend was The Brayden House Bash, a crossfit event fundraising for The Brayden House that is being built in our neighborhood.  Brett and I are very excited about The Brayden House, and are very much looking forward to meeting the many people that will be coming through in the years to come.
Here's a little info on The Brayden House:

Families are displaced when they have a newborn in the NICU. They sleep in cars and waiting rooms. The Brayden House will give them a home away from home

Description

WHY - When a baby is born prematurely or exhibits at-risk symptoms, the average stay for that child in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is 5-6 weeks. Since Tuscaloosa DCH is a regional hospital serving several surrounding counties, many parents of NICU babies have to either drive back and forth, rent a hotel room, or many times sleep in the waiting room or car just to stay near their child. Imagine 5-6 weeks of hotel rooms, driving back and forth, fast food and/or sleeping in a car or waiting room...all while you're concerned for your newborn.
MISSION - The Brayden House exists to provide housing and meals for displaced parents of babies in the NICU units at DCH here in Tuscaloosa and Northport, free of charge. We want to serve these parents with shelter, warm meals, spiritual support, and most of all, love!

HISTORY - Brayden Lynn Giambalvo was born to Josh and Ashley Giambalvo on February 8, 2008. Arriving 8 weeks premature, Brayden spent 26 days in the NICU before passing to Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC). Since then, Josh and Ashley have been avid supporters of the March of Dimes and have raised thousands of dollars for the research of premature babies. The Brayden House is the next step in their commitment to their son's legacy.

COMMUNITY - The Brayden House will be located in The Brown House community right outside of downtown Northport, in Alabama. The Brown House is a non-profit organization focusing on a diverse, Christian, regenerative community. They are dedicated to loving their neighbor as themselves, serving and sacrificing to bring love to those who need it most.

For more information like them here on Facebook!

Brett wasn't able to compete in the singles event due to playing golf, so he and Carla hit the team WOD together.  This was a guy and girl combo team, and well, Crossfitter I am not!  Cary and I were more than glad to cheer our better halves on!

We both enjoy cheering for Daddy!

sit-ups

because carrying a YOKE sounds like a smart thing to do.. said no one ever!

this little man got tired just watching!

team Paulk/Skelton

Maybe one day Brett and I will do a team WOD together.. but until then, Cary and I will keep watching and trying to talk them into skipping the work out, and just going to eat!  Awesome job guys!

A little mud never hurt anyone...

But what about alot of mud?!?!  This past weekend Brett and I did the "Warrior Dash" near Birmingham.  Brett and I, along with a large group of friends all from Crossfit Tuscaloosa, made the trip, dressed the part, and HAD A BLAST!!  I have be honest and say that I was pretty nervous going into it.  We had to sign a waiver that basically said we were doing something incredibly stupid and we couldn't blame them.  It said something like be prepared for uneven terrain, barbed wire, climbing high hieghts, crawling on all fours, jumping over fire, and swimming through murky waters (to name a few :) )  I knew I was going to be dead last, and made Brett promise that he would hang back with me!

 Afew members of Crossfit Tuscaloosa at the Warrior Dash

 before we hit the mud

we were "pirates" 

And after the mud

don't be confused, we were once all COVERED in more mud, but jumping in the scummy pond water rinsed most of it off

after the 'race'.. celebrating at Chuy's of course!

we really had a great day, and even ran into a few highschool friends that now live in Mobile!!!  Thank you Mrs. Sharon for coming up to spend the day with John William!