10 year anniversary and Kuhns family visit celebration

Celebrating our 10 years together at Pasture in Richmond, VA. It was so yum! The fried okra,  chorizo meatballs and clam ceviche was the best. And we loved the jars water was served to us in. 

Brandon and I at our anniversary celebration. 

These chairs reminded me of the Young House Love chairs and they were numbered. So cool. The spot had vintage maps and chalkboards. My kind of place.

Besides celebrating our anniversary, we had a great time this weekend with our family who was in town visiting. Ethan, Charlie, Luke and Kelly came and shared "four days" as Charlotte pointed out at the beginning of her stay. She did a countdown each day.

The kids really loved seeing each other and acted like long lost friends. Ava and Ethan usually buddy up and Charlotte and Soph hang out and try to keep their toys from being sequestered from the older kids. We joke that Charlotte and Soph are frenemies, meaning, sometimes they have a good time together while other times they fight. Seriously though they had a blast this weekend.

On Thursday and Friday we wasted no time and hit the pool since it was 80s outside. It was glorious. The weather helped us feel like we were on vacation. Sophia swims like a fish and I can't wait to see how good she does in swim lessons. Girl has no fear.

We visited Maymont, a beautiful garden and estate on Saturday and it was gorg. We enjoyed a picnic on the lawn before going through the park. The weather and walk had animals, gardens and giant stepping stones. The icing on the cake was the snow cones!

Aunt Kelly 

Charlie 

So didn't plan these colors but love it! 

Ethan

Ry Ry 

Ava had her best friend back

Ry Ry thinks he's big stuff drinking a juice box.

Mom time! 

Sophia 

Charlie by the goats

Snow cone city at Maymont

family pic with the Kuhns

These stepping stones kind've rocked!! 

Sweet family that we love! 

family shot with my besties

Swim season

Warm weather is slipping into our weeks more and more. This weekend we are looking at 80s and our pool at the gym is open so I have been planning ahead.

I have already got some swimming suits for the kiddos and I, pool towels, cover ups, and swim toys. Yes, this is way ahead of the game.

I learned my lesson the hard way last year after every size of swimming suit was sold out and the toys were gone. I literally could not buy a size 5 bathing suit for the girls. Odd.

I got a cute swimming suit from Down East Basics. My friend Sarah recommended it as a place that had modest suits. I love that they are tankinis and awesome for rounding up kids at the pool.

Yellow suit that is so cute.

I also liked this suit but it's already out of stock. See!?

Sleeping like a baby

My little Ryder is getting big. He must be having a growth spurt because literally overnight his little self is growing out of his 12 months jeans. Boo.

And Sophie is growing out of her size 3 (she's tiny) jeans and Ava is getting so long that her shirts are showing her cute little belly. Insert extra money in the clothes budget line item this month huh! :)

I was talking with my mom the other day about Ryder and his sleeping. He had a rough night and was up from 8-10 pm and then two more times that night. It was rough.

Have you seen this article from Honest Toddler? It makes me laugh so hard. I died. I agree with the silent whispering threats and the immediate waking from bed.

Barbara Walters: So, you did hear your child crying. And you ignored your young. Why?

Mom (in prison garb): Well…uh…I just…I didn’t…*tears* I’m so sorry…

Barbara Walters: Daddy. Did you not hear your precious angel?

Daddy (in a straitjacket): Rack city *mumbling something inaudible* hello kitty *twitching*sippy cup cheese.

Brandon and I have always been pretty go with the flow for sleeping. We are strict about routines and bedtime, but if they get up in the middle of the night until about two, we know they probably need a diaper change, food during a growth spurt or are sick. Or teething. 

For some reason, Ryder has been sick for two months. The doctor said it was the bronchiolitis and that it takes a little while to clear up. Plus, he's teething. 

He's also walking a couple of steps and putting everything in his mouth. I died today at the park when he jugged half a pail of sand in his mouth. 

Do you have a strict bedtime routine or are you more go with the flow? 

Monument 10K

Why do I always get sick before a race? I am not sure, but this time I was supposed to run the Monument 10K and even up until the day before the race I was not sure if it was going to be a go.

I had the stomach thing and it was rough.

On the morning of the race, I was in bed until 6:30 when I just thought let's do this. So, I went and got my clothes I had organized the night before along with my Garmin, compression socks (thanks Jess), and shoes.

I got to the start with no problem and I was so surprised that there was no traffic. I walked maybe a mile to the start to warm up and then tried to find a bathroom. However, there was a huge line and I had to get in line to my wave.

I got in with the "J" corral and then found a spot about three rows back since I didn't know how my stomach would feel. The start was well organized and there were so many waves of people, but it didn't feel like it was crowded until we started running. Then people were running in front of you and around you and it was hard to keep an even pace with so many runners.

Some people jetted out of the start even though they were seeded at the pace I was running. I tried to follow someone for the first mile until she started running 9:01s and then passed her.

My goal was to run under 9s for as long as I could with my stomach. And the first mile I ran 8:53 and felt like I was holding myself back. As I got to mile 2, 3 I started to feel the heat and slight incline. It was only 56, but it felt somewhat hotter. As I got to mile 3 I felt like ripping the socks off it was so hot. But, it was nice to have them because we were running on cobblestones. I also got gatoraide three times since I had nursed Ryder that morning before leaving.

We ran past monuments, tons of cheering people and a million people cooking out. It was a great race. My only thing was that sometimes you had random people running into the runners or people just stopping right in front of you to drink water.

I finished with 57:10 (I think?) And was pretty happy since I had been sick. However, I would really have loved to finish in 55. My next goal is to run under 8:45!

Loved this race. :)

And Young House Love blogger John also ran the race and wrote a great article here.

What's been going on.

Ava at the baseball game. 

Sweet Ry Ry chilling like a big boy in the sun. He's 11 months old. 

Brandon and his new shades aka Maverick. 

Ryder and I at Easter at Aunt Rita's. I still have to do our Easter pics on the blog!: ) 

There is an outdoor mall in Richmond that is called Short Pump, kind've a smaller version of Easton. The girls love to ride on the train around the mall. 

Sophia loves this train. 

I wish I had those blue eyes. :) Sophia, Ava and Brandon went to a baseball game as a reward for working hard at school. The girls loved the fireworks and Ava caught a ball. 

Flying Squirrels game in Richmond and the fireworks. 

Oh yeah. Ryder is almost walking.  No biggie. And he is sporting his sporty rust colored jeans I got on sale at GAP. Love these! 

Our farmhouse table is such a fun place to have dinner. And it's fun that we got to design it!