running for emma lu: second edition.

a couple of weekends ago, my family {they aren't just mr. lesley's family anymore; they're mine too!} came into town to run in the denver gorilla run for the second year in a row.

we've decided that this run will be a yearly tradition in honor of mr. lesley's cousin emma who everyone loved and who loved the gorillas.

this year, mr. lesley was in d.c. during the race, so new friend kim graciously channeled her "inner mr. lesley" and joined in all the goodness.

{she couldn't quite achieve the depth of his voice, but other than that, she was awesome.}

we got up bright and early that saturday morning, donned our michigan state gear overtop our gorilla suits {emma went to msu and the whole family loves the spartans}, and made our way to wynkoop brewing company to pick up our packets and get the party started.

we wore our emma hearts with pride and ran {ok, maybe we walked, but it's hot in those suits} with a whole bunch of awesomely costumed gorillas and bananas.

the gorilla run, once again, did not disappoint. 

this event means so much more than just dressing up in a silly gorilla suits and running through the streets of downtown denver.

to me, this whole weekend tradition represents the unshakable love of family and celebration and remembrance in the face of grief and loss.

i am so proud to have become a part of this family.

and i know emma would be so proud of them too.