My new love

I know most of you will be shocked that I am doing two posts in one day but I just got back from meeting my newest love. His name is Carson Craig Meacham and he is the most adorable 5.2 ounce baby boy ever. He was born at 4:20 this morning without much warning. Mama BARELY made it to the hospital to have her new cutie 20 minutes later. Mom is doing well and looks fabulous. Ryan looks fabulous too, I might add. (so he does not get his fragile feelings hurt).

I gave little Carson a pep talk yesterday and asked that he please get here before I left for my trip. He was obviously very inspired by my pleadings. Welcome to the world Carson, we are sure glad you made it here safe and sound and healthy!

T minus 2 and counting

Well after a year of anticipation it is finally hear. We leave for the John Muir Trail on Saturday afternoon. I cannot believe after all this training and anticipation it is really going to happen.

I have to admit that I have been feeling a LOT of anxiety over this trip. For a multitude of reasons but mostly I think just the unknown. This is going to be the hardest thing I have and probably ever will do in my life, physically. I have attached a map of the trail including pictures that my friend Brittney put together. It will give you and indication of the difficulty of the task ahead of us but also shows the incredible views we will have.

I have read and heard many people talk about this trip and they always talk about how difficult it is but also how incredibly beautiful and serene it is. It will be a great challenge and a wonderful experience.

I will be completely out of contact with the world for 15 days so I will be very excited to catch up with everyone when I return.

Date Night

Last night Matt and I accompanied his Priests on date night. Most of them have barely turned 16 and this was their first date. They were so funny! I loved observing the awkwardness of those teenage years. After we dropped off all the boys dates, Matt asked the boys how they thought it went. They all gave an enthusiastic positive response. He then asked if any of them would be asking any of these girls out again. One kid pipes up and says no but I might ask your date out. I just about fell out of the car laughing. Matt then threatened the kid with his life if he ever tried... jokingly of course.

Sunny San Diego

Our surfing trip to San Diego was a blast. Bryce brought two of his friends, Trevor and Zane who are great kids and between the four boys there was never a dull moment. We took surfing lessons on Friday afternoon in Encinitas and then went to Pacific Beach on Saturday and rented our own equipment. I stuck with body boarding the second day ( a little easier for the balance challenged). The boys all did a little surfing in the morning and then decided to trade in the surf boards for body boards.

We also played wiffle ball, football and spoons at night. Spoons was definitely the most dangerous activity we had all weekend.

We were all exhausted by the end of the day. It is amazing how much energy you expend swimming against the waves. It was a great workout.

The crew will all be leaving tomorrow morning and I will be sad to see them go. We have had so much fun together. These boys are a riot. Three pre-teens and a 9 year old going on 21! It is total and utter CHAOS! Just the way I like it! :)

Long time no Blog

It seems like it has been a long time since I have blogged or even looked at anyone Else's blog. Life has been a little hectic the past couple of weeks. I will just hit the highlights.

We officially started boot camps this week and I am teach ALL the classes this month since I will be backpacking most of September. I tell you these two a days are tough but I am definitely excited to get in great shape before I leave for the JMT.

Matt got back from Alaska on Monday and then promptly came over with his lawn mower and cut my lawn. Have I mentioned how wonderful he is?! You will notice from the picture that my lawn was more like a jungle, so I felt really bad that he had to work so hard in the heat but he was determined he would get it done right then.

Amber and the boys and two of their friends will be here tomorrow afternoon and we are going to go to San Diego early Friday morning. I am really excited about it! It will be the last weekend we have to do anything before they all go back to school.

It seems like time is just racing. I have less that a month before I leave for the JMT. I cannot believe after nine months of training it is finally here! It is a bit surreal. I am anxious for it to get here and be finished. It will be great to get over the nerves of not knowing if my body can handle such extremes.

Nothing much else is too exciting in my life. Work has been really really busy and church responsibilities are going to be really hectic this next couple of weeks but of course all of those things are positive and for the most part enjoyable.