Sunday, October 25, 2015

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!

On the Potty Train

I won't bore (or gross you out) with the nitty gritty details, we but are in the midst of helping Dagny potty train and she's doing really well!  We are enjoying the lack of diaper purchasing and disposing while she is enjoying all the underwear options.
When your sister is potty training, I guess anything goes!
Everything's a team effort around here, so why should potty training be any different?

Dagny Hits the Gym

Last weekend was one of Dagny's friends' birthday parties at a local kids' gym. We had never been to this gym (unlike the 3 others nearby) and she had a blast! Wearing her leotard was my suggestion, but she couldn't wait to take her sweatpants and fleece off to show everyone once we arrived!
Her two best buddies were there and they had a great time together.
 
I guess she's ready to take a class without either of us now that she's three :) Something tells me she'd be just fine!