The Accidental Boilermaker

 I hit my 1,000 mile goal for the year today. Since 2017 when I got my first Garmin watch to really keep track, this is the most miles I have run in a year. The closest was 2018, I ran 964 miles.  It was a harder goal to reach than I initially thought. I knew I would have to run a consistent amount of miles every month but didn’t fully realize if I fell behind how much work it was to get back on track. I knew I had gotten behind in November but didn’t realize I was little short on miles in October too. So December I had to work hard to make up miles, especially because I had fewer days to work with since we’d be out of town for the holidays.  We went to the new Culver’s to celebrate. Actually I needed to run an errand and didn’t want to leave the kids home alone again (even though if I did they’d be fine). So I bribed them with ice cream and cheese curds since we’d drive by the just opened new restaurant on our way home. 

 We had a very nice family Christmas. Evelyn and Jameson woke up early and opened their stockings first.  After breakfast and showers it was time for presents.  Jameson got a big soccer net that can go in the basement in the winter and if he wants, be moved outside when the weather gets warmer.  He also finally got a pair of goalie gloves. Evelyn got a kindle. She was super excited.  Nate got a pasta maker.  And we successfully used it to make fresh pasta for lunch. Everyone thought it was very yummy.  My big present was a new laptop which I am very excited to use especially as girls on the run is starting to plan for our spring season. 

 We had a nice visit in Decatur. We left right from beach soccer. We went to church Sunday morning. Evelyn  and Jameson took a picture with Mimi by the Christmas tree Mimi helped decorate.  Uncle Phil and Aunt Rhonda come over and made Sunday dinner. We took a silly picture with all the fun hats they brought.  Monday morning Nate made peanut clusters. We had talked with Mimi about all the treats my aunt Jonette used to make at Christmas so Mimi got everything ready to make the peanut clusters.  Monday afternoon we opened presents, had lots of good food and treats and watched lots of tv. Tuesday we drove home. 

 Jameson was asked to join a team for a beach soccer tournament. There were all 9U players from fall soccer, few were his teammates and a few played on the other 2016 team. One mom bought the uniforms because her son liked them and they were cheap on Amazon.  Another mom bought donuts and made burritos for lunch. They played all their games on one court, so we just camped out, cheered and chatted with the other parents. The boys won their first 2 games but lost the championship game. They lost to 10U boys from the same club so we said hey, they are just you next year. Overall it was a fun morning.

 It’s been too long since I posted. We’ve been busy but not excessively so I don’t have a great excuse. We’ll start with Thanksgiving. We had a nice time in Decatur. It was very cold. Nate was able to take Wednesday off so we could get down there early and have more time to spend with Katherine.  Evelyn got glasses! That was stressful though because the doctor thought something was wrong and we had to see a specialist in Indy. But she said Evelyn’s eyes were very healthy. The dinosaurs have been up to some Christmastime shenanigans.  Evelyn and Jameson both competed in a free throw contest at school. Evelyn made the most out of 5th grade girls.  Piano recital went very well. They played jingle bells for their duet. It was probably their best duet to date. Jameson played Fisherman at Sea. Evelyn played her Berkovich concerto with Mr Dorion. Then they played again in the afternoon at a small holiday recital at a nursing home.  We made sugar cookies.

 I got a sneak peak at the photographer's pictures from the 5K. Evelyn at bling your bib. Evelyn halfway through at the water station. Jameson at the end of the race. Evelyn and Morgan, the executive director, at the finish. Evelyn and Nate at the photo booth. Evelyn and Jameson at the photo booth.

 GOTR 5K was on Saturday and now the fall season is officially over. We had good weather and good turn out. No major issues but there’s always things we can learn from and improve upon. I didn’t take very many pictures because there’s a lot to do to get ready and then once people start showing up you’re just walking around making everyone has everything they need and everything is going according to plan. I didn’t think I was stressed out but I started to get a headache. Nate bought me a coffee and that kind of helped. I was dressed warm enough but I think when I got cold, I tensed up and then didn’t help either. First thing I did went I got home was take ibuprofen.  The theme was pajama party and lots of people did show up in their pjs which was fun. I wish me and Evelyn had taken a picture together. She came early with me to help set up and she was a huge help. As soon as we arrived at the park I thought of something I’d left at home and Nate and Jameson had to bring it to u...

 Jameson has started indoor soccer.  He has games every Friday.  He has a new team and the games are within his club, so it’s more about learning than winning. He looked good and looked like he was having fun. He played goalie for the first half and scored a goal in the second.  The choir sang God Bless America at the Komets Saturday night. Evelyn and I sat with the choir kids after they sang. Nate and Jameson had slightly better seats through girls on the run. It was different to sit apart but we found each other at the first intermission buying snacks. After the Komets scored their third goal, they “made it rain” fake $100 bills. And they won 4-3. 

 It was a wet and windy Halloween but fairly warm so it was comfortable for trick or treating. Oma and Grandpa handed out candy and we had 107 people come to our door.  I think some people guessed our theme. One little boy loved Nate’s taco costume. Jameson as always got some good laughs.  Wednesday we carved pumpkins and roasted the seeds.  Evelyn did hers entirely by herself. Jameson originally wanted a complicated stencil design that I did not have time for so we compromised. He picked a face from off the internet, I drew it on the pumpkin, and he carved it out.  Pumpkins Right to left: Evelyn, Jameson, me I was super proud of my hungry caterpillar.  I used felt, pipe cleaners, hot glue, and a little poly fill. 

 We took a trip up to the cottage this weekend. Saturday’s weather was very nice, sunny and little breezy. Evelyn and Jameson were so excited to go fishing and Grandpa even let them use the green boat instead of the peddle boat.  Nate took them out twice but neither one caught a fish. But that didn’t bother them. They also played on the swing and watched Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This was not planned but we all stayed up late to watch Midsomer Murders on PBS. We were hooked from the beginning and the kids wanted to keep watching to see who’d done it. Sunday was relaxed. Paul left early for church and we stayed back with Pat to help close up the cottage. Then we all met back up for brunch before we had to drive home. 

 Literacy pumpkins were due today. Evelyn chose Roz from The Wild Robot.  Jameson made Geronimo Stilton.  The cider mill hosted a trunk or treat tonight. Nate and I shared a glass of cider and the kids got some candy. 

 Fall soccer is now officially over.  Two games on Saturday in South Bend. Jameson’s team won both. All season they played 2015 or mixed 2015/2016 teams and all season they looked little and inexperienced in comparison. So it was nice to see them play strong in their first game. Jameson stepped up and played goalie for the first time in this league and he did awesome. The second game was a little different because an entire club was a no show. So in an effort to make sure every team played two games, Jameson’s team played an all girls team. Nothing wrong with that but the score was very lopsided. The girls played better than the score suggested. In was a fun day overall. In between games we watched Jameson’s friend Micah play and went out to dinner in Mishawaka to celebrate a good season. Today’s games were much harder.  Boys didn’t score a goal in either game. Jameson took a good kick to his ankle. He played goalie again in each game for a half. It maybe wasn’t the happi...