13.1 and D.O.N.E.

Today, my sister and I ran our first (and likely for me, ONLY) half marathon.  Hilary, who turns 40 in exactly one month, totally kicked my butt!  And although I would never describe the experience as fun, I do have to say that it feels pretty good to have accomplished something so physically challenging after having three children... even if I was way slower than I hoped to be.  I tell ya, those Seattle hills are far different than running on flat farm land, even if the Seattle-ites don't consider them hills!

Look who we randomly ran into in the sea of thousands of runners. Kate was one of my closest friends and housemates in college.  It was such a fun surprise to see her there!

Happy Birthday, Gramma!

We are SO incredibly blessed and thankful to have this amazing woman for a grandma, mother, and friend!  We thoroughly enjoyed celebrating her life with the family today:

Brother is home for the summer...

and we couldn't be happier!

When you're the youngest...

and your older brother has an all day field trip, you take a nap tucked behind an oak tree:

P.S. Can you even imagine seeing this same picture with Owen? Haha.  Nope. Wouldn't have happened.  Let's just say my parenting style has changed a tad.  ;)

Raising Boys...

Both of these were taken here at the bluff this morning.  Did I mention that I despise anything slimy that slithers on its belly?

Seattle Snapshots...

Eight...

I absolutely adore this boy!  It's hard to believe it has been eight years since God brought him into our lives, but they have definitely been the best eight years of my life.  Happy Birthday, my sweet boy!

Everyday Moments...

P.S.  For several reasons, I am excited that summer vacation is only two weeks away, but at the very top of the list is more time with Owen.  And I think his little brothers are ready to get some extra play time in with him, too!  Maybe then his appearances on the blog will be a little more frequent.  :)

"Lab"...

Bet you never would have guessed we went to visit Daddy at work today:

Hatched...

It's an exciting day at the bluff, folks!  We have been watching this robin's nest for a few weeks now and today we woke up to two baby birds.  After checking again a few hours later, there were three!  It is such a treat to get to enjoy God's amazing creation and see it in action with my boys.  Today, I am thankful for little blessings and funny looking*, but adorable, baby birds.  And robin's egg blue!

*Inititially, I referred to these little guys as "ugly, but adorable."  However, when I read it to Silas he exclaimed, "They aren't ugly!" as though he was personally insulted.  So we agreed that it would be acceptable to call them "funny looking, but adorable."  :)

Everybody Needs a Brother...

Fancy...

Alli and Jason watched our boys for us while we went on our anniversary date tonight.  The following conversation occurred on the way home after we picked up the boys:

Owen:  Oliver and I were being all fancy!
Me: What do you mean by fancy?
Owen:  Well, like, Oliver spilled a little juice on himself and he took a shower!  And I got a little dirt on my hands and I washed them!

Nine...

When we got married nine years ago today, I'm not sure I pictured a trip to TjMaxx, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Rue 21 as our big anniversary celebration.  But honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.  I maybe could do without the embarrassment of my husband picking up a selfie stick and totally conspicuously taking a photo of us in public, but at least now we have something to document the evening.  We have definitely had some great times and some struggles, but I wouldn't in a million years trade the richness that comes from commitment for newlywed bliss.  I am so thankful for what God has taught us in these nine years and for the depth of our relationship.  Is it perfect?  No.  Am I incredibly thankful that I get to walk through life with this man?  Absolutely.  I am more thankful now than I was when we first got married that we get to do this life together.  And I can only imagine what we will have learned and what marriage will mean to us when we reach 25, 30, 50 years.  I love you, Babe!  I am so blessed to be your wife!

Top Secret...

"Mom! Want to see something AWESOME?"

Work, not Play...