You Don't See That Every Day

Way back in the middle of summer, The Girl Who Swims, and Runs, mentioned she would not be running on the cross country team this year. Admittedly I was a little sad. I enjoy running, and I enjoy seeing my kids compete in sports. After a short talk together, basically "think about it some more, and "how are you going to stay in shape fro swim?" and "it is your last chance ever" she changed her mind and joined the team once again. This last week was the end of it. Her last high school cross country meet. And it was a fun one. She stayed in the top group most of the way and finished up in 9th place. Which meant she did not qualify for moving up to the State level. I wasn't sure how I would find her at the finish line. With some tears in our eyes, we hugged and she said "I don't have to run anymore!" So now on to her favorite sport: swimming. ((This girl has been a water baby since she was born. Never wanting to get out of the tub, always drawn ...

How can it already be November? Yesterday, the Mr heard Christmas music playing in one of the stores already! Wait! I am so not ready for that holiday yet! Looking back at October - what a full, and fun month that was. We took some time to recover from the Mr's exciting scary adventure on the mountain. And then we jumped right back into the busy everyday life we have. The older kids ran their cross country meets, taking their times down at each meet. This girl placed 6th in pre-districts. I was so bursting proud of her. This is the girl who once told me, about 4 years ago, "I'm just not that athletic." I think the past few seasons of basketball, swimming, and now running, have proven that so wrong. The Girl who Swims (and Runs) also had a birthday this month. 15. How am I going to keep up? The Boy also did super in cross country, placing 19th for his district, and also breaking his personal best. I love watching my kids do well each week, and push for more...

We've had some nice weather around our parts lately. Which makes for fun fall frolicking. Our friends were crazy kind enough to ask us along on a trek out to a pumpkin patch last week. Not just any patch, nothing like my dad's. This place has so many fun activities and the food - oh, the donuts and apple cider! made fresh right there - ahhhhh, the smells were so very enticing. But we also had fun with the activities. The kids found delight in going through mazes and obstacle courses. They were brave enough to try a dark maze - just like it sounds, completely dark (except for cell phone lights) and a maze. Probably something I would have done as a kid too, if I went with friends. There was an apple cannon and apple slingshot there. We tried our hand at the slingshot, and one of us almost made it into the target with the apple - so close, and yet so not. I have always wanted to try a zip line. The closest thing to it was the 'swing' line here. So I stood in li...

 It was time for the annual pumpkin carving party at my brothers. Three of the kids and I drove up there, leaving the sickies home with Dad. My niece and her knife. ... struck me as scary. Someone got creative and used the little pegs from a LiteBrite on their pumpkin. There was a pacman And a pumpkin guy in a suit Of course we had the annual pumpkin rolling contest. I think the dogs 'won' this time. They chased every single one down the hill, and even brought some back up for another roll. I'm sure our pup would have loved the game too.     There is always plenty of good food to share. My birthday girl found one of our favorite treats- candy corn. Not only yummy to eat, but awesome to play with. And my other girl ... she personalized her pumpkin with braces ... just like her (almost). I have a photo somewhere of all of our carved ones, I'll try and get it up on the next post. 

I think I have just recovered from the weekend. Yeah, it's Tuesday night ... but that's what it took. Since Friday was Birthday Day, we also celebrated on Saturday. And Sunday. It's all about birthday week around here. Here's the cool stamp kit the 11 year old received on Sat. night's celebration. I'm itchin' to make some cards now! Sunday after church - we headed over to my brother's house for the annual pumpkin carving party. In which the Birthday girl received more cake, more gifts, more singing, more birthday wishes. I just had to show you the Creative One this year. My brother carved some pumpkin shoes. And then proceeded to put them on and walk in them. Did you know the engineering gene is dominant in our family? And I couldn't resist showing this cute bunny! My little niece and her mom made this one! I just happen to love bunnies too. Of course, the great pumpkin roll - 2nd Annual I believe - was held on the hill. ...

I have been away. That seems to be a common theme for this time in my life. Football dominated the weekend. There was a wedding. The next day was pumpkin carving day. My brother holds an annual carving party, dozens of friends and family coming to carve pumpkins. In the recent years a pumpkin rolling has been added to the list of events. We all stand at the top of the woods and take turns rolling. This year we even had a King crowned - the one whose pumpkin went the farthest won the crown. It just happened to be my 26-year-old nephew.