on girl's weekend and the week that followed.

when august arrives, i always get a case of 'the sads.' the summer's-almost-over-and-i-still-have-so-much-i-want-to-do sads.

don't feel too bad for me though. i gotta say, we have been one busy bunch these last two months and maybe the fall will bring some rest!

no rest last weekend, however, as i spent some quality time with three of the people who have helped shape me into who i am and how i live. my college roomies and i celebrated (and i mean celebrated) our second annual girl's weekend. when the four of us get together, it's nothing short of a miracle. these things don't just happen.

16 years have past since meeting these women in a stuffy hot dorm room in south hall on trinity's campus, and in those years, we've all filled up our lives. we have fourteen children between us. we have husbands, houses, jobs, and lives that are lived hundreds of miles apart in three different states. but when we do get together, none of it matters and that's why we make the effort. we do it because we're good for each other. in the two days we spend together each year, we laugh, eat, talk, laugh some more and maybe drink a little vino too.

these weekends are more than just that though. in those two days, we're allowed the time to remember that no matter the miles and the years, we're still in this together. when the days get hard, we're not alone. and in our victories, we all cheer. this friendship is lifelong and i'm so grateful to be a part of this posse.

here's to 50 more girl's weekends, ladies, and 1,000 more bottles of silver beach.

isn't she lovely?

livin' large.

i adore this picture and this person.

this might be my favorite 'shannon and jeni' picture ever.

the weather was perfect. and so was the view. thanks to andi's uncle bob and aunt barb for the use of the greatest cottage on the planet.

ladies, we still got it.

this is where the self-timer goes wrong.

i blame andi.

this is us. and we're awesome. and ladies, you're welcome for the ones i didn't post. (evil laughter.)

since getting back to life (back to reality, back to the here and now, oh yeah) i've been spending lots of time soaking up time with the schans kids. sophie spent the week at smart kids camp young scholars day camp, and the three amigos and i kept busy doing lots of outside stuff now that it feels less like i want to die the second i step outside (ummm, the heat this summer, wtf?). today we ventured into the beloved forest preserve and i had the chance to snap a few summer shots.

the winding wooden stairs that lead down to the path. nora is finally able to do them alone. phew.

cute kids.

green green green. having seen how hard so much of the midwest has been hit by this drought, i don't take this for granted.

me and mimi me.

group shot fail.

the floating bridge. it makes me nervous.

we missed sophie, but made the best of our days. so glad that next week, we'll all be back together!

  i feel like we're sprinting toward fall and the start of school and everything else that the end of summer brings. i'm not ready for it. so, even though i find myself worn out by the business of summer, i'm going to soak it up. we've got plans for lazy august days, eating fried food on a stick at the minnesota state fair and some day trips around the twin cities. when fall does get here, i'm going to need a serious nap. 

long live summer fun!