Birthdays and Back to Life

Thank you all for your kind words and wishes of wellness on my last post.  They worked because I'm finally feeling like a human being again!  Man, last week was rough.  I still don't know what I had because I didn't have any traditional cold symptoms.  My best guess is that I had a mild case of bubonic plague.

Anywayyyyyyyyy, I'm feeling almost fully recovered now and have regained about 95% of my speaking voice.  Which is kind of shame because I just missed my one and only opportunity to be a 1-900 operator with that raspy, hoarse voice.  Oh well.  Moving on.........

This weekend I went back to PA because I had two very important birthday parties to attend. 

First, on Saturday, I attended the 12th birthday celebration of my best friend's step daughter.  I have known this sweet funny girl since she was about 2 I think?!  I can't believe she's a 'tween' already!  It's kind of a strange feeling to see kids grow up before your eyes.  I remember running around the house playing hide and seek with her when she was a toddler and now she is into make up, Snapchat and has a "boyfriend"?!  How did this happen?

 

 

 

In addition to that silly girl's birthday, my nephew had a celebration of his own on Sunday when he turned 4!  I'll tell you, it's not until you, or people you know, have kids that you realize how fast time goes.  I have no idea where the past 4 years went.

 

His party was at a ski resort back home and was pretty much beyond any 4 year old's wildest dreams. 

 

 

 



You see that there bounce house?  Well, you're looking at the ONLY adult in attendance who tried that puppy out! HAHAHA  I had not only one, but two, nephews who would not go in there without Aunt Jilly.  So in I went.  An Aunt's gotta do what an Aunt's gotta do.  Like a good nanny, I tried to maintain order inside that thing, but have you ever seen the inside of a bounce house filled with more than a dozen kids hopped up on sugar and on a birthday party high?! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

I also partook in the photo booth, again with children in tow:

 

 

 

I ended up having to drive down a mountain and back to Baltimore in the rain and dark late Sunday night but it was worth it to make this boy SMILE! 

 

 

 

My nieces and nephews are young and still idolize me a bit, but I know the day will come when they probably won't want to be seen with me, so I'm taking it all in while I can :)





In other news, after taking FIVE days off from working out/running last week while I was dying, I finally felt strong enough to head out for a run on Saturday.  It was my first really chilly outdoor run of the year so I layered up, but honestly I was so happy to be running after almost a week off I didn't even feel the 30 degree temps!  I ran a 5k in my Hokas and yes, I'm still loving them.  They honestly felt great right out of the box for me and there was no break-in period.  They're also the lightest shoes I've ever worn, which is a really nice, fast feeling.  I'll write up a formal review when I put more miles on them.

While I was home, I also got to witness the unveiling of my mom's always highly anticipated annual Christmas card!  My mom LOVES her family.  She just does.  Her children, and now grandchildren, are her life, and her pride and joy.  Because of this, the woman still designs and sends out photo Christmas cards every year.  Behold this year's winning compilation:

I can't tell you how great it feels to be back in the land of the living once more.  I've resumed planking and now have to make up about 4 or more minutes of missed planks?! Let's see if I can hold a plank that long.

Thanks again for your get well wishes :)


If have kids, or know kids, does it seem like they just grow up in the blink of an eye?!

How was your running weather this weekend?

Do you send out Christmas cards?