Worst Blogger EVER

So yeah, I have not been on top of this for nearly two weeks.  Lots of stuff happening but not that warranted a lot of sharing.  Yet.  Nicholas arrived but we spent his first week here mostly just hanging around the apartment and playing with Dylan.  Having a blast with this little one I tell ya!  So he's discovered his hands so sitting and clapping is a favorite activity.

                            Then we moved on to leaning against the couch and clapping!

 After Dylan got used to Nic's beard, he thought he was awesome.  Loves hanging out with him.

 We finally found our way out one night to take in the Jefferson Memorial.  It's especially awesome at night as are most the monuments.

 This Fall has been SO INCREDIBLY GORGEOUS that we've tried to take advantage of as much outside time as possible.  Blessed with a walking path near our apartment that goes through the woods so that's where Dylan and I head.

Cute little punkin' head

Sacred Grove...right?

All Church at Lincoln Theatre

 Last Sunday at church the weather had cooled a bit so I went with my trusty (and warm) black tights, skirt, boots and striped sweater.  What are the chances that Katy shows up in the exact same outfit?!!! Pretty good apparently!  LOL

 That night we went to All Church at Lincoln Theatre which is a night of live music and baptisms.  Our friend Ernest (Dylan's dad) who is a staff member at National Community Church said it had just been on his heart that he wanted to get baptized.  He was raised Catholic but felt that he needed as an adult and leader to re-step out and publicly declare his love for Christ.  Several of the young men he mentors at the Southeast Whitehouse were baptized as well.  The whole evening was awesome.  The music was amazing, the speakers were motivating and the whole service was very moving.  So glad we went.

Connections Brunch & Good-Bye Tri Season Ending Dinner

Sunday was a busy day!  We hosted a party for our Connections Team in the church offices during the second service.  Just a relaxing time with food and an ice breaker (which we really didn't need as they are all very social people) which helped us get to know a little something we hadn't about each other.  We also had some visitors who were either spouses, friends or just other volunteers from church.  Had a lot of fun!

Then, later that night......

Dave and Tom

We wrapped up our Triathlon season with a dinner hosted by the lovely Francesca and attended by most of our awesome team.  We had a blast just laughing about our shenanigans, our triumphs and mess ups.  Had a great potluck meal.  We took baked potatoes with toppings and seven layer dip & chips plus I had some leftover goodies from our Connections Party in the AM so I took those as well.

Kathryn and Coach Kristen

Jason & Nicole

Coaches Kristen and Angie

Ty, Rick and Kelly

Anne-Marie and Rob

Our hostess in red and wearing her awesome finishers medal

Kristen with Kody who actually never trained but showed up to races!

Nicole with me.  We had similar times so we were racing buddies.

Jenny and Coach Ben

 Kristen had made a bunch of cute awards and we each got at least one.  Very funny.

 We're going to miss these guys because some of them we don't really see during the winter.  NCC is a big church and has seven different locations so we're kind of spread out.  We're thinking we'll have to do some get togethers just for fun in the off season!

Happy Fall Y'all homemade trail mix we took for everyone.

Shelter Fall Foliage Tour Bike Ride

Tom had been looking on Craigslist for a road bike for me and finally found one we thought might be  good.  It's a Scattante which is a really good model and seemed that it would fit me.  We drove to Rockville to meet the guy who was selling it.  Turns out he's a cyclist so bought a really nice bike for his wife but she just wasn't interested in biking.  Apparently took it out once and within a few miles was done with it.  Anyway, I rode it around the parking lot and it felt really good.  REALLY light, a padded seat, not a weird body alignment like that Tri bike I rented and it's in really good shape.  So we got it for less than half what he paid for it and he threw in the clip pedals (which I'll probably never use) but are like $70 alone!

 We had already planned to do a long ride the next day so the bike was going to get a good break in.  We got up very early to drive the 90 minutes to Easton, MD.  This wasn't a race, just a ride and for a good cause.  We did the 32 mile ride that was so beautiful and the weather was just gorgeous!

 Some of it was farmland, some was beautiful foliage and some was along the Chesapeake Bay.  But no huge hills, just mostly flat with some rolling hills......

 This was the 10 or 11 mile mark where the first rest stop was.  They had volunteers there with bananas, oranges, candy, granola bars and gatorade for us.

                    We kept stopping along the way to take photos as there was so much to see.

 At the second rest stop they were making sandwiches for us.  You had your choice of toppings : peanut butter, jelly, Nutella, raisins, nuts, toffee, m&m's, candy corn......yeah, the list goes on and on. More like a frozen yogurt bar!

 There was also a 62 mile and a 100 mile ride.  We were kind of wishing we had done the 62 because we felt so great when we finished!  There was live music, pizza, beer, pasta, sandwiches, soda and pie at the end of the race along with cool t-shirts and free swag.  We spoke with one of the bike marshals who told us many churches in the area provide facilities for the homeless there.  They alternate every three weeks setting up cots and temporary living facilities in their churches and the congregations bring food for the folks staying there.  That's why it's called the Shelter Fall Foliage Ride.  We would definitely do this again if the weather was as wonderful as this day!

I absolutely LOVED my new bike and sent an email to the guy who sold it to us, thanking him again. Told him what a great ride we'd had and he congratulated me on already putting more miles on it than his wife ever did!