Feels Like Summer!

The 4th of July has now come and gone, and even though summer feels like it speeds up after the holiday, we still have lots of time left to enjoy the season. Summer usually isn’t my favorite time of the year – I’m really not a fan of the heat – but it’s been relatively mild so far, and I’ve really been enjoying getting outside more frequently.

Although, this time next week I might not be feeling the same way – the heat is definitely coming! But until then, I’m trying to enjoy this time while it lasts.

A few weeks ago, my mom and I went to Storybook Land with my sister and the kiddos and had an afternoon of fun adventures. It was a warmer day, and I’m honestly surprised the kids lasted as long as they did – I was running out of gas a lot quicker than they were! But it was a lot of fun to see them so excited about the park. I hadn’t been to Storybook Land myself since I was really little, and I didn’t remember a lot about it. But there were some things I definitely recognized once I was there, and lots of memories came rushing back. It was fun to make new ones with my niece and nephew.

I can’t tell you how nice it is to go for a run in shorts and a tank top instead of running with thermal tights and 10 layers of jackets on! While running in the evenings can sometimes get rough on the warmer days, it’s still better than running in snow. And the annual Freedom Day 5K is always one of my favorite races of the year. It never fails that it’s insanely hot for the run, but a lot of WARC members come out for the race and it’s always a good time – even when every inch of my body is dripping in sweat!

I’ve been lucky to have Dan home on the weekends with me for almost the whole month of June, and so far, every weekend in July. I know the closer we get to fall, the more he’s going to be gone, so I definitely don’t take this time together for granted. Last weekend, we went to one of the GPAs east of town to check out the Purple Cone Flowers. I really enjoy getting outside and adventuring with Dan. Every time he sees a plant or a bird he’s never seen before, he gets really excited. I love hearing him go “that is so badass!” over and over as he takes a million photos. It’s pretty adorable. 🙂

These GPAs are public land, and anyone can go check them out. The GFP puts a lot of work into making them beautiful, so I definitely recommend visiting!

Finally, just being able to sit outside and read a book is pretty wonderful too. It’s nice to get some fresh air and watch Dobby patrol the backyard. I’m hoping we can have some more bonfires in the near future as well.

Here’s to hoping everyone is having equally as much fun this summer, and taking advantage of being outside. And hopefully we don’t all melt next week and end up looking like Dobby after a warm walk:

Stay cool everyone, and enjoy the season!

Until next time! 🙂

Megan Nelson