Thankful

Tripp has been fighting a staph infection in his leg for about a week now. Because of this, he has had to take several shifts off of work. On Monday, knowing he couldn't go to work on Tuesday or Friday we decided at the last minute to head up to his parents' cabin.

We almost didn't go because after his doctor appt. on Tuesday afternoon when she packed his wound with gauze, she wanted it out on Thursday which would've blown our chance to go up North. But after a phone call, she said it would be okay to wait until Friday to take out the gauze. So Wednesday afternoon, off we went ("like a herd of turtles", as that is our family motto - it always takes so stinkin' long to get out the door whether we are going away for a week or simply to the grocery store!).

We got poured on as we drove up there. I was getting more and more giddy as the temperature dropped. We settled in for the night, so excited to be up there with Tripp's parents and their beautiful cabin.

The next morning the boys and "Nan" hopped on their bikes and I laced up my running shoes and we went on a little bike/run before the afternoon monsoon blew in. It was fun to hear the kids laughing and talking as they rode, pointing out all the sites.

After that, while "Papa" and Tripp were working on odd jobs around the cabin (there are still finishing touches that need to be completed up there), Elaine and I got out our scrapbook stuff. And if you read my previous post, you know how much I enjoy me some scrapbookin'! I was actually able to complete 5 more pages, but I'll spare you photos of them :-)

After dinner we went on a walk around the neighborhood as the sun was setting. I even needed to put on a long sleeve shirt (can you tell that I'm sick of the heat?).

Then this morning, we needed to head back down the mountain by 8:30am for Tripp's 11:15 doctor appt. to take out the gauze. So I got up at 6am and got in one last run. It. Felt. So. Good. Heavenly! Just me, my iPod and the dog.

The weather - a blissful 65 degrees

The dog - off her leash and free to chase squirrels

Me - iPod turned up with my newly downloaded songs to my running playlist, a few hills that I'm not used to running on but loved (it's very flat here in the Valley!) and a total of about 4.5 miles

I absolutely love it up there. Here are a few pics of the two days we were there:

What a sweet big brother! Ryan played "haircut" with Emily, one of her FAVORITE past times!

The boys' room has 2 sets of bunkbeds so that when my nephews are up there, all the cousins can sleep in the same room. But Emily has a little twin bed in our room.

The boys played in the puddles after we had a good afternoon rain

Emily loves to climb on these rocks. She calls them "her" rocks and wants us to come watch her climb on her rocks in the front!

Lucy, ever the guard dog!

28 pages!

I left on my birthday last Thursday for a nice long weekend up at my in-law's cabin with a few ladies and scrapbooked to my heart's content! It was heavenly! We scrapped, we ate, we slept in, we watched movies, we never left the house (well except for the two mornings where I was able to run OUTDOORS, something I haven't been able to do down in the valley for a while now). So I scrapped Thursday night, all day Friday and Saturday and finished 2 pages on Sunday before packing up. I'm about 4 years behind and I have soooo many pictures from spring of '06 (thanks to my snap-happy mom who always snapped a gazillion pictures of her grandbabies!). These pages are from April 2006-June 2006. Here are my creations:

We are already talking about heading up there for a winter retreat, maybe in February. Can't wait!!

A Nice Little Vay-Cay

I wish I had pictures to post with this, but alas, I held true to my reputation of forgetting important things when I travel.

This time I packed my camera but left the battery charging in the wall at home.

And after we were dropped off at the airport, we went to enjoy a nice dinner at Chile's and I was drooling over this margarita. When the waiter kindly asked for my i.d. (no, I don't look under 21, they just have to card you no matter what), I reached into my purse for my wallet and realized that I had forgotten my wallet. Seriously.

So when I stopped freaking out, Tripp suggested I run over to security and find out what the process was to get through without i.d. I literally had NOTHING with my name on it with me. The nice TSA guy told me that I just needed to get in line with plenty of time before my flight because they have to make a phone call and it can take a while. So I went back and enjoyed my dinner (margarita-less). Then we headed back to security. Getting me through was actually a fairly simple procedure. Thankfully I have no criminal record, so that helped! The TSA guy calls Washington, DC. He asks me several questions (cell number, cell provider, name and birthdate of a relative with my same last name) and then sent me through. Whew!

I have to say, aside from me forgetting my i.d., I had forgotten how easy it is travel without kids!! The plane ride was so peaceful and relaxing!

Our stay in Vancouver, WA was so great. Tripp and I enjoyed our grown up time together. The weather was cool the first couple of days, but I didn't mind. I got to enjoy several runs outside (haven't "enjoyed" running outside in a couple months!). I even ran my farthest distance while we were there. Meredith and I ran with her friend and we went 7 miles! It felt so good! And the weather was nice and cloudy but not cold. It was perfect. I felt so accomplished when I was done. I struggle with side aches when I run and during the entire 7 miles, my side ache only bothered me the last quarter mile.

We stayed with our dear friends the McNairs on Saturday and Sunday night. Then headed over to our old neighbors (and also dear friends!) the Huntingtons for Monday and Tuesday. Then back to the McNairs for Wednesday night.

It was so good to see a lot of old friends at a 4th of July BBQ. It was so good to spend time with our close friends. It makes me miss them more. But you know when you are true friends when you can not have seen each other for over a year, but as soon as you do, it feels like no time has passed at all.

So now we are back in a place my sister in law has referred to as, "not hell, but you sure can feel it from here". It's just plain hot. Supposed to get up to 115 on Thursday and Friday. Thankfully, I will not be here to experience it! I am going 2 hours north to spend a long weekend scrapbooking at my in-law's cabin. I will also celebrate my 34th birthday the day we leave. What a great way to celebrate! I love scrapbooking and am so excited to escape the heat and do it all weekend long!!