November | 2012 | Here's Where the Story Begins

… For my legs, lungs and motivation that took me 6.2 miles around Dana Point early yesterday morning, and helped me cross that finish line to a new PR of 1:01:36.

… For my belief in God that without hesitation led me into prayer mid-run for the man who had to be cared for by paramedics during the race yesterday.

… For my husband, who not only insisted on the whole turkey (“because it’s tradition”) but who also was not afraid to stick his hand inside that 10 pound bird yesterday to prep it for the oven.

… For munchkins who just are who they are, cute as can be, even when they’re fighting with each other or screaming like banshees.

… For technology that allowed us to speak with AND see family yesterday.

… For my husband, his siblings and their spouses, who embody admirable grace and strength in holding each other up during difficult times.

… For talent and partnership in the kitchen that helped us to successfully conquer a turkey, all the sides and three pies to make our Thanksgiving meal for the four of us feel just like it should. (And a few glasses of wine didn’t hurt either.)

… For a snippet of Dateline we caught late last night, that soberly and appropriately reminded us how things (financially, personally, all of it) can change in an instant and bring people face to face with poverty.

… For a SoCal Thanksgiving here all on our own. Although we missed everyone in STL, it was a very good thing for us.

It was 90+ degrees here today. We had a lovely snap of mid-60s early last week but here we are, back in the 80s and 90s. Man, do I miss the midwestern fall weather. But in the midst of this confusing weather, we have been doing our best to celebrate the season with Halloween festivities.

We visited the pumpkin patch the weekend before Halloween… took a wagon ride around the farm,

Watched the petting zoo from a distance (the goats were just a bit too friendly), appeased Mama with the obligatory photo on/near a hay bale,

I get this look from C quite often these days…

picked veggies (carrots, onions and green beans), and scouted out a couple of perfect pumpkins, which Daddy carved that evening.

The girls got to wear their costumes a wee bit early at a local community center event the weekend before as well, and C found a new use for her not-yet-filled candy bucket. [And on a side note, feel free to check out my creative ramblings on these costumes here. More to come on my sewing alter ego via another post here very soon…]

At preschool on Halloween morning, each classroom put on a costume parade for parents. And let me tell you, my chickadees were so outgoing and proud walking around that playground, not even the least bit phased by the large crowd of parents watching.

And finally, some trick-or-treating. We weren’t sure what to expect in the neighborhood, but had a decent turnout and the girls had a blast. The girls enjoyed counting their candy stash, which unfortunately all had to be thrown out a few days later due to a major ant problem in our kitchen. I was seriously heartbroken over it all. They haven’t asked about the candy since Halloween night so I think we’ve avoided that drama so far so good.