the time. has come.

Every year, on this day,  Courtney and I come to opposite conclusions. You see. The first day of summer is one of my most favorite things ever. For one, it is the longest day of the year. Two, it marks the official start of the best season. And three. Well, there is no three. Need I say more!?

Courtney, on the other hand, thinks it is actually a little sad, because the days are getting shorter and we are inching our way toward fall (inevitably winter) and away from her favorite season, spring.

Fortunately, being one of five, she's accustomed to compromising, and is more than willing to celebrate the day with me, even if she's secretly having a minor anxiety attack that the leaves are looking just a touch too crispy for her liking.

Tonight after work, I fully intend on being outside for every possible minute. From dinner to dusk, I'll be embracing the daylight, and I hope you can do the same.

Happy summering, you guys!

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float like a butterfly, sting like a bee

When Courtney, Katie and I ran the Chicago marathon in 2007, it was unseasonably hot, inching above 90 degrees, with the race black flagged. One runner died, 30 were hospitalized, more than 400 sought medical attention, and Katie threw up.

Courtney and I both recently admitted we nearly stopped multiple times at the medic stations, terrified because we were no longer sweating, had goosebumps, and were pretty sure our hearts were about to fail. I'm fairly certain the only reason we didn't stop is because we have unrelenting wills that are made possible only because of two parents who think it's normal to do things like paint 100 Willow on their own in the middle of the summer. It's a wild combination. And kind of scary.

That being said, yesterday Duke, Courtney and Ryan did the Tough Mudder in Virginia and Court said it was almost as hard as the '07 thon. Describing it as both awful and awesome, they used those wills of steel (Duke's being stronger than ours. No offense Court. The kid didn't tell anyone he had mono.) to dominate the race.

Afterward they were talking casually about submerging in a steel pool of ice water and climbing through obstacles with electric shocks, and I felt incredibly proud of them and also a teensy tiny bit envious that my foot kept me sidelined.

Unless an intense case of rosy retrospection kicks in, it seems unlikely they'll do the race again. However, if they do, you better believe I'll be right there with them. Let's just hope I can keep up with these champs.
Good job you guys!! I am so proud and impressed! And they even look so cute after a two and a half hour race.