Whatever: Hiking on a date weekend

Steve and I went hiking in Georgia last weekend and it was really beautiful.

Dirt: Running is our newest tradition

Steve and I started having a Saturday morning date these past few weeks.

Both of us wanted to start getting a little variety in our exercise routines and wanted a fun way to have a date in our busy schedules of schlepping kids around and work.

We are about the same fitness level right now when it comes to trails, so that is good. Usually Steve kicks my bee-hind in most things athletic. He is a freak when it comes to fitness. There is not much I have not seen him pickup quickly, literally and figuratively. 

We have been hitting the trail so far. We live in a great town which is very close to lots of trail heads within about 20 minutes of our house. Chattanooga has more trails within 30 minutes of downtown than Boulder. Making us the king of trails. So,  no excuses. Steve and I are working our way to much harder trails. 

In the mean time, we park at Ruby Falls and run on the Guild Hardy Trail. 

The dogs, Steve and I all have a great time and it makes our busy weekend just that much easier. 

The trail run also is a great stress reducer in our marriage as well. Life is great after a run.

*This week, I stopped and smelled the roses and took some shots of the amazingness that is Chattanooga.

Dirt: We Are Almost There

My life the last few weeks has been a little bit weird with me getting used to working and the girls getting back in a routine.  We are almost there. I am getting my feet under me and with the exception of dogs marking rugs and me having to mop and disinfect my entire room and bed, I am getting things done in the evenings when I get home.

 

The girls are staying busy with school, homework and extra circular activities.One is playing two sports AND singing in a choir AND holds a student government office AND has a social life. My head spins. The other one is almost as busy, but middle school holds you back just a little. So at least she does not have to be driven hither and yon.

Steve and I had a conversation the other night that we have gotten to that spot where we are alone as much as we are with our kids. Weird. But a good weird. 

This weekend is our last outdoor concert weekend. The summer was a great one for music. 

 We have tickets to see the Lumineers in October. I feel September will be a little drought like musically. Although I am hoping to get tickets to see Dwight October 3rd, which is almost September. That would be awesome. I love him, mostly because he's great, but also because my Memaw, who died when she was just 13 years older than I am now, thought he was hot.
That is all it takes for me.

Gratituesday: Momma got a message

I am so excited I can barely stand it. 

Someone gave me advice over a year ago to be open to new things. 

That is not a common feeling of mine. I tend to be wary of things. Some call it controlling, I call it cautious. I married the opposite of cautious and it has been a grand adventure.

 

 

But I digress. 

In my effort to be open to new things, I have started saying "YES". Yes to volunteering for a fundraising event. Yes to my daughter's request we try a new church. Yes, to a new hair color that I have toyed with for months. Yes to new friends and being "friends"  on Facebook with people. 

Yes, to a new job opportunity.

 

Yes, yes, yes. 

I saw a Facebook post by a mother of friend of Ellie's whom I have gotten to know a little from dropping Ellie off at their house and sitting and watching her daughter and mine play lacrosse.  She is a friend of a friend, an acquaintance. 

The post was really a help wanted ad looking for an administrative assistant for a business she was starting with her partner.

I contacted her immediately without even thinking about it. After we spoke on the phone, I arranged to meet with them both. Their enthusiasm was contagious.

Long story short, I have been working a few hours here and there and start next Wednesday. 

Open and YES! have led me to a new job, one that uses my skills. One that I am excited about. 

One that I am really looking forward to starting.

I cannot thank said advice giver. She has brought more into my life than I could have ever thought possible. The lesson I take away is this " God puts people in your life for a reason. He speaks through them, uses their skills for His purpose and blesses them for being open. All we have to do is be open as well to hear His message for us. " 

 

I am so grateful for Sunshine Girl and her "be open message", for my new bosses and their enthusiasm and for my husband, the original adventurer in my life.

Whatever: Americans don't give up

We won't let no stinkin' rain ruin our Independence day!

NOPE!

Happy Birthday to the land that I love.

We celebrated with hot dogs, hamburgers, cupcakes and kick ball. 

What could have been a sad holiday (my very favorite one) turned out to be one of the best days this year. Friends and family turned out to play and laugh. Best thing about being American? 

Americans!

Happy July 4th!

Whatever: Happy Birthday

Today is the birthday of my husband. 

We have celebrated birthdays together since 1995, when he turned the ripe old age of 26.

I bought him a pizza stone, a pizza paddle and a cookbook about, you guessed it, pizza.

This based on the fact that when I visited him at school in St. Louis, we ate pizza or Italian almost every single day. I figured I had a fair shot at a home run. 

Over the years, I have figured out  lots of things about Steve. 

Mostly that his family did not make huge deals out of most things. 

My family, by contrast, throws a party if you get up to go to the bathroom.

"Surprise! We are still here! "

Somewhere in the middle is how we celebrate his birthday.

I try to come up with something fun. 

He tries to make it hard as hell to buy him anything.

We have cake.

 

This year is very low key. Swim meet, then drinks with friends.

I made dinner last night and a cake, his mom and my parents came over. 

There were gifts.

Next week, however, we will combine the tournament in his honor "Swannie Cup" with my favorite holiday. I can sneak in my need to celebrate with his need to not. 

Win/Win.

Happy Birthday to truly my favorite person.

You make me laugh, make me think, and impress me with your feats of strength.

I am so glad you were born.

 

 

Whatever: 18 years

18 years?

18 years!

Started dating Steve 18 years ago.

Time flies when you are having fun! 

And fun we have had.

Just two weeks ago, we rode bikes past a ghost tour and made ghost noises as we rode past them.

Yesterday, we were still laughing about it.

That's us.

Making our own fun.

 

 

 

(Our daughter asked us how many dates we went on. I told her 1,000. Seems like a good number.)

Cooking: Menu and a busy week

Gorgeous weekend.

We had such a great weekend. Loads of fun.

Cannot believe how fast it went.

Big week this week...

May Day, anniversary of first date and of wedding day. 

Yep. 

This was the night I found out I was married to a famous guy

15 Years of Wedded Bliss Menu

• Meatballs/Tomato and white bean soup
• Zuchinni pizza with pepperoni/greek salad
• crock pot fajitas/roasted veggie fajitas
• Anniversary dinner

Sometime this weekend...I want to make this...

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