Halloween 2015

This year, the kids were both finally into the idea of Halloween and trick or treating.  In previous years, there was a lot of talk and planning - but very little action.  I attribute this change to two things:

1. Finley's love of outer space furthered by the great shirt made with real NASA patches that his Grammy made him months back that only needed gray sweatpants and a homemade paper bag astronaut helmet to complete the look.

Oh and Dagny was a "police astronaut with a fire fighter water pack on her back"

2. We went daytime trick or treating with our friends whose town closes down its Main Street and all the shops pass out treats. This non-spooky experience really got them excited!

Dagny and her friend Sadie could be twins, right? Though they are a year apart and clearly have different interests!! So adorable!

Kids made our like bandits and were totally tuckered out by the time we made it back to our car at our friends' house.

The next day, Finley got to wear his costume again for a school parade. Dan and I did not take off work to see the event, but luckily I've made some nice mom friends in his class who supplied me with some photos!

Love the hands in pockets look!

Finally, the main event-- Halloween night! Dagny opted to be a worker in a tutu without her space helmet (since she said would not need to call mission control while we were trick or treating). Ha!

 We made it quite far into our little neighborhood, saw some great jack-o'lanterns, and got some nice treats (though many were peanut filled and not Finley friendly) before making it back to our front door to hand out candy to a few late stragglers.

 Finley said he wants to make sure we keep his helmet safe since he wants to be an astronaut again next year!

Pajama Shabbat for One

Now that Dagny's at ELC on her own, she was the only lucky duck that got to dress in her pajamas for Pajama Shabbat on Friday.  She was thrilled to wear some new horse themed pajamas and she chose to bring her beloved police dog, Gloria, with her to school.

I couldn't get her to pose in her pajamas before we left the house, but she did request that I take a picture of Gloria once we got to school.

To her left you can see a book, Officer Buckle and Gloria, which is where we got the name Gloria.  As soon as she arrived, she asked one of her teachers to read the book (to her and Gloria) and I left as kids and teachers, all in PJs, were snuggled up for a breakfast time story!

Shelburne Farms 2015

We have been so busy this fall that we didn't make it to our favorite orchard, Shelburne Farms, until yesterday!  While we waited to pick apples until Dan could meet us there after snow blower shopping, we headed for the pedal tractors.  Last year, Dagny wasn't quite big enough but this year she beat Finley and I to the track and was off and zooming around in no time!

Both kids love these tractors and could have raced around all morning.

 But we did need to climb the hay mountain...

 And get into the bouncy house!

 1 - 2 - 3...

 JUMP!

 A new feature this year :)

 Dan arrived and we got some cider donuts and hot chocolate before heading to the orchard.

 First stop, the rows of Honeycrisp apples--Finley's favorite apple of all.

 While it was clearly the end of the apple picking season, we got plenty and the kids took Dan on a hayride before it was time to go!

 There they are all the way on the left :)

Hay Maze

We were back in our old 'hood last week and stopped into Wilson Farms for some delicious produce, warm cider donuts, and a trip through a great hay maze. 

There were some seriously tall piles of hay!

 Thankfully we made it out and got a free apples for our efforts!

Dan Turns 37

Dan had his birthday this week and the kids were very excited to help him celebrate.  We sent him this selfie before school on his birthday and while it's not perfect, it's pretty good!

 Then, Dagny wanted me to take a picture of just her mittens to show Daddy...but I managed to get all of her.

 Since Dan doesn't like cake, but rather prefers blueberry pie -- we honored his wishes this year and presented him with his birthday dessert as soon as he got home.

 After pie and vanilla ice cream, we gave him a box of board games: checkers, chess, and chinese checkers.  Finley's learned how to play checkers at Extended Day (after school) and has been waiting to play with Dan and I suspect chess will be next on their to do list!

The Tufts 10K 2015

Last October, I did my first 5K road race and  I was just happy to limp across the finish line.  A year later, I have completed several more 5Ks, a 5 miler, and on Columbus Day - I did a 10K (6.2 miles)!

A Tufts frisbee teammate and friend of mine, Tali, signed up to run the Tufts (health plan) 10K with me and on Columbus Day, both our families took the T and met up downtown on the common for race day.

 All three kiddos got their race numbers for the Kids 1K Fun Run and were psyched for their race!

 Finley and Dan paired up for the 1K and Dagny and I were running buddies.  Finley was awesome and ran alongside Dan the whole way.  He was so proud of his finish and the ribbon he received!

 Slightly surprising was the fact that Dagny also RAN THE WHOLE WAY, holding my hand, and pulling me along! She was amazing and so proud of herself crossing the balloon finish line and getting her ribbon :) No picture to prove it, but trust me -- it was a fantastic race for her three year old legs!

Soon it was time for the dads to take the kids to a playground and then find lunch with the moms got ready to head to the starting line.

 

GULP.

Despite the October date and fall feeling the air in the previous days, it was about 75 and sunny at noon at the starting line!  We had a good race, though slower than either of us had predicted, but that may have been due to the heat.  Our VERY proud families scouted out a great spot around mile marker 5.5 and we got to give everyone high fives as we ran by.  My heart was already pounding pretty hard by then and seeing them made it flutter just a little faster!

We pushed through to the finish and then met up with our crew for water and snacks.

 It felt great to accomplish something I never could have imagined a year before and to have my #1 fans there cheering for me made all the difference!

 And check out the trophy Finely (with some help from Dan) made me!

Up next, a Thanksgiving morning 10K for a good cause!