October has been one of those months where I blinked and suddenly it was almost November! I’m not entirely sure where the last few weeks went, but looking back, we’ve managed to pack quite a bit into them. Between wrapping up fall sports, Girl Scout activities, work, and a few fun outings, Life Lately October 2026 has been a whirlwind. And apparently we decided this was also the perfect time to replace a bunch of windows in our house. Because why not add one more thing to the calendar?
One of the biggest highlights was watching Claire finish her second cross country season. She placed 22nd out of over 150 runners at conference, and I’m so proud of her hard work and determination. It’s especially funny to think back to how much she HATED running when I first encouraged her to try it! Avie has been working hard in the pool, too, with her sights set on qualifying for regionals this season. Both girls have also been busy with Girl Scouts. Claire is starting her Silver Award, while Avie has been earning badges and enjoying some fun troop activities.
Work has been nonstop with evaluations, meetings, and therapy sessions, but I’ve had some especially rewarding moments with students lately. Our new windows are also going in this week, and I’m excited to see the finished result (and hopefully lower energy bills!). It’s been a full month, and while I wouldn’t mind a few more hours in the day, there have been plenty of good moments mixed into the chaos. Here’s a little more of what we’ve been up to!
Books I’ve Read
- The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett– A group of unlikely women in 1930s Mississippi form an unexpected bond as they navigate hardship, secrets, and the challenges of a society determined to keep them in their place. I loved this book with its flawed, yet likable characters and smart female roles. 5/5
- Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke– A modern-day tradwife influencer seemingly perfect life is upended when she wakes up in what appears to be the 1800s and must confront the harsh realities of the traditional lifestyle she has romanticized. This was really well written from the character’s perspective, but the main character was so unlikeable. 3/5
- I Found You by Lisa Jewell– When a single mother takes in a mysterious man with no memory, her life becomes intertwined with a newlywed searching for her missing husband and a decades-old mystery filled with dark secrets. This was good, but the ending was somewhat obvious. 3.5/5
- Couriers Outbound by pirateaba- As dangerous missions and growing conflicts unfold across the world of The Wandering Inn, familiar characters face new challenges, unexpected alliances, and adventures that push them to their limits. I finally finished as far as the audiobooks go! I look forward to the next one. 4/5
Recipes I’ve Made
- Baked pepperoni rigatoni with hot honey– This was a one pan meal which I loved. I added some spinach for extra nutrients. I’d also recommend extra pepperoni. This would be good with Italian sausage instead of the pepperoni, too.
- Cabbage roll soup– Claire had a similar recipe at a friend’s house and loved it. I found this on pinterest and altered it for the slow cooker. It was very warming. It does make a lot though! I’ll freeze half when I make it again.
- Potsticker and rice bake– This was very easy and quite tasty! We all enjoyed the flavor and it came together so fast.
- Tiramisu brownies– Yum! I didn’t have espresso powder and used cocoa powder instead. I think it made my kids like it more since they aren’t a fan of coffee. The fluffy layer is delicious. Highly recommend.
- French Onion Orzo with Chicken– This has amazing flavor! We grilled the chicken and topped the orzo with it. I liked it that way. Next time I will serve with garlic bread. The recipe is really annoying though. You have to view an add for 30 seconds to see it so I recommend taking a screenshot because every few minutes it made me view the add again.
- Steak Bowls– We highly recommend these! The flavors work so well together and we loved the sauce on top!
Currently
- No-vember Saying “no” (to)- Honestly, I can’t think of much we have said “no” to. I got to go downtown for the Laura Geller get together, we have already had 1 swim meet, 2 road races, went to Wisconsin to visit friends, and have been juggling Girl Scouts, church, XC, swim, and soccer. I think I need to take this as a sign we should say no a bit!
- Thankful for- I’m so thankful for other moms! It’s been a really busy fall juggling so many activities. Without carpools and other mom’s helping out, I wouldn’t have been able to get my kids to some of the activities or cheer Claire at all her XC meets.
- Eating/Drinking- It’s the season for Cracklin’ Cranberry Wine! This is my all-time favorite and it only comes out once a year. We typically get a case for Thanksgiving and the rest of the year. I have a few bottles left so I have been enjoying a glass some nights.
- Cozying up to- I think it’s more like NOT cozying up to our cat Hiccup. He is obsessed with Claire! I can’t get him to sit on my lap or anywhere near me. He isn’t mean, just clearly prefers Claire. Each night I try to bribe him to sleep on the bed with me by giving him treats. Maybe 1 in 10 nights this works then he jumps off and heads to Claire’s room. I will keep trying though!
- Watching/Reading- I just started watching The Beast in Me and it’s pretty good so far. I also read Calamity Club this month and really enjoyed it. I hope the author writes another novel, soon.
- Family Update
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- Avie- Avie ended her soccer season with a goal! It’s been a while since she scored one so that was exciting. Now she is all geared up for her golden birthday. Her party is this weekend, but her birthday is in early November. She can’t wait!
- Claire- Claire wrapped up XC by placing 22nd at conference out of about 150 runners. She placed 2nd in her age group at a 5K this weekend, too. I’m sure all that running will help her during swim season. She also set a new PR for her 5K at 23:01 which is getting pretty close to my time!
- Me- I did a 5K and 8 mile race this month. No PRs for me, but I did come very close (within 8 seconds both times) so I count that as a win! Considering that I’ve been having issues with sleeping in spite of taking melatonin and magnesium I’m happy.
- Matt- Matt finished up his first ever season being an assistant coach for soccer and said he actually enjoyed it. Now with swim season ramping up, he will switch to swim officiating which will keep him busy!
October Goals Recap
- Finalize plans for Avie’s birthday party- Done! I have decorations ordered, menu planned, 2 games planned and a craft.
- Hand my new painting– Done!
- Reseal my marble counters- Didn’t get to this yet.
- Figure out a spring break plans– We have reservations, but still need plane tickets.
November Goals
- Plan holiday party for Brownies– We typically have a holiday party the last Friday before Christmas. I need to plan it out.
- Start passport renewal- I need to renew my passport before spring break and want to get it started.
- Investigate grad school classes- I have my M.S., but I want a specialist certificate in AAC. I need to figure out a school that has that and determine the process I need to take to obtain it.
- Start researching summer vacation– I know it’s a long way off, but it takes a while to plan. We are hoping to go overseas this summer so lots of planning is needed!
Favorite October Posts
And that’s a wrap on Life Lately October 2026! Looking back, it’s no wonder this month flew by. We managed to squeeze in plenty of fun fall activities, a few personal accomplishments, and lots of everyday chaos. I’m hoping November brings a little more downtime, although looking at our calendar, I’m not holding my breath! Between birthdays, Thanksgiving, and the start of holiday preparations, I’m sure we’ll have plenty to keep us busy. How was your October? Did you get to enjoy any fun fall activities?
LINKING UP WITH WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY, Currently
