mexican independence day!

This past weekend we had the fortunate experience of driving to Puerto Vallarta with some friends. Lucas, a friend and fellow med student, is from there and his parents still reside there. They invited us to stay with them for a long weekend. (I had a make sure they knew we had 3 kids with us...yikes)It was a great time. The drive was beautiful. The roads were very windy... narrow, windy, dizzy roads. But beautiful. Very green. Trees everywhere. It felt like we were driving in a jungle.

The house was perfect. And Lucas' parents were wonderful. They fed us dinner. They were loving and patient with the kids. They had a swimming pool. The weather was very hot and humid, but thankfully it rained while we were there and it cooled things off.

And the best part...the beach. I have decided that if I am ever to go to the beach, and it is my choice, I will always choose beaches in Mexico. You don't have to bring anything! Or do anything for that matter. There is always something there to buy, always cheap. 
So here's what we did...we got up, only brought towels, camera, money, and a few other things, and headed to the beach.
When we got there, we set ourselves up in front of a restaurant that was recommended by Lucas. They provide chairs (that recline), umbrellas, tables, and a waiter that will be there for you the entire time. He brought us coca lite, chips and guacamole, salsa, nachos, pina coladas with strawberries, coronas (hahaha) anything you want. We spent the day there and our bill was around $10. 
The kids really had a blast. The water was perfect. The first day it rained, but it didn't prevent us from enjoying the day. We stayed and swam, in the rain. A unique experience that we all loved. The second day was sunny and we left with "tourist marks." 

Thank you to Lucas and his family for a wonderful weekend. 

Viva Mexico.

Bad: The rainy season is over I think. I am so very sad about it. I have completely loved having the rain. It makes me happy. It's different. It makes everything green and pretty. Also...I am officially injured. I cannot run. I realize how much I enjoy running and I am sad. And I am going to get fat now. 

Good: Both of my cousins are getting married...in December! It's going to be a party!!! 

Loving: "The best thing about the future is that it only comes ONE DAY AT A TIME." -Abraham Lincoln

race.

I knew there was going to be a race in Guadalajara. I thought I might do it. I changed my mind. I wasn't going to be ready and thought...there will be another race. I did my usual thing at the gym this week. But the signs all over the city were haunting me. It didn't matter. I still wasn't going to run. Saturday came. Late in the afternoon I get a message from J. The conversation went like this:

Jaren Kottraba: think i might do race, do you want to?

 Vanessa Kottraba: maybe!
 Jaren Kottraba: you want to go to expo
 Vanessa Kottraba:  when and where is expo?
 Vanessa Kottraba: right now? with kids? alone? no way
 Jaren Kottraba: until 5 tonight
Vanessa Kottraba: why do we do this?!
Jaren Kottraba: with me and kids
 Jaren Kottraba: do what
Vanessa Kottraba: the race?! craziness
 Vanessa Kottraba: no?
 Vanessa Kottraba: i ran eight today. think that's bad?
 Jaren Kottraba: you tell me if you want i will come home and go with you
Vanessa Kottraba: i don't know. do you think thats crazy for me? since i ran a lot today?
 Vanessa Kottraba: it felt great.
Jaren Kottraba: no you always run
Jaren Kottraba: if you want you would be fine
 Jaren Kottraba: it was so fun
 Vanessa Kottraba: but not 13. i am scared. will you run with me? or you wanna smoke me this time?
Jaren Kottraba: whaterver you want
 Vanessa Kottraba: ohhhhhhhhhhhh...i don't know!!!!!!!!!
Jaren Kottraba: are kids asleep
 Jaren Kottraba: i will come home and we can go down there, i am going to do it so when we get there if you want to then do it
Vanessa Kottraba: just noah...still
Vanessa Kottraba: do i have to be tehre to sign up? i haven't showered yet
 Vanessa Kottraba: *there
Jaren Kottraba: no
 Vanessa Kottraba: i will want to sign up. i was sad driving home when i saw all the signs. think i could beat my time?
 Jaren Kottraba: ya im sure you could, a little ibprofen and some of my drink
Vanessa Kottraba: psh. i know..i have a lot of work to do
Vanessa Kottraba: ok well you're coming home then right? where is the expo?
 Jaren Kottraba: its up to you do you have time
Vanessa Kottraba: where????
 Jaren Kottraba: i think by colomos
Vanessa Kottraba: oh...then ya..i think i can swing it...just shower when i get home i guess
 Jaren Kottraba: why not right now, it will take me 30 to get home
 Jaren Kottraba: we just have to be there before 5
Vanessa Kottraba: k see you soon ((sweat))

We did it. No. I did NOT beat my time. But who cares. We did it..and we did it together. It's kinda like life..right?! It's crazy. Sometimes things come at you that you just don't plan. But you get through it. And if you have someone to do it with, then it's just better. And things may not end up how you want or plan, but you end up ok in the end, right?!

Now I know...never run the week of a race. At least don't run 20 miles the week of your race. So stupid. This means I ran 33 miles this week. Stupid. I will be better prepared next time.

Mark my words.