Game Day 5K

Westerville Game Day 5K--Saturday, November 20,2010. Trey and I ran a 5K, first race since completing the Columbus 1/2 Marathon in October.

My friend, Stacey, ran her first 5K, successfully achieving a goal that she was unable to complete last year due to injuries. Congrats my friend!!

Bark Park

Recently, Noah, Sophie and I joined friends at the Bark Park. We met for a picnic lunch and then let the dogs play together and make new friends. This was Sophie's first trip to the Bark Park. Honestly, I had no idea how she would respond to the freedom and to the many other dogs there for "her". The area is well designed and seems safe for all. There are bones lining the fence honoring and remembering family's beloved pets.





















A friendly "hello" to begin the afternoon. Then, Sophie was off and running!














When Sophie tired of "playing" with the other dogs, she and Noah took a turn racing around the enclosed area. Noah was very concerned that Sophie appeared tired and didn't know that water was readily available. He guided her to the water and and then turned, a large smile on his face and a big thumbs up, when Sophie finally took a drink.














Happily chasing "friends" once again.






















A happy Noah and a tuckered Sophie. We'll return to the Bark Park again--a fun afternoon for all of us!

Spending Time with Noah

Last Thursday and Friday, Westerville elementary and middle schools were off for Parent/Teacher Conferences. The weather was amazing and I encouraged Noah to spend time outside. Our original plans for last Thursday were to spend the day at the zoo with friends, but when the day arrived, Noah decided on another option. We chose, after errands and lunch, to go for a relaxing bike ride at Sharon Woods followed by a short walk to Lake Sharon, and a rest while watching the geese. It was a lovely afternoon spent with my Noah--I only wish Alexander had been off school too.

"Ready to roll"...we rode on the bike path throughout Sharon Woods. Shockingly, there are several steep hills, but we didn't let the hills stop us from enjoying our ride.

I stopped on the bridge to take the above shot and while I was taking the picture, Noah read, in a somewhat panicked voice, "danger: no stopping on bridge". We were at the bottom of a long hill that started with the sign, "Check Your Brakes". Oh well, I guess I was paying more attention to the beauty around us than the signs. Below, is a picture of the sledding hills that I anticipate will soon be in use.

After navigating up and down several hills, we opted for a short rest, before continuing on with our ride.

After our ride, we managed to stow the bikes inside the car and then drove to the rear of the park to enjoy Lake Sharon. Most of the leaves have fallen to the ground, but one tree still had enough yellow remaining to create a stunning reflection in the water.

We sat together, on the top of a picnic table, talking and just enjoying the sights around us. The geese quickly appeared and we giggled and laughed as we watched them round the bend. We could hear them splashing before they finally appeared through the trees...goodness, they can be noisy. Noah, thanks for a peaceful, calm afternoon together--what a beautiful memory.

A Subtle Change