This was a busy weekend! Saturday afternoon/evening was our second annual Fall Festival and 5K fundraiser at the kids' school. The girls have been "training" for it for the last few weeks with a running club after school, and Ethan was excited to come back and try for another win. We were a bit late getting to the race -- the kids literally had to RUN all the way to the starting line and hurry to catch up with the crowd -- and I was worried that they'd be mad at me for the rest of the night. Because it was mostly my fault. Wah wah. Hahaha. Seriously, though. Saturday was such a busy, long day, and I was so frustrated that the kids weren't pitching in to help get the house cleaned up for our Conference Breakfast (and company) the next morning, that I kind of lost it with them a few times. And it didn't help matters that my ribs were KILLING me the whole day, and I couldn't do a whole lot myself, and I was a tad bit irritable. {Understatement alert.}
Ethan finishing strong. By the time he got to the starting line, the clock had already been going for a couple of minutes, so I'm not quite sure what his finish time was. I don't think he made his goal of 24 minutes, but I don't think it was too far off.
Ethan with a Cross Country teammate and friend from church.
With a half an hour to go before needing to leave for the race, I basically told the kids that we wouldn't be leaving until they got the rest of the main floor finished. And then I discovered that Alex and Jane's bedroom had never been cleaned for their Saturday chores that morning, and I kind of lost it and told them they couldn't go to the festival. Which caused a whole lot of tears. But I was in a mood. An irritable, grumpy mood, and I didn't even care. Which is never a great state of being. Thankfully, I eventually calmed down and relented and told everyone to hurry up and get in the car so we could go. And then proceeded to feel terrible the whole drive over as I realized we were totally going to be late. All's well that ends well, though, and thankfully no one held a grudge! Ethan, Grace, and Sophie ran off as soon as we got there and caught up with friends, and Jane and I set out walking the course. And I must say -- it was quite entertaining to have her as a walking buddy. :)
As for the running of the race, the kids' personalities all shone brightly through with their "strategies" -- Ethan was going for a specific time; Grace didn't care about speed, she just wanted to run with friends; Sophie was worried about FINDING her friends to run with (yet also REALLY wanted another win this year); and Jane was never planning on running. I'm not sure it's her "thing." Hahaha. The whole time she did the 5K training club this last month, she complained about not wanting to go, and while there she mostly walked/bugged Grace and her friends. At least according to Grace. Haha. Of course, once we were actually WALKING the 5K together, she kept wanting to break free and run, but she mostly stuck by my side and provided me with plenty of insight into her 1st grade life.
The weather had turned COLD and drizzly for the big day this year {which ironically was the EXACT same thing that happened last year}, so after the race at a nearby camp ground, everyone headed back over to the elementary school for the festival portion of the fundraiser. The change of venue for the inclement weather was a good call. LAST year, the festival took place at the same camp ground as the race, and I was freezing the whole time we were there! The school was a bit of a zoo, with people packed in everywhere, but the kids had a blast and it was easily the biggest excitement of the weekend for them. :)
Who doesn't love a cake walk??
Of course, the BIGGEST highlight of the evening went to Sophie, who emerged victorious once again in the race. Crowned the fastest 3rd grade girl, she couldn't stop beaming after receiving her medal. I have no idea what her time even was {Jane and I were still walking when she finished}, but I think it was a legitimate win this year! Especially since we got there late, and her actual time was a good couple of minutes faster than what the clock would have said when she crossed the finish line. Haha. Last year, she won as the fastest 2nd grade girl, but with that one I'm pretty sure she was the ONLY 2nd grade girl running. :)
So happy!
We finished up at the festival with dinner from the food trucks outside and then headed on home to get the little ones in bed. The best thing about our busy evening was that EVERYONE was wiped out at bedtime. ALWAYS an added bonus. Haha. And on that note -- I'm off to bed. Because I'm pretty much wiped out at bedtime EVERY night. :)
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