Emma takes a trip to visit Uncle Juan and watch Miguel play in the mud

Emma, Miguel, and I went to visit Miguel's twin brother, Juan, this weekend. Juan recently moved to Greenville so this was our first time to visit him in his new place and city. We were surprised how quick of a trip it felt driving there. From Savannah it takes about four hours, the same amount of time it takes to get back home to Atlanta, but the drive is soooo much more enjoyable. We're not sure if it's because the landscape is prettier or if it's because the drive is broken up into different highways instead of one long road the whole way (if you have ever driven on I-16 you know what I'm talking about).  Emma did really well with the drive again! She's such a good girl! Of course she started out in the back seat but only stayed there for about half an hour before she moved up front to cuddle. I'm proud of her for being so good in the car, but the real accomplishment here was that I drove over this bridge!!!

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Here is a cute picture of Emma sleeping on my lap during the drive to Greenville.

We were excited to go visit Juan and check out Greenville. Greenville is a really cool city. I like the way it's laid out. It feel's a lot like Athens but without the poverty and the craziness and negatives that come with being a college town. Saturday night we went to a bar and played darts and pool and what was really cool was that EVERYTHING was free! Even parking!!!! And it wasn't crowded at all and there were no sketchy people trying to be pool sharks and take advantage of us all. 

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This is in downtown Greenville! It was really beautiful at night when it was lit up with lights.

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Part of the reason for the trip to Greenville was so that Miguel could be on Juan's team for a race in Columbia Saturday. Okay, let me just say... I am SOO proud of Miguel for doing this race, BUT I also think anyone who signs up to do this race is certifiably INSANE!!!!!!

Here are the details:

*14,000 individuals
*3,600 teams
*Officially the largest mud run in North America
*Not actually in Columbia --- in podunk South Carolina 

On their website they post this discription:

The Ultimate Challenge Mud Run is over 4.2 miles, and has 30 obstacles that have to be crossed by each team requiring team work and a lot of determination. The 4.2 mile course is an all-terrain race conducted on dirt roads, improved and unimproved trails through the training area. These trails include mud holes, walls, trenches and other obstacles that require swimming, crawling, climbing and jumping. Some people come to compete, but many come just to complete!

Unfortunately, I forgot my camera and so tried to take pictures with Miguel's phone. Even more unfortunately, I lost his phone at the second obstacle so didn't get that many pictures. But what IS fortunate is that at a race with more than 14,000 people someone found his phone during the five minutes I didn't realize it was missing and turned it in!! Thank the Lord! 

Here are some of the pictures I took... This first one is an eight foot deep trench (I don't know what to call it) and then you have to climb a slippery mud hill. Miguel's team's heat wasn't until after 5 pm so the mudd was REALLY wet and slippery and I saw many people bust their ass on this obstacle. 

 The guy in the red here is one of the marines who yelled at the runners. The runners were completely out of breath and to me looked miserable. They are only about half way through the race at this point, which the marines kindly reminded them with by saying things like "COME ON! PICK UP THE PACE! RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN!!!! YOU'RE ONLY HALF WAY DONE! YOU CAN'T BE THIS SLOW ALREADY!" If I had been running I would have shot them. If I still had the energy to lift up a gun and pull the trigger at this point. 

There's Miguel and Juan!! Miguel had run to the car before the race to get Emma's travel water bowl. They left me in the company of one of their teammate's family. As soon as the team left to get the bowl and do their warm up the family I was with immediately set out to go 'scout out' the race. I, dressed in a sundress and sandals, followed them. I was SOO not prepared for this race. I thought it was going to be like a cross country race and I could plop down in the shade on a tailgating chair and watch from a distance. Ummm, no. My feet are literally still muddy... yes, I have showered since then. Anyways, since Emma and I were being dragged through spider webs and rocky forests, Miguel couldn't find me when he got back from retrieving the bowl and so he ran with it! Miguel was giving the bowl to me in this picture! He's the best! Thinking about others even while going through hell!

 Go Babe! Go!

There goes Juan! Miguel and Juan matched by wearing their 'lucky' shirts! Aww! Twins! ;)

After the race they had the opportunity to take a two minute shower... more like a hose down. I don't know why people bothered saving the shoes they wore...  they all pretty much looked like this. I saw people duct tape their shoes on their feet which I thought looked miserable but after watching people searching for their missing shoes in on of the mud pits didn't seem like such a bad idea. Luckily, for the Amador household and much to Emma's dismay, Miguel tossed his old shoes after the race!

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Miguel and Juan's team did really well! They finished the 4.2 miles and 30 obstacles in about an hour and a half! I love it that Miguel finds so much enjoyment out of things I would never consider in about a million years! Opposites sure did attract when it came to our relationship!

