Favorite Five: October

October was AWESOME. It is my favorite month. 

And this year RSAD (reverse seasonal affective disorder) did not get the best of me…I think I have officially adjusted my expectations. It's still summer in October, I get it now.

These are my favorite 5 pictures, not because they are great pictures (they aren't),
but because they documented great things.
Things like…

A totally spontaneous surprise outing to see Disney on Ice with the two big girls.

Abby did a kids triathlon in our neighborhood. 

The event was for grade school kids (and Sam couldn't do it due to something else going on), and I questioned if Chris should bring Abby on account of the fact that she can't swim very well, and can't ride a bike (2/3 of the race - hello!). Well, they didn't let that stop them, and some floaties and a scooter made it possible. She did awesome!

 We celebrated our "golden anniversary" this month…12 years on October 12th. 

We got away for 2 nights (first time in 3+ years…THANK YOU Grandpa Bob and Grandpa Janet!). The first day of our weekend getaway we surfed and the second day we sat...
right here.

I did my first sprint triathlon since having kids. My splits were surprisingly similar to my times before kids, but my body DID NOT respond as it used to after races. I "did something" to my shoulder and I am still paying for it two weeks later. Apparently I am at the age where you can't go all out (without having trained properly) and expect not to suffer a consequence. Despite my little injury, it was super empowering to finish the race, and my cheering squad was a welcome sight (even though they missed the finish because I told them the wrong time to come  - ooops). I thought I was doing this race "for me," but I realized how important it was to me for my girls to watch their mama do something challenging.

This was just a regular day, driving to the YMCA. They keep things interesting. They make me smile.

A glimpse of Nashville

We just got back from a Fall Break trip to Nashville to visit my sister Jenny and family

…PLUS sister Katie and family were able to come too. 

We had about 40 hours together, the 14 of us, which was short, but deeply cherished.

Here is a quick glimpse. I had a lot of time on the plane ride home so I went a little collage-crazy here...

Cousin time was totally priceless. Jenny brought us to an amazing pumpkin patch that has officially ruined all pumpkin patches, ever. I wished I was a kid. It was a joy to watch our 8 play together.

And little Lydia…all I can say is, she fits like a glove, just one of the gang. We are blessed to call her family, blessed she belongs to this crew. It is almost impossible to imagine that a year ago she was a cute mystery on a tiny photo. We love you Liddy Lou! We can't imagine our family without you!

We enjoyed spending time in Jenny and John's huge backyard and wonderful home, which they (mostly John) have transformed one room at a time over the past couple years. HGTV should have filmed it.

Perhaps my favorite memory from the trip was sitting on Jenny's screened porch one night with my sisters, bundled in blankets, and reading Tina Fey's Bossypants out loud, laughing until we cried.

We had San Diego daytime temperatures, and some beautiful Fall color was just starting. 

THE TREES! Oh, how I love the trees! The little taste of Fall filled me up.

 More cousin pictures. 

I am certain that the sibling affection between us sisters trickles directly down to our kiddos. Feel the love.

Lenny and Jenny Designs got a last minute spot at the Franklin Pumpkin Fest so we had the bonding experience of helping them set up their stuff (late at night) and visiting them in their tent (all day). They sold lots, made great money, and learned that people really LOVE Nashville (because the Nashville signs were the big sellers of the day). Click the link above for their Etsy shop.

After Katie and fam headed home we had an extra day and half with the Leiningers.
We enjoyed a neighborhood walk, a beautiful drive (where I almost hit a deer), a trip to the Nashville Zoo (where you can pet kangaroos - how cool is that!?!), and got to celebrate John and Micah's birthdays.

 For years I have focused on how sad I am that I don't live by my sisters, and all that we could be experiencing if we lived closer and could live daily life together. But recently I realized I needed to change my focus and instead be simply, and profoundly, THANKFUL. Thankful that I have not one, but two sisters who are my best friends, who married awesome men, who are wonderful mommies, who are women I admire and look up to and so thoroughly enjoy. I try to just stop there now. All is a gift. Truly.

Maybe our relationships are so good because we miss each other and can't see each other enough. Maybe if we lived near each other we would have calendars filled with family events and little time or need for friends. Maybe the depth of each of our local and church communities and friendships in IL, TN, and CA is a special byproduct of NOT living near family. Who knows? But maybe.

Like a friend of mine says, "I choose thankful."
Yes, I do.