Seriously? May is Over?

It's been a while since our last post and for good reason! So much has been going on lately so it's time for some updates...

I've been very lucky to hang on to some great friends that I've known for YEARS... it's actually hard for me to believe how many years. I really do feel like I was a high school senior last week... or just celebrated my 25th birthday yesterday... but I'm wrong! Earlier this month I headed out for a late lunch with a couple wonderful girls that I've known since at least freshman year of high school... so that would be 14 years... wow I feel old...

Summer, Mary Beth and I met up for lunch at a great little place in Apollo Beach called Circles not to be confused with the Circles in south Tampa - two totally different vibes and owners. We had a great time chatting over some great food and catching up on what has been going on in each other's lives. Summer recently got married (see previous blog from February) and moved to Austin, TX while Mary Beth has started and runs a charity organization benefitting children in need in memory of her brother. I'm still so much in shock that we've all become grown ups. :)

Laura is another friend that I have known for quite a while - since college actually, so somewhere around 10 years. She has been one of my biggest supporters in running races and she joined me on my second race, the Miles for Moffitt 5k. For those of you who are not local to Tampa the Miles for Moffitt races benefit the Moffitt Cancer Research Center at the Univeristy of South Florida and encourages survivors, families, and the community to come together to celebrate life. Moffitt holds a very dear place in our hearts as a family because that is where Dawson's dad recieved treatment when he was diagnosed almost four years ago.

The day started out early and we made it to the USF campus around 6:30am with my race starting at 8am. One thing I noticed right away was that this race felt MUCH more organized and relaxed then the Iron Girl. Dawson and I met up with Laura and her husband Adam who was incredibly excited to be getting up so early... but I think we made it up to him by pointing out one of the most AMAZING outfits I think I've ever seen. I really wish I could have zoomed in a little more...

Dawson and Adam faking a photo so I could get a pic of the blond bombshell in the most amazing running tights ever made...

Turns out this guy runs the race every year in celebration of his victory over cancer... I think I'd rock those pants too if I had kicked cancer's butt...

Me, Juno, and Laura waiting for the call to line up for the 5k

Somewhere in the line up, we lost Juno, but Laura and I lined up in the same area and after a few words from the grand marshal, we were off! It was an incredibly hot, muggy morning and I'll admit, after the first mile, I was struggling! On top of being a physical challenge for me, this race was a VERY moving experience... I caught myself holding back tears several times while running. Many people run in honor of those who have lost thier battle with cancer or are still fighting. Most wear shirts with thier loved one's name or photo. Somewhere around the mile and a half marker, I passed a woman (who, honestly, did not look very fit and was struggling quite a bit in the heat) who was walking the race and wore a shirt that said in loving memory of both her parents and her sister. I can not imagine the hardships this woman has seen throughout her life but I couldn't help but well up with pride for her in taking on the challenge of walking the three mile course in memory of her family.

As I was somewhere around the two mile mark, Laura was finishing her race! Dawson and Adam cheered her on as she earned a new personal record!!

I'm so glad Dawson got a picture of her headed towards the finish line! She looks so happy!

After cooling down for about ohhh 25 minutes... Laura and Juno (who also finished with an amazing time)  joined me for the last 100 yards as I rounded the bend towards the finish line.



Here I am smiling because I think the finish line is A LOT closer then it actually was. Turns out 100 yards is a lot further then I thought... or maybe I just didn't judge any of the distance well because I started to sprint way too early and tried to keep up with Laura and Juno... BAD IDEA... I was gassed and ended up jogging across the finish line... but hey, at least I finished and was in good spirits! :)


Crossing the Finish Line at 46:17 - Miles for Moffitt 5k - May 14, 2011

After the race, we headed off to Einstein's for some breakfast with Laura and Adam then headed home for a much deserved nap. Later on we had another event, a wedding shower for our friends Courtney and Anthony. We've known them since I began working at Brooks Brothers back in 2006. I worked on the sales floor and Anthony worked as our shipping coordinator.

Here is a photo of the happy couple! They will be tying the knott
 here in Tampa in September! We had a great time celebrating
 thier upcoming wedding with lots of friends.

Marlise and me in the kitchen

Courtney, Me and Marlise

Dave, me, and Courtney enjoying some of the great food and drinks

Dawson and me out by the pool

Dawson and Dave goofing around with the camera...

The next week was filled with more fun with friends as I went to a local training for my Premier Jewelry business. For those of you who don't know, I've been a jewelry lady/independent distributor for the last six years and absolutely love it! I hope to make it my full time job again within the next year. We made it to the next weekend when we actually helped celebrate Dave's 30th birthday but I forgot my camera so no pictures from dinner.

I did manage to take my camera to the Florida Folk Festival though... it was a family tradition to spend Memorial Day Weekend in White Springs and we are keeping it alive. Dawson's dad was a Florida Folk singer/songwriter and traveled all over the state to spread his passion for the state of Florida through his songs. I will say - the festivals were a whole new experience to me - but I love all the people that I have met and who are so important to Dawson and have made such an impact on his life. We had such an AMAZING time this past weekend! The FFF is like a reunion - it is the most important event all year and everyone does thier best to be there. I'm really glad we made it a point to be there too.

We spend most of our time volunteering at the Seminole Family Camp during the day making sure that all the stage time is covered and that everyone onsite has what they need. This really is my favorite part! We have made some great friends with some of the demonstrators and I look forward to seeing them each year. We really enjoy sitting under the cooking chickee, and I know I always smell like smoke when I leave but the conversations that are shared there are the best!

Sitting by a cookfire in 90+ degree breezeless weather...

yup, it's festival time!

Dawson sitting at the main stage with the emcee book.

This festival really focuses on Florida and all the culture that we have in our state. The majority of preformers are native Floridians. This year, country artist Billy Dean was our headliner Friday night. Out of his many songs, I really liked one called "The Seed." I added a youtube link of him preforming the song at a church service. I hope it works...





Saturday night's headliner was another country star - John Anderson. Since I am such the papparazzi and some good friends of ours know him, I was able to snap a nice picture to remember the evening.

John Anderson on stage.

Dawson, James, John Anderson, and Tommy

Sunday we stayed until the very end of the show - one of the best moments was seeing a great friend of ours, Jim Carrick play one of Dawson's dad's songs on a very special guitar.

Jim Carrick and Frank Thomas on the main stage, Sunday night.

We really had a fantastic time seeing everyone but the weekend went too fast. We're back to work and the normal daily grind, but we've got another busy month ahead of us! Fishing (my first time) next weekend, Dawson's first 5k (my 3rd) next weekend, a jewelry clearance sale and a bbq with friends all leading up to 4th of July weekend... it may be hectic, but it's a good life all the same... till next time... and I promise to pack a camera... because as Dawson says "if you didn't take pictures, it didn't happen."

XOXO,

Edith & Dawson