I know, I know, it's going to be August before I know it & I'm so far behind on July. But, I swear there's a reason for it & you'll see why shortly. I have NO time for anything these days. I am hungover & hard up (wait, that's Eric Church - ha ha for all you country fans who got that!). I am just over-extended & overwhelmed.
This summer has been fun though & as always, here's the proof!
The first week of July, we had just settled in to Twin again after being gone 6 days in Portland. Cashe was recovering from something that we still aren't quite sure what it was; however he had started school that week, so I'm sure it was something his immune system may not have been prepared for (although airports usually help build those up, but who knows?!)
We had a swimming playdate scheduled at my friend Brooke's house for the 4th, but on the 3rd & we had to cancel because the last thing I wanted to do was make anyone else sick. I had made patriotic cake-pops for the kids that day & brought them to Brooke's anyway (because we weren't going to eat 30 of them!) I made sure Shad & Cashe each got one though.
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| Enjoying his cake-pop (mostly the outside chocolate & not so much the cake). |
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They turned out so cute!
And what's funny is, I saw a girl at the park that night that I had never met before at playdates, but I had seen her earlier at Brooke's.
I introduced myself & her husband was at the park too & said, "this is the girl who made that cake-pop you brought home? That was SO good!"
This town is SO small & so cute, I love it. |
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| Still working on recovering from his sickness while playing with Thomas & friends (& naming all of the trains for mama) WHILE sportin' his Thomas pjs. |
So, thankfully Cashe got better just in time for the boys to drop me off in Boise on the afternoon of the 4th to head to Missoula for a girls' weekend with my high school friends (& more!)/my half marathon.
I arrived late Wednesday night & saw a few fireworks from the plane. The boys stayed at home & were in bed early to ensure Cashe's health would be up to par for school the next day so Shad could work.
Thursday, Alicia & I had the whole day to just goof off & hang out before any of my friends arrived from California. We ran to the University from her house, hiked the "M" & ran home. It was quite the jaunt, but I did well despite the elevation change & Alicia did really well despite the fact that she hasn't trained at all for running.
Friday morning, my OC friends, Dana & Heather arrived. And Friday afternoon, Jenny, my San Diego friend arrived.
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| Here we are ordering lunch at one of the local sandwich shops in downtown Missoula called, "Docs". |
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| We also had to do yet another hike to the "M". Here I am with Heather. |
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We also took a walk to the grocery store & came back & this was parked in front of the house.
I threw the milk up on the tire & we posed for a 'typical Montana photo'. |
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More Doc pix: Jenny, Me & Alicia.
Alicia hung out with us the WHOLE weekend & let us all crash at her house.
It was AMAZING of her to open her home up like that & for Luke to let us steal her.
She's considerably younger than I am (although you can't tell because I look SO young), so she didn't go to high school with any of us at the same time, but all my girlfriends adore her & always have, so it was so fun having her there with us! |
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The two sis-in-laws: Dana Lana & Heather Feather.
Dana went to school with us & married Heather's brother in CA.
I worked with Heather in CA when we lived there, so I got to be really close to her too, so we decided even though she wasn't Sentinel Alumni, she could still come hang with us. |
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| My two high school BFFs: Jenny & Amanda (Amanda joined us later that night since she lives in Missoula). |
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| The old high school gang (minus a few): Dana, Jenny, Me, & Amanda. |
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| More sis-in-law pix at the Iron Horse downtown. |
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| Fuh-reak-show. |
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| The whole gang at the Iron Horse (where we spent MANY weekends in college). |
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| Then we met up with our other racers, Larissa & Shauna (my sis-in-law) at the Elbow Room (another college hang out). |
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| Class of 1997! |
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| Me & a couple Valley Christian High School Graduates, Larissa & Shauna. |
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Saturday afternoon, we decided to lay low & relax before the big race day on Sunday, so we floated the river.
We had SO much fun & I don't think I've ever laughed so hard.
Dana was a RIOT (which is not unusual - love that girl!) |
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| After the river, we cleaned up (somehow we all managed to kick Heather out of the shower since she showered every hour) & walked to The Good Food Store (a local 'Whole Foods' of Missoula) for their salad bar. Mmmmm ... |
Oh no, now these are all out of order ... bear with me as I jump around.
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| The Nelsons chilled extra hard after the marathon since they had sacrificed their home to a bunch of crazy girls. |
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| Here is Dana & Malan (Luke's friend/our fellow river-floating partner/racing cheerleader). |
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Prego Jenny rockin' it after walking the half.
Poor thing wanted to run it, but it wouldn't have been wise while being pregnant.
So, four hours later, she & Dana rolled in exhausted from boredom, I'm sure! |
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| Heather & Bebe Sage. |
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The Nelsons are really relaxed now that they know most everyone is leaving the next day!
Woo hoo! |
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| Cutie girls headed to James Bar downtown after a FABULOUS dinner at the Mustard Seed (my all time fave). |
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James Bar didn't exist when I lived in Missoula, but it is definitely a cool place to hang out now.
The saying on the wall says, "We are the people our parents warned us about." |
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After James Bar, we had to hit up the Depot Deck.
The Depot was my parents' favorite hang out when they moved to MT in '71,
so that tells you how awesome it is if it's still around!
We started Shad's 21st birthday at the Depot Deck. Awe.
Here are the two lovelies: Jenny & Dana & their flowers from the floral arrangements in the restaurant.
(Yeah, they hated us.) |
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| They especially hated this one. |
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The sweet Jacksons (Amanda & Alan) came out too.
These two have been married almost the longest of all us girlfriends.
Dana & Nathan married first, then Amanda & Alan. |
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I attempted playing match-maker on this trip.
Heather said she wanted to meet a cowboy, but I don't know any.
Shoot.
Next best thing ...
One of Shad's friends from college who is single & cute.
They totally hit it off too!! |
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Monday morning, Heather jumped on her plane back to Orange County.
Dana, Jenny, Alicia & I had to go to Bagels on Broadway, so we did before Jenny had to catch her plane to San Diego.
Then, Dana, Alicia & I drove to Helena (a 1.5 hour drive) to visit Dana's brother, Chris. |
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| After Helena, we decided to take one last sunset hike to the "M" & we saw a deer! |
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| Me & my sunset girlies & our gorgeous hometown. |
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Back to the race ...
I did NOT get the time I wanted, mostly because I have a bladder that won't quit now that I have had a child, so I had to stop at mile 3 & WAIT IN LINE to use the saweeet port-a-potty, so I lost some valuable time.
At mile 9, Alicia ran across the street from her house & joined me for the last 4.
Within that last 4, I ran past Shad's first apartment on 6th Street, so I paused briefly to have my photo taken (since I had already messed up on my time, why not have fun?!?!) |
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| This was taken after we got our race packets & before the river float on Saturday. |
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| Here we are after we rented our tubes & were headed to the river. |
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This was taken at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. Pre-race jitters BIG TIME.
It was sure exciting though & I was so pumped! |
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I did it! I did it!
I ran the WHOLE entire thing (minus the potty break, but that doesn't count in my head).
I made OKAY time, but I could've done better.
Bottom line is, it ROCKED. I had SO much fun & I'm ready for more!
We're making it an annual event & I'm going to challenge myself to do the full next year! |
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| Muah! Until next year! |
