Ok.  I’ve sorta kinda been slacking.

On the running anyway.

I’ve had the same running shorts, tank top and sports bra sitting on my vanity for a week, with every intention every single morning of heading out to run.  In fact, I’m planning very seriously to use them tomorrow morning.  No really.

There are just so many excuses not to run right now.  So many other things to do, so much sleep to catch up on. So few weeks until marathon training and no-excuses-get-your-ass-up begins. 

I know, I know. I’ve been slacking.

What have I been doing instead?

Celebrating this little dude’s first birthday, for one.

He’s adorable, and my nephew.  We had a big family dinner at Chuck E. Cheese on Thursday, happy hour at my parent’s on Friday and then a big ole party for the little man on Saturday with all of our friends.  I had to wake early Saturday (and skip my long run, accordingly) to bake and frost 4-dozen baseball cupcakes, make pasta salad and prep the baked beans.

After the party, we all headed to my parents place to help “empty the fridge” (and liquor cabinet), then said goodbye to my mom and dad for the summer.  Or, for a few months at least.  Boarded up the Florida home and all had a good cry as we drove away.

I cry every year when they leave – even though we’ll see them again in July, then August and they’ll be back in November for the year.  It’s just not the same as having them around for a Friday happy hour or swimming at the pool or dinners out.  The kids miss them; we miss them. That said, we’re really excited to travel up to Wisconsin to party on the river, go hiking and enjoy Riverfest with Gramma and Grampa time mixed in.

Sunday, I had planned an early morning run but alas, sleeping in got the best of me.  We’d planned to head over to visit our new, very tiny, premature nephew, which we did.  He weighs right around 5 lbs right now and is so, so small. So small.  He was almost 7 weeks early, so with that in mind, he’s actually doing really well.  No breathing or feeding issues; was home after a week in the NICU.

Then, because we’re just gluttons for punishment, we decided on a whim to meet all of the friends and kids for a big family baseball game – the Tampa Bay Rays vs the MN Twin(kie)s.  Piper hadn’t been to a game since she was a wee-one, and all of the friends with kids were going.  So we decided to make a day of it.  Five families; 5 preschoolers (plus a just-turned-one-year-old and a 13yo).  This is all of us, minus one family.

Piper and her cousin pretty much played on the iPad or iPhone the entire time.

There are not enough sugary adjectives to describe the insanity that is four three-year-olds who’ve just inhaled a buffet of cotton candy, Cracker Jacks, brownies, fruit snacks and rice krispie treats.  They were nuts.  We won the game, and everyone left happy and exhausted.

Needless to say, I didn’t rush home to run, or to do any of the other “lazy Sunday” housework chores I’d had on my list. When it comes down to it, I’ll always choose fun times with family and friends over a clean house or perfectly manicured lawn.  Always.

That’s why my friendships are so amazing and my yard is not.

That said, Ginger’s wedding is less than two weeks away now and it’s crunch time for her shower next weekend and then the wedding.  So excited to help make it all happen and so blessed to have so many amazing friends with whom to spend our weekends.