half marathon, father's day, and the last day of school

The last week has been busy! First of all, it was the last week of school and all the assorted parties and hoopla that entails. I seriously can't believe I have a third grader and a first grader now! We are all so excited that it is summer. I love not having such a rigid schedule and a million things to run around to. Now I just need to embrace the chaos and try and remain calm amidst the arguing, fighting, whining ("I'm bored...what can I do?") and running back and forth to swim lessons.




For Father's day I got Spence a firepit, some roasters and marshmallows (and graham crackers and hershey's chocolate). We had a blast making smores in our backyard. Who says you can't have outdoor fun when you live in suburbia????






Finally, it is my half marathon! I finished and felt strong...it was great. I can't even begin to comprehend running 13 MORE miles, but I can't really think about that, or I will get very discouraged. In the meantime, I really enjoyed the race and was surprised at how NOT unpleasant it ended up being!



I'll throw in a few other pictures of the zoo, swim lessons, Kiara's first piano recital and some friends and anything else I can find since I haven't posted in ages.

Birthday and Running (again)

Okay so you might be sick of me talking about running all the time, but it seems like that is all I am doing as of late. I will not drone on about it for too long, other than to say I am up to 11 miles and I am surprisingly enjoying myself. Yesterday the weather was gorgeous, we got up early and ran in a really beautiful area. The entire run was flat (yeah!!) until the end where there was about a half mile stretch up hill. I plugged in both headphones (usually we talk the entire run, but I needed some Creed to push me up the hill) and made it! I was so proud of myself! It wasn't like I was smokin' fast or anything, but I have to say, running long distance is such a great feeling. Pushing your body longer and harder than ever and realizing how strong you really are... I love it!

Okay, I will quit droning on and on about running...but it is a bit all consuming! Better topic...my birthday!! I turned 31 and let's be honest, is there a more boring number? It wasn't a dreaded birthday or an exciting one, just a boring one. BUT, I did something a bit unprecedented...I hired a house cleaner to come and I left and took the girls to our gym where we swam (Caden sat and watched) and then I ran a few errands and came home to a sparkling house. Spencer thought I was crazy to not spend my birthday money on clothes or something more exciting, but you have NO idea how happy having a clean house made me! I sang "happy birthday to me" ALL afternoon long (much to my children's chagrin). Then, a friend of mine gave me the all time most coveted guest pass to the Nike Employee store and I spent a little too much money on running gear (probably not a good idea to go shopping on one's birthday b/c suddenly I felt very justified in making more purchases than necessary). I have a bag full of returns (the ever present "buyer's remorse" that I am painfully cursed with), but the day of shopping and house cleaning was glorious. There was a bit of guilt as I went to bed thinking about how I was living like a rich person when I don't have the paycheck of one, but it was my birthday and we all need to live like the rich on occasion, right????????? (Everyone nod and say, "Yes, Chelsea", I don't need any more guilt on the subject). Anyway, some of my great friends took me out to lunch at Panera bread (my all time favorite lunch hangout) and so it was an all around great birthday. Who ever said turning 31 was boring? Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me...hee hee.