September & October catch up

 I've actually been wanting to blog for awhile now. So many things have been on my mind. Buuuutttt, then life happens, and time goes by, and it's not useful to blog about something from 2 months ago. Which is why so many of my posts are just 'Life Latelys". I don't know what to say, other than, "oh well!"

So here is what we've been up to.

September:

The annual bookclub girls' weekend getaway! Wonderful, relaxing, over-too-soon.

Baby girl turned 3.

We went to the apple orchard and randomly saw my sister and her baby there, that was fun!

Picked apples, ate donuts and cider, came home and made 2 pies. 

My garden harvest.

Zoo date with these 2 and a girlfriend and her son.

Went to a 'touch a truck' event in the community. This one was awesome, the lines were either so short or no line at all- and lots of opportunities to talk to people about their jobs and stuff like that (ie policeman, city sweeper truck, zamboni driver)

I also read this book, and it was SO good. I lost 7# and learned a lot about how the body uses food for energy- and even as someone who is a RN, exerciser for the last 25 years, I learned a lot. 

October:

I completed this quilt for August. He'd been begging for a "big boy bed" (he's been in an antique Jenny Lind's child's bed that's in between a crib/twin mattress size) and so we got him a loft bed for his birthday. He had 2 so sweet, precious quilts that were gifts I received when he was a baby and they only fit the small bed. So I wanted to make him a new quilt to go with it. 

My first baby turned 8!

Immediately followed by Halloween.

Pumpkin carving.

Trick or treating, and I think the nicest Halloween weather we've ever had!

His old bed

The new loft bed. 

One more trip to the apple orchard before it closed for the season.

The other big thing for October was Doug & I celebrated (a week early) with 5 days in the Dominican Republic! It was such a wonderful time to getaway, relax, eat food I didn't make/clean up after, walk on the beach, sightsee, sleep in, and enjoy each other. 

We were so thankful for the chance to get away, and so thankful on how much God has blessed us these past 10 years.

My lil' pumpkins

My friend had the most gorgeous family photos in a local pumpkin patch, so we went on Saturday with high hopes for the same thing. We did have a nice day, but uncooperating (with looking and smiling) kids, lol.

She did NOT want to sit on that pumpkin!

Tantrum because he couldn't pick up the pumpkin.

This pic turned out ok, even though she was actually struggling to get away, haha.

This was a different place than the apple orchard we usually go to, because of the pumpkin field. I don't think we'll go there again, (unless can attempt fall pumpkin pics again!) it was very overpriced and their donuts were "meh". But it was a beautiful day. We took our kids to a park to run around on the way home, and then that evening went to a nearby town for their Halloween Fest. Which was a socially distanced event where the kids just went through a line set up at the farmer's market spot and trick-or-treated. It was a really nice event actually. They got a mix of candy baggies, but also little coloring books, and a couple fun DIY magnet and bracelet kits. Neat! 

Cuties!

weekend update

Man another weekend flew right by. I feel like the only time I had to relax was 5 mins on the couch with Becks before my phone rang and I had to leave again

Doug and I went up to my parents for dinner one night. My aunt came in town to help fix my wedding dress. I think it had been a 14 and now it fits perfect for me! Yay!! We also checked out the status of our little pumpkins and gourds for our fall wedding centerpieces. On 8 plants we saw just 2 teeny little guys. Boo. The cool summer/early fall didn't do us any favors, we might not get any to keep growing before the ground frosts :(

hang in there little guy!

Doug and I had planned a date together, but we got to the cidermill too late and it was closed, wah wah! The next day he picked up some cider and donuts for me

Pet peeve about Doug: when I try to share and give him a bite of something, but he just gulps down the entire thing!!!

I roasted these carrots and beets from mom's garden. They turned out so tasty and have a delicious natural sweetness. I took some to school yesterday for my lunch and shared them with a friend who likes eating my cooking. Then I watched them get passed around as everyone was like 'mm.. yumm..' haha, it was funny. For a group of nursing students we sure have no qualms about all eating off the same fork.

Sunday night Jill and I went to a Hall and Oates concert (it turns out it's actually not "Haulin' Oats" as I had always thought). It was kinda drizzly and cold, but we had fun. Here's a not great pic of us

Mom also gave me a buttercup squash, so today I made that into my favorite fall soup

butternut/buttercup probably close enough, we'll see!

Marathon Man

HE DID IT!!!! 26.2 miles in 3 hours, 28 minutes and 3 seconds. So great! I was so proud. It was really fun to see him at the start of the race, go to the checkpoints at the 9 and 13 mile markers and then to wait for him at the finish line. I was so excited, I couldn't believe his excellent time! Afterwards we went to Pizza Papalis with his parents and then home to rest where we surveyed the damage:

and

Ouch! You lay there babe, you deserve a break!

That was by far the highlight of the weekend. But other fun things were attending the love and respect seminar. Well, the conference wasn't that "fun" per se, but good info. Based on their book, which is awesome. Our friends Liz and Mark went with us and we went out to Chilis Friday night with them. 3 baskets of chips and salsa later... mmmmmm.

On Saturday after the conference and after cleaning my grandparent's house, Hubbs and I stopped by the cider mill where I got both cinnamon donuts and a caramel apple, yum! I love fall!

Hubbs enjoyed a Knockwurst

The cider mill even had a girl playing the bagpipes, which I really enjoyed, this kid didn't, but he must have picky music tastes because she was good

Hubbs and I had a windy trip down to Detroit the day before the marathon to pick up his race packet. It was fun doing that together with him and seeing how beautiful some parts of our city really are.

It was a great weekend and we are so thankful for friends, our marriage, good health and strong bodies :)