I’ve been busy, busy re-learning a lesson that I’m just now starting to remember from my childhood.  Summers in the northeast are short, and you have to make the most of them while they last.  We’ve been packing every weekend with fun – special family outings, one half marathon (so far), one trip, and plenty of the usual (Stroller Strides, neighborhood walks, cold drinks at the pub a block from our house, playground fun, you name it).  And of course, I’ve been making progress on my summer list.

• Run my third 13.1 – the Fifty Yard Finish Half Marathon in Orchard Park.

Done!  Here’s my race recap from the Fifty Yard Finish.  Complete with flashy new PR – 2:24:30, 13 minutes faster than my last half!

• Attend the wedding of one of hubby’s oldest friends on July 4th.

Done, and what fun to celebrate with the bride and groom, who are in for a lifetime of happiness together.

• Visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Graycliff.

• At least one day at my parents’ lake house.

It was marvelous and blissful.  The only downer to the day was that it was so windy it was actually too breezy to take Peanut out on the boat.  Next time.

• Climb our first two (more if we can make it happen!) Adirondack high peaks.

Done!  Climbing Cascade and Porter was an incredible experience.  Everyone should have the chance to see the world from atop one of the ADK 46.

• Attend the Roycroft Fine Arts Festival.

I didn’t blog about this, but we went and we enjoyed it immensely.  Supporting local artists is one of my favorite ways to anchor myself to a place, and we bought a few things – some gifts for family members for various occasions, and a couple of odds and ends for our house.

• Hike Letchworth State Park.

Working on this.  We have been trying to arrange a hike with our friends Zan and Paul, but we keep getting rained out.  One of these days, we’ll make it there.

• Attend Taste of Buffalo!

Yummmmmmmmmm.  I now need to visit Joe’s Crab Shack, like, immediately.

• Start teaching Peanut to swim.
• Summer hike at Tifft Nature Preserve (we’ve already seen it in the winter and spring).
• Visit a few more Niagara wineries.
• Host Peanut’s second birthday party!  (Where has the time gone?)

Planning is underway.  We’ve got a date, time and location, and invitations should go out soon.

• Marathon training.

On a sort-of-indefinite hiatus.  I haven’t been able to run – it’s been a perfect storm keeping me off the roads.  Although it will be disappointing, I’m almost 100% sure I’ll be deferring to the 2015 race.

• Spend an evening stargazing with hubby.
• Go to Shakespeare in the Park (I’d love to see Henry V, but I think by the time we make it there that one might have wrapped up… but The Comedy of Errors is up next and I’ve never seen that either, so really, I’m good either way).
• Take Peanut to the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park.
• Read Moby-Dick.
• Hike at Knox Farm again, because once was not enough!

Went back last weekend and explored some of the trails we hadn’t gotten to see last time – such a lovely, relaxing way to spend a morning.

It has been a busy summer so far, for sure.  But we’ve enjoyed every moment, and we’ll keep enjoying every moment that we have it.  August is looking like a very busy month, but we’ll be sure to make plenty of time for family fun as long as the nice weather lasts.  How about you – how are you enjoying your summer?