Nate and I ran our race! I was so, so nervous, as I tend to be, but it rocked. The weather was perfect - we even got a couple little rain showers. The first three miles were straight up, the next seven were so, so fun - down the mountain on a nice dirt trail. Couldn't have asked for anything better. I did faceplant once, but luckily, there were no rocks around and I just got really dusty and scraped my knee and my elbow up. Then the last four were along the reservoir. So pretty, so fun. Nate killed this race! He was so fast! Fourth in his age group and something like 20th overall. And then he ran back to me and hauled me across the finish line. Just kidding about the hauling, he was a very welcome companion, though. I walked some and ran some during this race, and I felt good about it. Lots of walking during the last four miles. Also, it's worth noting that I totally ate a pickle at an aid station around mile 10, and I liked it. I feel like I get life experience points for tha...

Last month we were lucky enough to score the pleasure of Bri and Mason's company on a snowshoeing adventure. It was epic! And also wet. And also so fun. And cold. We hit the mountain by our house, spent about 2 minutes on the trail, and then blazed our own from there. The views were gorgeous and I tell you what, there's no beauty like snow beauty. When we decided to meet back up with the trail, we did some legit bushwhacking. A machete would've been welcome, although I probably would've impaled myself with it during one of my roughly 674 wipe-outs. I could watch this phenomenon all. day. long. Finally emerging triumphant from the snarly oak trees. The mountain and the valley. Fun fact: This is my happy place that I went to in my head during my labor with Emmeline. Except it was May or June in my brain, with lots of wild roses up the sides. I'd never experienced it in the snow until this trip. Love it!

That's what I am. Today is three days overdue. The baby clothes are all washed and folded, diapers are neatly stacked, the carseat is assembled and ready, Grandma and Grandpa are here. We're just missing one thing: a baby! So to pass the time, I'll give you a couple of the best comments I've gotten on the pregnancy. 1. Are you sure  you're not having twins? 2. Wow, you really are huge ! And my personal favorite: 3. I can't believe you can even walk! Nice, really nice. I have grown to love my doctor's nurse. She's so hilarious and just totally gets it. The last couple times I've been to my ob appointments she's seen the crazed look in my eye, recognized it for what it was, and gone searching for chocolate. Last time it was peanut butter m&m's in one of those cups that you leave a urine sample in. One of the things I am looking forward to most about having this fifth baby here is feeling like I have control ov...

Here's a little family update for ya. Nate and Michelle Celebrated our tenth anniversary in August! Thanks to lots of kindnesses from lots of people, we got to go on an overnighter in Logan. What a blessing to have a marriage worth celebrating! We also recently ran the Huntsville Half Marathon. It was Nate's first, and he killed it, man. He ran it in an hour and forty two minutes. Can you believe that!? He's so fast! As for me, I finished and ran the whole time, but it was tough! My time was somewhere around 2:35 But I'm proud of myself for making a hard goal and sticking to it. I've wanted to run the Huntsville Half since I did my first one four years ago. The mountain scenery was just as pretty as I'd hoped it would be. It was a blast to do it with Bri and Mason and Mason's parents. Addison This boy is keeping us hopping! He's doing very well in his 3rd grade class and loves going to school each day. He's also in piano,...

Being sick stinks. But being sick with a buddy stinks decidedly less. Excuse the sound quality, or lack thereof.