Summer Wrap-Up

Well it's official - summer is over {well on Sunday I guess}.

As much as I LOVE fall - the leaves, boots, scarves, soup, pumpkins, etc - I am just a summer girl at heart so I'm slightly depressed to see it go. I just love the pool, being tan, flip-flops, popsicles, warmth! But I guess it's time to let go and embrace all that fall has to offer so here are the last of my random pics from this summer.

My BFF Brina came into town and we had a little high school get-together in my parents backyard like the good old days. Such a blast from the past and it was such a fun night!

Um remember that time when I went in for a quick touch-up to my roots and they went BRIGHT RED?! Oh ya, that was fun - NOT! 

Turned into a 3am hair session, for reals. But luckily my hair girl is amazing and after 6 HOURS she redeemed herself and I loved the outcome! And we are close friends so we had a blast staying up late coloring my hair over and over. I am slowly but surly going darker and closer to my natural. 

AND we wore the same outfit that night - great minds think alike! Too bad she just moved to DC so I no longer have a hair girl - HELP!

We always have to go to the Downtown Farmer's Market at least once a summer - even if all we get is the amazing Mint Limeade - seriously the best!

Meg and Jon surprised us all and came up for a visit! Love having our BFF's in town!

Al has become a major road biker this summer - love me a boy in spandex! :)

Hanging out on the porch with the nephews

Grilled peaches and banana's - the BEST summertime dessert!

A few weeks after Meg went back to AZ, Brooke and Chad came into town. Since all 4 sisters haven't been together since last Thanksgiving we needed to have some sister time via FaceTime!

BEAUTIFUL sunset - perfect view from my parents deck

While Brooke was in town she arranged a cousins night and it seriously was so much fun! Please excuse the iPhone demon eye situation going on up there!

We went to Copper Onion downtown and really could have stayed all night chatting away. 

Love my cousins and can't wait for our next date night!

Last but not least, Abby was in town so we met up once with our DG friends for dinner and shopping at City Creek, and then again with these Daybreak girls at Trio! So glad to have made the very best friends in my neighborhood, and so glad to have had Abs in my life since the college days. Don't know what I'd do without all my groups of amazing girlfriends!

Well there you have it folks - summer 2013 is o.v.e.r. AND I am officially caught up on my blog posts, yay! Never thought I'd see the day! Hopefully I can keep this thing a little more updated now. Goodbye summer - can't wait to see you again next year!

Big Cottonwood Half

Last Saturday I completed my third half marathon! Never in my life did I think I could run more than a mile so three half marathons is HUGE for me even though it's not a big deal for most runners! This was by far my funnest half! For one - this was the half that made me want to do a half! Last year I saw the sign for it at the mouth of the canyon and I knew that I wanted to do it but I didn't feel ready for it and I did this one instead. So this year I knew that I had to do it and I'm so glad I did!

I had run down Big Cottonwood twice last fall and they were my favorite runs. So this year I ran down it 3 times to train, and again - LOVED it. It is just a fun, downhill, fast run that is so beautiful. I could run 12 miles down it every Saturday if I had time! 

I signed up for the half totally alone, didn't even know anyone who had signed up. But the day before I found out that my friend Suzy was also running it so we met at the top the morning of the race and ran together. Suzy is a huge marathoner and way fast, but luckily for me she had taken almost 2 months off of running this summer so she took this half easy (for her, fast for me!). It was so fun just chatting and running and I was super happy with my time. 

Such a fun half and I felt great, probably should have and could have pushed it harder but I had a blast and can't wait to do it again next year!

Jackson - again!

Over Labor Day we went to our home away from home - Jackson Hole! It was so much fun, the perfect way to end the summer. 

We spent the most of our days outside enjoying the amazing weather and mountains. We hiked, biked, went running, and ate A LOT of pizza!

BEAUTIFUL Leigh Lake!

A little beach yoga :)

While we were hiking Al was doing a 60 miler bike ride so he met up with us for our first night of pizza at our fav, Leeks!

Then we went to Jackson Lake Lodge for shakes and to hang out

The next morning I woke up early for an amazing 11 mile run

It was such a perfect morning. I planned on running 6 but ended up doing 11 because it was so fun! (Well and the fact that everyone was asleep so I had nothing else to do!)

Why stop when these are your views?!

We went to town for a few hours for the Farmers Market and to look in the shops

Then back to the Tetons for some biking!

And dinner at Leek's yet again! After a few hours hiking or biking nothing hits the spot more than yummy pizza and this view! 

(And the fact that there aren't many restaurant choices in Grand Teton National Park!)

THE BEST breakfast at Nora's

Then a fun hike to Taggart Lake

My happy place! :)

Cute parents!

Last night at Leek's - Tommer's loves his little sips of soda :)

Until next year!