Cheerleading girls!

Emma signed up for a one day cheer clinic at WCA today. She was really excited about it! She went in the morning where they were instructed in cheers, chants and a short routine. Then they broke for lunch. As we were eating lunch we noticed it was looking really dark outside. By the time we loaded up the car it was pouring. We continued to drive as it continued to rain harder. When we arrived at WCA we were informed the football game was delayed by 30minutes and possibly longer if the lightening continued. The cheer coach decided to just have the girls perform in the gym instead. As always, my Emma chose a spot right in the front and center.

Emma did a great job with all of the fancy footwork. The toe touch jump was my favorite!!

Emma and her good friend Vero

Some of the little girls from CCS with the big WCA cheerleaders!

My Date!

Tonight I had a date with a very handsome and clean cut 5 year old, named Sam. He is sooooo cute :) He chose to take me to Bandana's for BBQ. He even took a shower before the date and got dressed up. He is so fashion forward. He is brave enough to wear white after Labor Day!

I told you he was handsome, didn't I?

But I am sure I forget to mention that he is also polite. He opens doors and pulls out chairs. He even ordered for me. I had to whisper it in his ear and then he told the waitress. Very cute.

He was fully prepared with activities to pass the night away. There was never a dull moment or lack of activity or conversation. Right away he asked if I wanted to play the "complete the square game" followed by tic-tac-toe. And he chose outdoor dining with just a little hint from me. I told him girls always like to eat outside whenever possible.
He ordered applesauce instead of double fries as some other men would!!!! He used his napkin and only managed to get a small amount of BBQ sauce on his white shorts. I told him he could come back to my place and I would stain treat those for him!!!

He even eats over his plate. I think he is a keeper!

Our dinner conversation included discussion of favorite recess activities. Ranking of all CCS boys according to Sam's evaluation of their kickball skills. When I asked him what girl he liked most he said Kharis. When I asked him why, he said, "Because she is a good listener." I thought wow what a mature answer. Then I asked, "Do you mean she is a good listener when you talk to her or that she listens to the teacher?'' He replied "She listens really good to Mrs. P." The maturity of the answer then dwindled in my opinion, but I still love that he is impressed with girls that are rule followers! I can only hope this continues!

The best part of my date was that he even splurged for dessert. We got a half order of donut holes to take home and he got lollipops to share with his sisters. I think I am in LOVE!

Soccer and balloons

Today was our typical Saturday for the fall. We had a pretty lazy morning followed by an action packed afternoon. Claire's soccer game started at noon and Sam's game at one, on two different fields. Thanks to some friends everyone got where they needed to be on time and I got to see the majority of both games!

Claire has really improved this soccer season. She is starting to hang back some and wait for the passes. Sometimes she is waving her hands in the air and calling for the passes, but either way she is getting the ball and scoring goals! 2 last week and 1 today... not that we are counting or taking score, really!

We love CCS's new uniforms with the orange socks. They look great on the field and are easy to spot.
I love this picture. She is watching the ball out of the corner of her eye and moving to the outside to get the pass. Go Claire! The field they play on in 3rd grade is much bigger so they have to do a lot of running.

Sam's game was Central vs. Central today since there are enough Kindergartners for 2 teams they get to play each other occasionally. His team had to wear white shirts over their jerseys to differentiate teams. Below is a great action shot of Sam. He loves all sports and is really enjoying practicing and playing soccer. This morning as soon as he got up he said, "Well, I guess today is the big game!"

Sam also listens very intently to coach Bowman during a time out. She is great at the "GO LIONS" huddle!

And I want to make sure that I do not leave Emma out of today's blog post. She was very involved in today's games as a cheerleader. She painted a sign that said GO LOINS! Yes, the pork variety. Hilarious! She also made 3 pom poms and shared them with Lucy and Claire and Olivia's game. She wore her pink CCS shirt and was all geared up for cheer leading!

