5K Feelings

Do you ever have one of those weekends that is full to the brim with activity, but you are glad for it?  I'm usually a low-key, homebody kind of girl.  Don't get me wrong, I love to do things with friends, but the older I get the happier I am to hang out at home with the people I love best and relax from all that we do during the week.

But this weekend has not been quiet or low-key and I have loved it so far!  Yesterday afternoon my friend and favorite photographer Amanda held mini-photo sessions with a fall theme.  Many of us jumped on them and it was so fun to plan outfits for the kids and see Amanda work her magic.  Here's the preview she gave us:

I LOVE it!  From Oren's goofy grin to Emma's perfect model pose to how grown up they look.  I can't wait to see the others.

Then after photos were over and shorts and t-shirts were changed into, we headed to the football game to see the boys win another game!

But this morning we headed out to our own game--a 5K race in a nearby town to benefit a child with a fatally genetic disease.  I wanted to run in it and Emma did too, but Chris was afraid Em would slow me down so he volunteered to run too, so she could stay with him.  Oren said NO THANKS so my sister and brother-in-law came to support us, take pics and stand with Oren.
 

When I saw this picture the first thing I noticed was my heel-striking--a no-no in running and usually something I don't do...or maybe I do and didn't realize it...  We are our worst critics, aren't we?

It was our first-ever race and while we didn't place, I was proud of our times, especially because we didn't try to race, just finish strong.  I think honestly, Em could have beat me by a few minutes.  She was bummed when the winning girl in her age category came in with a time of 30 minutes. (The kid was like 5!!!)  Em's time was 39, so I think she was probably the 2nd girl and she walked over half of it.  We told her she could run it alone next year if I couldn't keep up with her long legs.  ;)

Chris told Emma he'd carry her across the finish line on his shoulders--she wanted to  do it about  a quarter mile before the finish line.  He said NO WAY!  He carried her the last 20 yards or so!  Everyone loved it!

Oren didn't want to run in the race, but he couldn't help getting excited when we came to the finish line, so he ran across with both me and with Chris and Emma.  Bless his heart!  You should have seen the pride and excitement on his face!

I am so proud of Emma and Chris and so thankful for them for running with me and supporting me.  I'm also so thankful to Carrie and Serge who got up early on their Saturday morning to cheer us on, stay with Oren and take all of these pictures for us.

I can tell you this...it won't be our last race.  I think all 3 of us had a good time, especially me and Emma!  ;)  Now if we can only talk Oren into running more than the last 20 yards!!