We're back...

Whew...back from our final vacation of the summer!  We had such a great time enjoying the beach with Neil's family.  I enjoyed some time with my hubby kayaking at sunset, enjoyed twice daily showers with my very sandy Layla An, and finally got to spend some time with Neil's mom, who is so much fun for me to be around (oddly enough, she reminds me a lot of my dad in some ways??  strange).  And Layla got some of the best compliments this week...ones that made me so proud of her.  She was complimented on her gentle spirit, her ability to share her toys without even a word and her easy going attitude (she was happy and content everywhere she went).   

Oh and I grumpily (if that's even a word?) ran every morning--between 5-7 miles.  If anyone has ever run at a North or South Carolina beach, you know exactly why I say "grumpily".  It was a long flat stretch of highway--in fact, the only highway on Hatteras Island, I believe.  So you can imagine running with transfer trucks, fishing trucks, and some pretty nasty northerners whizzing by and add to that FLAT FLAT FLAT roads.  My legs were aching by Thursday evening for sure.  And I also--being slightly out of it when I left for the beach the morning after my long night run--forgot my (1) running skirt (2) sports bra (3) SOCKS.  So, all week in old cheerleading shorts, Neil's mom's socks and a normal bra--YUCK.  I do have a whole new appreciation for fabric that wicks away moisture :-)

So last night when I put Layla down for bed, I darted down the st

eps and went straight for my running shoes.  I was beyond excited to get out and get my feet back under me.  I enjoyed a very nice and quiet run with small but WONDERFUL hills --YAY!   And then dad and I hit the road early this morning to do a short 14.5 mile run....AMAZING!  

I'll be posting some beach pictures soon...none of mine were any good so I'm holding out for ones that Neil's sister or dad took :-)  Until then, here are some adorable little pictures of Layla playing in her new tutu.  I finally got it in the mail while we were away on vacation...she LOVES it.  We almost had to put her to bed in her "dancing costume".