Driving back home with three mud covered, sweaty guys and a dog who had been out in the sun all day was not the worst part of the drive... it was actually passing WAY too many "This is Gamecock Country" billboards (warning: all with Steve Spurrier sporting his visor).

What's amazing is that Emma managed to stay mud free!!!!! I was so happy! This did take some work on my part. I had to pick her up during some of our wanderings through the woods. But mission accomplished! No bath needed for Emma!

On a side note ----> Emma lost her first puppy teeth this week! I think they are adorable but some may think they're gross. She's growing up! I can't believe she's already almost FIVE months old! Biggie girl!!

Daddy's Biggest Fan!

On the way to Miguel's soccer game

Yay! I L.O.V.E it when daddy gets on the ground!!!

Watching Miguel Play

Rolling in the grass like Luke taught her... it's great to be a dog... rolling in grass beside smelly, soccer shoes = dog heaven!

Everyone else was running around and Emma didn't want to be left out, so Miguel ran her around a bit... so much puppy fun!

This is how Emma welcomes Miguel home... I believe she is thinking "If I stand on him he can never leave again!"

Emma Learns to Swim!

Miguel and I took Emma to Fort Pulaski Friday afternoon. FP is one of the only dog-friendly places in Savannah. The fort even has a tiny, little beach dogs can go to. At first Emma was really nervous of the water. She hated the sound of the baby waves. Miguel had to pick her up and drop her in the water. She swam back to shore as fast as her little doggie paddle would take her.

Miguel continued to try and coax her in and splashed around in the water until Emma decided the ocean and water were safe and charged in! We were so proud that she came around and got up some courage to face and overcome her fear! She chased her dad and played fetch like a pro!

Earlier in the day we met some friends for lunch and then Miguel and I walked around Savannah a bit. We tried to get Emma to play in the fountains but she wasn't feeling that too much either...

Also this week...

Emma made herself a hammock with my snuggie and legs

Emma's lab side came out when she discovered the door mat made a good chew toy

and of course, cuddles and under is always good...

What I've Been Up To

Over Labor Day Miguel, Emma, and I went back home to Atlanta. It was Emma's first long car ride and she did really well! The first 30 mins she relentlessly spent attempting to climb in the front seat of the car to 'be with'. Pretty precious stuff actually. So the next hour or so she spent in Miguel's lap. We only had to take one pit stop/potty break! After that Emma got up the courage to face the backseat alone. She is so brave.

We spent the first night back home with my parents. Emma was so excited to see her Gramma, aunt, and uncle again! Unfortunately, Bailey had to spend time locked in the basement or wearing the muzzle of shame so as not to eat the puppy. But Luke and Emma were excited to be reunited. Luke was much more himself on his turf than when he came to visit us a couple of weeks prior. Emma and Luke had sooo much fun running around the house and being under together!

The next morning we took the dogs to the river. Luke and Bailey go there to run around free and sniff and explore, you know, do dog stuff.

Bailey loves the river so much and doesn't have to wear the muzzle of shame! Also, notice my mom sporting the UGA shirt for Miguel...

Emma continued her admoration for Luke and tried very hard to keep up with him and copy his every move. As a result, Emma now knows how to roll around in the grass... new favorite thing!

Saturday my mom babysat the grandpup so Miguel and I could go to the first Georgia Tech football game of the season (Thanks mom!). Go Jackets! They won!

What really makes tailgating and football fun for me getting dressed up and going all out in school spirit.

Buzz on my fingernail!

Koozie I made. If I have to cheer for an insect it's at least going to be made out of sequins!

Thats right, it's a GA Tech snuggie. Actually I'm really thankful my grandfather got me this and I brought it that morning. It was perfect weather but we got to campus really early in the morning to get a parking place and it was pretty chilly for the first two hours or so.

Tailgating is a science. We've almost perfected it:

1)You have to have your games like corn hole

(Miguel and I made corn hole boards last year and they have been a big hit for tailgating. Miguel and I are pretty good, but we only won one game!)

2) A cookout with brats and burgers

3) An effective way to save your parking spot for a mid-tailgate grocery run

(shout out to the campus cops who unknowingly let me borrow a cone)

4) and then of course a drinking game...

On your mark...

Get set...

GO!

...and that's how it's done people! (Miguel is the one in the pants... he won! yay!)

This past weekend Miguel started his outdoor soccer league and Emma and I went to cheer him on!

Emma got a little distracted after a while...

The past week has been hard on poor Emma. She's had worms (ewwwwww!) and a little stomach flu. We've been worried about her but it's been special because Emma turns into a little cuddle buddy when she doesn't feel well. Which I L.O.V.E! She's still small enough to fit well on a lap!