the run for fitness!

This past Wednesday, on a day of practically record-breaking heat, was our elementary school's annual Run for Fitness. So many kids turn out and they run around the field and everyone cheers like a loon (just my mom and I? no?) and I think it's a wonderful event! To me running as a kid was like, the worst and now I obviously run every day so.... let's start them young!

And now! For the runners! 
David, as the younger one, was up first! He was just so excited to finally be able to do something his sister is doing! He would also be very willing to join Girl Scouts and field hockey... Just anything to get involved is his motto! He was super pumped about the race and looked forward to it all week. And his smile never left his little face! He came in about the middle of the pack just loving his life!  Especially since his lady Sydney was waiting for him with a hug and a peck near the finish line!
 
Letty was really reneging on running this year but I made her, as mother's can do. I knew if she got there she would regret not doing it so. Do it sister. She spent the first half of the lap chatting with her friends, we could tell she was just jogging along with out a care in the world... and then towards the second half she just took off! She was neck and neck with another little girl and as they neared the finish line Letty slowed down and let the girl pass her... Hey at least she is polite! No really, you can go first! So she came in third! Which is awesome! Anyways so the top five placers in each grade/gender get to do the Championship Race which you betcha, I am also making her run. Yay!
 
 
Regardless of placing status I am just thrilled that they participated and had fun! Of course! And it is such a cool thing to see how social they are and all their little friends they have made! When I think back to this time last year and how much has changed I'm just shocked by it all. All these friends all three of us have made... School has it's perks, I suppose....

Last year's race here!




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another tale of a fall fest

We have been having ourselves some super hot weather as of late but that does not stop us from enjoying the traditional fall activities that happen around these parts! Fall Fest at our local green house for one! First we do the fall things and then we do the swimming things. Each and every day.

Wagon rides and hay maizes, pumpkin painting and fake tattoos, a corn kernel table and a selfie station... and this year the star of the show was the creation of our first ever scarecrow! It was hot and sticky and I ended up with hay everywhere but now my mother has herself quite the scarecrow perched on her front stoop! At least there was no major breakdowns on account of the Olsen children this year; we be improving!!

Some of these photos are my sister-in-law's or my sister's!
I'm not going to lie, and I'm sure Matt won't forgive me for saying this.... but I'm ready for fall-like temps. This pushing 90 every day the end of September is just for the birds...

Past year's here, here and here!




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baked apples!

Again with these healthier versions of my typical unhealthy fall treats but! I "need" these treats this fall! This end result was not as good as the crisp from two days ago but it was still enough to fit the bill!
I found the original recipe here... thank you Pinterest!

Ingredients:

4 large aples
1 cup oats
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with tin foil and then you just put that baby aside till later.

Wash the apples and cut the tops off. Then take a spoon and gut the whole inside of it. Leave a decent "wall" around the apple so what is to come stays inside. Don't dig too deep though and go through the bottom of the apple. Save the insides too! Once they are all scooped out try and pick out the good apple from the core and the seeds and so forth, finely chopping what is left.

Mix oats, cinnamon and nutmeg, vanilla, honey and coconut oil in a bowl and it forms a crumble.
Fill the apples up with the above mixture and then put on that tin foiled baking sheet from earlier.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the crumble is brown.
What do you guys think? I mean again, not the same as something dripping with butter and sugar but! We must make allowances for healthy eating!





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an afternoon apple picking session...

This was just a day last week... a day that started off with a cousin play date followed by some fish watching followed by some lunch having followed by... apples! 

It's been something, having this kid to myself, and vice versa. He's quiet and easily entertained. He's down for anything and really just goes with my flow which is something fun to behold. So a day full of errands and adventures without his siblings? Sure thing!

I had a few apple desserts that I wanted to try so I mean first things first, pick fresh apples! So we did just that. Just the two of us. And he didn't even leave the wagon because Lord Dominic does not like his feet to get wet from the dew on grass. He abhors such things...
And then it was time to bake!




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