Why I love running

I am not a runner. 

But I love running. 

I love the people and community of runners, and once I share a story about this little girl I'm sure you will understand why. 

Pierce ran his last race for the fall season on Sunday.

As with all his races, there was plenty of time to kill.

Seems there is always a lot of standing around to accomplish before every race.

But the kids don't mind it, they just enjoy being together.

Can you spot P?

Front and center.

Always out the gate with a bang!

As soon as he's out of sight we scurry on over and wait to see his face.

His PAINED face.

Poor thing got a side stitch.

I'm not sure what causes them, but I think it has something to do with his breathing.

 But despite the pain he pushed through to the end.

And no side stitch will keep him from a piece of pizza!

His coach was great and I am so happy he decided to give running as a sport a try.

Because what I've learned about running is what a supportive sport it is.

You can always count on other runners and their families to cheer you through.

And this last race was no different.

We all lined up waiting for a special little girl to make her way through.

I stood by this little girl as she started out her race and I listened to her tell her daddy "I can't do this, this is hard." Her daddy firmly but sweetly told her, "you can do this, come on." The mom in me wanted to help her, but her dad knew better, because she did do it.  She did the entire race with her sweet daddy by her side.

At the end of the race her dad became emotional, and well, you know I did too...

It was one of the most powerful things I have ever witnessed.

Her dad stepped to the side and let her have her moment at the finish line, alone.

The crowd clapped, screamed, and cheered this little girl through.

And that is why I love running.

The Halloween my fingers quit working

"Hey kids, what do you want to be this Halloween?"

Pierce: "Football player, just like last year." 

Hope: "A flapper, just like last year."

Mom: THANK YOU CHILDREN FOR MAKING MY LIFE EASIER. 

I did push them, are you sure?? You really don't want to do something different? Nope. Repeat of last year suited them just fine.

So it was an easy Halloween set up for me.

Our tradition is to meet the Richey's and trick or treat in pumpkin alley, but with Blake and Brittany in China we had to switch it up a little. Britt's in-laws were still with the kids, so we made ourselves a plan that ensured our kids could still be together.

Kids were pumped, I was pumped, and we started out strong.

But it didn't take long before I realized what a painful night this was going to be.

It was cold. Way cold. And the WIND was wicked!

You know how you prepare for your children, but not as much for yourself?

Yeah I was regretting that about fifteen minutes in. (BTW, I considered asking the homeowner of this house if I could move into an extra room or something, because this house made my house happiness ooze. LOVE this house.)

But the cold didn't stop the crowds.

Just look at this front yard, easily forty people just in one yard..

It didn't take long and the temps started to get to some of the kids and they needed to go back.

But mine opted to GO BACK OUT with a new set of kids.

I think the second time we went out it was for an hour, and that's when my fingers quit working.

When we got to the photo-op spot at pumpkin alley, the kids couldn't bear to wait to take a picture, and my trigger finger had stopped working. WE WERE DONE.

We headed back to Cindy's house to warm up with lots of yummy food, and I didn't pick up the camera once.

But now all the fingers are working again, and the negotiations of candy trade will go on for days. Happy Halloween indeed!

Pumpkin patchin'

Pumpkin patch at the end of October, don't mind if we do. 

I had the pleasure of accompanying Hope and her classmates on a field trip last week to Jackson's Orchard.

She had begged me to go along, and you know I just hated that.

But then we get there and Miss Independent left me in the dust.

I wondered briefly if I would be the one to never make it out alive....

But I survived.

It was legit cold, but that didn't bother the kids.

We picked a baby pumpkin and then we went apple hunting.

Someone had mentioned worms might be in some of the apples, this concerned Hope so much she must have examined her apple for five minutes.

Check out the shadows of fellow moms all yelling and snapping away.

"Look over here! Now act silly!"

Moms really can be the worst, can't we?

One of Hope's best friends happens to be a boy, and considering all the drama between girls, I can't blame her.

It was such a fun morning, and I'm so glad I got to tag along.

These are some of the moments that make being a mommy legit.