Birthday fun

Whew- fantastic and fast paced weekend.

Let's rewind...

I survived the hospital Tuesday (and Matt survived our run), and Wednesday I had a student so the day marched by rather quickly. Thursday I did 8 miles before an office day, Friday I woke up cleaning before a grumpy office day...can't have all good days :) I had a pukish 3 mile run after work before my parents, sister, and McKenzie made it into town. Matt and I knew Saturday would be a veryyyy long day so we crashed soon after they arrived.

Saturday morning Matt was up at 5 for the hunting club with Macie, so I slept until 6:45ish before waking up and talking it up with my dad before heading out for an 8 mile run...did 5 by myself then picked up Meg for the last 3...so fun running with the sis, seriously I love it. We went and got coffee afterwards while waiting for it to warm up a bit outside for some pool time. We made it out there about 11 when Matt and dad left for a game of golf. It felt wonderful outside but the pool was freeeezing! Definitely no more water time for me.

Us girls left the pool about 2:15 to pick up Matt's gift, then made a mad dash back home to start getting ready for Matt and Brandi's surprise birthday dinner. Mom, dad, Meg, and McKenzie headed to Savannah while Matt and I picked up the cake...totally misspelled Matt's name on it somehow, so he is now referred to as "Malt". The birthday dinner was a total surprise for Brandi since she thought she was just having dinner with Darin, Matt and I. Matt knew a bit more since I couldn't let him go to the other hunting club for the weekend and he asks too many questions. Dinner was fun and I loved seeing everyone there to help celebrate Matt and Brandi's 30th!

This morning we all slept in until 8:30 before getting up and moving. We made coffee and a big waffle breakfast to kick off Matt's actual birthday. We didn't make it to church and took our time getting ready for the day instead. Meg and McKenzie met up with Adam in Savannah for the packets game, mom and dad went outlet shopping, and Matt and I did our normal Sunday grocery shopping and errand running. We met up with mom and dad at Tavern 46 right up the road for a late, large lunch...it was so gooooood. We came back home, 10lbs heavier, and laid around waiting for Adam, Meg, and McKenzie to make it back home for more cake and ice cream. We sang and ate the most delicious German chocolate cake ever, and I don't usually like that kind! My family left a little bit ago and we're just relaxing :)

Happy Sunday! And happy 30th to my handsome husband!

A very long day

It's been a very slow day at the hospital...a very slow day. Like I was ready to go home at 10:30 this morning kind of slow. I should be thankful :)

Let's see where we left off...

Wednesday I did my long run. Thursday I wasn't as sore as I thought I would be and had a great day at the hospital. I did a 4 mile slow run Friday- the kind of recovery run that I needed. I thought I was running at a decent pace until I looked at my watch which told me otherwise :) I worked at the peds office and had a very good, steady day. I love days like that...those kind of days make me feel like I could work there full time...we'll see how I feel after Thursday and Friday there this week!

Saturday morning I had an amazing 8-mile run. It started off disappointing since I was running slower than I thought, but I ended up running my first every progression run! I was so so happy. Definitely helped that it felt so fabulous and fall-like outside.

Matt and I met up with Daniel, Cassady, Bobby, Sara, and their son Cuyler for a day on the boat. The weather was perfect, but the water was incredibly choppy. I thought I might actually get seasick! We got home around 7:30 and watched most of the South Caroline game before we passed out. Sunday morning Matt got up at 4am for a duck hunting day with Macie so I got to sleep in for a bit and start my morning off with a quick 4 mile run around Bluffton before the rain started. We went to church (with Matt nodding off multiple times beside me) then had lunch with Scott and Chance before heading  home for Matt to nap and me to grocery shop. I cannot for the life of me remember what we did the rest of the day. I think by the time Matt woke up it was already 4:30 or 5 so we just hung out around the house.

Yesterday I was here at the hospital (a much faster paced day) and took a day off from exercise. Matt is supposed to do a 2-3 mile run with me tonight- his half marathon training plan starts next week so we're trying to work on some kind of base :) We'll see if he makes it out with me this evening!

PS- who wants to buy me the new Garmin that's coming out in a few months?! It's in color and looks super cool :)

The run that actually happened

I didn't do my long run last weekend so I swore I'd do it today...and I actually did. I got up this morning at 5:45 as Matt was leaving, and I finally got out the door around 6:45. I still feel like I'm going to look like a loser running with my camelbak, so I ran with this little guy...

And I probably won't do another 5+ mile run with it. I caught a horrible cramp around mile 5, it went away at mile 10, then came back with a vengeance at 11. I blame the fact that I was carrying something foreign in my hand. So, I think I'll run with the camelbak Friday for a 4-5 miler and as long as all goes well I'll use it Saturday for an 8 miler. 

This run was pretty tough and I blame the humidity and the fact I've been so wishy washy with training. Chicago is only a month away and while I'm not trying to PR or anything I don't want to feel like death the entire marathon. So, back to training hard and praying my legs and hips can withstand a few more weeks of hard running. 

Other than my run I've done pretty much nada today. I'm trying to watch the movie déjà vu but I'm quite confused...hopefully a Friends episode comes on soon. 

Also, today is 9/11 and as pictures resurface from that horrific day, I'm reminded of how grateful and blessed I am. My prayers are with those who have lost a loved one. 

