Hood to Coast

Each year we say it might be our last, but every time we're invited we can't fight the fever. This year was extra special for me because I got to be in Van 1 for the first time ever. It was nice to be at the starting point at Timberline lodge and see people getting all hyped for the next 48 hours of running, trail mix, honey buckets, and sleep deprivation.

Starting point

Tom prepping for a run

One of our super star teammates Maricela

The end of my last leg

We survived.

Update on The Girls

This little applesauce making Miss is in the 2nd grade. She is growing up much much too fast. I'm always surprised at the "grown up" conversations we're able to have and the thoughts that go through her mind. I was sad to see her go back and her sisters are missing her. The other day I took her with me to jog and she was determined as ever to stay right along with me. I love this girl.

This girl never tires of keeping us entertained, sick or not. She got a piece of glass stuck in her foot and that above picture was taken just after she found out she would be getting a shot in her foot so they could open it up to remove it. She thought a latex glove would be the best thing to use to wipe some of her tears away. She was a trooper for the whole procedure and her foots healing up well. She is anticipating preschool in October along with her first big birthday party! She asks me about it every day.

Miss Lainey Loo aka: The Screamer is as active as ever. This girl's got a temper and she's not afraid to show it. She's mostly giggling but she also likes to serenade us with her screams, and shrieks when things don't go her way. She can clear out a drawer in about 10 seconds and has an unhealthy relationship with her blanket, but we love our Lainey Loo oh so much.

Seattle

Without hesitation I would have to say that this past summer has been my favorite to date. Maybe it's that the weather was perfect with a few highs, but mostly right where I like it, maybe it's because Lainey is a little more independent, therefore less dependent on me despite the other challenges that that brings, or maybe it's that I got to spend all kinds of one on one time with my main man--alright, my only man. Anyways, it's been wonderful. Seattle was one of the trips we decided to take this year with the Johnsons. This was Kristin's birthday trip and we begged to tag along. I'm so glad they relented.

 Our first night there.

 We laugh about this picture because it looks like Tom is giving me the heimlich maneuver.

 Goofing around near the gooey, sticky, stinky gum wall. Won't be revisiting that place again anytime soon.

 This picture pretty much sums up what we did most of the time. Laughing, my favorite past time.

 This was outside of an awesome Mediterranean Restaurant. Soooo good!

 Got to watch the Mariners play, and lose pretty bad, but they also inducted Ken Griffey Jr. into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame. He played back when I payed a little bit more attention to the game.

I finally fulfilled one of my dreams, getting to ride one of those 5 passenger bikes along the Seattle Coast line. It made it hard to say goodbye.