After talking about a running slump yesterday, things seemed to bounce back today. Sometimes it helps to define an issue to lead to a solution. I finally set my alarm, got back to a routine and got on the treadmill ( I still really want to run outside but the air is still bad).

I am getting tired of our “second summer”

Maybe talking about how it shouldn’t be in the 80s every day in October will make it change.

Emmy and I did get out to get some sunshine and walk to pick up Cannon up from school.

• 

• 

These two had fun trying to find fall leaves.

It was a teaching night for me so we had rotisserie chicken and Cesar salad for dinner. Love this quick easy meal for week nights when we don’t have a lot of time.

The smoke is not fun but it has made some pretty epic sunsets lately.

Yes, that is a Oogie Boogie Man decal in our window…..

Running has not been going super great lately, I was in a really good place before our trip but now things are a bit of a slog. And that’s okay. I know that if I just keep working on creating a good habit things will start roll smoothly again. Slumps happen and always turn around, so if you are in a slump too, hang in there.

I am really looking forward to running outside again when our air quality gets better.

Cannon started “full time” preschool today and enjoyed being picked up by Cory.

I think the kids are officially over me taking pictures of them.

I asked them to smile and I got this:

We had one of my favorite dinners,  Soba Noodle Salad from Run Fast Eat Slow

Cannon kept asking for more broccoli, we were so excited.

___________________________________________

Ever had a running slump?

We had a fairly lazy day, I did wish that I could have started off by watching the London Marathon. Last year we were lucky enough to be in person for the Berlin Marathon and London is definitely on the list!

It was very exciting to hear about Sara Hall took second.

We went furniture shopping again and we think we may have found the one!

(not this one) but it will take 6-10 weeks to order the couch. With Covid-19 things are really slow.

Cannon had a soccer game in the afternoon, we are experiencing second summer here in Colorado.

We spent the afternoon dancing and cuddling.

Scrolling Instagram I saw this from @PineandPoppyshop and now I feel like I need to make this for the kids.

______________________________________________________________

Did you watch the London Marathon?

I saw this post on Instagram and had to play along….Let’s play this or that.

Many of these were a hard choice…..what would you choose @lets.talk.target posted the template if you want to play along.

We need to change up our chalk board from back to school.

Was thinking THIS one.

Picked THAT one rogue pumpkin in our backyard.

Cleaned up THIS playroom.

Went shopping for a new couch, decided on a sectional this time, did not buy THAT one. (taking a 2 and 4 year old furniture shopping is chaos)

___________________________________________

What are you up to this weekend?

Anyone watching the London Marathon?

It was a good day toady, full of good things. Cory had the day off (awesome) so he took the kiddos off to school while I went out for a run.

Emmy really enjoyed her time with her dad!

While I am a morning person I love not having to get up before 5am to get in a morning run!

It was 50 degrees, the sun was shining and the leaves were turning. Pretty good if you ask me!

I listened to Trail Runner Nation’s podcast about the Rise of the Ultra Runner. I haven’t finished it yet but so far it’s very good.

After our respective runs we spent time cleaning, picking up Cannon and eating lunch. We wanted to get Emmy down for her nap at a decent time because we had reservations for our favorite pumpkin patch in the afternoon.

The kids were very excited to go to the pumpkin patch!

• 

• 

We had fun doing all of the traditional activities, ran through the corn maze and spent lots of time at the playground (obviously).

We even ate dinner at the patch and left as the sun was setting.

We have gone to Anderson Farms every year and it is shocking to see how much the kids have changed.

• 

• 

• 

• 

__________________________________________________________________

What are your favorite fall traditions?

Happy Friday! This week went by so fast….is this life from now on, where everything feels in fast forward all the time? What happened to September?

Cannon joined me for part of my morning jog (I think it’s pronounced “yogging”) on his way to school.

At school they made friendship bracelets, Cannon came home and gave one to Emmy. She loved it so much, she wore it the rest of the day proudly, my mama heart melted.

Nap time called for afternoon coffee….afternoon coffee is almost as good as that first sip of coffee in the morning.

Another highlight of the day was picking up my new running shoes!

These are Hoka Clifton 7s, I have been running on my last pair for WAY too long. I have no idea how many miles are on them but it’s way past 500.

In the evening I had a class to teach, but I talked Cory into hanging our giant spider web in the house before I had to go to work.

What are you going to be doing for Halloween this year? We aren’t sure yet what are neighborhood will be doing and what will feel safe. It is such a weird time to navigate with kids.

____________________________________________________________

Do you keep track of the milage on your shoes?

Do you decorate for Halloween? We are more and more now because the kids love it so much (I love it too).

It’s October, my favorite month of the year! I love the changing leaves, cooler weather and all the upcoming holidays.

We have plans to go to a pumpkin patch on Friday so that should be a great kick off to the season.

This morning I got up before the family, I was tempted to run outside in the cool air but with the late sunrise now I am just not feeling that safe running outside.

I spent four miles reading Krissy Moehl’s book and looking at the training plans.

After the family got up we had breakfast then had a phone conference with Cannon’s teacher. So much is different than last year and I don’t love the changes they have to make to keep everyone safe. But we are making it work and finding joy in it along the way.

After we got off the phone the kiddos and I walked down to a playground to burn some energy. The walk was pretty, seeing all the fall colors.

