Friends forever

We have been taking it easy this summer in terms of obligations. Imagination, family movies, lots of swimming, ice cream-- that has been our goal this summer. So I'm way behind on blogging, and I don't really care.

Back in April we went to my in-laws for spring break. While we were there we had a chance to see one of my very best friends. She and I and another friend have been friends since 2004. We lived together 2005-2006 and then were friends (some of us got married) who spent lots of time together. After we all moved apart, we began emailing in 2008 and have continued it. We go way, way back.

It was so fun to see them! They have four boys the same ages as my girls and it was kind of crazy but Matt's parents rolled with it.

All the kids were so silly and much too busy playing to eat.

This is us many years and children later.

At the very end we got a little wrestling in! The boys thought it was hilarious. Matt is always a good sport about it.

Thank you, thank you Liz and Adam. We had a wonderful, wonderful time.

Second Half Marathon

Our second half marathon was in March. It was a cool morning, which is always more pleasant for running.

It wasn't an awesome half marathon. Starting around mile 6 I began experiencing IT Band pain. It got so bad, so quickly. I ended up walking most of the second half, only running maybe a mile of that half total. I couldn't even run 30 seconds at a time without severe shooting pain. That was really hard emotionally-- I'm not going to lie that I felt very pitiful and a little teary.

BUT. I finished the half marathon anyway. And I still beat my time from my first half! Based on the first 5 miles, I was going to beat my PR by nearly 40 minutes. However, I ended up only beating it by 10 minutes because of the IT Band issues. I'm happy to say that I still improved though!

Here's to more in the future!

Emily

Oh this girl. Headstrong, helpful, bossy, sassy, smart, hardworking, creative, determined (also stubborn!), loving and so much more.

She is almost 8 and I can't believe it. How did it go by so fast? I feel like the next 10 years will pass by before I realize and she will be gone.

Emily spent two weeks without me in Ohio. My amazing sisters-in-law took care of her for the first week and then she was at the "cousin's camp" that my mother-in-law puts on for the second week. She had some really homesick moments, but overall I think I struggled more than her. I was so happy to see her again.

She is so silly and so funny and such a little person who sometimes shows glimpses of how amazing she will be. She has moments of being wise beyond her years and it is a conscious effort to respond to her questions with a clear explanation.

My girl.