High Five for Friday......

and a huge high five for four day weekends!!!

I had a fantastic week, which also means that I got my days mixed up.  Yesterday was my Friday, and it really felt like a typical Friday..Dinner out, no school or work the next day..  So, when Kyle left for work early this morning I asked him if he would be working late..  He said no, I should be home on time.  So, I started thinking of what we could get into today since he would be home around noon...then I remembered it was not Saturday, and that he wouldn't be home until dinner time...so I rolled over and fell back asleep.  

I love me some long weekends!!

I was pretty pumped that the temps last weekend were cool enough to snuggle up by a fire with some hot chocolate.  Clearly, I was the only one in my house that was cold since Trey and Kyle both said it was so hot they couldn't breathe, and each of them came into the living room numerous times to look at the thermostat, let out a loud sigh..or a huff and a puff, give me a dirty look and then stomp off..  Can we say drama queens?  I loved my cozy little evening and the two of them survived in their own rooms beside a fan.

Scuba was really interested in my hot chocolate..

While in all my coziness I sat down for hours by the fire and began working on a puzzle..

annnd...I am still working on said puzzle..

I was so excited to begin this..and just knew I would be finished by the time I was ready for bed.  Uhh, not so much.  I just took this picture today, soooo...yeah..still working on it.  I love puzzles...even if they take ten years.

The hot chocolate that I use the most is from Trader Joe's.  

The directions say to mix with water, but I prefer warm milk.  It makes a huge difference.  Especially if you have whole milk, which I rarely do unless it's for a recipe, so it's a special treat if I have whole milk in the house on a hot chocolate kind of day. I also prefer some whipped cream rather than marshmallows.  You can get creative with it and put chocolate chips in it, or some peppermint.  When I have candy canes around during the holidays, I love using one as a stirrer.  It's festive, and gives it just the right amount of sweet peppermint flavor.  Dress it up even more and sprinkle some crushed peppermint over your whipped cream.

Catharina and I had fun doing the Boo Dash at the Springfield Greenway.

It was colder than usual that morning, so I was sipping on some hot water and honey all day hoping to warm my insides up.  I always sound like I belong in a TB ward with my cough after running hard in the cold air, and it doesn't make me feel any better when Kyle just looks at me shaking his head like I should know better by now.  I don't want a repeat of last year, which seemed like I got sick after every cold, hard run.  Darn Lupus lungs.  So, taking a new approach with more rest days in between and my warm beverage concoctions on the daily seem to be helping - so far.  I have another race tomorrow, so fingers crossed!!

I placed 6th in my age group.  Since June I have consistently stayed in the middle of my pack in the races I have done..and I'm okay with that, but I'll be one happy girl when I start movin' on up.  Honestly, to me.. it's more about beginning.. and finishing, than winning.

I got a few packages in the mail from Nicole.  

She sent a couple bottles of wine, some cards and some sweet treats.  She sent us some of her Halloween snack mix, and it was delicious!  I was especially digging on the wine.. and the card that says to open when I have a bad day was so sweet it made me tear up...just for the thought of it..I haven't even opened it yet because I haven't had a bad day in a while!! 

Thankful for thoughtful friends!!!

My guys and I went exploring on Sunday.  We checked out a new (new to us) Greenway in Ashland City, Tn.  Trey loves trains and at this green there is a railroad trestle that you walk over, so I was excited for him to see it.  So, we started out on our walk and a little over 3 miles into it he started asking where in the world was this bridge I was talking about... Well, hmmm..I didn't know the answer to that because I had never been there..so we just kept walking.  We turned around when we ran out of trail..no bridge.  After five miles they really started giving me dirty looks.  All I could say was, it's not a big deal, stop being a such a wimp, this is good for you, and I mentioned a time or two (with a really big smile) how fun it was that we were spending the day together outside.  

The dirty looks resumed. 

So, finally ending our little nature hike..which, according to my Garmin ended at 5.94 miles.. We noticed a trail head that began across the street from the one we were on.  Kyle and I looked at each other and laughed..knowing that must be how you get to the trestle.  I suggested we keep walking, but I was quickly out-voted before I even completed my sentence.  Sooo, we got in the car..drove down the road a little ways and sure enough across a field you could see the rail road trestle...Probably half a mile into the trail that we did not go on. 

Errr well...that just means it'll be easy to get Trey to agree to go back again. 

 It was a beautiful day and I'm glad I got to enjoy it with my guys!! 

This is at the Springfield Greenway the day after we had strong winds, so the trails were covered with leaves.

Tennessee is magical in the Fall!!

Baby Case is here!!

When his big brother, Ryder, was a baby he absolutely loved me, so I hope Case will love me just as much!!

Last night we celebrated Lynn's 40th birthday.  She was surprised by 39 friends and family...it was sweet, fun and I know she felt the love.  We all have so much to be thankful for after the year she had, and I'm so grateful for her day of birth and that she is happy and healthy!!

You always know it's hunting season around here when I go to do the laundry and there are blood stained clothes in my hamper.  (ick)...and being the germaphobe that I am it drives me crazy that I can't wash them with detergent.  I asked Trey why there was blood on the back of his clothes and not the front??   Like I should have known the answer.. in all his teenager drama attitude.. he explained that he carried the deer behind him on his four-wheeler..(like, duh)  So, now I have a stocked freezer...and an urge to decontaminate my washing machine..

These little peanuts are going to get a hair cut and a bath this weekend!!

They hate it!!  Brodie thinks it's fun to hop in the bath..until I turn the water on.  

Not sure what he thinks he's going to do in the bath..I mean, it's not like we're going for a ride around the block in the bath tub. 

Poor Winston can't even see...

He has been begging me not to make him take a bath..
This morning he would scoot himself back even further under the chair each time I tried to pick him up.
He's no dummy.

Thanks for stopping by to read about my week!!

Hope you have an amazing weekend!

xo

Carrie