fun

Carson and Molly atop Indian Rock Park on Wednesday

This was the first long weekend in a long time that I enjoyed.

I am usually tired, annoyed and frustrated when they are over

 I usually want to go back to work.

But not this weekend...this weekend was fun.

Thanksgiving was at my in-laws

and we served 57 (yes 57) without a hitch.

We ate too much, drank too much and played too much poker.

Cousins came to sleep over with Carson and Molly,

cousins we don't get to see very often.

I got out and excercised almost every day of the weekend.

We went on a family walk, and I

swam, ran and walked the other days.

Molly's 8th birthday was on Sunday

we had homemade pizzas on the grill

(Molly got to order Pizza Hut for herself...it WAS her birthday afterall)

and had a few friends over for cupcakes.

There weren't a lot of presents, but a lot of joy.

We didn't have many plans, and

just enjoyed each other's company all weekend.

It was good.

what I did this weekend

basketball

sleep

sleep

basketball

If these grey, dreary Sundays don't stop, our new couch will soon have my body imprint in the sleeping position on it.

the light this time of year - you capture

This week's theme for You Capture was sunrise/sunset.  I can't say enough how much I love the light this time of the year in Kansas.  Especially at dusk.  Although I didn't take photos of the sunset itself, the setting sun and the light on these is just perfect!  Enjoy!

Join us!

runner's high part deux

it was dark and 50 degrees

just right for a quick 4 mile run run

the ipod was charged

and the timing and my shoes were just right

for a runner's high night

Now that the clocks have been changed, and the cold and dark and damp comes earlier, I have started my running training again.  This time we're going to Lincoln, NE in the spring for the 1/2 marathon.

 Hip Hip Hooray! 

winter

It snowed yesterday!

Hurrah!

My friend Margy, modeling the snow in Colorado in February. 

Sadly, I didn't have my camera in my car yesterday to capture any of OUR snow,

and the sun is out and it is 50 today, so there is none left to photograph!

what to say

So, what to say when I have committed to writing more often, but have nothing of note to say?

Maybe a list of my weekend activities will do

(lists always have a way of bringing things around, don't you think?):

>had a great and fun shopping trip with my boss and her friends of Friday (Yes, I have a GREAT boss)

>ate at IHOP on Friday night with Carson and my mom

>fell asleep in the vortex on our new couch.  You know, that spot where you instantly fall asleep when you are all bundled up.  That's the vortex.

>slept in on Saturday and then went to Hillsboro to Carson's first basketball tournament of the season (they were 1and 2)

>between games, went to watch our 3rd kid (actually, Hector, our great KWU men's soccer student who we are the host family for) play in the KCAC championship game.  They won!  4-0!  Now they are on to McKenzie, TN on Saturday.  If they win that game they go to California for the championship!  They are all so excited for the possibility as they will get to be home with their families for Thanksgiving if they make it) 

>went for a run in the cold, dark, damp Saturday night.  My FAVORITE time to run.

>slept in on Sunday (and even skipped church) and had a bacon sandwich for breakfast.

>read with the kiddos in my bed for a long while

>went for a walk with Mrs. Jordan in the cold mist.  Loved every minute of it!

>put my sweatpants on and didn't move from the couch for the rest of the day...

ps, do you think the knots on aspen trees look like eyes?  I'm fascinated with them, and take photos of the eyes every time I am around Aspen trees.

harbor

you know that saying about how much more energy it takes to be angry?

how much you have to put into holding a grudge,

how hard it is to keep being mad at someone or something

after a long period of time?

Well, I just decided it is true.

here's to letting go

and to more energy towards

kinder, gentler more beautiful things.

you capture - real life

This week's You Capture theme was Real Life.

I know it is hard to believe, but this is so my real life. 

My friends and I had a sunset picnic on Saturday night in Ellsworth County, right here in Kansas. 

I was surrounded by beautiful friends, beautiful prairie and a most beautiful sunset. 

We sat still, drank wine, ate, talked

and were just plain were thankful for all that we have and all that surrounds us.

Join us!

swimming

a few weks ago

Molly joined the swim team

she's a natural the coach says

she works really hard at each practice

she's never once complained

or said she didn't want to go

in order to see our reflection

 we need to get near the water

I'm proud of you, Molly

resolve

here I sit tonight

with a new resolve

to write more regularly

to open up more

to tell my friends and family how much I love them

more often

to compliment

to smile

to be a bright shining berry in the fall foliage

I spent Saturday evening with my dear friends

at a ranch near Kanopolis Lake.

We are so lucky to have such beautiful state parks

all around us.

We had a sunset picnic

and drank wine

and talked and talked and talked.

I resolve

to believe I am the person

everyone sees in me.

what's for dinner?

What do you do when you are out of town working, staying in a town of 3000, and there is no restaurant to go eat in?  Well, you break out the bottles of wine you brought with you from Jacksonville (good thinking!) and go to the grocery store for:

smoked cheddar cheese

havarti cheese

Toasteds crackers

french bread

grapes

jalapeno cheetos (the crunchy kind)

cold shrimp with cocktail sauce

baby carrots

wickles

imitation crab salad
cajun crab spread
yummo!