Life on the Runn...

There's no denying it...summer is coming to a close, and I am going from full-time at home mama (or 'Fun Amy' as Brian likes to refer to me) back to eight hours+ of Mrs. Runnells ('Un-Fun Amy?? Gosh, I hope not). But before I totally succumbed to that reality, I had a bit more summering to do.  I got to practice my intelligent conversation skills (though H surely does have a lot to talk about these days) at Book Club, had a delicious mimosa, and got in a few laughs (what I like to call an abs workout) before the Runnells trio hit the road for Lac du Flambeau. Once up north, we got right to relaxing.  We were met with much cooler weather than we had anticipated, so swimming was a short lived experiment.  Instead, we went for our first family bike ride. Thanks, BR, for pulling the tiny human. And for encouraging the eager chipmunk to run into your foot mid-rotation.  I surely would have lost control and ridden into the lake in a 'Did I injure the helpless...

While I was competing in the bags tournament, opening my second hard ginger beer (yep, I'm wild), and laughing my way through the various contents of the time capsule we put together for Family Reunion 2000,  my husband, the birthday boy, was riding across Wisconsin - literally. While we were a few people short of the whole crew, I had an immensely good time Saturday, and relish any opportunity to spend time with my extended family.  I did have to keep my phone on hand, however, to ensure I could check in on BR's progress as he made his way from LaCrosse to Green Bay. Luckily, I made all my check-ins without dropping my phone into the kiddie pool my tiny human made her home for a solid three hours. It was also good fortune that the family reunion was at my uncle's in Wallace, Michigan; this meant Brian could make the short trek from Green Bay Sunday morning and enjoy a little bit of family time, too.  Selfishly, it meant I got to check in on my adventure buddy sooner....

Ever have one of those weeks where every day is something?  This week was one of those in the best sort of way. It began Sunday, after Mom, H, and I returned from Florida.  After a family lunch date, Brian and I headed to the house to check on thing.  We have barn doors and trim - progress! - and celebrated the move toward moving in with a trip to Le Ducs (you have to support local businesses, right?!). Monday was State Fair day for my parents, H, and me.  We enjoyed cranberry treats in the Wisconsin Building, nabbed a few fair favorites (amen for corn in a cup as a certain tiny human wants to do everything herself), and enjoyed plenty of flavored milk.  And to close out the day, my parents and I had an evening out of our own.  We went to see The Lion King . Tuesday was a day I had long been waiting for, my date night with both of my boyfriends, BR and John Mayer.  We checked into the Brewhouse Inn - such a cool place - and enjoyed cocktails and ...

This past (long) weekend was our second annual Mama, Baba, HQ Trip. While last year’s adventure, the start of what I hope will be a forever-tradition, took us to Waco, TX and all things Magnolia (Fixer Upper), Girls’ Trip 2.0 was all about that ocean life in Clearwater, FL. A beach getaway was also a great reason for Mom and me to set aside some time for an afternoon out (lunch and a manicure-pedicure). Like last year, we had plenty of sun - and heat - and found ourselves wondering how much hotter we could get. The answer: not much hotter or we may have melted...and we will not discuss what the humidity did to our hair! We also found ourselves enjoying the simplicity of our days: a leisurely beach commute,  mealtime chats, and dusting sand off the cutest little toes and out of some little pink Crocs.  The tiniest member of our trio was undaunted by the heat and could have spent the entire day bobbing in the ocean. In fact, she pretty much did. She learned about seag...

I am so blessed to have cousins with whom I have always been close. Our parents’ bond spilled over into our lives, and we spent much of our childhood together. Sleepovers and vacations together were regular occurrences - and have produced many classic stories (forgotten luggage, Munchkins, family toasts, and an over-served crew on the Vegas strip just to name a few).  And we continue to find ways to share our lives and time with one another, now often thanks to the many adventures of our children. An especially significant relationship I have is with my cousin Jenna, my run buddy. From sleepovers and borrowing all the best books to training runs and hours-long conversations, our time together is always special. This weekend, after far too much time apart, we enjoyed one of our amazing coffee dates. We grabbed a table in the shade and our beverages of choice, and filled each other in on all the comings and goings in our lives: We talked parenthood, home building, health, and so ...

The last several days have been jam-packed. Between final packing preparations, moving out, and settling into our new temporary digs, we also had an Unti family wedding to enjoy. My cousin Josh and his lovely wife, Nicole, threw an amazing party; it was certainly a tough day, as it was the fourth anniversary of my grandma Unti’s passing, but being with nearly all of the Unti crew (and a few of my Jarvis family members, too) made it easier. It was especially fun to see my Uncle Tom act as the officiant of the ceremony. I have to admit, too, that watching my dad and uncles joke and laugh with (and at) their brother brought a smile to my face. I could just imagine what my grandma would say, and I could so vividly imagine the sound of her laughter (which I know she would have tried her best to stifle...like the rest of us attempted to - we failed). I love watching my parents with their siblings - there are so many glimpses at both untold and often-shared memories; and with my Uncle Pau...

June 23 will always be a difficult day. It wasn't supposed to have any great significance for the Unti family, but now it does. They say it’s a day that should get easier, but, even with all this time, it doesn’t. In fact, as a parent now, the pain runs deeper. I mourn for the ‘what could have - what should have - been’ moments, the memories, the chance to do my job - big sister - a little more; but now I also mourn for my parents in a way I only came to truly understand September 7, 2017. June 23 will always be a powerful day. It is a reminder of what the Unti family does have, of the bond we grew through all our shared experiences, even our most difficult goodbyes. My parents always reminded Brian and me to value each other, and I know that Matthew, though not physically with us, cultivated that relationship, one of the most valued ones I have. I know that Brian and I would have fought relentlessly over who was Matthew’s favorite, and I know the boys would have fought abo...