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Homemade stir fry was a hit tonight with the kids. Made things separate to start as everyone like a different amount of spice and sauce. So it became a made to order after the veggies and noodles were ready as they took what they wanted of each and tossed it in the wok. 🍜

A stove with two pots: one containing cooked noodles and the other with mixed vegetables. Both pots have tongs resting on them.

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The weather was just too good to pass up getting a run in today after a busy day of meetings, odd projects and running the kids around. I had some time so I took it as what better way to spend a nice cool evening.

A wooden path winds through tall grasses, leading towards a sunset sky with hues of orange and blue. Silhouettes of trees are visible in the background.

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Wow the weather was just amazing today so as I rounded back to my house I decided to add another mile to my run. I hope this time fall sticks around! 😄

A sunlit forest scene featuring green foliage, trees, and a grassy area, with blue skies and clouds in the background.

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It seemed like a good thing to do today after a busy weekend to make the big two breakfast today before I really got into work mode. 👨‍🍳 🍳🥓

Frying pan on a stove with two eggs in round molds, a piece of toasted bread, and a small round piece of toasted bread, all on a granite countertop.

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Played a new game tonight called What’s the Point. It actually wasn’t all bad even with the joking title making you wonder. It was a quick and easy game to setup and figure out which is nice to fit something quick in before bed.

A girl and a woman are seated at a wooden table, playing a card game. The girl, wearing a pink tie-dye shirt, is smiling and holding cards, while the woman in a red sweatshirt looks at her cards with a thoughtful expression.

PS… I won!

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The stars aligned this morning and I had cloud cover and an hour free to get out for a run. Tried to keep this run at an easy workout just to get miles and after the past two days I felt good and was faster than I was thinking.

A scenic view of a field surrounded by trees, with a bright blue sky and fluffy white clouds. The foliage shows signs of autumn, with hints of color in the trees.

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Decided to try to get some miles in tonight during my youngest volleyball practice. The trail started to get a little dark but thankfully I wasn’t on it for too long.

A narrow, winding dirt path through a dense forest, surrounded by tall trees and lush green undergrowth. The scene appears dimly lit, suggesting a tranquil, secluded atmosphere.

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From the time I started this run till the end the temperature rose almost 20°F. Glad I got it done and had the trail to myself with a little speed in there.

A sandy path bordered by lush green trees and bushes, with sunlight filtering through the leaves. Leaves are scattered along the ground.

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Fun at Luceline Orchard 🍎

Since the older kids and April went down to the Iowa State Cyclones Football game I was bound and determined to find something fun for our youngest and me after her morning activities. So we decided on heading to an Apple Orchard as it has been on the list to do and before we know it our fall weekends will probably slip by.

However, by the time we got there we realized we only had 1.5 hrs so we bought wristbands (in order to give us unlimited activities) and tried to cram everything in we could in the time we had from the Corn Maze to a Giant Slide to shooting some apples towards a target. The only unfortunat part was we didn’t get a chance to actually PICK apples but we did buy the most expensive bag of Apples around and over the next week we will EAT and ENJOY every last one of them!

A girl stands next to a colorful height chart at Luceline Orchard, featuring painted cartoon animals and a sign that says “How tall this fall? Typical picture at the Orchard but I can’t believe she is over 5’ now! 😱

A young girl stands beside a green alien statue in a cornfield, both pointing upwards towards the sky. The sun is shining and the corn plants are visible in the background. In the corn maze we found some friends that let us a stray from the right path from time to time.

A smiling man and girl wearing sunglasses sit side by side in a metal ride structure on a sunny day. The background features a bright blue sky and hints of greenery. Top of the “Big Slide” (maybe not that big here on the orchard)

A young girl with long hair sits on the grass, wearing sunglasses and a navy shirt. She is smiling and appears relaxed, with a blanket partially covering her legs. In the background, there are people and a yellow tent. She beat me down on the first round.

A girl in a navy shirt and pink shorts is shooting a basketball towards a farm equipment with basketball hoops attached. In the background, a few people are watching, surrounded by corn fields under a clear blue sky. Basketball with a grain wagon as a rebounder.

A group of children and an adult enjoy a grassy outdoor area, with one child on a zip line and another on a nearby swing. Trees line the background under a clear blue sky. Nothing like a little zip line with some very wobbly poles that are not pictured that I could see have been fixed a couple times with metal now.

