I have a few minutes before I head out for my final pre-marathon run. I just finished a big bowl of oatmeal topped with pumpkin seeds, banana, raisins, cinnamon, and raw sugar. I'll be nice and warm inside for awhile.
This week has gone somewhat better than the last. I've spent a lot of time crying out to God for grace to make it through. Sometimes I just feel so overwhelmed with all the responsibilities, all the tasks needed to be accomplished that I just get angry. I was ready to curse at the pile of laundry and the 54 cups in the sink the other night. I've had to stop myself and tell myself to rejoice, to give thanks in all of this. The fact that I get so worked up and stressed about these things shows how childish I still am, how short sighted and lacking in maturity my soul is.
I took the kids hiking at the Barton. Creek Greenbelt on day this week. There wasn't any water in the creek, but it still made for a nice outing, walking up the dry creek bed, remembering the spots where we'd picnicked and swam in the early summer.
Brian's office had their annual Halloween party for the kids yesterday afternoon. I bought a half-finished pumpkin costume at the thrift store for $1.99 and finished it out. She looked adorable in it, if I don't say so myself. Brian took the kids to soccer last night and Hazel and went to Target. She's such a fun shopping companion. I love to watch her face and she takes in the sights and sounds. Ever since she was born she's been very aware of her surroundings. And she is the most curious thing! She is into exploring and discovering anything there is to be discovered. She's kept me on my ties this last month or so.
Margaret has been a huge blessing. She goes around cleaning and organizing, helping out with Hazel, and just being the best little momma ever. She creates her own cleaning supplies from recipes she finds online and makes the house smell so nice. When I gave up on homeschooling last week because I was so burnt out, she went and created a schedule for the month of all the work she needs to do so she wouldn't fall behind. I just don't know where this young woman came from! Surely not from my body!
The Chosen Marathon for Adoption is two days away! I'm getting excited now. It's gonna be tough, but I'm looking forward to the challenge. I'll have two companions to encourage me which will help tremendously.
Well, times up. Best get out there and run.

It's Sunday morning. I just finished having pizza for breakfast (carb loading for Saturdays marathon, maybe?) and am drinking some delicious coffee. For some reason we currently have five or six types of really good coffee beans in the house, which is way more than we usually have. I feel like royalty trying to choose which one to make each morning.

Last weekend Brian and I had a much needed getaway to celebrate our anniversary. Since we had Hazel with us, we stayed local. Thursday night we left the kids with Brian's parents at their new house in New Braunfels and went to see Willie Nelson in concert at John T. Floore's Country Store in Helotes. I'm so glad we did. The guy is 79, and who knows how much longer he'll be around. We stayed that night with Nonnie and GB, then the next morning Brian, hazel, and I took off. We stayed at the historic Faust Hotel in downtown NB fora couple of nights. We did lots of walking, lots of watching football, lots of talking, and a moderate amount of eating. I didn't get in any running the whole weekend, but I guess that's ok. I'm supposed to be tapering off anyways.

It was back to work on Monday. We had one decent day of school. The next day the wheels came off the wagon. I just couldn't go on. I told the kids I was done homeschooling and fell into a deep state of depression. The rest of the week I just let them homeschool themselves. I just couldn't do it. Brian agreed that we needed a change and that we were trying to do too much. We've been brainstorming different options and praying for wisdom. 

On Friday I discovered part of the reason for my so out-of-character pessimistic view of life: the return of my menstrual cycle. I guess I should've expected that after  going without it for 22 months, that the  return would be rather traumatic.  

I think I'm in a better state of mind now and am able to think clearly about all this, but it has helped Brian and I see that we are in over our heads and that we just may not be cut out for this homeschooling thing. At least not all the kids for all grades. 

Yesterday I took John and Hazel up to Georgetown for the. Vern's No Frills 5K. I paid John to babysit for me while I ran. So he sat there and played Mindcraft on my phone and talked to Hazel.

I can tell that my speed work has paid off some because I ran a comfortable pace, not pushing myself too hard and still finished  in 22:17. Afterwards we drove around old town Georgetown looking at houses. I really enjoy times like that with John. He talks my ear off and shares his heart with me.

We met Thomas and his kids out at Pedernales State Park for an afternoon of hiking and playing in the river. Though we were all tired, it was good that we got out of the city for awhile and took a breather. We came back home and had pizza and wine and the kids watched Chariots of Fire while Brian and I folded laundry and watched the Longhorn-Baylor game.

Well, it's off to the races, time to get ready for church. I so look forward to the this time all week! 

We're all getting tucked in for the night. It's been a full day of activities. I got in an early morning run, about five miles. I got the kids going on school work, then headed down to the hospital I thought my grandmother was in to visit with her a little while she's recovering from surgery. Well, it turned out that she was at a different hospital, one close to my house. Unfortunately i didn't have the time to go to another one this afternoon because I had to get the younger boys to a cub scout meeting in Hyde Park. While they were there, Samuel, Margaret, Hazel, and I strolled through the neighborhood and admired the beautiful old homes. Samuel had his scout meeting this evening. The rest of us dropped in on a neighbor's block party a few houses down. It's Neighborhood Night Out tonight, so there were block parties all over town. We had hoped to host one for our block, but just couldn't get out act together in time this year. I always enjoy when we have an opportunity to hobnob with the neighbors.
I registered for the Austin Livestrong Marathon in February. That should keep me in shape for awhile.
Hazel still isn't sleeping in her own bed and isn't sleeping through the night. I guess it'll happen eventually. Right now it's just easier to have her in the bed with us than listen to her cry in her packnplay for hours.
We posted our home on homeaway.com for short term rental. We've already had one query, but we turned her away because we weren't quite ready for guests. Hopefully we'll get some people for ACL Fest and/or the Formula 1 race.

Well, it's been a long day and I'm beat.

October, how I love thee! This has always been my favorite month of the year.

It was a soggy weekend here. We thought William's football game on Friday night would get rained out, but they shouldered on and had it despite the downpour. The Y did cancel the Saturday soccer games, so we had an unexpected free day. My mom invited us out to Burner for lunch. Thomas was there with his kids and Leah with hers, so it was cousin time, all 11 together. A rare treat these days. We came home in the afternoon and cleaned house, then watched football. I ran the CASA superhero 5k Sunday morning. I signed I for it since it was going to be held at mueller this year, along the same route I run every day. I figured I could do pretty well, and I did. I PRed with a time of 21:31. I placed third in my age division. We cleaned up quick and made it to the second service. I left hazel in the nursery. I left Hazel in the nursery for half of the service. She loves the nursery at church. Ideally she would sit with me in church, but she's just way to noisy. I really want to be in the service. I NEED it. Oh, Hazel already has a boyfriend at church, Griffin.
I did some more baking yesterday. I'm on a baking kick these days. Good thing none of us are gluten intolerant. Yesterday morning I made pumpkin muffins, and yesterday afternoon I base cinnamon sugar bagels. I so enjoy the whole process of crafting bagels!
I took the boys to choir last night and I went to the Sunday evening class for the adults. Brian stayed home to do budget stuff, and Margaret stayed home because her braces are just about killing her. She has cried all weekend, ever since she had her adjustment on Friday morning.
It's Monday again, and I can't wait to start a fresh week of school with the kids!

But first, off to get in my run.

Here are some pics. For some reason iPad sorts them out of order, but enjoy.