Andrew and I went back to Hiawatha this past weekend so he could help out with wheat harvest.  Even took a day of vacation for it.  This farming stuff is serious business, or so I'm learning.  Unfortunately, he only got to spend a few hours in the field because Saturday morning it rained and rained and messed up our plans of being there all weekend.  But, as things would turn out, that was actually better because we really just needed Sunday at home.

To do this.

Went to the pool, watched Marley and Me (ugly cried AGAIN) and had homemade pizza.
Pretty nice little Sunday.

And, while Andrew was out on the farm on Friday, I was spending the day with Halley, my sister-in-law Hillary and nieces Quinn and Brynnan.  Halley and I took Quinn to the pool and taught her "real swimming lessons".  She was so concerned she didn't know how to swim, so I told her I'd teach her.  After all, I actually used to teach three- and four-year-olds all about bubble blowing and kicking not too many years ago.  Everything we did that afternoon, prompted Quinn to ask, "but do they do this at real swimming lessons?"  YES.  At least they did when I taught them.

Everything, but this.  Talk about a ham.

Work it gurrrrl.

 We had an impromptu photo shoot, and I had Quinn show me all of her best modeling faces.

Happy.

Excited.

Silly.

Mad.

Pretty sure she has been practicing in the mirror.

But back to the reason of the season.  Welcome to Brown County, Kansas.
Or, as the locals call it, God's Country.

What?  You didn't know this existed and how beautiful it can be?

Ya'll come visit anytime.  :)

But, word to the wise (is that how the saying goes?), don't squat in the wheat no matter how great you think that perspective will make your photos look.  I got bit by very angry chiggers.  That's not even fair to say.  They full blown attacked me.  I have bites everywhere.

 If there were 100 people and one bug it would find me.  What can I say, I'm blessed.

 Andrew got a few bites.  I have 13 in my armpit.  Yep, armpit.  I will spare showing you a pic.  But, they are everywhere.  This is not an exaggeration.  They are in places they shouldn't be.

And, I'll leave it at that.

 ...or not.

No, I can't let it go without explaining the discomfort that's going on all over my body right now.  I was wearing a dress.  Crouching in a wheat field.  Exposed.

I look like I've been rolling around in the grass in my birthday suit.
For the record, I have not.

Let's talk about something less itchy.

Watch Franklin transform from I-live-in-the-city-and-sleep-on-human-beds to country-dawg-extraordinaire in no time flat.  It's his super power.

So close to the holiday weekend.
Hope my bites go away in time to wear a cute patriotic dress without looking diseased. 

Franklin is growing up.  

He turned two a couple of weeks ago, and I had to leave him on his birthday for this.

 Good thing he's a dog and didn't know the difference since we celebrated his birthday a day late with the Winchells and their pups with a swimming party and birthday treats. 

The party was a success, except none of the other dogs were swimmers except for Franklin and Kia didn't like the treats.  Can't win 'em all.

Such a happy boy.

Love you big guy!

Today I cleaned out my purse and found the following:

1. One hotel parking pass

2. Two movie ticket stubs

3. Three pens

4. Two vitamins

5. One Twizzler

I'm sure many of you have heard crazy stories about my neighbor Bill.  He is a nice, older man...a little off...loves to follow Andrew around like a little puppy dog...and is always tinkering with things.  Andrew and I joke that he takes things apart "because they are broken" just to have something to do.  The other day he told me he was working on his lawn mower, but didn't have a washer for a certain part.  Instead he used a CD.  I asked him if when he started his mower up if it played music now.  

He thought I was really funny.

A lost dog found it's way into our neighborhood last Monday night.  Long story short, it ended up staying with us (in the backyard/garage), at our neighbor's house, back at our house, jumped our 6-foot wooden fence, ended up at the animal shelter and after being bailed out by my neighbor, is now a permanent resident at her house.  Pretty sure the dog got dumped...I guess she picked the right street to land on, though. 

Franklin turned two on Saturday!  Pictures to come, but can't believe my little love bug is growing up. 

My friend Halley told me either he's in his terrible two's (in people years) or 14 and a bratty teenager (in dog years).  Either way, I guess we're in for a fun next 12 months?  Based on him giving me the look...

...I'm going to say yes.

Happy Monday everyone!

I did it!  10k - check.  

 After several weeks of training, I ran my first 10k last Saturday morning for the Wichita River Run. 

Having no frame of reference, all I wanted to do was run the entire thing and not walk.  Did it!  The first three miles felt awesome, I was happy to see mile marker four, and I knew I was going to make it to the end...even so, I was very happy to see mile marker 5.  And sooner than later (although it felt like later), I crossed the finish line!  

 Close to 30 minutes after this guy, but I didn't care.  

 I accomplished something I never thought I would do, and I'm so proud of myself.  Proud enough to buy that necklace...maybe actually two because I found another one that screams, "good job, you just ran your first 10k."  :)

Things I learned and have had plenty of time to think about during the 50+ miles I ran during training:

1. Two pairs are better than one...when it comes to socks while running.

2. Did you know when you run long distances consistently you can lose weight?  Who would have thought.

3. Nike GPS has been misleading me!  When I crossed the finish line at the 10k, my app told me I still had almost .75 miles to go.  Glad I've been erring on the long side as opposed to the short side.

4. I never would have kept up with the running if I didn't have an end goal in mind.  I knew if I missed a run I would pay for it the next time and never make it the full 6.2 miles.  That being said, let's see if I keep this running thing up now that the race is over.  So far so good.  One run down this week, two to go.

5. Similar to the above, since I blabbed on this blog that I was running this 10k, I felt like I couldn't quit without feeling like a loser since I made this info public.  Good motivation.  No one wants to be a loser.

6. I can't eat before I run...or really drink either.  Give me a couple swigs of OJ and I'm good to go in the mornings.

7.  If I got bored with running, I had to switch up my routes, download new music, critique the houses I was running past...anything to not think about how I couldn't catch my breath and that my legs felt numb.

8.  Sometimes peer pressure is a good thing.  Thank you Laura for convincing/peer pressuring me to do this!  

And, thank you Andrew for being the photographer for the day and focusing on the tree instead of our faces after the race.  :)