I’ve decided to start a new monthly recap series! I’ve seen a lot of other bloggers do this and it seems like a good way for me to record memories. One of my favorites who does these kinds of post is my girl Stephany, so check her out if you like this kind of post!
October was a very jam packed month for me, as you’ll see, because I love to do ALL THE FALL THINGS! I never manage to get through ALL of the things I want to do, but I still did quite a bit. I will say, being this busy makes me anxious, even though I had a fun time, so I’m hoping to really slow things down in November.
Here are the categories I’ve come up with for now, though I might add / subtract some as time goes by. Let me know if you have any suggestions.
Books Read
- Sadie by Courtney Summers (Forever YA book club)
- Kill Creek by Scott Thomas
What I Watched
Movies:
- Hell House LLC III
Shows:
- Halloween Wars
- Haunted Gingerbread Showdown
- Halloween Baking Championship
- Married at First Sight
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: this was Caleb’s first time watching it and he really enjoyed it. He’s finally at that age where we can start to watch shows together and “hang out” a bit, meaning I can get him to calm down enough sometimes to do something fun like this!
Podcasts Listened To
- Serial, season one: I’ve started listening to podcasts on my walks. That’s the only time I listen to them, pretty much, and Serial is my very first one. I’m so close to being done with it, then I have a list of lots of other crime ones to listen to next! Leave me other suggestions please!
Exercise
- I finally got my mojo back after a crappy August and September for exercising. The weather has been perfect for me to walk outside (I HATE heat), so the nice chill air and falling leaves have really motivated me.
- I walked a total of 12 times. I either walk by myself, or take one of the kids in the stroller. One time, I crammed them both in. HA! I’ve been walking for 30 – 45 minutes, and I listen to podcasts now. Serial was my first one ever to listen to all the way through.
- I also did a 5K on 10/26! My aunt, mom, and a couple of friends signed up for the virtual version of the Great Pumpkin Run. We even got bibs, shirts, and finisher medals. We just had to complete our walk and submit our info within a certain timeframe. We walked the canal path and it was the perfect fall day. I took Caleb and he rode in the stroller for about two miles, but walked the rest. He was our official “timekeeper.” He had my phone where we were tracking our distance with MapMyWalk. He loved doing this and my mom gave him her medal. We’ve been talking about doing more virtual races together now with my aunt since Caleb loved it so much and it was a good work out. My legs were sore the day after!
What We Did
- I saw Summer: The Donna Summer Musical with my aunt and friend. I didn’t think I’d like it because I didn’t know much about her, but I thought it was really good.
- Jerry and I had our 6th wedding anniversary and took the kids to the Hamlin Scream Fest. Then we had dinner at home and he made the best Chicken French!
- My besties and I went to see Kathy Nimjay from Hocus Pocus. She did a Q&A and then they screened the movie! She was pretty funny!
- Took Caleb to Powers Farm Market for his second Spooky Nighttime ride of the year because he loved it so much. My parents, brother’s family, and cousin Toni joined us.
- Jerry and I went to our second Spirits of the Past tour at a local living history museum. This year the theme was vampires. You visit several of the old historic buildings, and they have live actors performing scenes. They also do this at Christmas and it’s our tradition to go to both each year now.
- We took the kids to Cobble Creek Farm for a festive fall day!
- That same night, we went back with our friends Angela and Evin for a haunted hayride.
- A few days later, Caleb and I went on his class field trip to the farm again! We each got to pick a small pumpkin.
- Caleb’s preschool had their annual Halloween party. Basically, it’s on a Thursday evening and we go down to the church basement where the kids run around and play in their costumes. They always have a face painter (Caleb declined) and a balloon artist. Everyone also kicks in with juice or cookies, and the kids “perform” the Halloween songs they’ve been learning. Caleb’s been singing these at home, but last year, he did a total Resting Bitch Face at all of his school performances and just stood there. This year, he did it about 75% of the way and I was sooo excited. My boy is blossoming!
