One busy day!

This morning I got the long run in early so I could go to Alex's tennis tournament in Lawrence. This was his first USTA tournament, and while he didn't get the Ws, he learned a lot and knows playing better players makes him better. He left with his head down, but a couple of hours later he was ready to sign up again and he knew things he wanted to do differently. I thought he played really well. Match 1 and 3 were close and could have easily gone his way, his second match was a level of player he rarely sees and he still got some points. 

While our family is busy with everything else, our back deck is also being replaced. We thought it would be done in September but some wrong materials showed up, so it put us back a couple of weeks. I'm really hoping it gets done this week. I am missing our backyard! 

Bring on weather cool enough so we can sit and enjoy our new deck! 

The before picture, hard to tell but there is a lot of rot in this deck.

The in-process picture, hopefully an after picture is coming soon! 

September Goal Check-In and Clint Black!?

I was lucky enough to finish September and start October in Nashville, TN! Jeff had a work trip there, and I tagged along, meaning I got to add another state to my map. I think I only have six left to go before I’ve seen all 50!

Before the conference began, we packed in a little sightseeing. We toured the Country Music Hall of Fame, checked out the Parthenon replica (with its full-size Athena inside), and strolled down Broadway where live music poured out of every building. Nashville really is an experience.

One morning, I even talked Jeff into joining me on a running trail. I logged close to 8 miles under shady trees and along the river. It was busy, but I loved seeing so many people out moving and enjoying the outdoors.

The last evening of the conference was something special—we were treated to a performance by CLINT BLACK after dinner. As a 90s kid, this felt like such a big deal. It was like being back in my childhood car with the radio on, and I surprised myself by knowing almost every word to his songs. Definitely one of the highlights of the trip!

Now we’re heading back to the airport, and while I’ve loved our Nashville adventure, I’ll be glad to be home. It's always good to be home.

Thanks, Mom, for holding down the fort while we were away!

Read 24 Books 16/24

Finished two book in September and they were both good fiction reads. 

The Perfect Divorce, by Jeneva Rose was a great sequel to her book A Perfect Marriage. I read that book last year and thought I may have waited too long to read the second but the story came back to me. Since I knew the twist from the first book I thought I had the second one figured out, not really. It still kept me guessing till the end. A very fun read. 

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams covered many themes. It was a great read about a woman's experience in the 1880's to the 1920's. The main character grows up in and around the creation of the dictionary. Her father worked with men at Oxford as they crated the books letter by letter. She figures out from her view that many words are not "fit" for the publication. Those are the words that the working class used and that women used. The book was very layered and meaningful. While also fiction it was a great balance to my other book of the month that was a fun ride that didn't require a lot of thought. I thought a lot about this book when I wasn't reading it. Highly recommend! 

Run 650 Miles 468/650

I ran 75 miles in September making it my best month of the year! I enlisted help for my weekend long runs and it turned a weekly chore into something I looked forward to. I've also been getting a 4 mile run in during the week and that has helped not only with the monthly mileage but with my weekend long run more bearable. Gearing up for the next race in Salina on November 8th. If I run 60 miles a month the rest of the year I will hit my yearly goal!  

Money Goals

Fund 3-6 month ER Fund- Done April 2025! Yay for selling my house! 

Pay off Car - Done April 2025! Yay for selling my house! 

UFOs (unfinished objects) that need Finished 

T-Shirt Quilt (have the shirts)

Alpaca Quilt I didn't snap a picture before we left for Nashville but I finished the first row of the quilt this month. Yay! Progress! 

Placemats - Done April 2025 

Alex and Daryl Photo Books 2021-2023 Just missing 2023 at this point. 

No big deal, just a little Clint Black concert. 

Got a tour of they Ryman Auditorium

For some scale Nike that is in her hand is 6 foot tall.

Build a full size Parthenon in Nashville, Sure, why not?

Of course we had great food while we were here. That's half the fun of traveling!

Homecoming Week 2025!

 This week was HOCO (as the kids call it) and Daryl went all out. He participated in the spirit days, built a float with the LINK crew, painted his chest for the football game and had fun at the dance on Saturday. 

It was fun to watch him all week, just enjoying the High School experience. I kept asking for pictures but I didn't get very many. Oh well, that's having a teenage boy I think. Alex, Grandma and I went to the football game on Friday. It was a really good game and the band was fantastic! 

So thankful mom came up to be with the kids on the weekend while Jeff and I left for a work trip. 

I know she got better pictures of Daryl dressed up than he would have done for me. I especially love that she got our Halloween decorations in his photo! 

One Birthday and One Anniversary

 Need to do a September catch up post! Joseph had his 11th birthday a couple of weeks ago, so happy to celebrate him and to finally get the kids' ages back in order! I like it when they are all two years apart and for awhile now our kids are 17, 15, 13, 13 and 11. Whew, that just feels better. 

We asked Joseph what he wanted to do for his party and he said Legos and Nerf War, so that is what we did. He had some buddies over and had a great time! 

Last weekend Jeff and I celebrated our two year anniversary. Awwww, it really has flown by! I guess time flies when you are having fun or when you have five kids, either way. We celebrated with all of our favorite things in Kansas City. We had Blue Sushi, saw our favorite comedian Nate Bargatze, sang our hearts out at a Dueling Piano Bar and ate at Home Grown for breakfast twice! We really love that place. 

