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Tuesday, October 28 - Wednesday, October 29

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Tuesday was a quiet day in between birthdays, and then it was my turn for dinner and cake. I've never been a huge birthday person, but this year I was very happy to celebrate. Andrew and I went out for breakfast at Georgie's Place after dropping the kids off at school, and then I worked from home. Mom and Dad came over for the evening. Andrew made a delicious chicken piccata, rice pilaf, and butternut squash, and got me my requested toasted almond torte from Market District. We ate and I opened my lovely gifts.  I am SO happy to be 49, because it means I am no longer 48, which was the absolute worst year of my life. Every year from here on out is a reason for grand happiness. What a gift, getting to turn another year older. I could not be happier to be 49, and I will be over the moon to turn 50 and every age after that, because I started off my 48th year thinking none of that would be possible. Bring on all the ages. For my kids, too! I'd go back to their child years in a h...
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Monday, October 27

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 Happy 14th birthday to Greta!  We had a great day of celebrating. We had balloons and flowers and her birthday sign at the table in the morning. She opened one gift: an amulet from her favorite show, Supernatural. Andrew made pancakes for breakfast, then the girls and I went to Starbucks for Greta's free birthday drink, and to Dunkin so she could get donuts for her advisory.  We had a bigger birthday dinner tonight than expected, since Molly and Jeremy were in town. Greta had requested Mom's gnocchi, which was delicious. Andrew made a chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling. Greta loved all of her gifts, especially a framed print of an Irena Aizen painting of a rabbit standing on an armadillo, a Garmin running watch, a manatee Warmie, a Sad Rat Jellycat, and a pigeon-watching guidebook.  It was a great birthday, and now she is not a new teenager anymore.
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Saturday, October 25 - Sunday, October 26

On Saturday evening, we had Greta's birthday party. She invited six friends to a hibachi dinner at Ichiban, and then we drove them all to our house for cake. Andrew made a beautiful four-layer birthday cake--a victory for him, since the kids usually request a store-bought cake for their friend parties. The kids played several rounds of Lucia's signature game, "Murder in the Dark," which entails just an enormous amount of blood-curdling screaming. Greta had a great time.  Sunday was a beautiful fall day. Andrew, Greta, and I went to Phipps in the morning to see the Fall Flower Show before it closed. Birthday errands took up part of the afternoon. At four, Greta and I took Farrah for a long walk in Schenley. A perfect day for a walk in the woods. 
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Wednesday, October 22 - Friday, October 24

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The focus on the second half of this week was Thursday, Lucia's big XC final at the WPIALs in White Oak. Andrew managed to sprint through Newark after landing from Lima that morning, and got on an earlier flight to Pittsburgh--getting home in time for the race, which he otherwise wouldn't have. I took the afternoon off from work, and we drove together to White Oak. It was a freezing day--perfect for running. The parents were all very nervous, since the teams' performance at WPIALs determined whether they'd go to States next week. And the kids all did amazingly well. Lucia PR'd again--21:16, dropping another 18 seconds!--as did the other top-five girls on the team. The lead runner set a school record. The girls' team came in 2nd overall, their States slot secured. We stood at a different place than we usually do in White Oak, but Lucia spotted us--and when she saw Andrew there, she gave him a big smile as she ran past. (He teared up.) The boys also did extremely ...
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Monday, October 20 - Tuesday, October 21

The nicest thing about the past two days is that Greta has wanted me to read her a couple of Halloween books before bed. She has reconnected to these books because of that school project and seems to have a renewed appreciation for them. Needless to say, I love it.  Tuesday was an insane day: 6:30am: Frantically finished the cleanup of the kitchen to prepare for the cleaners' arrival. I'd spent the entire evening before taming the insane mess of our house, a bi-weekly ordeal that is painful but always worthwhile. Greta and I had gotten Nutmeg into the guest room late Monday night, and Greta slept up there, so at least we didn't have to do that. But there were still, somehow, five thousand dishes in the sink between 11pm and 6am. I dried them all and put them away. 7:15am: Left for school. Negotiated with the construction workers to let me out of my driveway. Yesterday they had to drag a steel plate over a trench to let me out; at least the trench is now filled and only a fe...
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Friday, October 17 - Sunday, October 19

A busy weekend. Friday, Andrew and I went to trivia at the club with Beth and Nate. We came in last. Not a good showing, but fun nonetheless. Afterward, I watched This Is Us with the kids. Saturday, Andrew and I took a nearly three-mile walk in Frick while Lucia had XC practice. It was a beautiful fall morning. We took Farrah with us and she was tuckered out for the rest of the day. I ran errands in the afternoon, sorting out some returns and picking up a couple of gifts for Greta's birthday, swiftly approaching. Andrew went grocery shopping and picked up the sheet cake for Lucia's party. Saturday evening was Lucia's birthday party with friends. Six girls plus Lucia went to an escape room (they escaped) and then came to our house for dinner and cake. It was an easy gathering, and they all had fun. This was the true conclusion of Lucia's birthday festivities. Sunday, Andrew left for Peru (again). The girls and I went to a fun run in Frick to support a teammate's char...
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Thursday, October 16

Lucia's birthday was followed by a big XC meet at White Oak--the TSTCA meet. She was really fired up for this one, determined to get a PR--which she's been striving for all season. The weather was perfect, nice and cool. I left work early and Andrew and I drove out to watch the race. And it was incredible! Lucia beat her current PR by a minute--a huge accomplishment--and sobbed with joy and pride at the finish line. She came in #11 overall and got a medal. The girls' and boys' teams both came in first, and the #1 runner on both teams was from WT. An exciting race for all. Next week: the biggest race of the season, WPIALs.  I'm so glad Lucia had a great run after the disappointing (and sweltering) experience in Ohio. 
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