Run, Mama, Run!

 

I ran my first 5K this morning, and had the cutest little cheering squad that you can imagine:

 

  Completing this race was a personal goal that I decided to pursue this fall after realizing that I have spent most of the past 5 years either pregnant or breastfeeding and functioning on very little sleep.  Now that I have my body to myself again, I wanted to set a reasonable, measurable short-term goal and so I decided to participate in Greenville's Spinx RunFest.  This annual race is a huge event in our city, with almost 5,000 runners.  Mark has been a wonderful and supportive partner who has taken over so many baths, bedtime routines, and childcare over the past few months while I have trained. 

 

Still smiling at the last mile!

 

 A few interesting tidbits that make my successful completion of this morning's 5K interesting:

 

The last time I ran in a competitive, timed race, I was exactly half my age (and those days on the high school track team are very fuzzy to me).  Yikes!

 

When I last ran on a regular basis, I used a Sony Walkman, with cassette tapes... remember those big, yellow, waterproof monstrosities?!  Somehow I skipped an entire decade of discmans, MP3 players, etc. and progressed straight to an IPhone with music and GPS that keeps track of my mileage, pace, and workouts.  Wow, technology has changed!

 

Almost 3 months ago, I first proposed the idea of my running a 5K to Mark (during a date night out for his birthday dinner).  He almost spit his drink out across the table at me in the middle of the restaurant...That's how shocked he was!

 

I was initially worried that I would come in dead last, despite the fact that people run this race wearing Halloween costumes, push strollers, etc.  That's how out of shape I felt when I started training.  But I ran a personal best today, did a great job, and am thrilled to cross this off my bucket list.

 

Luke has been talking about jobs at school, and he has been telling people that I am: "a mommy, a doctor, and an exerciser!"  We'll work on that accuracy, but he's adorable and often wants to "exercise" with me.  He'll run toward me, arms outstretched, and grab my hand, holding it for awhile until he determines that he is faster than me and needs his legs to take a rest. 

 

Luke "running" at RunFest this morning.

Luke kept asking me this week if I was going to win the race, and I tried to explain that I was not going to come in first place like Lightning McQueen, but that I was going to win just for me.  Today, as he stood on the sidelines of the race, he shouted, "I love you, Mama!".  What could be better coaching & encouragement?!  And as we got home after the 5K this morning, he handed me a dozen red roses and sweetly said, "Mama, you won!"

 

 

Leah was also excited to cheer me on, and after we put her down last night, we heard her talking in her crib.  She kept shouting, "Run, Mama, Run!"  and "Doh, Mama!"  (She can't quite pronounce the "g" to say "Go!").  Sweet girl sat on the sidewalk with a big smile on her face, watching all of the runners, excited to watch her Mommy run past:

 

Here are my loves: My inspirations for running and being healthy, giving me a victory hug.  It was a great morning and I felt very supported and loved!  Thank you, family and friends!

Pumpkin Patch

 

Here are a few cute pictures of our sweet little pumpkin at the pumpkin patch last weekend:

 

 

 

Leah was delighted to be surrounded by so many pumpkins, and loved running races in the field with her brother:

 

 

A preview of their Halloween costumes:

Luke has loved this tractor ever since he was a baby and drives it every year:

Luke also enjoyed leading our family through the corn maze and was very interested in the pumpkins growing on the farm:

 

 

Happy Fall!

Boo in the Zoo

 

The children debuted their Halloween costumes last night when we attended Boo in the Zoo, and I wanted to share the background story involving their coordinating outfits:

 

Many weeks ago (because some stay-at-home moms who shall-not-be-named start thinking about things like Halloween costumes in August), I proposed to Luke how fun it might be for him to dress up as a farmer this year.  We put together his costume and I excitedly told him, "You can even have your very own cow!" (My entire costume vision hinged on an adorable cow costume that I had for Leah...)

 

Luke immediately ran upstairs and grabbed his stuffed animal cow, ready for Halloween: 

Mommy:  "No, buddy, you're missing something...":

 

 

Luke: "Oh yeah, Mama, you're right.  I need my hat (and a baby chick apparently).  Now I'm ready!":

Mommy:  "No, this is what you are missing!":

Leah wasn't so sure about her costume at first, and told us: "All Done Moo Cow!" before we even set foot in the zoo yesterday:

 

However, with a little distraction and the introduction of her first Trick or Treating experience, our little cow quickly decided that this whole costume thing was totally worth the goodies:

 

She even examined her loot to check out what in the world all of those people kept putting in her bag:

 

 

Once she found a lollipop, Leah was convinced that Halloween may be her new favorite holiday:

Farmer Luke, who is an old pro at Boo at the Zoo, agreeably posed with some of the Halloween decorations, and gently led his cow to the displays for a photo op as well:

 

 

 

Below is my favorite annual shot of Luke at Boo in the Zoo.  Each year, he runs joyfully down the same ramp.  Here he is last night, and also dressed up as a giraffe two years ago, at age 2:

 

 

Of course our little farmer and cow stopped to feed the animals in the barnyard section of the zoo:

 

 

Here's our only family picture from Boo in the Zoo.  As usual, it's impossible to have all four of us looking at the camera/smiling at the same time:

 

 

After a successful evening of fun, our happy kids headed home, bags heavy with treats: 

 Howdy Do, Y'all! 

Halloween Attire

 

We are getting ready for Halloween with lots of festive holiday attire!  Even Winnie has a pumpkin costume this fall, and we love our orange this time of year.  Here are some of my favorite pictures of our little ghost, spider, and pumpkin: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



"Mr. Twinkles" is Luke's preschool class Halloween mascot.  Each child brings him home for an adventure during the weeks leading up to Halloween.



Kisses for Winnie.

 

Singin' in the Rain

 

Someone loves her new rainboots!  Anytime Leah sees that it is cloudy outside, she insists on wearing her boots.  This week, she has proudly stomped around the grocery store, our neighborhood, and into Bubba's preschool.   

 

 

  Leah also has an adorable coordinating umbrella.  Now if only she could figure out that it's supposed to go over her head, and not be twirled around like a baton... 

 

 

You'll never guess what my girly girl is smiling at in the below picture:

I'll give you a hint:  They are slimy, appear on the sidewalk on rainy days, and are Leah's new favorite thing...   WORMS!!

Here she is, blowing a kiss to a worm that she found.  (Mommy is working on teaching Leah that we just look at worms with our eyes, and we don't touch with our hands).  I thought I went through this once already with Luke and his love of bugs!!

Love of worms and all, Leah is a ray of sunshine even on the rainiest of days!  How I love you, sweet girl!!