Taking Care of Business

Since Jared's mom is buried about a half mile from us, it's our duty to make sure there are always flowers there and that it's "properly" taken care of. And by properly I mean this:

Jared taking the weed eater out and cutting the grass himself. The town mows but they aren't very good about getting close and are even worse when it comes to weed eating around the headstones. I have seen them do it, but I wasn't impressed with their skills.

On this particular day while the girls and I were making our daily visit I noticed some weeds. So after I pulled them I realized the grass we had planted was growing really well and it was time for a trim. So after dinner that evening we loaded up the weed eater and headed back to the cemetery. Jared also made sure that the neighbors, Aunt Mildred, Granny and Grandpa Hatch and his Uncle Shell (Sheldon) were taken care of as well.

This Friday Marlene should get her headstone. I asked Jared if he was going to be there to watch them set it and he said "heck, I'm gonna do it myself!" And I really believe that. I then told him that I have never seen three boys treat their mother with more kindness than him and his brothers. After she died and the mortuary had arrived to pick her up those boys loaded her body on the gurney and wheeled her out without letting the mortuary do any of it. Not to mention the casket they built and the many others things previous to her death.

I hope I raise kids that will be that good to me. Every mother deserves it.

Taking Care of Business

Since Jared's mom is buried about a half mile from us, it's our duty to make sure there are always flowers there and that it's "properly" taken care of. And by properly I mean this:

Jared taking the weed eater out and cutting the grass himself. The town mows but they aren't very good about getting close and are even worse when it comes to weed eating around the headstones. I have seen them do it, but I wasn't impressed with their skills.

On this particular day while the girls and I were making our daily visit I noticed some weeds. So after I pulled them I realized the grass we had planted was growing really well and it was time for a trim. So after dinner that evening we loaded up the weed eater and headed back to the cemetery. Jared also made sure that the neighbors, Aunt Mildred, Granny and Grandpa Hatch and his Uncle Shell (Sheldon) were taken care of as well.

This Friday Marlene should get her headstone. I asked Jared if he was going to be there to watch them set it and he said "heck, I'm gonna do it myself!" And I really believe that. I then told him that I have never seen three boys treat their mother with more kindness than him and his brothers. After she died and the mortuary had arrived to pick her up those boys loaded her body on the gurney and wheeled her out without letting the mortuary do any of it. Not to mention the casket they built and the many others things previous to her death.

I hope I raise kids that will be that good to me. Every mother deserves it.

The last few weeks have been so busy! It seems like I fill my summers up with all kinds of things and then before I know it, it's gone! And that is just what I am afraid might be happening. But thankfully I have been filling it with fun stuff (or at least most of it has been fun stuff).

Last Sunday we picked up my niece Kennedy and she stayed with us for a few days. It was so fun! She is just 6 months younger than Addie and they love to play together. While she was here we had a fashion show that was so fun! I pulled out all of the dress up clothes (that just tripled in size thanks to Addie's cousin Savanna) and let the girls pick out their own outfits. Then I would announce something about each girl and call their name one at a time. It was so cute to watch them get so excited about their turn.

If this picture doesn't tell you how excited Kennedy was, then I don't know what will!
We also used my parent's blow up water slide. As you can see it was huge! They spent hours playing on it. And I spent hours trying to pack it all back into the bag. Long story.Of course we had to have a treat! My sister told me about some cupcake secrets she learned and so we've been making them like crazy!
It was a crazy-busy and even messy few days, but we wouldn't trade it for anything!

The last few weeks have been so busy! It seems like I fill my summers up with all kinds of things and then before I know it, it's gone! And that is just what I am afraid might be happening. But thankfully I have been filling it with fun stuff (or at least most of it has been fun stuff).

Last Sunday we picked up my niece Kennedy and she stayed with us for a few days. It was so fun! She is just 6 months younger than Addie and they love to play together. While she was here we had a fashion show that was so fun! I pulled out all of the dress up clothes (that just tripled in size thanks to Addie's cousin Savanna) and let the girls pick out their own outfits. Then I would announce something about each girl and call their name one at a time. It was so cute to watch them get so excited about their turn.

If this picture doesn't tell you how excited Kennedy was, then I don't know what will!
We also used my parent's blow up water slide. As you can see it was huge! They spent hours playing on it. And I spent hours trying to pack it all back into the bag. Long story.Of course we had to have a treat! My sister told me about some cupcake secrets she learned and so we've been making them like crazy!
It was a crazy-busy and even messy few days, but we wouldn't trade it for anything!

