LAST Saturday was a busy one...it started at 8:15 with a text from a dear friend, Tammy, asking me if the girls were going to run the Panther 1 mile race that morning, because her sweet son, Carter, had something for them at the race. OH MY...I had completely forgotten about this race. The kids' one mile race was being held in conjunction with the Panther Foundation 5K race, which I had decided not to run this year. Tony was golfing, and I was still trying to get back in the swing of running, so I decided to pass on the race. Since I had decided not to run, I never mentioned the one mile race to the girls. Carter was sooo sweet to make a good luck gift for the girls, so I asked Maggie if she wanted to go do a race. Of course she wanted to! Lizzie was still asleep, so I woke her up, and I asked her if she wanted to run...Of she did NOT want to run! Maggie starts crying, because she REALLY wants to do it, and of course by this time it is 8:20, and the race begins at 8:45 (and obviously, we haven't even registered yet). In record time, we get everyone dressed, in the car (with breakfast in hand), and head to the track. We made it just in time! Carter gave both the girls awesome bracelets he made the night before, we got Maggie signed up and headed to the starting line. Then, things get tricky...I just assumed that the kids would run four laps around the track...well, as we follow the crowd outside the fenced area of the track, I hear people saying that the kids will run around the parking lot a couple times, and then they will finish on the track. So, I'm thinking, "Ok, no problem, I'll be able to see her the entire time on the parking lot, and then I can run up to the track to watch her at the finish line." Well, that wasn't the OFFICIAL plan, either...The official plan, as the race director explains, is to have the kids run out to the Benton Parkway (very busy road), and then loop back to the athletic complex and finish on the track. Well, of course, my heart starts racing, and I'm thinking, "There is no way I can let Maggie run out to the Benton Parkway without an adult with her." I mean, there are a few teenage girls lined up to run, and a few adults that I didn't really know all that well...So, I tell Lizzie, "Ok, Lizzie, you are either going to have to run with us, or stay here with...(and I look around for a familiar face...thank the Lord my friend (and our school nurse) Candy is standing there (because her kids are about to run))...Candy." Lizzie says she will stay with Candy. Thank heavens for good friends who do not mind being volunteered! Anyway, so now, I line up behind Maggie and tell her that I will follow her while she runs (oh and by the way, I am carrying my camera bag with me for the entire mile, because Candy was taking pictures with her own camera). So, the race begins and Maggie takes off, keeping up with some older girls that she knows. She kept up with them for quite a while...probably about three tenths of a mile, then she slowed down. I caught up to her, and we walked just a little, and she was ready to run again. We ran together for, probably, another half mile, then she walked for maybe one tenth of a mile, and she finished strong on the track all the way to the finish line. I was so proud of her. She ran most of the way, and the first words out of her mouth when she finished were, "That was so fun!"
A little nervous while she waits.
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At the starting line...
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Coming down the home stretch...
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My little runner!!!!
Finish Line!
With her medal!
(BIG THANKS to Candy Sample for awesome pictures, and for watching Lizzie for me!)
Ok, so after the race, we went to the Saline County Fair for a few hours. Nay Nay joined us, and the girls had a blast on all the rides...they were a little disappointed that I refused to let them play any games, of course they could not understand WHY I wouldn't let them (throwing money away on unfair games)...but never the less, they had a blast riding the rides over and over!
Motorcycles
Driving the cars
Someone may be getting a little tired by this point...
After the fair, we changed clothes really quickly and went to help Hudson celebrate his 5th birthday! He had his party at the brand new Splash Park here in town. It just recently opened, and this was our first time to go. The kids had a great time!
Maggie
"I'm gonna get you!"
Lizzie
Sweet friends living it up!
We left the birthday party, and I took Lizzie and Maggie over to Meems and Pops's house for a few hours so Tony and I could go on a "date". We went out to dinner with some friends at Fisherman's Wharf on Lake Hamilton. Great food and atmosphere-except for the Hogs
losing :(.
So that was our Saturday...yes, that was ONE Saturday... I think it's hilarious to note that on Monday morning, Lizzie's teacher asked her if she had a big weekend, and she said, "No, I just watched t.v." REALLY?!?!?!
The following week didn't slow down a bit...Monday was gymnastics.
Tuesday night was Dad and Kids Pizza Night at Caldwell to kick off Watch DOG Dads for this year. I'm sad I didn't get any pictures of this, because Tony and the girls went as "official" students/dads for the first time (as opposed to husband and kids of the assistant principal, as in years past), but I was too busy to think about taking pictures that night. Tony signed up to be a Watch DOG in November and December, so I'll have to be sure to get some photos then.
Wednesday night was AWANA. I am so proud of the girls for the scripture memorization they are learning in Sparks! Follow this link to see a video of them quoting John 3:16...You will be so glad you did...
I know I'm partial, but if that doesn't warm your heart, nothing will!
Thursday night was soccer practice (final practice before our first game on September 18).
The girls and I, actually, had a pretty calm weekend. Tony and Joey went to Memphis for Joey to play two soccer games. Sunday night, the Kids Choir at church sang for the evening service. It was Lizzie and Maggie's first time to sing with the group, since they just became old enough to join the choir...it's for grades kindergarten through seventh grade. Here is a link to the the video of their debut...
So that about wraps it up for the past week. This week will be super exciting with our first soccer game of the season on Tuesday night and the forecast says we are finally going to have some cooler temperatures. We are definitely looking forward to that!
Lizzie's Words Worth Remembering:
(As told to me by Mrs. Trotter, the computer lab teacher at school)
The class had been taking turns on the Smartboard, everyone getting an opportunity to come to the board and practice doing a problem from Successmaker (software program we use in our lab). After going all the way through the class one time, Mrs. Trotter said to the class, "Ok, we have time for everyone to have another turn. Hallie (first on the roster), come on up to the board."
Mrs. Trotter said that Lizzie stood up and announced,
"Wait just a minute, we are going to change things around this time. I am going to go first this time, and then ______ will go second, ________ will go third..."
(Uh oh...who's child IS this?????)
Mrs. Trotter said, "Now you can go on over there and sit back down. We are going to go in order of the names on this list so I can keep up with it easier and be sure everyone gets a turn." She said that Lizzie just returned to her seat and that was the end of it.
Yes, I know...I have my work cut out for me...prayers appreciated!
