What's S'Happening with the Stockwells: Shorter Days

We've been busy! Somehow fall seems to bring with it the expectation of slower days...the idea that we'll hunker down and enjoy home after what always seems to be a whirlwind summer of day trips and weekends away. And while we do tend to stick closer to home at this time of year, the days don't really seem much slower. Here we are in mid-October and I do finally feel like everyone has settled into their new routines. I am no longer scratching my head every morning, wondering what day it is and who goes where. Ethan doesn't seem quite so exhausted when he gets off the bus every day, and is telling us more and more about all his grand adventures at kindergarten. And Adam has thoroughly embraced his new activities (Broadturn Farm preschool and gymnastics class) and seems totally unbothered by heading to a different place every morning - I think he's got his schedule down better than I do. But our weekends have been full and fun, and despite what has proven to be a very wet fall thus far, we've tried to get out and enjoy all that autumn in New England has to offer.

We've been exploring new woods to roam and trails to hike...

Apple picking...

And still busy with soccer. While playing defense seems to be Ethan's preferred position, he scored his first (and second) goal this past weekend!

There was open house, which was great fun for all of us, particularly our oh-so-proud kindergartner!

Although our garden is almost done for the year, we've still been harvesting radishes and lettuce and tomatoes, and building new compost piles for the winter.

And Ethan's zinnias have never looked better!

Perhaps most exciting of all: it's running season! The weekend before last, I completed my first ever half marathon. It ended up being 13.1 soggy miles, but I had a great run and can't wait to do another.

I was thrilled to share this experience with my brother, who trained with me for 4.5 months, and finished impressively after an unfortunate run in with the flu one week earlier. As Paul and I lead quite different lives at the moment, it's especially nice to have this common bond, to motivate each other, train together, and share ideas and strategies. With each of us having the summer off, we were even lucky enough to run together a few times in preparation for the half.

I was also thrilled to see these soggy spectators at the finish.

And now that we have a new little runner in the fray, kids' runs have become part of the race day ritual. We were closing up the cabins at the lake this weekend, and Ethan and I participated in the annual Waterford Fall Foliage Race. For Ethan, this was his longest race ever - a whole mile. To be honest, it was a little scary losing sight of him as he ran off with the pack, unsure how he would do, if he'd make it back, what sort of shape he'd be in when he did... But he did great, and was cute as could be at the finish. I always love this race because you have the entire extended Stockwell clan cheering you on at the finish.