Family Photos

It'd been almost a year since our last family photo sesh and with how quickly the boys continue to grow and change, it only seemed appropriate to sneak in another session this summer.

Like last year, Jen Sanders was our photographer.  To change things up this time around, she recommended Tolt-MacDonald park in Carnation.  It was the perfect backdrop for our photos, which were taken a few weeks back, and we are thrilled with the results.

Here are some of my (many) favorites!

They look like they're conspiring against us here...

LOVE!

Flash forward 13 years, and I see a senior photo just like this.

San Francisco 1/2 Marathon

Corey and I just returned from a long weekend in San Francisco, where a bunch of us met up to celebrate Sara's birthday as well as to run the San Francisco 1/2 Marathon on Sunday.

We stayed in a house on Douglass Street, which was a perfect central location for all the activities we had planned.  Everyone arrived Saturday and that even we carb loaded with some great pizza and headed to bed early since the race began at 5:30 a.m. (our wave actually started just after 6 a.m.).  

(On a long side note: I'd come down with a fever and really sore throat on Thursday evening, which continued Friday, along with some aches and an even higher fever.  I normally would have ridden it out but knowing the trip and race were coming up, I popped into the doctor to see what might be going on. Given my symptoms, she tested for strep.  The initial test for the most common type came back negative, but my pulse and blood pressure were high, so she advised me to rest, drink lots of liquids, take Tylenol and cepocal drops, and play Sunday's race by ear.  She also sent a throat culture off to be tested for other kinds of strep.  My fever had mostly gone away by Saturday but my throat was still killing me and I lacked energy and honestly couldn't imagine running one mile let alone 13, so I was starting to worry about missing the race, which would have really bummed me out after months of training.  But, by some miracle, I woke up Sunday feeling pretty good - energy, appetite, and my throat hurt considerably less.  So, I made the call to run the race, and the chance to drop out if needed.)

Luckily, running with friends and taking it super slow, especially at the beginning, was all I needed and I made it through the race and actually felt really good.  It was by far my slowest 1/2 marathon time (~2:30) but honestly, with it being my first half post-kiddos, I wasn't aiming for a certain time and really just wanted to be with my crew and finish the race.  Corey did AMAZING, especially for his first half, finishing in just under 2:08!  He was the first in our group to finish.  I was so proud of him for his strong race, and of our friends, especially the four (including Sara) who had never run a 1/2.  The last few miles were especially tough for everyone, considering the continuous steep uphill/flat intervals, but being able to run in a new city and across the Golden Gate Bridge, was pretty cool.  Corey and I even passed by each other on the bridge, which was a fun surprise.

After the race, we all refueled with an amazing breakfast at The Vestry, and spent the afternoon napping.  And while I wasn't expecting to hear back from my doc until Monday, she had received the results of the culture on Sunday and called to tell me that I actually did have strep throat (no wonder my throat had been SO sore!).  She was able to call in a prescription to a pharmacy near the house we were staying in, so that I could start taking the meds sooner rather than later.

That evening, Corey and I went to dinner with Curtis and his partner Charles, who we hadn't yet had the opportunity to meet.  We met them at Poesia and it was so great to chat with the both of them and enjoy some amazing homemade pasta.

While we were all sore on Sunday afternoon and evening, our resting that afternoon and walking around that evening helped us all to feel almost completely back to normal by Monday.  That day, we enjoyed some shopping and a day exploring our neighborhood and hit up a final meal together at a great nearby Thai restaurant.  Our trip came to an end with a group viewing of the Bachelorette finale last night.

We loved getting away for the race and to see many of our friends, and are so appreciative to "the Grammas" who watched the boys at our house, so that our trip was possible.  The Grammas reported back that the boys were on their best behavior and slept well, ate well and that they all had lots of fun. 

Here are a few photos from our time away.

Touching down in SF

All warmed up and ready to race...at 5:45 a.m. on a Sunday.

Our group, minus Nellie, Tara and Erica who were in the wave behind us.

So cool to run across the Golden Gate Bridge, even if it was foggy, misting and cold.

We finished!  Everyone in group crossed the finish line and with NO injuries!

So great to see my girl, Gina!

The ladies

I just loved these flowers that adorned many of the houses around us

Dinner with Curtis & Charles

The amazing dessert selection at Tartine

Surprised the group with breakfast pastries from Tartine on Monday after the race

Until next time, SF

Life Lately

Life since returning from Kauai last month has been crazy - all good stuff, just lots of stuff going on.  Here are some of the highlights.

We went to Yakima over Memorial Day, which was relaxing for us, and lots of fun for the boys.

Jackson & Cole are both enrolled in summer soccer, which began last week.  Jackson has done several sessions and Cole has been occasionally reminding us that "I like soccer", so it was time.  Jackson moved up a level and is now scrimmaging during his practices and is doing great.

Jackson is also participating in gymnastics. He has been enrolled in a class during the afternoon school program but wanted to do it on the weekends, too. He started today and caught on quickly.

Speaking of school, his last year of preschool ended last week and next year, he'll be in kindergarten.  He'll stay at his current school for that, before moving on to the nearby public elementary school for first grade.  We're so proud of how great he's been doing in school (reading, multiplication and now some division, spelling, etc.) and can't wait to see what he does next year.

Last day of school!

School was closed for several days after the last day, before summer camp started, so I took those days off work and my mom came over and we went on some adventures with the boys, including a trip to Woodland Park Zoo, the ferry to Bainbridge for breakfast at Streamliner Diner, and the Great Wheel.  The boys had a great time, and it was nice to do some "touristy" stuff without having to fight the weekend crowds.

They just loved the wind on the ferry

Seriously.

Could they get any further apart?

We celebrated my grandma's 94th birthday a few weekends ago, and it included a surprise trip from my uncle. It was nice to have everyone together to help her celebrate.

Corey and I are training for the San Francisco 1/2 marathon at the end July, which we're doing with Sara and several other friends to celebrate her birthday. So, there's been lots of running for us.  We've also been doing some workouts together at home which has been fun.  Today was my longest run in over 6 years and I felt great...aside from the coyote sighting at the verrry beginning of my run. That definitely had me picking up my pace (and heart rate!) for a bit.

Corey's been busy at work these days, and I had a work trip to Chattanooga a few weeks back.  Corey handled everything around here flawlessly while I was gone, and appreciated Joan's help picking up and helping with the boys.

With warmer weather, we've been spending lots of time outside playing with bubbles, water, driving cars, and riding bikes (which J is getting really close to doing without training wheels!).

I wish I knew what was going on here, but I just love the different take each has on the situation.

Cole LOVES cats, especially our neighbor's cat, Tigger.

Gramma's new place is within walking distance to Central Park.  Score! 

Discussing his (imaginary) lemonade stand

He really wanted to vacuum my car; how could I turn that offer down??  He actually did a really good job, too!

After eight years of condo ownership, with the last four renting it to Joan (best tenant ever!), she purchased an adorable townhouse in the Issaquah highlands.  We just love having her closer, and the location and unit is perfect for her.   And timing wise it made sense for us to sell the condo,so we put it on the market last month. It sold in 4 days over asking, and we couldn't be more thrilled with how everything turned out, though it is a bit bittersweet considering it was our first purchased home together, we brought Roxy and Jackson home there, and we just love all that Ballard has to offer.

Cole loved exploring and playing in the empty condo during our last visit

Last condo pic!