Family Time!

It had been way too long since East Coast & West Coast Illuminated Runners had been together. Christmas was the last time I had seen my sister. Way too long. So, her visit this past week was dreamy. And, with my brother and his family here as well, we got some great family time in. Some highlights include:

• Early morning cross fit-style workouts (WODs), with my mom spectating for a couple of them, and shaking her head in disbelief. Though she did threaten to do some burpees with us.  

This picture is after we completed "Maple":

5 Rounds

Overhead log lunge around garden

10 burpees over log

10 log push press

10 log squats

100 yd hill sprint

• Completing the Caspian Challenge 6.8 mile race around the lake, with Kathleen and Karl and my boys cheering me on. This picture doesn't show how psyched I was that my oldest son, Maclay, came running up to me and finished the last 100 meters with me. In his flip-flops, with his baseball glove :).

• Oven fire caused by cooking 3 (yes, 3!) packages of bacon.
• My family giving my sister and her boyfriend (Kathleen Ruffle and Karl McDade) a new couple-moniker that would make Brangelina cry in their sleep: Karleen McRuffle.
• Making s'mores by the fire and my sister-in-law and Maclay bonding over whittling a crazy sharp spear.

• Major laughter. Yes, my family has its own set of disagreements, personality quirks, etc., but we know how to laugh. Serious belly laughter. I love that.

It was a great week, and I was sad to see my sister and Karl head back to California. Sigh. Next week we'll have to say goodbye to my brother and his family when they head back to their home in Bangladesh. Double sigh. I truly do appreciate the limited time I have with my whole family together, in all its chaos, and with all the planning that needs to be done, it is still priceless.