Watermelon Days!

You know it's August in Iowa when it's time for Watermelon Days!!  This past weekend was a lot of fun.  Saturday morning started out with the annual Phil Kruger 5k, and for once I was actually excited about running this rather than dreading it.  (Last year I ran a total of 4 times the week before the race...nothing else all summer.)  This year I have been really good about going for runs and having done Dam to Dam, I was feeling pretty good about it.  The race itself was fun...we even got on the news.  :)  My goal time was 27:33 (my personal best so far) and I got 27:07, so that was good too.  I was secretly hoping for 26 something, but now that's just the goal for next year.  :)  It was even more special as it was a family affair.  Josh, Mark, and Rob all ran the race too.  Rob's been running a lot this summer and did a marathon a few weeks ago, so it was no surprise to anyone that he smoked the race.  He won his age group.  :)  Between the Heimanns, I won, then Josh, then Mark.  For a girl who isn't a runner (I swear, I'm still not!), feeling pretty good about that.

The rest of the day was just as much fun.  After showering, we went back downtown to eat lunch at the Lions Club with Rob, Kate and Braden.  Then it was a kids pedal tractor pull, petting zoo, bouncy houses, treats and face tattoos before the parade.  Dad came over from his place for that, and we were able to watch it with him and Teri too.  (Mark had already left for Argentina at that point.  No big deal.)  The kids of course loved it, and each got a ridiculous amount of candy.  (Maybe I'll use it to bribe Kingsley into potty training???)  :)  After the parade, we all came back to my house for grilling and a little birthday party for Braden, which Great-Grandma Rouse joined in on.  So fun!  The kids had a blast in particular.

Saturday night brought a sitter (yay!) and going down to Slice for live music and fun with friends.  More fun!!  Love that you never know who you are going to see from the past!  :)  /Rob joined us out and caught up with several classmates, which was particularly nice from him since he's not around here.

Sunday was another great day...Nick and Annie decided to come up from Cedar Rapids for a visit. We went out to lunch with them and then to Heimanns for badminton.  It was gorgeous out and the kids got some quality aunt/uncle time in.

I'm actually sitting outside right now writing this...gorgeous out again.  Sooo apprecited after the hot days!!  Grady is laying on the grass beside me, playing with sticks and little leaves.  :)  Funny what they can find to entertain themselves with!  Miss K is in taking a nap, as is Josh who has to work tonight.  (Yep...stinking third shift again.)

I made the decision to switch my Park to Park registration from the 10k to the half on Sept. 8th.  Exciting, but that means a lot of work between now and then.  I'm ready for it.  I've just been doing shorter runs--4-6 miles--since Dam to Dam and that's great but not so challenging anymore.  Bring it!  :)

Hope you are enjoying this afternoon as much as I am!!

<3