Autumn Gifts

I am glad to live in the midwest where we get very four very distinct seasons. I enjoy all of the seasons, but this fall- the warm weather (up until a few weeks ago), the colorful leaves, some still in the trees and some underfoot- was pure bliss. We have taken full advantage of autumn this year, slowing down and filling our days and evenings with nature walks, jumping in leave piles, bike rides, runs, hikes and boat rides around the lake. Armed with my camera, I've been able to capture the trees bursting with color, the hidden but beautiful trail behind our home, dates with my husband and the delight of my little girl as we've taken advantage of these simple gifts of autumn.  Most importantly, I have captured my family and our friends soaking up nature the best way we know how- together...

 

 

 

 

 

My little girl with "nature" in her hair, worn proudly by someone who truly loves the outdoors.

~Angela

Northshore Inline Marathon

For 13 years I have skated this race, followed by a weekend spent with my extended family who cheers me on at the same spot at the last curve of mile 26, just before the finish line. Anyone who knows me, knows I am a sucker for tradition, not willing to give up on the tradition even skated this a few years ago while I was 4 months pregnant. I've participated in this race with friends, strangers who later became friends and my husband. But really, I prefer to skate it alone.

This year, I did not have my my mom, grandma and aunt with me (which I really missed!) and I skated the race alone, taking advantage of the scenery along the north shore of Lake Superior. It was about a two hour break from reality, a break from my phone, from a schedule and time to just enjoy my skate. I don't listen to  music while I skate, I listen instead to the sounds around me...to the waves along the shore of Lake Superior, the wheels spinning on my skates and of those around me, the cowbells, the cheering, the wind in my helmet. It is a peace I rarely find in my day to day life.

Other highlights of the day included discovering a note from my husband and daughter wishing me luck, tucked into my skate only to be found just before the start of the race.




And seeing my daughter and husband (AKA my superfans) cheering me on along the way.



 I do love surprises such as these...

~Angela 

Jack-o-lantern Pedicure {Halloween}

My little girl loves all things girly, especially manicures and pedicures. When asked what color she wanted on her toenails, she replied "pumpkin!"  I took this literally and thought I would try it out on myself to see how well it worked out before I gaver her a pumpkin pedi.


Here are the colors I used...



Start with a base coat of orange


Then I cut teeny tiny shapes from stickers. I used the "Q" which is always left over from my projects.


Adhered the teeny tiny shape to my toes





Painted on a stem with green polish and a clear coat on top


Of course, by the time I was done with my own silly toes, my little girl decided she wanted rainbows instead... So, I am the ridiculous adult walking around with pumpkin toes:)


~Angela

You've Got Mail!

My daughter loves getting cards in the mail. Who doesn’t love mail? Especially the unexpected card? I get excited and make a big deal out of it so it becomes a big deal. There is something about opening an envelope, not knowing what is inside- the suspense, the anticipation, lifting the flap on the envelope to open it… Can you tell I love the Hallmark commercials? This is also what spurred the idea for our Annual Christmas Card Contest.

My little girl loves her cards. She reads them over and over and knows who most of them came from. There is the Valentines card that accompanied a dancing sock monkey from our good friends. There are the teddy bear postcards from her Geegee and Papa. There is the homemade card from her cousin. There is the Elmo card she got from her Yaya, the cards from her birthday. She reads them all. She can pick out some of the letters and points to them. They are getting a bit tattered. These cards are loved.

I am not a saver. I don’t attach a value to stuff. As much as I value getting cards, I don’t save them all. I am constantly trying to simplify and organize. My first instinct was to file the cards my little girl has received away in her box of keepsakes to store. But she loves them so much, I couldn’t bear to do that. Why not enjoy them now? Feel the love behind the cards? Read them and be reminded of the people that cared enough to send them?

So that is exactly what we are doing. We enjoy them now. Over and over…
~Angela

Gettin' Dirty

I like to get dirty. I like a challenge and I like to try new things. This summer my husband and I tried some new races. I ran in the Color Run with my little girl and we did a few mud runs too. My husband blogged about our previous mud race here so you can check it out for more info.




We both ran in the Warrior Dash last weekend in Minnesota. We loved it. Climbing over barbed wire, jumping over junked cars, swimming through muddy trenches and jumping over fire at the end=Awesome.

I struggled to get up this so not-so-tall hill!

swimming in the trenches

At the finish!

I couldn't even clear my watch to see my time after I finshed!

He was much more graceful than me on the trenches

My husband jumping over the fire near the finish

 





Warriors!  Yes, we did wear the hats to the party we went to after the race:)



The finisher's medals...I left mine dirty- adds to the unique aspect of the prize and race.

I love to run- it reduces stress, allows me to eat all the foods I love and I enjoy the high it gives me. More than the workout itself and the fun we have, it brings us together as a family. It is a shared interest we all have. I love watching my husband run and cheering him on and our little girl does too.



My little girl with the medal from her race earlier this summer. When we go to races, she often has to wear her medal.

~Angela