Octoberlicious

This post is composed of miscellaneous Octoberlicious everyday journal clips from the past few weeks, since it helps me feel more organized. Random journal clips are fun peeks into daily life:

Monday, October 11th: I made a massive pot of chicken chowder for dinner tonight. It was creamy and warming and 100% dairy free! (almond cashew milk and olive oil instead of cream and butter). The kids loved it. Even Amber had a few spoonfuls: "MMMM! This is way gooder than last time!" Hah. Jeff had parent teacher conferences tonight. After dinner, the kids and I played a long game of Slamwich together for family game night/FHE. Amber ran out of cards early and was sad, so I kept donating some of my wins to her to get her back in the game. Rose ended up winning and Amber came in second. It was a good ending. It's been a long time since I spend mom time with just me and my kids, and we had fun together. Tonight reminded me of our Wedventures that we went on last fall. They were so fun. I love my kids.

Tuesday, October 12th: Today was full of little time suckers that I don't feel like listing. Tonight I attended my first ever family art club over Zoom! Aunt Stefani,  Annie, & Mom were there tonight (my cousin-in-law Mike couldn't make it). It was so fun! We talked for half an hour about our artwork inspired by the theme of "opposites." I haven't done art in so long that it felt different to access that part of my brain, but it was a good kind of different.

Wednesday, October 13th: I felt tired and wishy-washy all day today, because being tired makes it hard for me to make small decisions like which grocery store to go to, what clothes to wear, what time to go running, etc. I was driving myself crazy with my indecisiveness today, haha.

Thursday, October 14th: see separate post: Notes from a tired mom. 

Friday, October 15th: Today I was determined to take better care of myself. Two main areas that I have been neglecting are: boundaries with outside forces and taking time to do something for ME during the day. My resolve to create and stick to boundaries was tested several times first thing in the morning, right after the girls got on the school bus.

The weekly ward email informed me that Jeff and I were team leaders for cleaning the church building this month. We haven't been home on a Saturday in 7 weeks! So I gathered my courage and called the coordinator to explain how September and October are not good months for us to clean the church or be in charge of cleaning the church. She was super sweet and let us off the hook. Relief.

Almost immediately after that phone call, I got an email from the piano tuner asking to schedule a tuning on Nov. 4th. I almost caved and said yes, but then told myself "no, that's not how I want to spend my birthday." So I emailed him back asking for a different day. Scoop by scraping scoop, I carved space for myself. It felt like I was inside and all of these demands and responsibilities were pressed up against the window, waving with signs, knocking on the glass, and shouting "Pick me! Me next! Over here! You have an unplanned hour--give it to me!" One step at a time, I not only resisted them, I also told them no and made them back away from my window entirely. It was a surprisingly freeing, empowering feeling, making space for myself on my calendar. I owe time to my responsibilities, but I also owe time to myself. 

I took a slow short walk to connect with nature on the lovely fall day. As I passed through our front yard on my way inside, I impulsively stopped and jumped on our rope swing. I let my hair fly free and swang a few arcs before heading inside. (Swinging makes me motion sick. It just felt like a free happy mood-boosting activity, so I did it...a little.)

Saturday, October 16th: see separate post: Running at the Gorge.

Monday, October 18th: I crafted a carefully timed to do list today and managed to get it all done before cross country practice! We had Costco food for dinner tonight and played Uno for family game night. Rose won. We had to explain to Amber about not being a sore loser and to Rose about not gloating. So a normal family game night. Then family prayer and bedtime/quiet time for the kids. I barely finished my weekly art project in time to send it in the family art club group text tonight.

Tuesday, October 19th: Today was the second to last cross country meet of the season. I left home at 10:30am and got home from the meet at 9:09pm. It was a long one for a weekday, because we went all the way to Wenatchee, WA, which is a 2.5 hour bus drive away. Right before we left for the meet, Jeff found out that Dustin Crowe, the beloved head high school track coach, had died. We knew he had aggressive brain cancer and was in hospice, but it was still so sad to hear he had passed away today. He was Jeff's age. So it was with heavy hearts that we loaded up the bus to go to our league meet at Eastmont in Wenatchee. Instead of saying "1-2-3, Grizz!" after our team cheer on the starting line, we said "1-2-3, for Crowe!" today. Everyone said it with such conviction and gusto, I felt tears sting my eyes every time we said it. Out teams got last place at the meet, but 16/20 of our runners got personal bests or season bests during today's race. It was a good race.

After the meet, we let the team walk to whichever fast food restaurant sounded good. Jeff and I chose Arby's because nobody else went there, and we had a pleasant coaches' date dinner. On the way home in the dark bouncy school bus, I logged onto the family art club zoom meeting and had a solid connection for at least half of the 25 minute 5 person video call. Technology is amazing, smartphones and 4G in particular. I have 20,000 steps from today. 

