Roctober

We had such a great weekend!!! Multiple parties, crunchy leaf walks, crisp soccer weather. Lemme tell you all about it…..

Friday Sarah and I slipped away for happy hour at Jefferson Vineyards. We shared a glass with our friend Erin who we bumped into and then took the rest home to the men for dinner.

Chicken and bean bake, pesto kale salad, pesto parmesan swirl bread. Delicious!

We went to bed early that night because we had plans to go 8am athletic conditioning. I had a really hard week of workouts, and this class kicked my butt!!

Afterwards, I had a pumpkin pie smoothie in the ACAC cafe before Mazen and I went to the market hand-in-hand.

We picked up some groceries, and he had a popsicle. Never too cold for popsicles!

I waited in line to get one of my favorite crab cakes, and Mazen said: “Mommy I’ll just go sit on that bench and relax until you’re ready.” Ha!

I love getting one of these crab cakes and taking it home to put on a salad!

My friend Stacy has a booth at the market and makes homemade crackers with butternut squash and beets along with real food energy bars. Check out her website: Good Phyte Foods! The crackers are so good, and i tried the mint energy bar today – unique and tasty!

Here’s that crab cake on a salad! With pear, goat cheese and crackers.

Saturday afternoon I made homemade graham crackers for the party we had for that night. I used this super easy recipe and cut them in squares instead of pumpkins. SO GOOD!

Then M and I went for a nice fall walk/bike ride. The weather was simply perfect! We had fun playing monster games with my shadow.

Saturday late afternoon we drove back to Jefferson Vineyards to celebrate two of our friends’ birthdays! One was turning 3 and one was turning an unknown age : )

Live music and lots of picnics!

We attempted some family photos since we were all dressed nicely

After we sang happy birthday, we headed out into the western countryside for our friends’ annual Harvest Party.

There were about 200 people at this party – in and out throughout the night. The food spread was insane! Our friends did all of the smoked BBQ themselves, and it was so delicious. Lyns made 30 pounds of homemade baked beans!

Everyone brought sides and desserts too – the dessert table was wild!

Yum!

They had a bluegrass band (I loved singing along to Wagon Wheel!) and when the sun went down they lit a huge bonfire. Much appreciated because it was quite chilly!

Of course we had s’mores – the best!!

I was doing push-ups (a party trick – don’t ask!) and my friends suddenly told me I had blood gushing down my face. We still have no idea what happened because no one saw a rock or stick (it was dark though) but I must have hit something because I have a gash in my forehead! I never felt any pain though – so weird.

Our only conclusion was that it was Voldemort because it’s a Harry Potter lightning bolt!!! I’m secretly hoping it scars – pretty cool.

The next morning we had cinnamon chip pancakes for breakfast and then I packed up this assortment of snacks to eat between my soccer games.

We played an awesome match in our co-ed game, and I had a few assists. Great win 5-1. Then I ran across town for my women’s league game and wished I could have been there for more than the last 20 minutes. My legs are totally shot!

Sunday after a nice hot long shower, we went back to our friends’ house for leftovers. Felt like Thanksgiving! They have so many collards, BBQ and baked beans left plus a million desserts. Tasted even better the second time around!

Cozy by the wood stove

A day late happy birthday to my sister Larbs!

That’s a wrap folks!!