A definite highlight: Running the Philadelphia Zoo 5k with my 15-year-old (who is almost 16 — that is happening very soon…). The weather was absolutely perfect, sunny and warm enough not to wear jackets (which we had brought…) but not hot. I wound up carrying both of our jackets through the race. But we did it — three loops – one inside the zoo, then one outside, then back in. As we raced through the zoo paths a pair of zebras was running in loops in their exhibit, getting into the spirit. A few monkeys and some of the llamas were staring at all of us. Definitely a new twist on the usual running spectators! We finished, got to Starbucks, and I still made it to church at 10. This is the upside of 5ks as a race length.

I went to the local library on Saturday and got a few coffee table type books on garden and design. These are good to get from the library as they are bulky and expensive! I spent a nice hour yesterday reading through one on Virginia Woolf’s garden. Apparently Leonard Woolf got quite into gardening at their Monk House and her diaries have various entries on what she saw out her writing studio window. It is now preserved and open to the public on occasion. Maybe another place to visit.

We celebrated Cinco de Mayo a little late by going out Sunday night with the two older boys for dinner at our local Mexican restaurant. We were able to sit outside, which is just always a treat. I am looking forward to many more meals outside this summer.

In the spirit of Tranquility by Tuesday Rule #8: Batch the little things, I also did what I called a “Stuffy clinic.” Some children’s special stuffed animals had various rips on the seams so I sat down and sewed four of them in one fell swoop. Good as new!

We had a good weekend with a lot of active time and family time. On Friday evening, my husband and I went out to dinner at Talula’s Daily Secret Supper Club, one of our favorite Philadelphia restaurants. They do a new prix fixe menu every month, and since they posted the December one in advance, I’m already scheming to go back. Humorously, when we were in the elevator in the parking garage, this lady said “Nice coat” — I looked over and she was wearing the same maternity coat I was! Guess it must be the popular one this winter.

On Saturday morning, I got up and ran a 5k outside around my neighborhood. It felt quite good, for which I am grateful. Even the cold felt more like it was waking me up than anything else (I’m wearing an Under Armour cold weather first layer, which is stretchy enough to cover my stomach, and then a large fleece on top of that. My Polar-tec running pants have an elastic waist band so they are also stretchy enough to work). Unlike a previous weekend I may have written about, when I returned the little kids were up and in the process of getting ready, so I was able to make it to karate on time with them. We now get donuts in between the two lessons — it did not take long to make that a tradition!

After “family lunch” (like dinner, but in the middle of the day…) we all went to the YMCA indoor pool. This was pretty fun, because even my little guy has become quite a swimmer. He now has his orange band, which means he doesn’t have to wear a life vest, and he was swimming all over the place. The big kids went down the water slides multiple times (I elected to skip this). We dropped the 10-year-old off at an escape room birthday party, and went over to the King of Prussia mall to shop for dress clothes for the 12-year-old. In addition to the black pants and white shirt he needs for his choir, we wound up getting him an actual suit — he looked so handsome I just couldn’t resist! I’m kind of stuck on the shoes, though — I think he grew out of boys’ sizes, so I’m trying to figure out what a size 7.5/8 boys would translate to in men’s sizes. (I should probably just go get him measured). This is a new world for me. My daughter wound up falling in love with a Boden Harry Potter dress. Hedwig and the letter. She had changed into it in the car before we even got home.

The kids amused themselves with Disney Plus for much of the evening while the adults watched the Texas A&M game. My Uber driver on Friday night told me he had lost two days of his life to Disney Plus; I can see how this might happen.

Sunday I also got up early to run. This run felt pretty good too! After church, it was off to Washington Crossing State Park to meet my parents for a walk. We saw various Revolutionary War-era bullets and supplies, and visited the Johnson Ferry House before walking a bit on the tow path. It was pretty cold, but it’s good to be outside in winter, or at least I thought so. There was some complaining from the kids. My husband wound up carrying the 4-year-old for big chunks of the walk back to the car.

Now I’m trying to triage the Christmas activity list and possibly look at spring break ideas. At least the Christmas card is done — adding to the festive feeling!