Recovery Sunday

You'd think I'd be recovering from a long run that was supposed to take place this morning, but no. I refused to get up and do my 14 miler when my bed was so very comfy...it'll take place Wednesday now...hopefully :)

Friday afternoon Matt got home at 4:30ish and we finally made it out the door around 5:45 to head to Ridgeland for all the birthday celebrations. The birthdays for September are Darin, Mr. Hal, Conner, Matt, and Brandi, so doing them together made it super easy. Conneris really into Batman and Superman right now, so the party was superhero themed. Conner LOVED opening his gifts and was so very excited for every gift. Kids are so fun! We had pizza and cake with ice cream...all was delicious. We stayed and chatted and played with toys until 9ish before we headed home to crash.

Yesterday morning we awoke to Matt's phone ringing...two minutes before my alarm was set to go off. Yale was calling to see if Matt wanted to take Macie to do something or other with birds. So he took off for that and I did my 4.25 mile run (at a fairly decent pace). Then I rushed around/sat and read my book while I was supposed to be getting ready for Megan's baby shower brunch...though I was actually the first to arrive! Very unlike me these days. Brunch was at the Cottage and they did not disappoint; breakfast was yummy. 

After brunch time, I came home and read a little more, washed a load of clothes, and unloaded the dishwasher. I picked up some nuggets from chick-fil-a for the kids and boys, picked up BBQ from Bluffton BBQ, then picked up Megan before heading back up to Ridgeland for Molly and Craig's shower for Miss Emily. I'm running out of words that describe delicious foods, so I'll keep using it...the appetizers the girls had prepared were flipping delicious. I enjoyed a few too many, plus the BBQ at halftime. Ah yes, halftime. We watched the UGA v USC game together...4 Georgia fans against many a South Carolina fans- it was intense and I loved every minute of it. Matt and I were planning on staying the night, but since the game was over at a decent hour, we took off for home. Probably why we slept so good and long, since we were in our own bed.

Today has been sleep, Belgium waffles, church, grocery shopping, lunch, relaxing, cleaning, the gun range (high anxiety for me- I'm terrified of guns), and ice cream and wine for dinner. I'm ready for the work week! 

Above are my last 5 shots...Matt says I'm not too bad.

A productive, unproductive day

I really like this 2 shifts a week thing :)

I only worked two shifts at the hospital this week and zero days at the peds office and it's been heavenly. I could get way used to this...but won't, I promise. Tuesday I didn't do much, in fact I can't remember much about that day...except I tried to run at 9ish and only made it 0.68 miles before I turned around and walked home. Go me! 

Wednesday and Thursday were at the hospital, and now it's already Friday! Wahoo! Made a trip to Savannah's new Whole Foods on the way home from work...thankfully for me I was ready to be home so I didn't spend too much money. I will be returning soon, trust me.

 This morning I got up when Matt was leaving and sat around until 7:45 before getting my rear ready to run. It was a pukish feeling run and I cannot wait for more Fall-like weather to get here! Humidity sucks. 5 miles, and only mile 1 felt good :) Macie and I went to the carwash, then for some coffee, then back home to rinse off. I got a pedicure by a lady who made me bleed, but I don't even care because she massaged my feet and legs for a solid 20 minutes. 10 minutes spent on my toes, 20 minutes rubbing...that's worth it for sure. 

Came home, had a little lunch, then sat by (mostly in) the pool reading a pretty good book. No sunglasses tanline this time, thank goodness. 

Headed to celebrate some September birthdays this evening with pizza, cake, and a whole lotta family. Tomorrow is a brunch to celebrate Megan and Gracie, then a BBQ shower for Molly, Craig, and little Emily. Plus the UGA vs USC game at 4:30....please let the dawgs win!!!!

And check out my awesome new door hanger...now I just need November!

Surprise weekend

This weekend was a total success, hands down.

Matt and I stayed over at Megan and Scott's one last night (we were house sitting/ dog sitting while they were at the beach) so my original idea to leave a note didn't work. I got up at 6 to knock out my long 12 mile run, which felt good until my garmin died and I had zero motivation to push myself. When I got back Matt was sitting around, so I had to tell him we needed to get moving and that I had a surprise trip planned. Of course he started asking a million questions, so I had to lie a good bit and finally told him he couldn't ask any more questions. 

We rushed around washing sheets, remaking the bed, picking up his truck from the office, and finally made it back home around 10. He asked more questions while packing his bag (he packed more for a weekend trip than our week long honeymoon), then he ran out to get cash since he always wants cash on him when we travel...he had no clue we were heading to Palmetto Bluff which is only 15 mins away from us. 

We had plans for us all to meet for lunch at 12, so we were pretty late. I finally told Matt after we were in the truck headed to the office. He was so excited and genuinely surprised. I was afraid he wouldn't see this weekend as a mini vacation since he works out there every day, but he seemed to have a great deal of fun! We had lunch at Buffalo's, checked out the house, then the boys took off running around doing whatever 29-30 year olds do. The girls stayed in the house and unpacked then sat around chatting. We went to the golf pro shop, rode our bikes around, and just talked a lot that first day. We made appetizers and grilled hamburgers and hotdogs before the UGA game and then sat around the TV yelling all night. I gave up around the 3rd quarter and went to bed.

Sunday morning we got up, made breakfast, then headed to the pool for the day. It was amazing outside and felt so good sipping piña coladas poolside! We had reservations for 6:45 at the Canoe Club so headed home around 5 to get ready. Dinner was ok...I'm not much for fancy food :) Last night was a late one and we didn't get into bed until almost midnight...we're serious party people!

This morning we got up and ate breakfast at Buffalo's before packing up our stuff and parting ways to begin our work week. The boys had lots of fun celebrating with each other and will hopefully do the same for us when we turn 30 in 2015!! They have plenty of time to plan :)

And I shall leave you with a picture of McKenzie, because I laugh out loud when I look at it :)