I have to start somewhere

If any of you know me really well then you will know how much I hate running. Or should I say hated! In Elementary School when they announced it would was the mile run day I would have rather come down with the plague. It was the worst day of the entire school year for me. So a few months ago when I decided to begin training for a 10k, it felt like an impossible goal to reach.

Since I have never been a runner, I couldn't even run a quarter mile when I started. I seriously hated running even more than in Elementary School when I started. I had to drag myself out of bed and force my shoes on my feet. Slowly, my attitude changed and I began enjoying the time alone and watching myself progress. I pushed and pushed myself and on Saturday I competed in my first race. Now, competed is a bit too strong of a word for me. It's more like I participated. It was only 2 miles (the first time in my life I have ever said only 2 miles!) but I decided to run so that I could get a feel for where I am at. I can run a 5k but it was either 2 miles or a 10k, I opted for the 2 miles.

Saturday was race day and I showed up ready to run and was just to survive. I was prepared to be passed up by every person and even told myself that I may come in last, and that would be
fine. I had worked so hard to improve my distance and not my time.

But, I surprised myself! I came in 4th in my category (age 20-29)! My time was 19:26 and I was number 29 out of 90. Keep in mind that there was a handful of people running the 10k. If I had known that I was fourth and was that close to placing then I would have pushed way harder and tried to pass those girls up! I was focused on finishing, not on placing.

I have one more 2 miler to conquer on the 18th (I am trying to improve my speed for that one) then I will be back to my 10k training. But, I have to start somewhere.

I have to start somewhere

If any of you know me really well then you will know how much I hate running. Or should I say hated! In Elementary School when they announced it would was the mile run day I would have rather come down with the plague. It was the worst day of the entire school year for me. So a few months ago when I decided to begin training for a 10k, it felt like an impossible goal to reach.

Since I have never been a runner, I couldn't even run a quarter mile when I started. I seriously hated running even more than in Elementary School when I started. I had to drag myself out of bed and force my shoes on my feet. Slowly, my attitude changed and I began enjoying the time alone and watching myself progress. I pushed and pushed myself and on Saturday I competed in my first race. Now, competed is a bit too strong of a word for me. It's more like I participated. It was only 2 miles (the first time in my life I have ever said only 2 miles!) but I decided to run so that I could get a feel for where I am at. I can run a 5k but it was either 2 miles or a 10k, I opted for the 2 miles.

Saturday was race day and I showed up ready to run and was just to survive. I was prepared to be passed up by every person and even told myself that I may come in last, and that would be
fine. I had worked so hard to improve my distance and not my time.

But, I surprised myself! I came in 4th in my category (age 20-29)! My time was 19:26 and I was number 29 out of 90. Keep in mind that there was a handful of people running the 10k. If I had known that I was fourth and was that close to placing then I would have pushed way harder and tried to pass those girls up! I was focused on finishing, not on placing.

I have one more 2 miler to conquer on the 18th (I am trying to improve my speed for that one) then I will be back to my 10k training. But, I have to start somewhere.

Our weekend getaway

Ahhhhh....the only word I have to explain our weekend. To celebrate our 7th anniversary we dropped our girls off with my sister and headed off to Greer. I made us (very expensive, but very worth it) reservations at the Red Setter Inn. It has been named one of the three best bed and breakfasts in the county and the best in the state. And I am here to tell you, I can see why! Jared and I agreed that the only problem was that we were only staying one night. We felt like we needed one more because it was so wonderful. There are no kids allowed (you have to be at least 16 to stay) and the staff was so friendly. They will do anything for you! The breakfast we so yummy, an apple walnut pancake with sausage and scrambled eggs. (And Heather, the sausage was not mysterious! I even ate it with no problem!)

When I booked our room I was a little scared because it's not really my style (who really cares anyway?) but it was great. They say that each room has a Westin heavenly Mattress and let me tell you something! It was HEAVENLY! The absolute best mattress I have ever put my body on. I got up early Saturday morning and after breakfast and before checkout I climbed back in bed to enjoy one more delicious nap before we had to go. The best sleep ever.

Here's the cutesy room that I was scared I wouldn't really like:

It worked out great because we were the only room that had its own private sitting area. Jared enjoyed that while I enjoyed my morning nap.

The view from our back door:

It was torture.