Wednesday, October 20th: Today I did my final tune-up pace 400s workout on the track before cross country practice, and felt strong again. My sub 20 minute 5k time trial is so close--Saturday is coming fast! It was windy this afternoon, so our front yard is now carpeted in golden yellow leaves. I love how bright and happy yellow leaves are on the ground. I'm trying not to think about how drab and cold and gray everything will be in a few weeks, and focusing on enjoying the fall colors while I can.

Thursday, October 21st: I am consumed by my 5k record attempt that's happening in less than 2 days! 36 hours from now I'll be toeing the line. Off and on all day today I paused and visualized the pace, the splits, my race plan, and scanned my brain and body for signs of weakness. I've checked the weather forecast for Saturday at least half a dozen times. 

When I got home from xc practice, I had enough energy left to cook dinner! I made meatballs and gravy with rice and peas, and oatmeal chocolate chip pumpkin bars for dessert. The kids were extra talkative tonight, and it was slightly overwhelming, but Jeff and I managed to listen to their overlapping stories alright, and join in random dinnertime family conversations about evolution vs. creation, geometry, and annoying classmates at school. Amber got bored with our more serious topics during dinner so she got up from the table, turned the Aladdin soundtrack on Alexa, and started dancing wildly to it right next to the kitchen table. It was chaotic but also very Amber. 

Friday, October 22nd: I spent today totally babying myself, in preparation for my 5k time trial tomorrow. I went on an easy 30 minute jog, showered, put on comfy sweats, and then spend the rest of the day (before cross country practice) reading, napping, and eating. For cross country practice today, the team ran a workout on the new track for the first time! It was so spongy. We had family movie night as usual and watched Merlin tonight. It is so fun having a show we all enjoy!

Saturday, October 23rd: my 5k record attempt! See separate post, coming soon. 

Swinging

Lego trading is a hot market in the White house. We had to ban Lego trades after a particularly intense bargaining session devolved into shrieks and violence.

My first art submission to the family art club. I used Amber's short curls and Rose's long straight hair as my inspiration for the theme "opposites." Also, my drawing abilities froze when I was 11 years old.

The sisters.

Rose was inspired by donut month to draw herself and her siblings as their favorite donuts.

Rose, carrying Amber to bed.

Our sweet cross country team. One afternoon at practice, the boys' team huddled up for a secret talk together. The much-smaller girls' team, not to be outdone, huddled up for a chat too. It's hard to huddle up with only five people! 

Ready for school. On the rare mornings that these girls are ready for the bus more than ten minutes early, we listen to an audiobook together.

Scene from my backyard nature walk on Oct. 15th. Our house is in this picture.

I read a book made of paper this week and it was exhausting, propping up a light and holding the book open. My arms kept getting tired, haha. It made me feel wimpy. My kindle makes reading so easy!

After my run on October 18th, the sun was lighting up our yellow trees in the front yard.

Octoberlicious, indeed.

Our house may be tiny (800 square feet main floor, plus a 600 square foot concrete basement), with low ceilings and an unfinished basement, but the setting is so idyllic, we may live here forever.

Runner's high: side effects may include silly selfies.

My second submission for the family art club. Topic: rhythm. Goal for my next artwork: choose a new medium!

Jeff, reading a hilarious library book to Amber in his characteristically excellent voices.

October 19th was the girls' school picture day. I snapped a quick picture before school just in case Amber's freshly washed, scrunched, and ponytailed hair didn't survive all the way to the photographer. Her curls get crazy so fast!

I wanted a picture of gorgeous Rose and her long pretty hair on picture day, but she was not in the mood, so I didn't force it. She's beautiful even without a smile.

Walking out to the end of the driveway to catch the bus. I love that golden morning October sunshine.

Tuesday afternoon at the cross country meet in Wenatchee: we arrived early to avoid bus traffic, per the host school's instructions, and had over an hour for a team nap. It turned into more of a team dog pile and giggle.

Eastmont Jr. High School, where the meet was hosted, was a beautiful campus atop a hill overlooking all of Wenatchee and the mountains beyond.

Coaches' date! Since I hate carbonation and fake lemonade, Jeff got us a cup of blue Powerade to share. Don't ask how I can love blue Powerade but hate fake Minute Maid lemonade, I don't understand it either. May I never eat fast food again until cross country 2022.

October 21st: The annual canal draining began. It always looks (and smells) so weird when the water level drops. (our house is visible in this picture too)

The lines on the bridge show how far the water dropped in a day.

We had some wind and it spun our front yard in gold.

Twirling in an Aurora dress while listening to Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra. Amber has such a vibrant vivid personality! 

Also, Jay is still around being the responsible oldest child, sharpening his wit at every opportunity and visiting me every night before bed for a quiet chat. He's just not in many pictures this month. Documenting older kids is a delicate balance.

Now, for the final week of October, wherein I take on my yearly challenge to find out how little I can do for Halloween but still let my kids be kids and have fun with it.