DC Fun Run

My friend Stephanie and I are both training for the Baltimore Marathon and were able to add some miles in with this incredible D.C. monument tour via stroller. I love this place!

National Zoo

We loved the National Zoo. Elsie slept through most of it.  Liam said at the end of the day his favorite was the donkey from the kids barn (never mind the multimillion dollar panda research center.) Other family favs included the iguana (because of its close resemblance to Spike from Land Before Time) red panda, tiger, and the monkey. 

Living, loving, and adjusting, in D.C.

In the past 2 weeks. . . . . .:

-We accepted an offer on our Michigan home and are waiting to close. Hooray!

-We packed everything we own, including our rabbit Gabe, into a small semi (driven with care by Brady) and trekked  to Maryland.
          Brady drove all night, biked, and then ran to class barely arriving 2 minutes early to his first day of school. He's already the "cool, new kid" and is taking everything in stride. He can take his comprehensive exams this spring allowing him to start working on his dissertation this summer. 

- Brady sprained his shoulder AC joint playing rugby

- Took 2 field trips to1)- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and 2)Smithsonian National Zoo
-Went to our new church ward across the street from "Fro Cuts" and "Super Selecto"

-Scrubbed, cleaned and still cleaning our new, dirty- yet- cute, house.  I planted my perennial divisions, spray painted the toilet seats, put out ant and mice traps, replaced cupboard knobs, ate ikea cinnamon rolls after a successful evening of budget shopping.
- Riverdale Park Farmers market

-Met some new friends at a play group and at the College Park airport story time - Committed myself to both a book club and an occasional 6 am group jog.

This will be an interesting and enjoyable 3 years for us.  Lots of fascinating people, events, and places. If you need our new address, email us and let us know.

Things we have to leave behind in Michigan

These are pictures from the U of Michigan garden from a few weeks back.

Our time in Michigan is running out. We will miss this place in all of its Midwest-ness. We are sad to leave but excited to get into our new place in Washington D.C. and for the adventure moving brings.

Liam is always reminding us "Mom, you can't bring your friends to D.C., they have to stay here in Michigan with dare own families. Leave them here. Also, you can't bring this house, it wont fit in dads truck. Dat's just how it goes."

A few things things we wish we could pack in our truck and take with us but just can't-


"Grandma Lin" She works at the YMCA and has watched Liam since he was 3 months old. She was one of our first Michigander family friends.  She has loved Liam like part of her own family and has made all the difference.

The Dewitt Running Divas- My running group of 5 other fun women, ages 35-52, who have become good friends and a good support for me, not just for my running.  Last week we ran a 17 miler together. They're actually meeting me in Maryland to run the Baltimore Marathon October 17th. 

The cookie store "Sweetie Pie-" Mmmmm

Pictured Rocks National Park, Michigan- This place in the Upper Peninsula changed our mind about Michigan.  Every summer we would go camping and I'd run a trail marathon up here. Even using my Alaska standards, this place is BEAUTIFUL.

Our House- I will always have a spot in my heart for this adorable, old, small, first house of ours. I love it. This is where I first practiced how to be a mother. All the love and memories we've put into our home has really made it feel like an extension of our family

Our neighbor Elaine and her dog Bella-Another grandma/aunt figure that kinda adopted our family. Her dog is so hyper but Liam loves it because she lets him feed Bella fruit snacks.

Open country roads to run and bike on. Goodbye, cornfields! We'll miss you too, barns. 

The DeWitt City Parks and Rec Commission- I've gotten to build parks, tree houses, rain gardens, 5 year plans, river bank stabilization projects, park and cemetery regulations and ordinances. . . It's been a fun job. The people on the commission are seriously "salt of the earth"- city councilmen, administrators, professors, land developers which of I am definitely the "least of these."  GREAT philanthropists that you can't help but look up to.

All of our great, great friends: We have made so many fantastic friends here that have made our lives so much better. We will miss you all! (come and visit). More than anything, we'll be sad to leave so many great people behind. But it's great to know that good friends will always be there even years down the road.

The sky is the limit when you're 27

 

Brady went to the store without me and surprised me with this dress for my birthday- correct size and all. I love it. (Thanks grandma and Leisa for the guilt free birthday money :)

Twenty seven feels like a great age. It's old enough to be taken seriously but not too old for age to be limiting or imposing. By the time I turn 28 I'll have moved to Washington D.C. and enjoyed many a fun filled day on the town, snuggled everyday with my kids and hubby, completed 2 more marathons, planted a completely new garden, rededicated myself to music, being a better friend, letter writing, and journaling, and found a new job. My hope is that I will ultimately emerge a better, more loving and seasoned me. 

  Who knows, maybe this will be my best year yet.

The Thesis of Friday the 13th

 Sometimes science is skewed.  Other times, even if you wanted to skew it to prove yourself right, it wont budge.

A few years, a few headaches and 450 unreliable, hormonal, undergrad research subjects later, Brady is done with his thesis.  He didn't get the results he wanted  to prove his hypothesis correct but he has conjured up some novel thoughts and completed a vast amount of data. Great job! We're proud of our family scientist.

Busy, busy summer

July Highlights-

This summer has been an absolute whirlwind of busy days.  Elsie is growing and is still an angel baby. She has a calming, relaxing effect and is so fun to snuggle. Liam has enjoyed spending the summer picking berries, playing outside and feeding his 2 month old sister M&Ms.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK-

We spend lots of time missing both our family and the mountains so a trip to Colorado with Brady's family was a great time for everyone. We stayed  in a cabin, played, canoed, toured, biked, ran, saw wildlife and gladly shared our cute kids. 

CLEANING-

"Clean" is not a word that fits my character. Hell may freeze over before anyone ever describes me as "organized." But for the past 3 months I have had multiple people- strangers, Realtors, friends alike, applaud me for my cleanliness.  It feels oh so good.

I have developed some mad -crazy cleaning skills and have decided that I absolutely love living with my drawers and closets half full. My guilty pleasures are one junk drawer in my kitchen and several baskets of unfolded laundry all in a neat stack in the basement.

Without so much clutter it's easier to breathe, relax or get ready for a home showing in an hour.

In the 4 months our house has been on the market we have had 24 showings and 3 well attended open houses.  A few that "almost bought but got away"s, but no offers.  We have felt people praying for us though, cheering our house selling on. Thanks for the prayers- maybe that's where the "cleaning miracle" has come from.

BRADY FINISHED HIS THESIS-

The paper has been submitted. Done. Just waiting to be defended Friday the 13th (No joke.Very fitting)

RUNNING-

Brady has started running(!!) and I am so happy to have a running partner for family jogs. I'm still running with the DeWitt Running Divas and have busted out 5 10 milers but am definitely feeling the affects of being 2.5 months postpartum.