Later this afternoon we were planning to meet some friends at Forest Park for the annual balloon race. Scott ended up being able to sneak home for a little bit. Parking was crazy and we ended up not meeting up with them but rather just grabbing the closest seat to our car in the only available parking space we could find! We enjoyed our picnic dinner, saw about 20 balloons take off and escaped just before we got too wet from rain. We ended up right on the golf course and the kids enjoyed running around there. The "soda can" balloon was the biggest hit for them.
Do you see what is posted on the side of that building? Cards vs. Cubs today!! Go Cards!

Lewis & Clark Half Marathon!

Today was the big event.  The one I have been training for since June 1st.  It was great weather, high of 81, sunny and no rain.  I was prepared and felt good about my training.  I got up at 4 am.  I never sleep well the night before a race anyway.  There were about 6,000 people registered for this race and the traffic showed it.  I was a bit afraid I was not going to get parked and to the Johnny in time for the gun shot start.  However, I did make it!

I started out feeling good and kept a 9 min/mile pace up through mile 6, then I slowed down, but not too much.  I still thought my goal was within reach.  I really wanted to run this baby in 2 or under.  Between mile 7 and 8 there was a steady incline and that sort of put me under my goal time and I knew it :(  I saw Scott and the fam around mile 8.5 and I wanted to cry.  I knew I was not going to make my goal.  I had two options. #1.  Just quit now.  #2 walk some before I throw up.  I chose #2.  I had to walk some on miles 9-11. I really could not go anymore.  My shoulders were hurting more than anything else and my stomach was churning.  I saw a guy down puking and I was just glad that wasn't me.

I was able to pick it up again on mile 12 and finish strong.  I ended up running it in 2:06.  So, I was only 6 minutes off which to most doesn't seem like much, but to me it does.  I wish I had those 6 minutes back to run and not walk.  I wish I had worn sunglasses and that I had trained more on asphalt and not done so much trail running in Forest Park.  I wish I had stronger rhomboids and lower trapezius muscles...here is the Physical Therapist coming out in me.  I realized this time that my upper body is my limiting factor.  I cannot support my shoulders and pump my arms for 13.1 miles without upper body fatigue.  I will be rowing in the off-season!

Here I am.  Check out that heel strike!  I am feeling really good in this picture.  Just the way I want to remember it!  I am grateful for my family coming out to watch.  The kids painted posters for me on Saturday and handed me some Sports Beans along the route.  Sara D. was also a faithful cheerleader with a bag of Jolly Ranchers that could only have come from Sam's club!  Thank you!!!

Scott reminds me that if I would have met my goal that I might not want to keep running.  I guess he may be right.  Even though I do feel defeated, I am still looking forward to the next time I get to hit the pavement.  Probably Wednesday.  I am still greatly improved.  The 1st half marathon I ran which was in November I did in 2:34, so the fact that in 10 mos. I have shaved 28 minutes off my time, gives me hope that in 7 mos.  (April) I can shave 6 minutes off my time.  Yes, I will run another half in April.  I will bring sunglasses and I will train on asphalt and hills.  I will strengthen my upper body and I will not do push-ups!

I do have an awesome medal to show for this race!  I always say at my age there is not much I can do to earn a medal.  One of the reasons maybe that I love races so much.  This medal is cool and really colorful.  Caution to anyone else who may have earned this same medal:  Do not run wearing your medal as you may incur eye damage!  That is a very pointy compass you have there Lewis & Clark!!

Lewis n' Clark is Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!!!

That's right race fans!  The race is Sunday!  Be there, Be there, BE THERE!!!!

That's right I am once again looking for cheerleaders, poster makers, sport bean, jolly rancher or gum distributors, whatever you are, come to the race.  I will be leaving very early on Sunday morning to head over to St. Charles.  I did drive the route, something I never do.  It is nice and flat and sort of industrial in parts.  Industrial = boring.  So I might need some extra spirit, if you will.   

If you think you might be up for it please let me know so that I can know where to look for you!  The finish line is next to the Lewis n' Clark statue at Frontier Park right on the river.  That part is pretty.  It will be the best site I have seen in 13 miles--can't wait!