Keep Running

 Have you seen a theme of this fall?  Running!  It is all we do.  Pam and I have been running three mornings a week at 5 AM to get in our required workout.  We have worked so hard.  

I stopped to get gas at circle K and ran into my dad.  Well, lucky me because my car battery decided to die at that exact moment!  It was truly a blessing for my dad to be at the same gas station at that exact moment.  He jumped my car and I drove straight to the auto parts store and bought a battery. 

18 mile run before we run the entire weekend at Sipapu.

First XC meet of the season

 We had our first XC meet of the season over the weekend.  It was at the John Roberts Dam.  The kids think this is the hardest race of the season.  There is a huge hill and the course is a bit long.  Nolen ran great but knows he can run faster.  We also decorated for Halloween.  I figure I better do it now before the season gets away from me because I am so focused on training  We also celebrated my Dad's birthday by helping him start building a laundry room off his back patio. 

Home school is in full swing here.  No one loves school.  BUT it is a must.  I had no idea I would have to relearn Algebra.  Not my favorite but not the worst. 

One busy Saturday

 Cross Country season is one busy season for our family.  Stephen and I both coach and Nolen runs with the team.  Edward doesn't enjoy running right now, so he is doing archery with his school.  This keeps us on our toes all season long.  Today, I ran 11 miles down to UNM north golf course, then ran a 5K race with the team.  Craig and I woke up at 4:30 AM so that I could run and make it to the race by 7:30.  It was close.  I made it just in time.  The UNM community 5k is a tradition for the Cougar Track Club so missing it was not an option. 

Right after the race, I zoomed home and took the boys to fly an airplane.  This was not my original plan, but it just worked out that the boys got to fly with the Young Eagles program.  They LOVED IT! After we left the airport, we zoomed over to Dylan's birthday party where the boys spent the majority of the day.  I spent the day entertaining a complete stranger trying to get her to buy my couch.  She finally did, but sat at my house for THREE hours!  Three HOURS!  It was so exhausting, to say the least.  Now the couch is gone and I can finally order the couch that I really want for the space.  

We sold our beloved pets

 Well, that day came.  The dog chewed up my $800 dollar recovery boots and I decided I could no longer have four pets to take care of, so we sold them.  It was a sad good-bye but much needed.  The boys have out grown them and are more interested in computer games than in holding and taking care of their pets.

We have also reinstated our game nights every night with the boys.  In an effort to get them off their devices, we are playing a family game for at least an hour every night.  I wish they didn't want to be on their devices all the time but I just don't know what else to do.  

Camping with Grandpa and the Deacons

 This weekend, the boys went camping with my dad and the deacons.  They loved every single minute.  My dad was the only other man that went besides Brother Tracy.  He slept on a cot and just made sure the boys survived the trip.  They hiked Bandolier State Park and loved it.  

 

While they were camping, Stephen, Craig, Blair, and I went to eat and throw an ax.  Well, I wasn't terrible but I wasn't great. HA!  Stephen and Craig were actually pretty good at it.