Fuel for Christina's dream

Last Saturday, Christina and I had nice mother/daughter time at our Stake sponsored workshop for Beehives & Activity Days girls featuring local author, Julie Berry.

Julie's presentation was so much fun...she had everyone's attention from beginning to end. She shared that she's feverishly working to meet a deadline for her next novel & we can't wait to get our hands on it! We loved her first published novel, The Amaranth Enchantment. Julie also writes the childrens' lit. Spelling B series under the pen name Lexi Connor (there's a story behind that). My kids were excited to see the Spelling B books in their Scholastic book orders.

Julie gave fantastic ideas and guidance for writing. It was fun to hear Julie talk about her writing process and Christina was excited to take home ideas for improving her writing skills. Christina dreams of authoring a book & so she was eating up Julie's advice. We also left with a nice list of book recommendations from Julie, as well as other girls & moms who were there.

Julie encouraged the girls to dream big and do whatever it takes to realize their dreams. They have time and potential on their side. It was great to see these girls with the honest, fervent support of a published author, and of course their moms! Julie encouraged the girls to show gratitude for those who help them reach their dreams.

If you'd like to invite Julie to speak to your group, she visits schools, libraries, book stores, Girl Scout troops, Activity Day/YW/RS groups, etc. Her contact info is found on her website: www.julieberrybooks.com

PS...She will be traveling west to promote her new book when it comes out. I highly recommend booking her while she's out that way!

Under the maple tree

It seems like in just a matter of a couple days our maple peaked in color. On Thursday, Wesley had his pal over and as we were hanging out in the family room, Caroline looked out the bay window and spotted a bluejay in the maple tree. We hustled outside to spy on the bluejay and play under the beautiful golden/red leaves.

Time for some exercise...

Push-ups!

Sword-fighting. No eyes were poked out in the filming of this playtime.

Thank you, maple tree! We had fun playing under your beautiful leaves.

Snow in MID October!

...is TOO early! We were in the middle of enjoying 60 degree weather, and beautiful fall foliage, when out of nowhere we found ourselves in a snowglobe...

Christina took these priceless photos of Wesley feeling snowflakes fall on his hands....

My 1st 10K

I ran the Tufts 10K for Women on Columbus Day with over 8000 other participants- mostly runners, but some walkers as well. The route is a great one, starting at Boston Common, crossing the Charles River, running along the river on Memorial Drive, and then crossing back over to Beacon St.

For my first 10K race, I started out great and ultimately did O.K. I tried to focus on other things besides considering bladder suspension surgery after having to take a pit-stop 1/2 way through the race. Aside from my stop (SO frustrating!), I ran the whole race. Seeing Wayne and Thomas cheering me on for the last stretch put a smile on my face for that last quarter mile. So much of my life is focused on my kids; it's nice to work at a personal goal, go for it, and have the support of my family. They're pretty amazing.

PS...That evening, Wayne and I met up with his cousin, Stephen & his wife Michelle for a lobster roll and NE clam "chowda" at the Barking Crab on the Boston Wharf, and then a cannoli at Mike's Pastry in the bustling North End. We're so glad we got to visit while they were in town for the weekend! Needless to say, any calories lost during my 10K were quickly replaced...what's a diet anyway?!

Cousin time is Important!

We were so excited to have Wayne's brother, Matt, his wife, Heather and their two beautiful children, Mattie & Reddin come visit us recently. This was the first time we got to meet Reddin & we're in love! What a sweet baby. Grace, Caroline & Mattie played from morning until night & had a ball making more cousin memories.... jumping on beds, playing dress up, dolls, Wii bowling, and going on our daytime excursions....

We made our annual trek together to Tougas Farm for another 1/2 bushel of apples--- the Gala's & Honey Crisps were at their peak.

Monday we went to Dean Park for playground fun and fishing. Caroline begged to go to school, but I kept Grace home to play with Mattie. (When Grace went to school on Tuesday she told her teacher that she stayed home to play with her cousin and her teacher said, "I don't blame you. Cousin time is important.") Amen!

At Dean Park, Wesley caught his first fish, a delicious bass. We were impressed, however Wesley had a different reaction....

It was fun double dating to Chipotle, having Matthew share some of his pilot stories with the young men Wayne teaches at church, shopping with Heather, walking the halls at church with Reddin---(he's so light & so very sweet) & whipping up some ornaments & applique t's for Mattie & Reddin, & Wayne's "knock your socks off" Rocky Road ice-cream.

It was a great weekend and we hope to share our autumn with our FL family again next year!

Cousin time in dreamland....