This month was marked with lots of travel, kids racing, cooler temps, soup making, fall traditions and Halloween. I feel like I say this every month but it has truly been so busy around here. My high schoolers are in the thick of their cross country season and doing so well. Simon is really having an incredible season (he won MELs last week and was the League Champion for the Varsity Boys XC 3 mile with a 15:53 and had this great write up in the paper). He currently holds seven all time records for his high school in various distances as well as having one of the fastest 3 mile times ever in our league. Wow, right?! And he is just a sophmore. Sophie continues to drop time in her 2 mile and has learned that pain is her friend; her kick at the end of her MELS meet was fantastic to watch. She is truly loving her entire high school experience and if she isn’t buckled down with homework or running she is with all of her friends. I was able to sneak in a bunch of home improvement or home decor projects which freshened up a few things in the house. We are anxiously awaiting the construction of a covered patio in our backyard; it should be done just before Thanksgiving. This will give us some much needed covered outdoor space and I can’t wait to show it to you once it is done!

At the beginning of October Sam and I were like ships passing in the night with both of us coming on and off of trips. October is one of my favorite months of the year especially once it starts to cool down. We have a tradition with our older two that as soon as we have the first fall rain we start the entire “Hobbit” and “Lord of the Rings” series and binge watch them all in order. But it has to be cold and preferably rainy. For our upcoming movie binge season the kids have requested metal mugs (I am thinking copper Moscow Mule mugs) for Swedish glogg while watching the movies. One of my favorite things about my kids is their sense of nostalgia and tradition. It is deeply rooted in all four of them and one of the unexpected bonuses of being a mom. So if that means metal mugs while watching LOTR while it rains outside, so be it :). Here are some highlights from our Small Squares October.

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First, let’s get alllllllll of the running stuff out of the way. These four kids have been training and racing up a storm. They have all pushed their limits and have made great progress. A big round of applause for Sophie on her two mile PR and for Simon on winning MEL’s like a BOSS. We have Subsections this week in Angels Camp followed by Sections next week in Folsom. If all goes well, Simon will qualify for State (eeeeek! That would be completely amazing as a sophmore) and that will happen right after Thanksgiving. Updates to follow for sure.

Sophie went to Homecoming with a bunch of her friends and cross country teammates. She looked beautiful (and purchased her homecoming dress herself!) and more importantly had A LOT of fun. She is truly loving her high school experience so far.

Simon made a killer apple pie with homemade crust and all! He has inherited his dad and his grandpa’s love of baking. If he doesn’t have a race or long run early on Saturday mornings he will bake. If he has time on Sunday morning he will bake. We are all really glad he has this baking hobby…we just always seem to be running out of flour and eggs :).

I went to Prague, Czech Republic and Munich, Germany for a whirlwind quick five day trip with my good friend Toni. It was AWESOME and I am now forever in love with Prague. You can read more about my time in Prague here, my Dachau trip here and the Munich portion of my trip here. Travel is my all time favorite thing; it feeds my soul and re-energizes me!

This cute girl saved allllllll of her money to buy a new phone. I’m proud of her. Teenage life can be expensive and she made this a goal and did it.

I crocheted about 200 braids into Sadie’s head and it took FIVE hours and basically felt like forever for both of us but it is her best looking style yet. I am certain that there is a mansion in heaven for both of us for enduring all of the black hair experiences and feelings and we will both really deserve that mansion. Especially my hands…and her poor head.

Wearing one of my Prague souvenirs, these gorgeous ceramic earrings that I bought underneath the Charles Bridge.

OK, that’s it for October! I’m sure there are a million more photos and things that I have missed but these are the highlights!