Thanksgiving Turkey Trot

Last year, we spent the holiday weekend in Virginia with my family. My uncle was running in the local 5K Turkey Trot early that Thanksgiving morning, and we walked down to cheer him and the other runners on. I had a new baby and was in no shape to even attempt such a feat. I remember feeling sad because, at one point in time in the not-too-distant past, 3.2 miles was a daily workout. My grandma sweetly put her arm around me and said, "Don't worry. You can do it next year."
Well, Thanksgiving morning 2009 came, and run a 5K race I did. I joined my friends Carol and Bruce, with about 500 other runners, at a beautiful state park on the North Shore for this year's Turkey Trot. The weather was great, energy levels were high, and I had a great time. I even beat my previous time, with this one being a much harder course. Maybe next year we'll make it a family affair.

Nap Time

The Boy REFUSED to take any sort of nap today. He cried and cried and cried and would not sleep. (Sigh.) Later in the day we took a walk, played for a little bit in the park, and then came home. Wouldn't you know it, Jake fell asleep about two minutes before we got in the door. Too bad he looks so angelic when he's sleeping. Now I just pray that he goes to bed at a decent hour tonight.

Children's Museum

The Long Island Children's Museum is a wonderful place, with lots of fun things for kids big and small. Among other things, kids can climb a huge treehouse maze, dig in the sand, make giant bubbles, build towers with wooden blocks, and even be a newscaster in their own television show! Jake and I had a fun morning there last week when we met up with our friends Cadance, Quentyn, and Mhasyn. Even though they're much older than Jake (10 and 4), both boys were so sweet and patient with him and his toddler interests. As you can see from the pictures, Jake had a great time.

On a side note, I never would have imagined when I moved out here three years ago that I'd be given the opportunity to reconnect with someone that I grew up with. It's been fun to get to know Cadance and her family, and I'm thankful to have found another friend. (And thanks, Cadance, for showing me how to make the collages online this afternoon. I love how it turned out!)

Eyes, Ears, Mouth, & Nose

October Updates

October was a busy month (when is life not busy, really?) filled with lots of fun activities. Brian and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary by going out without the boy (thank you to my mother-in-law for babysitting). I turned a whopping 33, and had a nice day at home with my boys. Brian got up with Jake that morning and let me sleep in...until 10am! On his birthday, Jake didn't understand tearing wrapping paper off of packages. He does now, that's for sure, and had fun "helping" Mommy open her presents.

We had a family outing to the Museum of Natural History (the location of the movie Night at the Museum). You could spend days there, it's so big, so we mostly looked at the animal exhibits. I think Jake liked the elephants and the fish the best (they actually have a life-size whale in the marine life exhibit).

Apples are in season here right now (which means cheap), so I've been busy making apple butter. I also had fun learning how to decorate Halloween cookies at a mini class with some friends. And, of course, we can't overlook Halloween. Though he wouldn't sit still and smile for the camera, Jake was adorable dressed as a monkey. What a fitting costume, as he is a monkey on a daily basis.

Monkey see, Monkey do...at the Museum of Natural History

Jake liked the Elephants the best

Sitting in an oyster shell...wouldn't you like to find the pearl that could have been inside that baby!

Learning to decorate Halloween sugar cookies

Helping Mommy open presents on her birthday

Making apple butter

We had fun carving a Jack-O-Lantern

Ready for trick or treating on Halloween

with some of the loot he got from the neighbors...actually, this is the best picture showing off his cute monkey costume.

We couldn't resist the costume when we saw it two months ago...he's such a monkey that it was the perfect fit. :)