Back in the Month of JUNE

In June, there was much rejoicing. My Hannah came to visit from far across the sea and we had a delightfully rich few days together...our best in years. Our kickoff event was running a 5K race together along the beach in NJ! We've had dreams of training for and running a marathon together, but, well, not today. A 5K suited us and our avid observers just fine.

Avid observer #1  

Getting our numbers pinned on...sooo important in case we crossed the finish line in a blaze of glory and weren't able to speak our names for lack of breath and/or fainting...yes.

I may regret posting this picture some day. I hope you're OK with it, Bean. It just captures the joy of the moment so well :-)

Not totally sure what this guy was representing, but it helped the girls stay entertained (??)

The foggy scene. The ocean is to the left, I promise.

During our jog, Andrew was able to relive his boyhood arcade dreams while our girls became the envy of every little-kid-onlooker...I think they rode every jostling gismo in the place and loved it!

Across the finish line...and I'm still standing! For the record, about 4 minutes into the race, we were settling our pace out and I wheezed to Hannah, "This is all I can do." She graciously settled into my speed and happily chattered all 5 kilometers while I listened :-) It was wonderful. In true Powli-style, however we had a great "kick" at the end and passed about 8 people on the last straightaway. And Hannah beat me by a bicep (see muscle pose). !

After the race we got to go to the beach! Unfortunately we had only brought our big camera which happens to be allergic to sand, so I have no beach photos, but let me tell ya, my little girls in their matching bathing suits, squealing with glee at those sneaky waves that come up and kiss ankles and toes?! An amazing joy.

We returned home and the next day indulged in cherries. Picking them, that is. They're quite sour until you bake them up bubbly with sugar, and crumble deliciousness.

To say that I was grateful to have Hannah's help this year, would be a vast understatement.

"Ok, Mom. I'll hold onto your hair, while you hold onto my arm, while I reach out for the (unseen) cherry, while you pull down on the branch...ready, GO!"

Reeeaaach. So glad you are 4 years old and wearing size 6...those long arms come in handy on days like today.

"Now, Mother, did you really think I was unsafe a top the ladder?"

Just for context...we only have one cherry tree :-) But we lovingly conquered it and I forgot to take a picture of the cobbler. It was tasty.

One last fun and momentous activity we got to do with Aunt Hannah was walking down to the local barber shop to get Michaela's hair cut...her first hair cut! WooHoo!

Saddling up. Sophie is thrilled.

Local. Barbershop. The rotating candy-cane pillar says it all.

Excited!

No comment.

Our sweet, skilled, hairdresser had to hide her surprise when I explained that this was M's very first haircut..."Mhmm...and how old is she?"

Look at those long layers, that blowdried blonde beauty. What fun!

We did do more in the month of June than hang out with my sister, who was only here for 4 days, but this feels like a good stand-alone installment. More to come and I miss you, Hannah. XO.