A Birthday Kind of Weekend

As is the norm this time of year, our weekend was jam-packed with activities & sports & parties & errands & more. Jack was invited to a friend's birthday sleep-over, but we needed to pick him up late Friday night because he had football pictures & a double header on Saturday morning. Meanwhile, the girls & I were up before the sun on Saturday morning (yes, you read that right!) to participate in a very special 5K race/walk for a friend from Sophie's K class last year who has been battling cancer for 4 years. The cancer has relapsed once again, so please pray for sweet Isabella Santos & her family!!

 The race was like a Kindergarten reunion for Sophie

 It was so fun for lots of the classmates to be back together again with the teachers to support Isabella & raise funds for pediatric cancer research!

 Here is a partial group shot right before the race started

I think over 700 runners & walkers participated! It was my first time ever doing anything like this & as much as I detest running, the race atmosphere was a lot of fun! 

 I was so proud of how my girls did! 

 Sophie & Darcy both ran/walked most of the race with a little help from our friends the Stouts who gave them shoulder rides or let them take turns riding in their stroller when they got tired or when the rain started! 

 The big girls raced ahead & left Lucy & I in the dust!

I know this picture is blurry, but I have to say that sweet Lucy was SUCH a trooper! She rode the whole race without making a peep...up hills & down hills, despite the fact that she had not even nursed yet (it was out of bed into carseat, out of carseat into stroller!) Even the rain did not cause her to fuss!

Here we all are at the finish line, just a little wet from the downpour! But we all finished safe & sound & so excited to in a little way support one super brave, sweet girl who has had to endure more pain & treatments & sickness than we can ever imagine. God bless Isabella Jo, we are praying for you! 

So about that rain...turns out that football was canceled, but we didn't find out until it was too late for the boys to do the 5K with us. :-(  Jack was happy though because the cancellation meant he got to attend part 2 of his friend's party at the Lego store! When we got back from the race & had dried off & warmed up, Jeff got the 4 oldest ready to head out to the Lego store/mall, while I got ready to spend the afternoon shopping with my mom. But before you think I am horrible for sending my husband to the mall alone with 4 kids, I should mention that this weekend we were celebrating another special birthday, and it just so happened to be mine! My mom & I have a fun tradition of lunch & shopping on birthdays & a few downpours couldn't keep us from hitting the stores! We shopped till we dropped & found some great bargains & just had great girl time together! 

It was after 7:00 when we got home & Jeff had the kids fed & bathed & nearly ready for bed (great man!) The kids had made some special cards & presents for me, so I had fun opening those before I quickly changed clothes for a nice dinner date out with Jeff. My wonderful parents had offered to babysit! Jeff surprised me with the beautiful dress that I'm wearing in the picture & it fit perfectly! It is always fun to get dressed up & go out on a date with my love! We enjoyed a great dinner at The King's Kitchen a local restaurant that donates 100% of its profits to help feed the needy in our area & the world! The food was fantastic, the atmosphere was great & I just love the idea of eating to benefit charity! I didn't get a birthday cake, but I did top off the day with an extremely delicious bowl of banana pudding, yum! I have SO much to be thankful for, it was a great birthday!