Memorable Memorial Day

This is one Memorial Day weekend I dont think I'll soon forget because it was so homeownery!

Friday I had a bunch of girlfriends over and a bonfire which included wood chopping!

Saturday I worked on a big yard project and accomplished it all on my own; pat on my sunburned back!  So farmerish of me!

First there was this:

Then this:

Now there's this!

Sunday I had nearly 50 people over!  We all sat out in the yard and ate, chatted, and played - very fun!

Monday was a parade and a little kid sitting

Not this kid, but she sure is cute!

Poor Bob the neighbor! So much activity and a managed to douse his deck with a rouge sprinkler!

New Mantra

I think it was always there, maybe just unspoken.

Ready to Ruuuuuuuun!

'I'm hoping for 8 minute miles' were my famous last words

I unfortunately did not exactly find myself on an 8 minute mile course 

But I did find myself at the Place to Discover Life at its Best

So it's allllll good :)

Jojo and me are Born and Raced in Michigan

 Verwys' are ready to run and walk or attack dad I suppose...

Yay!  Who loves Lake Ann?!  

Congratulations to Matt and Kayla (both on the left above) for winning!

The first of many great runs I'm sure!

Seedlings

I had such plant success earlier this year with my tulips I'm trying my hand at seeds!  The packets were sitting, (cluttering), on my counter, so I thought, eh let's go for it!

Sooooo..here they are

Zinnias, which I expect to be long, leggy, and weird looking.  Morning glory, which I expect to be creeping all over the joint, and a bunch of herbs, which I'll probably never use!

Cross your fingers!

Annnnd they're off!

Riverbank Run is a 35 year tradition here in Grand Rapids and it's just so wonderful!  

It's the largest 25k race in the country, and also includes a 10 and 5k as well as several wheelchair, kids, and fun run events and races too.  

On Friday, since I was participating in the weekend race activities, I got an email from the health and wellness lady at work, with a whole race rundown; AND the announcement that I had won the random drawing and would be receiving a free t shirt!  sweet!

Kinda reminded me of Capt. Underpants, so I wore it like a cape! :)

Race Day!  Kari and I gave it the ol' go round!  It was very fun running, and then biking back down to watch our 25k friends.  Great weather and great atmosphere!

363 days left to train! See you next year!

Livin' on the Northside

Some neighbors borrow a cup of sugar, others a lawnmower.  and load it in the trunk, drive down the street with the hatch open and the alarm telling us that fact every 15 seconds.  

All this excitement led to another very exciting moment: my first lawn mowing experience!  That's right folks!  I have officially used a lawn mower (with a motor)!  and it's a good thing I had it, the grass was so long it stalled the mower 3 times!  

Stay classy Northend stay classy.

Back to the Winning Ways

Not only did I win this, I won it from my alma mater, which means I was basically reliving my college days bc I would win things on the little campus radio station as frequently as I could.  I think they had like an 28 day policy or something.  I would mark my planner. :)  CD's, iPods, tickets, etc.  You name it, I was going for it!

Party in my mailbox!

Megan Venison

Happy Sweet 17 Meggie!  To celebrate we went to the Koppertop, it's closing at the end of the month, so get your kraut while the gettin's good! And made the first trip to the Whippy Dip!  mm mm mm!

Love ya Meggs!

Midwestern Women are so Crafty

Over the weekend my SIL Lindsay and I flew out to visit my SIL Andrea, kids, and Nate my brozza (no photos of him though...whoops!)  

We had lots of fun hanging out with the kids, enjoying their everyday life, chatting with Andrea, walking to 7-11, eating at fun places we dont have here, and just being candy peddling Aunties.

Warm cookies for the flight?  Yes, please.  I'll have 3!

Real Vodka Vanilla and flower power pins

Chicky Coop!!!  Our favorite!

 5 Guys! Never had before, and it was YUM!

Seeing the Sites in DC!

Kiddos - love the girls' uniforms!

My friend Melissa just moved to town and wanted to meet up: how about G-Town Cupcake?!

Andrea with her Boston Cream

Cupcake Queens! We'll travel high and low to get a good cupcake!

Melis!!  So fun to see her, always is!

Whirlwind trip - but SO fun! Love being an Auntie!