Monday, October 11, 2021

Sam Is 12! Plus Some Other Fun Stuff

Another busy week, but thankfully it was mostly from fun family stuff and not work stuff this week! 😎

Monday, I took Sam up to swim practice and got out for a nice and very needed walk around the block. Pretty afternoon and fairly balmy. The maples are starting to change along Rt. 1 on the way up to the Y, always lovely. (1.78 miles walked)

Didn't manage to get out to run this week until Wednesday. Eek! Good thing it's was a down week! Beautiful cool morning with a gorgeous glowing sky. Ran a road loop down onto the bike path and back across the green bridge. (6.0 miles)



Thursday morning was a cart path run. Started early enough that the majority of the run was with a headlamp. One pair of glowing eyes and two deer seen, plus a very pretty sunrise in the final mile as I hit the powerlines. (6.0 miles)



The to do list was long this week so both Wednesday and Thursday nights, I was busy getting things done while Ryan took Sam to swim practice. When I finally sat down to relax on Thursday evening just before they got back from the Y, I was joined for a few minutes by these two 😻


Friday was a day off for Sam and I, and with Morgan and Kristen in town, the plan was to head up to Boothbay to the Botanical Gardens later in the morning. I also needed to bake Sam's donut cake, plus the cupcakes for the beach birthday party on Saturday, so I was up early getting things ready. The donut cake takes a bit of work, but it is delicious and looks so pretty! 🍩🍰🎂





I managed to JUST finish up the cake, cupcakes and house cleaning before the rest of the clan arrived at 10:30 to pick us up, but I hadn't yet managed to change out of my PJs 😝😜 After a quick change, we were on our way! It was a gorgeous day and so fun to get up to the gardens in the fall. I think I like spring up there best, but it truly was lovely. We walked around enjoying the fall foliage and flowers and finding all the trolls and brought sandwiches to eat. (2.8 miles walked)






💗



Kids 😂

























Of course, we had to stop for ice cream as we drove by Fielder's Choice! 🍦


And then it was onto apple picking at the orchard! 🍎🍎









Irene and Dana came up later in the afternoon to join Ryan for a drink at Moderation and then home for pizza for dinner. To wrap up the night, the girls helped me frost the cupcakes. A full day indeed!


I was determined to get in a run on Saturday morning before all the birthday festivities commenced and headed out around 6:30 am onto the powerlines for a nice loop. Overcast and cool. (11.0 miles)





Then it was home for birthday pancakes and presents! Can't believe that Sam is 12! We love you to the moon and back 💗 Now, stop growing please 😉😊😎😍


The hit of the day was the Croc jibbitz (and also, how is that a word?!)

The plan this year was a bit of a redux with a Covid 2.0 beach day party at Reid State Park again to celebrate Sam and Anne's birthdays. Honestly, it is such a great place to celebrate and so fun to see the girls enjoying their time together. We are so lucky that Sam has found such a great group of friends 💕 Although it was overcast at home, the sky was brighter out along the ocean's edge, and it was a really pretty afternoon to be out wandering on the sand and the rocks with family and friends.







Fun in the waves

Morgan decided to join in...

...and maybe have gotten a bit wetter than she anticipated! 😮😅














After we dropped the girls off, we headed to Mom and Dad's for japanese food and cake. It was great to have everyone join us in celebration! Sam is one lucky kid! 



There was a bit of rushing around on Saturday evening after all the party fun to get ourselves organized for Sunday, as it was Big Brad day and Ryan was, of course, manning the aid station all day, while I was taking a 7:30-12:30 morning volunteer shift. We said goodbye and thank you to Irene and Dana before we went to bed, as we knew we'd be sneaking out before they woke up.

I had originally hoped to get in a run before heading over to the park, but honestly I needed the sleep more, so after a quick stop for breakfast sandwiches at Dunkin Donuts, I headed right over to the aid station. Ryan and I took first shifts out at the road crossings. It was a chilly morning but so fun to see so many friends out there on the course! And so great to catch up with those volunteering too. Always a good day!


I drove over to Wolfe's Neck after my shift ended, changed into my running clothes and got in rather hurried, tired run on the roads before changing again and heading to Wolfe's Neck State Park to meet up with the Raymond clan for a walk. Nothing like cramming it in! 😜 (7.0 miles)



It was a nice, meandering, chatty walk on the trails with a few stops down at the water's edge for photos, and to enjoy the two eagles who were hanging out on the osprey nest! Very high tide, so there was no beach walking though. (1.4 miles walked)




After the walk, it was back to Mom and Dad's for Indian food, cake and laughter. So good to see everyone!

Overall, what a great week filled with fun, family, friends and celebrations! We sure are lucky! 💖

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