Setting Goals for the Fall

On a morning walk with Sam, enjoying the fall colors.

And now the fall has begun in earnest.  Walks are brisk and the cool winds are welcome as the miles increase.  The reds and oranges are everywhere as the trees shed their leaves and prepare for the inevitable winter season.  While I do not like to contemplate the snow and darkness, I enjoy savoring the crisp mornings and blustery winds that gently nudge me from time to time.

There is not too much else happening as we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Violet has a birthday soon, and then we enjoy our yearly trip to Virginia!  The heavy blankets are slowly making their way out of storage and closets around the house.  We try to leave the windows open as long as possible in an attempt to let the house breathe some fresh air.  There is something nice about the smell of fall and the slight chill some of the air brings into each room. 

I have put in my application for a couple marathons and have my eyes on some other half marathons next year, and it will be my goal to run consistently over the winter, as well as add some weight training when possible.  Health is something that needs to be a priority for me in the next year.  The last two years in my administrative role has added a bit too much weight, and I am finally getting some of it off now, but have a long way to go! 

Until then, we continue to walk and play as the leaves fall.

He put the wipe on his head and played for 20 minutes wearing it as a hat.  

Violet and the Taco Tuesday Taco Bar

Orelove Chocolate Chip Cookies made with 

Sam all bundled up before an evening walk.

Running into Fall

Violet at the movies!  Fruit punch, mac n cheese, and waffle fries.

The weather here in the Midwest has turned, and the arm days are almost completely behind us.  While the cold does not nip at our faces just yet, the cool embrace of a fall wind gives me a chilling reminder of things to come.  Last night I lay awake at 3am, listening to the hard rain beat against our house while flashes of lightning and booming thunder demanded my attention.  How lucky I am to be able to lay there in darkness, simply listening and breathing.

Daddy and daughter at the movies on a stormy Sunday.

Our weekend was one of relaxation and simply being.  The rain and high winds kept us indoors for the most part, although today we made a trip to visit friends and enjoy a coffee on the drive over.  Tonight we are all in pajamas, watching TV and being lazy in the living room before bed.  Sam crawls from person to person playing for a bit before finding another item to attempt to put in his mouth or another crevice of the house to explore.  The baby gates are up, but he does not let them dampen his spirit of adventure.

Violet was excited to see this movie.  The TV show is great..the movie was made better by the company I went with.

The last couple days I have been finding some time to get back out and start running again.  While there are no races on my calendar anymore, I still feel the need to just get out there and get back to running to feel good about myself and get more fit.  As the weather cools even more, I hope to find peace and happiness just being out there, adding miles to my legs and savoring the sweat and centered mind that comes with the distance.  And as I enter my warm home from the chill air and setting sun outside, I am grateful for all that lies beyond the door inside my home.

So for now, we enjoy the days as they get shorter and shorter, and the nights get cooler and cooler.  Soon the ghosts and goblins will be upon us, and then Violet will be six years old, and we will soon be on our way to Thanksgiving with family.  It is my favorite time of year, but I will always settle for the moment that is right now.  And at this particular moment, it is time for a little boy to have his evening bottle and his two sisters to brush teeth before their bedtime stories.

Stay warm.

-a

A Cubs zombie in the entrance of the movie theater.

Sam...king of the cereal puffs.

Sam keeping dad awake.

Sam proud of his accomplishment of keeping me from grading papers.

Baby butt.

At Brookfield Zoo on a nice afternoon.

Violet with giraffes in the background.

Brookfield pumpkin and the girls.

Sam snoozing at the zoo.  

Moving About

Almost a little too much moving around these past few weeks for me.  On weekends, I have become a homebody and enjoy the quiet of my house while the children play and we take walks to break up the day and get some exercise.  However, our family has been on the move to visit friends and family, or they have been up to see us!

It is special to laugh and have time to just be with the people we love.  Last week was a nice few days with cousins and Granny visiting from Indiana.  This weekend finds us in Fort Wayne to celebrate a few more birthdays of friends from college and their kids.  

It is nice to let the kids just run and play, while Sam takes his pick of attention sources from a room full of adorning eyes.  It is a sweet feeling to know we are part of family and friends that are so connected.  

Looking ahead, more friends will be visiting soon, and Thanksgiving is starting to come into focus and we have registered for the Turkey Trot again!  While it will be nice to have Monday off, I am looking forward to next weekend, when we will just be able to be at home and take a breath and be thankful for life and our own little family.  

Sam splashes no in the bath!

Here comes trouble!

Getting ready to have an adventure!

Violet after the Color Run!

Sisters before the Color Run

The view during the Color Run.  Looks like the Zombie Apocalypse!

After a difficult week, it was nice to take the girls to the bird preserve and throw rocks in the water and just listen to the breeze and crickets in the fall.