Lately

I am glad that this week is nearly over and that classes are beginning on Monday. I have been out of school for almost a year, and I actually miss it. Not only that, but I am looking forward to starting so that I can get done. Sean is graduating this May which was my original graduation time, but since I took a break, it looks like I will be done the fall after. So only one more year! We really want to move abroad right after I finish which I really look forward to. But for right now, we are here in good ol' Kansas City. 

Sean took me clothes shopping for school earlier this week which I thought was very nice of him. I just got a few things, but they will last me for quite a while, I think. It was nice spending the day with Sean again. I think we spent nearly four hours at the mall just looking at clothes. One thing I love about Sean is that he really likes shopping for clothes. He likes trying on new styles and colors and we give each other feedback about what we like and don't like about the outfits we choose. I don't think very many guys are like that about clothes, so I am very grateful that Sean is. 

Last night, we went out with a friend that we hadn't seen in a while. It was a successful night and I think everyone had a good time. We don't go out very often, but I don't mind it when we do. I rarely drink when we go out; in fact, I only had water last night, but I enjoy the conversation and watching my friends choose their next drinks. After the bar, Sean and I went to Steak and Shake before heading home. But unfortunately I don't have any pictures from last night. I really need to get better about taking photos. I think I just always feel weird about it. I am also really bad because I get caught up in the experience and I forget. Hardly a problem for most as that is something they want to do more of, but when you're out to record your experiences, it's not too great. 

We didn't come home until 5 in the morning so I ended up sleeping until 3 pm. I did, however, receive a call from the job I applied for and I got it, so that is pretty exciting. I am also really glad that I won't be starting until September 2nd as next week my focuses will be on school and getting into the swing of things again. So it seems that everything is working out for right now. 

Here are some photos from this week.

Such a babe!

I got these black pants from H&M that look kind of like leggings but they are a thicker material, so I can wear them with regular tops!

Sean's been bringing home this soda from work and it tastes so good! I love it way better (ha!) than regular Dr. Pepper!

I've been practicing on my ukulele a lot more lately. I've learned about three or four songs and it is getting easier and easier to learn new chords.

I bought this succulent from Trader Joe's! He loves just chillin' in the bathroom and looking out the window!

Four Mile Run Fun

Sean worked all day yesterday so I dropped him off and took the car to visit my mom up north. She lives in a small town just 30 minutes or so from the city and I always enjoy going up there since it is where she and the rest of my family grew up. 

We had a nice day together watching The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, exchanging thoughts and ideas on Downton Abbey's upcoming season, and giving her morkie (a yorkie/maltese mix) Lily a bath. 

Mom received some real Alaskan fish from some coworkers so she made us fish, spicy mayo, avocado, and tomato sandwiches with a side of homemade onion rings. It was all really yummy, and I was glad to have my mom's cooking again. 

At around 7:30, I decided to go on my run. I try to take advantage of running in different surroundings when I can because it keeps me interested, so I brought my shoes and clothes to go on the trail by my mom's house. The trail is very pretty. It winds between open fields and forest and you can always see deer and cardinals and other wildlife out there. I had no idea, but apparently they built a hiking trail in the forest. I told Sean that next time we visit my mom, we should try it out. We love hiking! 

I am familiar enough with the trail from years of riding bikes with my grandparents (they lived down the street from Mom for twenty years before recently selling their house and moving to the lake) so I knew what it looked like and how long it was.
Only, maybe not completely. I thought there was a turn off point where after a mile or so, you could head back home but maybe I missed it? Or maybe it just doesn't exist anymore? Because about two and a half miles in, I realized that there was no turn off and I was stuck on the trail until the end...which is nearly five miles. 

I hit my wall at about three miles but I kept going, probably faster than normal actually, because it was getting dark and I started hearing weird sounds coming from the forest. I spent the 'run' only actually running a little under half the time. At this point, I can run for about a minute and half before my chest and my sides begin to punish me and then I stop for a minute to recover before running again.
But despite all that, it was still great fun. In the end, I did 4.63 miles in 1 hour and 27 minutes. I know that's probably pretty long for only four and a half miles, but this is coming from someone who never ever ran before just three or four weeks ago, so I am pretty proud of my progress. 

Poor Lily...she's so ugly when she's wet, it's cute.  

Yes, that is deer poking his head up through the field plants! There were a whole bunch of them just sitting out there, munching away.

Kaleigh