A young girl stands with her back to the camera, aiming a launcher at a distant target in an open grassy field surrounded by trees. The sky is clear and sunny, and there are equipment and corn husks nearby. Ready, Aim, Fire that Apple Shooter!

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Last run in Portland today before heading home. At least it wasn’t raining but it was very humid out today as I made my typical trek into the Back Cove.

A scenic view of a calm river at sunset, with dark clouds above and a soft orange glow on the horizon. The foreground features grassy land leading to the water, while the background shows a silhouette of buildings and trees. A tranquil sunset over a calm body of water, featuring old wooden pilings sticking out from the water’s surface. Sailboats are moored in the background against a colorful sky filled with clouds.

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Last minute I decided to do a short run today in the fog and mist. It wasn’t all that bad out but I was short on time before the day started. Maybe tomorrow I will try to get a longer run in before flying home.

A view of a gravel path alongside a set of railway tracks, with trees and greenery on one side and a fence along a body of water in the distance. A light pole is visible along the path, and the sky appears overcast.

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Glad to get this run in today circling around the city of Portland, ME peninsula. I found a trail on the far side that I had never been on before and it reminded me that maybe my ankles are still a little beat up from the hiking this weekend.

A narrow dirt path winds through a colorful forest, lined with trees and vibrant foliage in shades of green, red, and orange.

A scenic view of a calm bay at sunset, featuring several sailboats on the water, a cloudy sky with hues of blue and orange, and a silhouette of a tree and grassy area in the foreground.

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Can’t believe I haven’t run for 5 days now but I figured the rest day was good after all the hiking over the weekend. Glad to get out there again the legs were feeling OK but I didn’t push it either. Also, you can’t beat the views this morning either.

Silhouette of old wooden pilings in the foreground, reflecting in still water. A colorful sunset with shades of orange and purple in the sky, alongside distant boats in the harbor.

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I felt really tired and sluggish during this run. It was probably a combination of not getting good sleep and a busy day without a good plan of running and I just found myself with some time and did it.

Two pairs of skis lean against a wooden fence surrounded by tall evergreen trees and a grassy area. There are wooden gates with colorful stripes in the background. I love the odd fencing with old skis on them.

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I couldn’t have wished for this run to get done faster with out actually wanting to run faster. Thinking back the whole thing was a blur, it was super sunny and humid so might have been the issue. 🥵

A peaceful trail lined with lush green trees and plants, with a paved path gently curving through it, scattered with fallen leaves. This picture really doesn’t give justice to the heat out there as this looks pleasant.

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Used my time wisely today and ran for as long as I could while the oldest daughter was at strength training. It was a nice out and back shaded most of the way that helped in the heat.

A sandy path runs through a green, wooded area, framed by trees on either side.

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It was a very warm and tiring run this evening. However, with a work trip coming up I decided to get some miles in today that I am telling myself are for next week.

A peaceful landscape at sunset, featuring a horizon of trees silhouetted against a gradient of orange and blue sky. Tall grasses are visible in the foreground, creating a serene natural scene.

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Decided to get my long run in today as I had some time before my afternoon got busy for work. Not sure where the humid and sun came from again I guess… I am done with it now and this distance always gets the best of me but minus a road closed I didn’t have any issues just rerouting.

A serene view of a calm lake under a clear blue sky, with lush green trees lining the horizon and a few leafy branches in the foreground. Had pockets of a nice view of Lake Minnetonka.

A long, straight dirt path flanked by dense green and reddish foliage, extending into the distance under a clear blue sky. The Minnetonka trail was actually a little busy at the hour I was out but I snapped this photo when I realized at a point I was the only one out there.

A construction site with dirt mounds and an excavator partially visible behind dense trees. A stop sign is located near the excavator. This turned out to be not as bad as I thought but I did have to consult with my map as I was to turn right here. I did look closer but there was no way short of walking though peoples houses.

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Decided to get a handful of miles in today over lunch so I could listen to my audiobook. For being cooler yesterday it felt much more humid today than I was thinking it was going to be.

A lush green forest with dense foliage and tall trees under a partly cloudy blue sky. White wildflowers dot the forest floor, creating a serene and vibrant natural scene.

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Was able to get out for a run today in between meeting and before the ran came down as well so the timing was perfect.

A densely wooded area with various trees and thick green foliage. A small, muddy stream runs through the center, partially covered by fallen branches. The foreground features lush grass and undergrowth.