It’s officially fall, y’all, and things have been busy, hence this post getting posted on Wednesday instead of Sunday! Joel was out of town this (last) week, which always adds a layer of complexity, but thankfully his parents were able to help out with the kids.
Big Week at Work:
This was a big week at work – our annual technology conference where hundreds of engineers and scientists descend upon Minnesota.
- Monday kicked off with a fun team dinner, I work with such a fun team
- Tuesday and Wednesday were jam-packed with interesting talks and sessions (so much so that I had to skip the kids’ swimming lessons on Wednesday ).
A guest joined us on Wednesday night: Joel’s cousin, Kani. She was in town for a different conference, and her company only reimbursed for one hotel night, so she crashed with us. We grabbed dinner from Zupas, and the kids got plenty of tablet time with their new tablets, allowing Kani and me to actually have a conversation.
Thursday: Awards and Celebrations
Thursday was a whirlwind! Kani came to my office and we grabbed a quick coffee with Leah before she headed off to her conference. Joel finally made it back home that evening, and our conference wrapped up with an awards luncheon.My project team and I actually won the People’s Choice Technical Contributor award!
I rushed off after the awards ceremony to a happy hour to celebrate a former coworker’s new job and then headed downtown for a fancy work dinner at Porzana to celebrate some awesome work my team has accomplished over the past six months. The food was incredible and they had amazing vegetarian options!
Friday was another busy one. I had an offsite meeting for a team I support, which ended with a trip to a Gameshow Battles event. So. Much. Fun. Afterward, I grabbed a quick beer before it was finally time to head home. Joel and I went for a walk, enjoyed the gorgeous weather, and just chatted – it was so nice to reconnect after a hectic week. He picked up the kids and grabbed pizza for dinner because #momlife.
Saturday was all about fitness and fun! I started the day with my running club, MOTR. We did a cardio and strength workout, and it was great to catch up with friends. Coffee afterwards, of course. Then it was home for a quick hair wash before meeting Joel at the gym. He was playing in a racquetball shootout tournament. He hasn’t played in over two years, so it was entertaining to watch him adjust from pickleball to racquetball.
After the gym, I squeezed in doing my nails (it always takes me so long to take the previous set off because I don’t want to ruin my nails), and then we were off to the pumpkin patch for an event hosted by Joel’s friend’s company. The weather was absolutely perfect, unlike last year when it was about 100 degrees and we barely lasted an hour. This year, we stayed for two and a half! We capped off the night with Indian food and Crumbl cookies – yum!
Sunday started way too early (thanks, brain!), but I managed to get in some reading time before the household woke up (although everyone else was up by about 6 anyways). Joel headed off to pickleball, and I took the kids to the gym and actually got a workout in myself (shocking, I know!). In the evening, I took family pictures for some friends and then grabbed a drink with them afterwards.
Looking Ahead
Overall, it was a lovely weekend. It’s finally starting to feel like fall, and I’m loving the crisp weather. I always feel so much more energized this time of year, even though it’s a bummer that it gets dark so early. Just one more week of work before I head to Chicago for another conference, so I need to cram in as much as possible!
Here’s to balancing work, family, and all the little joys that come with the season.
Hi Taya! You left a comment on my blog so I’m swinging by to say hi! And now I see that you like running, reading, beer, vegetarian food… all my favorites! Plus you live somewhere that actually has fall weather. i love your pumpkin patch photos.