Running

This is off Court's phone from facebook, not sure how to make it look normal. But here is us after the run, happy happy we are done!!

Pre-race shoes and numbers, ready.

So for the bit of grumbling i did about this race being a bit of a pain, the training was harder to find time for, didn't feel like i ran enough, a separate trip to Seattle for the registration, (WTF), and all that goes into leaving overnight by myself, to say the least it seemed like alot. But... when we finally got to the start, looking at a sea of people doing this, that all went away and I just felt where i was. I was lucky enough to be running with my niece in a half marathon. The conditions were perfect, the course- freeways shut down, running through tunnels and next to lake Washington. Running by people of every race, color, kids, mom's/dad's, grandparents, people holding US flags with people's names on them, all sorts of people cheering everyone on, didn't matter if they knew you or not. I saw moms walking with daughters holding hands the whole way, lots of women running with other women- laughing, talking, and encouraging each other along, couples running together, kids joining their moms for a bit of the way and then yelling that they loved them and back they went to the next cheering spot. I saw many people with names and pictures of people on their back that they were running for, people who had died of cancer. Mostly though, for that morning there were 27,000 people running or walking for something bigger than themselves, a whole morning where that many people in one place all had feelings of goodwill, everyone smiling and feeling empowered after they were finished. When we came out of the tunnel and saw Safeco and Qwest field I was endorphin high and basically had goosebumps until the end. Thanks everyone so much for helping me get all those runs in at home, thanks Cass for deciding to do it with me, to Court and Dawn for letting us crash at your house and for braving the morning race traffic/policemen, to Kali and Joe for hanging with the kids all those times so i could run. I could not have done it without any of you. And to end the story of the previous post, yes, the strep throat did get me but i'm on the mend!

5:42

Well.... here goes nothing. The rock and roll half marathon this morning. Seattle is overcast which is fantastic for this runner, Cass's pre-race mix is on, we have directions to the start, we are set. Stay strong knee and the strep throat that is trying to get me, just wait for 5 more hours, then you can have me. Woot-woot!!

Thurs Nite

Exciting week here. First week out of school and the weather is actually nice.
Warm nights and days, the hammock is up, and the most exciting thing.....
The big boys are here for the summer from N.Carolina and we are so happy to see them.
Abby is totally excited and they are great with her, watching Bambi II right now with her down in Kali's house. We have been laughing a lot since they came, they are bigger and have lost a little boyish-ness but mostly they are the same sweet boys. It makes me look at Wes differently, a quick glimpse forward how it might be with a teenage boy in the house. It makes me smile at the same time hug Wes closer, it goes so quick really. Spent the morning in Seattle with Wes on my back, a quick few minutes with Han as she walked me back to the ferry.
And finally, the question of the day: If you had a week, what would you do?

Amazing

Any of you that have the opportunity to see this movie, do it. Thank you Anna and Kristy for going, thank you husbands for holding down the fort for a short notice trip to Port townsend, and thank you sweet Rose Theatre for having it and for being one of my favorite places to be.

Gratitude

A busy day of work that felt good- like I actually helped some mom's today and got to see some really sweet babies.
The sun all warm when we got home, we just stayed outside, talked to the neighbor, Wes in his diaper and t-shirt.
Joe changing the sprinklers, taking care of the fields with Wes on his back.
Abs and I reading in the sun on the porch.
Dinner that i didn't have to cook delivered- we ate on the porch with the sun and breeze on our faces and watched the sprinklers- such a nice sound.
The water tonight all bright blue, calm, with so many birds flying.
Ahhhhh.........

Sunday

Abby really wanted this one on here. This is Wes's disappointed face.

Wes thinking he's big stuff riding his little 4 wheeler.

Abs with her snake named Sam. Sam was in a cage for maybe 10 minutes, then released to the wild potato patch.

Performances

Our girl had her gymnastics performance tonight, she was so excited. It is one of the sweetest rewards i think as parents, to watch your kids do well in something that they are really into, to watch them be successful.
Lots of work for Joe this week and little sleep all around.
It is basic i know..... i just hope for sleep tonight.
And that everyone i love is safe.