Weekend Things = Running + Lots of Family Time
Hey, hey friends! How are you all on this fine Wednesday? I am checking back in a little late to the game this week, thanks to a crazy weekend (which you will see in a minute) + an unexpected day off for Landon. Amidst all of the chaos though, life is good and this chaos is that beautiful kind of chaos, which I am okay with.
Saturday morning, I woke up decently early and had a few minutes reading my devotions before getting a call from Benaiah. I got him up within a few minutes and we both piled on Landon, in an attempt to get him up and out of bed. We spent the morning hanging out and playing with Niah’s choo-choos, before I went on a ‘long,’ run.
I saw a 45 minute run on my plan, earlier last week and felt a little apprehensive, unsure of how my body would handle the longest run I had run for a while. Honestly, it’s taken me a long time to up my mileage (and I think part of it has been fear of further injury.) Thank goodness for a coach who I can trust and encourages me to do things that scare me. I eagerly slipped on my shoes and took advantage of the gorgeous weather with a solo outdoor run.
Landon watched Niah, while I ran a solid 45 minutes and enjoyed every second of it. I felt good the entire way and met up Niah and Landon at our local track. I was finishing my run, listening to some Skillet music, when I turned around corner and noticed Benaiah running up to me with arms wide and a huge smile across his face. If there was ever a Kodak moment, that was it. Motherhood is so special.
After my run, I cooled down with Landon and Niah and a few hours later we had friends over for lunch. Andy and Emma brought grilled chicken, rice (that was delicious!) and fruit salad and I prepped some roasted potatoes + broccoli. Everything hit the spot and it was so fun to catch up with good friends. I forgot to snap a picture #bloggerfail.
A few hours after Andy and Emma left, we had Landon’s parents over for dinner. We made a salad and they brought the family favorite, Liberian collard greens. YES. We chatted the evening away, discussing ideas of family vacations and catching up over no bake cookies. Even though we all live close to each other, we don’t get together enough like this. It was fun to hang out with everyone for a good majority of the evening. Niah loved having all his aunts and uncles together in one room, too. As he was showing off for everyone, I quickly realized we have made it into the “look at me,” stage. He seems like quite the natural performer.
Sunday morning came all too quickly and although I felt like sleeping in another three hours, I peeled myself out of bed in order to get ready for worship practice on time. On the days I have worship practice, I have to be to church by 9. Normally, 9am doesn’t feel early, but for whatever reason, Sunday morning, it felt early. I made myself a quick breakfast, got ready, and we all made it out the door before it got too late.
Worship + church was so refreshing and it was nice to catch up with friends over a meal. Our church has a gym that the kids like to go after lunch, but I don’t think Niah has figured out that it is only a “after lunch” thing because he kept obsessively asking about heading out to the gym throughout the service. We finally made it to the gym and watched him run around with the other kids, throwing balls around. I think he thinks he is playing with the big kids, even though he is just in the same room as them. It is so sweet.
Once we made it home, we put Niah down, spent some time playing music/ prepping dinner. Landon plays guitar, but we don’t seem to have enough time to sit down and sing/play together. However, Sunday we made time to sit down and sing a few songs together and it felt so restful. We need to do that more, babe.
Fast forward a few hours later and my family came over because my sister, Abby came home from a tour she is on! It was SO good to see her and catch up as a family. It was a short, but sweet visit and I can’t wait to hang out more, soon.
Landon and I ended the night with a couple episodes of Downtown Abbey and fell asleep much later than we should have.
Even through the business, it was a good weekend and so fun to host those we love and get in some solid miles + family time. And that’s some of my favorite combos – people/special memories/good food/good runs. All is right and good.