We ran into some friends at the park, it’s so nice to see them and catch up on what they have been up to. Elementary school kids in our neighborhood go back to school in person tomorrow and I am just hoping the best for them and all the teachers.

After lunch, Emmy went down for her nap and I had plans to get some things done. When I came down from putting Emmy down for her nap Cannon requested that we cuddle and how could I say no to that?!? The idea that he will go to school full days starting next year weighs heavy on my heart so I am not going to pass this opportunity up.

I did have a little time to paint my nails when Cannon got tired of cuddling. I am not great at painting my own nails but I LOVE this shade (Berry Naught by Essie).

The kiddos spent a couple hours hanging out with their grandparents in the afternoon. They had been requesting to get to go play and it’s so nice to live close.

I couldn’t quite decide what to do with my kid free time but I ended up cleaning out Emerald closet. I did call our local running store and purchased some new shoes that I get to pick up tomorrow so there is some excitement!

For dinner we had turkey chili highlighted with a side of cider.

Cory and I agreed that this marathon medal is the most useful we have ever gotten. It’s conveniently a bottle opener as well as a fun reminder of a trail marathon in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado.

_______________________________________________

What’s the best race swag you have ever gotten?

Today was an interesting study in what it’s like to live without internet. Our service was interrupted by a construction mistake. It is shocking how much I rely on internet for so many things. Emmy’s monitor didn’t work, I had to put an old iPhone in her room for her nap since we normally use an Echo Dot. We had no access to television as we don’t have cable and of course both Cory and I couldn’t work. I did feel very grateful to have my cell service to check what I needed to.

We started our day with a trip down to Denver to help my parents return the RV they rented. I am so so happy we have our mini-van now so we can fit everyone in!

I wanted something really easy for lunch so I threw this evol meal in the microwave and made the kiddos Annie’s mac n cheese.

Cannon relaxed with his tablet while Emmy napped, he is looking (and sometimes acting) more and more like a teenager.

When we got our Halloween decorations out Emmy fell in love with a dog skeleton that we have had for years. I would think it would be scary to her but she loves it. She tells it how cute it is, carries it around, pets it and named it Puppy.

Today she was feeding it her sparkly slipper….kids are funny.

Later Cannon and I shared an apple, Honey Crisp apples are the best right now.

Do you cut up your apple or just leave it whole? I got in the habit of always cutting up my apples when I wore braces for four and a half years and it has just stuck with me. Cory never cuts his up.

When Emmy got up we met some friends at a park for an after school play date. I am relishing any time I get to see my friends and their kids.

I had to cancel my Statistics class for the evening since there was no internet, I feel bad having to cancel on my students. We did get to enjoy more family time. Cesar salad kit and rotisserie chicken thanks to Costco for dinner.

We then got Emmy’s Halloween costume in the mail, she was very happy to try it on.

She even had to FaceTime Grandma to show it off.

_________________________________________________________

How often does your internet go out?

Ours has been out a few times this year, it was too bad today because lots of people were trying to work from home and students were supposed to be distance learning, they ended up having the equivalent of a “snow day”

Today was full back to reality and I was so grateful that Cannon didn’t have school this Monday. I got up before the kiddos to run on the treadmill. I don’t know if it’s age or the addition of two kids but it has been taking me a FULL hour between getting up and starting to run. Feels like such a waste of time but also it feels like cement in my veins for so long in the morning.

When I finally got to the treadmill I started watching Ratched on Netflix.

A creepy show seems fitting for the season. I have never watched or read One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest but maybe I will need to now.

After running we took our morning fairly slowly, just trying to get back to our normal routine, the kids are just so happy to be home with all of their toys, they have been super easy the last couple days. I bet that won’t last much longer. We got ourselves out to Costco and the grocery store to refill our shelves.

I am super into Emmy’s new sweat suit. Also I am going to miss Cannon so much when he starts school four days a week. I have really gotten used to all this extra time with him. I can’t even think about Emmy starting pre-school next year.

I ran myself out of creamer so it was a Starbucks day (there are two children with cake pops behind me). Also it’s been almost nine months since I have had my hair cut, this may need to happen ASAP, I don’t know how much longer I can take it.

When we got home we made homemade “lunchables” for the kids

I was really craving eggs for some reason so I had a breakfast burrito for lunch.

The rest of the day was naps, cuddles and hanging out (no complaints!) but I do really need to get myself to bed earlier so I am not so tired in the afternoon.

____________________________________________

Watched anything great recently?

Do you match your shows to the season? I tend to, I don’t like spooky things past Halloween, only cheesy happy holiday movies.

We spent the day trying to recover from our trip. Do you ever get home from vacation and need an assistant? We were glad we had an extra day to settle back in and try to get back to normal. The only thing we had on the schedule was Cannon’s soccer game.

I got a couple shake out miles in and then spent the rest of the day unpacking, doing dishes, and climbing mount laundry. I did nine loads of laundry….I am almost done.

In the afternoon we got out our Halloween decorations. Is it acceptable even though it’s not October yet? I hope so the kids are LOVING it.

It was raining and cool in the evening so it seemed perfect to watch a Halloween movie and make pumpkin soup. We added apple slices and chicken sausage.

I am definitely loving the weather cooling and it feeling like fall. I am excited for fall but a little unsure what the holidays will look like this year. Will there be trick or treating? What will that look like? We had to make an appointment to go to our favorite pumpkin patch this year and weekends are already mostly sold out!

_____________________________________

Is it feeling like fall where you live?