I Could Use a Few Days Like this One...in a Row

Everything, everything, everything, everything I read about the Girls on the Run 5k spelled out a very clear 9am start time. To be honest, it was on my list of reasons I was drawn to the race. Fantastic organization, yes. Proceeds go to financial assistance for girls wanting to participate in the program who otherwise may not be able to, super. A fun running event, love it. 9am start time for a family of four who requires much gear, patience, and encouragement to get it together and out the door, perfect.

And it would seem that we needed that time, because at 8:10 our dear boy was still sleeping. But we managed to be out the door, in the car, on our way, and to the sweet smelling 'hood of Elizabeth by 8:30. So you can imagine our great surprise when (time check: 8:35), a block from the start line, we started to see pink and green t-shirts whiz by, cheering already in full force.

We tossed the kids in the stroller and ran our way up the street, confirmed with some other shocked folks that we, in fact, had the correct information, and jumped into the race. The dad's running with their daughters, the moms holding hands with a crowd of girls, other fellow baby joggers, all moving at various paces, all various ages, it was a sweet sight. (And incredibly well-populated.) My immediate day dreaminess of doing such an event with Stella took over, and the awkward false start quickly vanished.

Heath and Stella sat up and watched the crowd, and enjoyed some mile 2 beaded necklace giveaways. Big brother passed them along to baby sister. (Later he told me boys don't wear those.) I'm not sure I've seen a more exuberant end-crowd at a race. The kids got medals and we saw some very impressive girls finish running their 3.1. Watching them was as much of an uplifting experience as it was to actually run it myself.

We decided to continue on with our run around the lovely spot in Charlotte, quick pit stop at the 7th Street Starbucks, then concluded our morning at the downtown Target. The kids "helped" pick out some Mother's Day cards for the various mama's in our lives.

After naps today, we went to a going away shindig for our sweet neighbors. Heath and Stella had a great time running around with all the neighborhood kiddies, eating pizza and cake. They are sacked out for the night.

And I can't seem to get enough of this PBS Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America. Good stuff. Good Saturday.