So many celebrations in September, it has been really fun! We are in homecoming week so there are more posts to come in September! 

My favorite honey latte at Home Grown. Yummmm

Just a Funny Story ...

 Last Sunday Jeff and I were walking up to the T-Mobile center to see Linkin Park in concert. 19 year old me couldn't have been more thrilled! And I don't want any Emily Armstrong hate, she is amazing! We all miss Chester but the band still rocks and I'm so glad they are on tour and I got to experience their music live. 

Ok, back to the story. We are leaving the parking garage and there is a bank ATM on the corner. The ATM was beeping loudly and when I turned around there was a big stack of cash hanging out of it! I grabbed the money and the receipt and looked around. That's when I realized there was no one on the block. 

Jeff stares at me and asks, "why did you do that?" 

"Someone is going to steal someone else's money. I bet they thought the transaction failed and they just walked away."

Jeff very confused, "The bank is closed what are we supposed to do about it?" 

We looked for a drop box and then just decided to take it back to the car and head to the concert. On our second trip back to the T-Mobile center I asked Jeff if he was mad and he said no, but he suggested next time I shouldn't take the money.

Fast forward to Wednesday (I was busy on Tuesday and forgot to call the bank), I call a branch of Arvest bank and let them know that I found some money at one of their ATMs and would like to get it back to its owner. The very nice woman on the phone was so shocked that I wanted to return the money. She said she has never ran into this before. I let her know I had the receipt and the time I found the money so the ATM people should be able to get it back to the right person. I e-mailed her a picture of the receipt. 

Her branch manager called me back and was so thankful and happy for what Jeff and I were doing. She said I was such a nice person and so thoughtful she was sure this good deed would be returned to me. 

What the manager didn't know was my good deed was returned by how happy everyone was that I did take the money and Jeff will never be allowed to forget, that was the RIGHT thing to do. He drove to KC this morning and returned the money and receipt and the branch manager had gotten me some flowers and a card. Thank you Jeff for taking the time to finish something I technically started, Mwah! LOL

All's well that ends well and I share this story for two reasons: 

1. I've already told Jeff my first instinct was affirmed, and I will always take the money hanging out of the ATM and try to get it back to its person!

2. There are good people in the world and when we get to be that person it feels better than finding money.

Yay for finding a person that puts up with your nonsense!

The concert was fantastic. However, I would love for headliners to start at 7 and not 9....but that's just me!

Goodbye August, Hello September!

 I think all I needed was some cooler temperatures to get my motivation back up. These fall-like mornings and rainy afternoons have been a welcome relief from the dog days of summer. I also finally tackled the first part of my Alpaca Quilt. Today, I finished the last of the 37 lantern blocks and tomorrow I will sew those strips together. The sewing machine and I are getting along. It is funny but when I am working at my cutting table eventually a kid comes in and starts talking. It is nice to have company, and I like hearing whatever it is they have to share. 

This week we also got one night of pickleball in and last night we went to Going Bonkers! You read that right Daryl (17), Alex (13) and Joseph (days from 11) all decided on Going Bonkers for our Saturday night activity. It was a surprising choice and fun. They climbed in the jungle gym and played only the games that got them tickets. They all left with a handful of candy and smiles, I'll take it! 

It was a good month, let's hope for more of the same in September!

Read 24 Books 14/24

Finished two book in August and I would recommend them both! 

Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt was another book that I was waiting for from the library. I'm probably one of the last people to read this book and I loved it. It is not often you can say your favorite character is the octopus but he really was one of the best parts of this story. I was truly sorry when it was over. Ms. Van Pelt, I need a sequel! 

The Freedom Clause by Hannah Sloane was another paperback that I picked up at the Library book sale. It was a tale as old as time, the man wants to open the relationship then he immediately regrets his choices. LOL It was definitely an adult read but it was also a story of a woman coming into her own. I liked it!

Run 650 Miles 393/650

I ran 65 miles in August. This was a great miles month due to me following my race plan and finding some company for my long runs! I almost thought this goal was going to be out of reach but with four months left in the year this goal is still doable. 

Money Goals

Fund 3-6 month ER Fund- Done April 2025! Yay for selling my house! 

Pay off Car - Done April 2025! Yay for selling my house! 

UFOs (unfinished objects) that need Finished 

T-Shirt Quilt (have the shirts)

Alpaca Quilt The first 37 blocks have been completed in August! 

Placemats - Done April 2025 

Alex and Daryl Photo Books 2021-I got both boys 2021 books done in May! 2022-Got Daryl's done in June! Got Alex's done in August! All I need to do now is finish both boys 2023 books! 

My first quilt blocks in years!

My running plan and I'm actually doing it!

We went to the Food Truck Festival last weekend, I had three of Topeka's best. A banana and Nutella crepe from La Creperie Co.

A Strawberry Lemonade from Poppin Squeeze

And the most delicious salad I have ever had from The Flavor Wagon! It was Chicken, lettuce mix, apples and ginger dressing. Soooo good! I've already tracked down his truck and had another this week. LOL