You Must Pay the Rent

Pumpkin Guts

I don't dislike carving pumpkins, it just always seems to get procrastinated.  Not this year!  (My 9 year old got smart and made me put it on the calendar!)

David has some sensory issues, so I thought it would be a great idea for him to have the opportunity to play in the pumpkin guts.  After a bit of a strange face the first time, he loved it!

Here is Ruby with her pumpkin.  That's Tinkerbelle (I bet you can't guess who carved that one!).

Here is Eli with his "non-scary" Frankenstein.  This pumpkin had flesh that had to have been at least 3 inches deep.  Thank goodness Eli was able to help cut this one-- wow! 

Note to self, though, next time, carve pumpkins on a Sunday afternoon when Dad isn't at work:)

Pumpkin Fest

I love, love, love fall.  And one of the biggest reasons is because of all the fun things to do in fall... like Whipker's Pumpkin Fest.

There are pumpkin pie eating contests...

and realizations that one 9 year old, who shall remain nameless, hates pumpkin pie!

And pumpkins to choose out of the patch...(and talk Daddy into carrying, even though Mommy's rule is that you must be able to carry your own pumpkin!)

There are tractors to drive...

and corn field mazes to get lost in.

There are giant inflatable pumpkins to jump in...

and prizes to win!

And, at the end of the day, there are lots of smiles and great memories!

I Heart Faces: Let Them Be Little

This week's I Heart Faces Challenge is "Let Them Be Little". 

I love the contrast between the huge, graffitied alley and my itty, bitty boy in his Superman jammies.

There are days as a SAHM that I wish the kids were big enough to... (fill in the blank), but, looking at this photo, I just want to freeze time.

I have finished the race...

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

About 2 1/2 years ago, my Aunt Sharon was telling me about this half-marathon that she absolutely loved doing.  By the end of the conversation, she pretty well had me talked into doing it with her the October of 2009. 

And then something happened... what was that again?  Oh yes, I got pregnant and so I decided to put the idea of doing a half marathon out of my mind.  Until this summer...

And, after 12 weeks of training, I found myself here... listening to the national anthem, walk/ jogging for 13.1 miles, and getting misty as a crowd of people (most of whom I didn't know) cheered as I crossed the finish line.  For the first time ever, I saw pride on the face of my 9 year old as he looked at me.  My sweet husband said that watching me (and others) finish was "inspiring".

There were times in my training and times along the race route that I wanted to quit.  I am so glad I didn't!  It was a journey that taught me much about myself.

There were some interesting running outfits.  Sorry, I know I'm not a girly-girl, but I just can't imagine running in a kilt!

Two of my "teammates"-- Mary & Kathy.

Sharon and Me before the start of the race.

Our "team" at the end of the race.  Could someone explain the biology behind the "freezing your tush off" aftereffect of a long walk?  Anyway, the solar blankets really did help. 

After the race, Jason took me to Culvers.  When the cashier (Tony) asked me what I wanted I said, "I just want the biggest slab of beef you have!".  Tony got a good laugh out of that one!

WLW: It's a lifestyle

So today's WLW topic is about lifestyle changes.

For the last 11 1/2 weeks, I have been training to walk a mini-marathon.  I was somewhat coerced by my aunt Sharon to do this.  I anticipated that I would walk the Indianapolis Marathon this year, maybe for a few years in a row, and that would be the end of it.

I think I shared that 7 weeks into training I would have given anything to do something beside walking-- Wii Fit, EA Sports active, Pilate's-- ANYTHING.  I have never in my life been so sick of putting one foot in front of the other. 

Then... it happened.  The light switched flipped.  And here I am, think about running 5Ks.  There's one of Thanksgiving I'm considering (even though it would mean training while on vacation).  There's another a few weeks before Christmas.

I also have discovered how awful I feel after I eat out.  I just feel like an absolute slug.  So lately I have doing a much better job of avoiding going out to eat as much as possible (this is HUGE around here).

Now, I continue to enjoy sugar more than I should, but you can't change everything all at once, right? 

To me, learning to enjoy exercise and pushing myself in that way is a very big lifestyle change.  And for now, I'm very happy with that!

I Heart "Hands"

This week I Heart Faces changes the focus to hands.

This photo was taken of David at the grand re-opening of a local indoor playground.  I love how the photo captures his reflection and those chubby little "toddler hands".

Head over to I Heart Faces to see all the amazing hand photos!