- We had a mini Halloween party with my two besties, my bestie’s son, my boys, my mom, and my bestie’s mom, AKA Mama G. We usually do this “girl’s” dinner once a month, but it hasn’t been happening much lately because WORK and BABIES! Mama G hosted and we all brought along goodies. We also dressed the boys in their Halloween costumes (though Caleb refused, the little stinker!). It was so refreshing to just have some friend time and laugh with my favorite people.
- After we did our 5K (see above in the exercise section), my aunt and I went to Kelly’s Apple Farm with friends for cider and donuts (OMG SO GOOD), and then met up with my friend Margaret to do a spooky lighthouse tour. It took place at a Bed and Breakfast that’s at a lighthouse about 15 minutes from my house that I NEVER knew existed. The innkeepers gave us some yummy treats then took us on a tour of this beautiful Victorian home and we climbed to the top of the lighthouse. The tour guide told some “spooky” stories, and also some history. It was a short tour (about 40 minutes) but I loved it. It was a small group of eight, and the home is beautiful and totally my style with all the vintage touches. I’d definitely go back for future events or maybe to stay there for an anniversary with the hubby. This was probably my favorite day of the month. It was so fun and festive with our 5K walk and then this spooky tour.
- We celebrated Halloween at our house, as always. We had pizza and some snacks with family. It was POURING all day though, but was relatively warm. The kids bundled up, wore boots, and we set off with an umbrella. We only took Holden to one house, then my sister-in-law and I kept going with the older kids. We were out for about an hour, but we noticed a lot of houses had their lights off, maybe because of the rain? Caleb kept wanting to go to more houses, but we hit all the ones in our neighborhood with lights on. When we came back, my aunt set up trick or treat stations in my house for the kids. My boys were both pumpkins. Caleb was super polite at all the houses and waved at everyone when we left each house saying “Happy Halloween!”
Random Tidbits
- I had a stomach bug for an entire weekend. Ugh. Jerry made me homemade chicken noodle soup, though.
- We had a new member join the Forever YA book club I run at work! We’re now up to 10 members.
- I took the kids and drove out to pick up our new lifesize witch, made by the talented Danette at one of my favorite co-ops about an hour away!
- Caleb came to a couple of evening library programs on the nights that I worked. My parents brought him and he had fun! He made some really cute crafts and had some leftover pizza because one of the nights was on my book club night! Love having work visitors.
- I got A LOT of Christmas shopping done. I really don’t want anything to be last minute this year.
- Caleb “FaceTimed” with Santa, thanks to an app. He really understands Christmas for the first time this year, so I’m excited.
- Caleb had a dentist appointment for a cleaning and wore fake rotten teeth inside to play a joke on the girls who work there, lol. He loves going to the dentist.
- Caleb also had his preschool picture day.
- Our garage keeps flooding from all the rain. It’s really annoying. The joys of home ownership.
- Our town just announced that we’re getting a HUGE expansion in our children’s room at work. I am not a children’s librarian (I work in adult services, thank God), but this is sooo exciting for all of us!
- My Primitive Doll group on Facebook that I made over the summer hit and surpassed 500 members! I am excited, though no one else will care.
- Lastly, I am trying to plan a local Reader’s Retreat, where I gather some reader friends and we do an overnight at a B&B and just read for hours and have dinner together. Only a couple of responses so far, but hopefully it’ll gain some momentum.
Coming Up
- Jerry and I always host Thanksgiving, so I’m looking forward to that, and pecan pie (which I make every year).
- My brother, sister-in-law, and I are going to see the comedian Chris D’Elia this weekend!
- My aunt, friend, and I are seeing the musical Come From Away as part of our season tickets.
- I have quite a few days off in November, God bless.
- I get a large heath insurance reimbursement check every year from work in November, so I’m anxiously awaiting that. I’ll be getting my brakes done and then we’ll be paying some debt. Yay!
- I have two movies dates on the books for November with some friends!
- I’ll be taking down Halloween decor this weekend (BOO) but redecorating for Thanksgiving and fall in general. It’s always fun for me to decorate each season. If you didn’t know, I’m obsessed with decorating. Ha!
- I’ve already started to DVR all the Hallmark Christmas movies, so I’ll be starting on those pretty soon!
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