Man, I love this family!

Hurray for Charlotte for not waiting for me to call her! It's like she sensed it could be F-O-R-E-V-E-R! We would have seen you here before it ever happened...and we BETTER freaking see you here...because we can find you, you know...maybe...plus we want to go to Clearwater with you....

And go, go, go, Lynnette and Brady...and I'm sure I have all sorts of misinformation I can share...gladly (haha!). Have you picked one to start with? We just did a 16-mile long run on Sunday, and we were SOAKING wet, i'm not kidding. This humidity is crazy. But I'm so excited for you; it's always great to have someone with whom to share your pain. How has Zach been doing with his racing thing? How's the "training" with Ryan going? I think that's a great idea for you.

Nicholas, how great to hear from you. I couldn't be more pleased for you both! What an adventure ahead and grats on the grants; it's a great way to get some help. You made me all weepy with the family stuff...thanks for that...and how fortunate for the little old people to have someone like you around...though, don't lie, sometimes things can be a little gross there, right? I'm sure you have some stories I KNOW I don't want to hear (haha) so just keep up the inspirational ones...love you two like crazy...love this whole Banks family like crazy. I'm more blessed than most in that I was lucky into to stumble into it!

Starting to cool down...a little...the thunderstorms have been amazing. The tornadoes from the one last week missed us by 30 miles. Things could get pretty wild and we've started talking maybe we should pay more attention. There's only two places to hide without windows or exterior walls: the pantry and the 1/2 bath! Told bethany and jake they'll have to hide in the bath...but we'll probably all pile in together if it gets to that; don't know if we'll want to be separated at a time like that...also don't know if we all want to be standing for however long...either way, we need to make plans...maybe run a drill or something...except our Josie girl may get all freaky and obsess if we do that....hmmm....may have to wing it.

And as I'm apparently just blabbing to hear myself blab, I'll quit while I'm almost ahead. Can't wait to read the future blogs! I love you all and miss you like crazy....

Lana