Marathon Madness

Quarantine didn't stop Brian from working towards a goal his has been working towards for months -- Qualifying for Boston. He has been being coached by Michael Duke since October and when his April 18 race in Chicago was cancelled a few weeks before due to COVID-19, he just kept on working and came up with his own solution. He figured out a 5.3 mile loop that passed our house, signed up our boys to be his "water boys," laced up those shoes and got to it!

We were all so excited to have something so positive to look forward to and cheer on and we had the best time! He took off and we set a timer for 30 minutes so the boys and Eve could head down the street to meet him while he rehydrated and then dump his water bottles on our lawn. Mae and I anxiously sat in the driveway waiting his arrival each lap!

The kids loved having the responsibility of getting him is water and cheering him on, and also the challenge of trying to keep up with him for a couple hundred meters. Wes was blown away every lap that Dad was "jogging" not sprinting!

Best pit crew a runner could ask for!

We worked on this banner during one of the laps and Eve took it all the way down and back for the last couple laps--best cheerleader ever!

Brian fell on the lawn with relief when he finished and it was just a happy moment for all of us! He really struggled from mile 17 on with stomach issues and not being able to get nutrition because of it, but he didn't let it stop him.

 

 HE DID IT!!!

He unofficially qualified for Boston! He learned a lot in the process and my favorite thing about all of it is that he showed our kids we can do whatever we dream no matter how hard it is, whether there is a pandemic or not. We have everything we need to make our dreams a reality.

We can't wait for him to OFFICIALLY qualify for Boston! Not sure when or where that's going to happen, we just know it will. GO DAD!!

Happy Quarantine Birthday To Me

This birthday was different than most, but I was lucky enough to spend it with my favorite people, so that's all that matters. Brian always knows how to make me feel special and this year was no different. Brian basically took over for the day and let me do my thing. 

First thing on my list:

 Coloring my hair. 

Two friends stopped by in the midst of this process so we all got a good laugh and I felt so so loved. And I also felt great about my greys not showing on my 34th birthday!

 I got to spend lots of time cuddling this baby and not changing her diapers or feeding her. It was a good day for the two of us.

I text my friend Christine at 1:30 to see if she wanted to go on a socially distanced walk in the 46* weather but instead she invited me over for a backyard chat. She set up her coffee table with some hot chocolate and cookies and all three of her kids made me a homemade card! She sure knows how to make a friend feel loved so last minute on her birthday. Our 1 hour talked turned into 2 and it was just wonderful.

After dinner from Pita Int, the kids and Brian put my cake together and pulled out the computer for a Zoom call with so many of the people I love and adore to sing me happy birthday. It was such a sweet gesture and I loved seeing all those faces even if we couldn't all chat.

 I stayed on the line with Brian's sisters and mom a bit longer and it was so fun to catch up! I loved seeing everyone in their elements, making quarantine work for them--Kaylee out there on the front lines, Kelsie and Miss making the career and family life work from home, Teresa working long hours to finish out tax season, Kelli multi tasking (that girl doesn't stop), and Stace and Kayc rocking the single babe life. Seriously, I couldn't have scored better in the sister department when I married Brian!

I finished out my night with a long FaceTime session with Bre and watching Good Girls with Brian. Yeah, quarantine birthdays are different, but in many ways it was better.

I'm feeling pretty good about what life is looking like at 34 and, as always, looking forward to what the next year will bring.

Happy Easter 2020

We had a wonderful Easter here in Ohio this year. In the midst of quarantine it was great to have Easter week to focus on and keep bringing our thoughts back to the Savior and all he did for us. 

The kids were excited when they woke up on Easter and knew for sure the Easter bunny had not been affected by COVID-19. He (or she?) was alive and well and got their baskets and eggs hidden as usual!

We didn't get up as quickly as the kids wanted us to so Eve just snuggled in for a few minutes before the hunt was on--

  

Mae was the first chick to spot her basket and went straight for it-

She didn't even wait for everyone to find their basket to get eggs so the kids had to hustle if they didn't want the baby to take over the eggs!

They may have needed a hint or two, but baskets were found and happy faces were seen all around-

 Eve didn't waste any time looking fly in her new gear and Mae and I just watched as the kids emptied their baskets and got their egg hunt on.

I sure love those four faces and am so glad I get to spend the rest of forever with them because of our Savior. I'm so grateful for memories made with these people. 

I knew I wanted some traditional Easter pictures so we got all fancied up during Mae's nap and then had an Easter photo shoot-

 

How did I get so lucky to get these people all to myself? I love them.

After our fashion shoot we watched an Easter devotional from our bishop and a few others and then mostly spent the day lounging, eating, and lounging some more.

We also got this bomb LEGO set of the Great Hall at Hogwarts and it got worked on throughout the day, too. It turned out so great, we can't wait to finish the first book SOON! 

Eve wanted to try her swim gear on and we really miss live sports, so we ended up watching HORSE. On television. With professional athletes. Quarantine is weird.

I also convinced Wes and Eve to play with my hair and these are some of the delightful 'dos they came up with!

Perfect ending to a fun day!