Is it time to break out the crockpot?

Fall has arrived and right along with it I can hear my crock pot calling my name.  What is better than coming home to a nice hot bowl of chili or some roast and veggies.  I love it, but I rarely take the time to get it ready to cook so instead I end up throwing some frozen tortellini in some boiling water, topping with a little marinara sauce and some easy fruit for dessert.  I'm trying to break the pasta habit.  We really need to start rocking the crock.  This week my goal is to find some delicious veggie filled recipes I can throw together in the morning and then let it cook to perfection all day.  Training for a marathon as the days grow shorter and colder is tough.  Finding time to eat and feed a 16 month old before 7pm is even tougher.  I hope the crock pot is the answer to my problems.

Running has been going ok.  Saturday will be my very first 20 mile long run.  I wish I could run faster so it wouldn't take up so much of my day but that isn't going to happen and now is certainly not the time to try and push it. 

Sam update - she is 16 months and is running now.  She is repeating almost everything we say and is able to identify body parts.  She also is developing a love of baby dolls.  She likes to get a dish towel out of the kitchen and cover them up and then pick them up and pat them on the back.  It is so cute. 

Yesterday was Halloween and we didn't do much Trick-Or-Treating but she did put on her costume while we were at Travis' sister's house this weekend.  My nephew only lasted a few minutes in his frog costume before he flipped out a bit.  Sam did ok - she had a cute Tinkerbell costume.  I wish the cute shoes I bought to match would have fit!

One thing they were talking about on the radio this morning is how many neighborhoods have "Trick-Or-Drinking" for the adults who are taking their kids around.  Is this a weird Iowa thing or do other areas do this as well?

Mom Update:  She had her first round of Taxol last Friday and it doesn't appear to be nearly as toxic (at least short term) as the A/C.  Mom is concerned about neuropothy though and that is a longer term side effect.  I think there are also some heart related side effects to watch out for.  I've done a lot of digging around on the internet and this appears to be the common course of treatment and it is scheduled to continue for another 11 weeks.  Then there is a short break before radiation is scheduled to begin.  Mom isn't too excited about radiation and she is seriously thinking about not doing it.  The doctor wants her to take the treatments.  We'll see what happens.  Sam and I are headed over there on Friday.  I want to sit with her through her treatment and then her birthday is Sunday so we will have some fun.

I'll sign off for now - I need to start recipe hunting!  Oh and one last thing - GO BIG RED!  My beloved Huskers played a great game on Saturday afternoon.  It was a beautiful day with a beautiful result on the football field - you can't ask for much more than that.  Now it is time to beat up on the Clones!