Girls On The Run Fall 5k Event

Sarah and 18 other girls from her school participated in the Girls On The Run program at their school this fall.  They had practice 2 days a week.  At practices they would run, play games, have a lesson, and eat a small snack together.  All these practices led up to the final event...a 5k.  Each girl had a running buddy who would complete the final 5k run with them.  I was Sarah's running buddy.  November 13th was the day.  We were ready.  The run was held in and around Watson Park.  There were over 1300 people in the run.  Sarah's school team met before the race for a few pictures.  They each wore matching socks, shirts, and headbands.

They had 4 great coaches.

Before the race started I ran into one of my friends from college, Sara Budden Meng, who was also there to run with her daughter, Claire.  We visited for a couple minutes then Sarah and I went to stretch a little and line up with the other 1300 people.

The race site was crazy with so many people there.  Parking was a mess.  Eric took a few pictures at the beginning of the race, to give you an idea of how crowded and crazy it was.

Sarah did great!  She started a little slow, but with encouragement from me picked it up just a little, and held her pace until about the last half mile.  Then with more encouragement from me was able to speed up some more and then sprint into the finish line.  I talked to her throughout the entire race.  Her friends, coaches, and teachers who came to watch cheered her on and brought a smile to her face as she ran past them.

We finished strong with a time of 29:17.  Sarah was the first girl from her GOTR school group to finish.  The next one from her group did not cross the line until about 5 -6 minutes later.  Sarah trained, practiced, and ran well!  Her strength and determination to compete and do well always shine through.  Way to go tough girl!

I love you Sarah, and I love running and competing with you.  I will always be your biggest fan.

Dinner And A Movie Party

We had Phoebe's birthday party on Friday, November 11th.  She invited several little girls from her school and a few relatives over for dinner, a movie, and cake to celebrate.  She loves to build with Legos so her invitations had Legos on them, and she requested Lego cakes made by Popee.

Popee and Nanee came through on the cake making and decorating, as usual.  Great job, Popee and Nanee!

Popee and Nanee gave Phoebe a few snacks as a gift before her party got started.  She loves pretzels, so a big container of pretzels is a good gift, and who wouldn't love a chocolate number 7 from the Sweet Granada Chocolate Shop in Emporia?!?!?

When Phoebe's friends arrived we all ate dinner together... Cheese and Pepperoni pizza, fruit salad, and Gatorade to drink.

After dinner all of Phoebe's guests gathered in front of the t.v. to watch the new movie, "Barbie and the Great Puppy Chase".  All the girls seemed to like it.  Phoebe wanted to have popcorn during the movie so we bought a popcorn tin that had buttery, cheese, and caramel popcorn in it for all the guests to munch on during the movie.

Phoebe and her friends ~ Pictured below, left to right ~ BriAna, Baylee, Lyric, Lydia, Alessandra, Taityn, and Phoebe.

After the movie Phoebe opened her gifts from her guests...

And, from Popee and Nanee... She got the American Girl dog named Bo, and the Barbie Teacher set.

After presents it was Lego cake time!!!  Girls below, left to right, Lyric, Alessandra, Lydia, Phoebe, Taityn, BriAna, and Baylee.

We lit the candles and sang "Happy Birthday" to Phoebe.  Then Phoebe attempted to blow out all 7 of her candles.  I made it harder for her by spreading them all out on the Lego cakes.  It took her a lot of breaths, and funny faces, to get them all out!

It was a great birthday party with some good girls.  I was impressed with Phoebe's friends that  came to her party.  These little girls were very nice and polite to each other and to us.  I am glad, and thankful that she has this little group of friends at her school.

Happy birthday, sweet Phoebe!  We love you so very much and hope you had a good time celebrating your seventh birthday with your friends and family.

Seven Years Old

Phoebe turned 7 a week ago.  She picked IHOP for her birthday dinner.  We ate there last summer for Popee's birthday and she really liked the big birthday sundae that IHOP brought out and gave to him and the catchy little song all the waiters and waitresses sang to him while they gathered at our table.  She was looking forward to the sundae and song for her special day.

We all ordered some kind of pancakes for our dinner.  Phoebe and Silas had regular buttermilk pancakes.  I had pumpkin pancakes.  Sarah and Eric both had apple cinnamon pancakes.

Phoebe was all smiles when the waters and waitresses brought out her chocolate ice cream and hot fudge birthday sundae and sang, "Happy happy birthday from all the IHOP crew... We wish it was our birthday so we could party too!"

Back at home after dinner she opened her gifts from us... some books from Daddy and Mommy.

A Barbie Camping Fun horse and Skipper set from Silas.

The Barbie Ultimate Closet and Barbie outfits from Sarah.

And, some clothes and the Frozen Anna Stylin Head from Daddy and Mommy.

There was a gift, the Googly Eyes game, in the mail from Uncle Bret, Aunt Andrea, Ayden and Kallin.

Three Craft packs came in the mail from Grandma Sharon.

A shirt and the Lakeside Lodge Lego set came in the mail from Aunt Lindsee and Uncle Eric.

And, Uncle Matt sent her the Heartlake Puppy Daycare Lego Friends set.

We ate some birthday donuts and sang Happy Birthday again to our sweet girl.

Happy birthday to you.  Happy Birthday to you.  Happy birthday dear Phoebe.  Happy birthday to you.