Leaves

We have one maple in the back yard that accounts for 95% of our fall leaves. This year we put the kids to work raking the yard, but they managed to have fun with it.

Halloween

After much discussion, speculation, and one long trip to the costume store the kids finally decided on (drum roll, please) Super Girl and Buzz Lightyear! They looked too cute but could barely stay still for the obligatory pictures.

Zak didn't remember what this Halloween thing was all about, so Isabel led the way. He caught on quick, though after the first house he asked me about 10 times "We go nutha house mama? Mama we go nutha house?"

I expected Isabel to go the distance, but was surprised when Zak wanted to keep going after we hit all the houses in the cul de sac. I kept asking him if he was tired until he finally replied indignantly, "I not tired! I just happy." That's parenting gold, folks.

Oh, and just for the sake of completeness, here's what I wore to the company Halloween party:

Pumped for Pumpkins

Pumpkin season! We went back to the Circle S farms on a windy fall day and did every family-friendly hay-themed activity you can think of... hay maze, hay ride, even hay slides. The kids picked out some pretty pumpkins along the way.

Last Day of Soccer

Unfortunately I don't have action shots of Isabel playing soccer because Kyle coaches the games and I chase Zak around. You'll just have to take my word that she improved so much since the last season. She was much more aggressive and seemed to understand better where to put her body to get or block balls. It was fun to watch her play. Here she is getting her end of season trophy.

 

The Race

It's so nice to work in a building that has a gym on the ground floor; I have no excuses. I'd been working at improving my 5K results, and now it was the day of reckoning... the Game Day 5K. We had perfect weather, cool and sunny. My fan club came along for support.

About half way through I started thinking, would it be so wrong if I just walked the second half? But two things kept me going... my family was waiting at the finish line and the teenage whippersnapper hot on my heels.

I was so happy... I ran a personal best 23:47 and was the top female finisher! But the best part was when Kyle told me afterwards that Isabel had said someday she wanted to be fast like mommy.