5K

I ran my first race post-Beckett this past Saturday. It was a gorgeous day which was a nice bonus because you never know what you are going to get in April in Ohio. I will admit, I was a tad nervous because it had been about 18 months since I last ran a race.  I've been training for the CLE half in May and really wanted to get one race under my belt before then. I was pretty proud of myself! I ended up with my best "official" race time at 34:04.  The only thing I hate about actual races is the early morning start time.  I'm just not a person that works out in the morning, especially running.  It just doesn't work for me. I am not looking forward to getting up at like 4am for the CLE half marathon but what are you going to do?? Paul and Ashley also ran (Ashley's first official 5K) and did great! Bring on the half!!

Halloween 2013

The week or so before Halloween is always crazy. We have school parties, trick or treat, boo at the zoo, etc. etc. etc.  Here is a recap of the Halloween season.

This year since I was like 38 weeks pregnant there wasn't much I could really do.  I worked at our Homecoming football game for the Levy Committee the night before we were to go to Boo at the Zoo.  Bad idea.  I came home after the game and could barely move.  Thankfully Paul is a trooper and took the kids in the rain and on his birthday without me.  Also thanks to Ashley who went along on the trip to help out!

Our next stop on the Halloween train took us to Dussel Farm to get our pumpkins.  We always go every year and get the obligatory pictures.  Some of us cooperate. Some of us don't.

That week the girls friend Milyn came over to carve pumpkins with them.

The Thursday before Halloween was Rylee's party at school.  I was able to go with Doc McStuffins that day.  She still acts pretty shy if I'm in the room and did not want to play the game they had set up.  She did partake in the dessert portion of the party though. :)

That weekend was Trick or Treat.  Another event I wasn't really able to participate in since I was not going to walk around the neighborhood at 38 weeks pregnant.  Ashley and Corey came over to help out and along with their help, Paul took the kids to all the houses.  Thankfully this year it was not raining and freezing like it is most years.

Finally during my many trips to L&D, Morgan had her Fall Festival at school.  I was scheduled to go but due to my circumstances, Paul ended up going for a little bit in the morning with her.  Kindergartners don't get to dress up in their costumes but they can dress up as farmers.  Morgan was not happy about that at first but warmed up to the idea when she found out she could have braids in her hair.

All in all this year was very fun and very tiring (for mommy at least).

Kent State Homecoming

A couple Saturdays ago we continued our Kent State Homecoming tradition.  Paul and I both went to Kent State, met there and are still huge fans.   We always run the Bowman 5K the morning of Homecoming at Kent State. I'm a little partial to this race because not only because of the festivities but, it was my first ever race. This year, due to working a lot and other obligations Paul and I had not been doing as much running as we should have in the couple weeks before the race.  Turns out that worked for me and I clocked my fastest 5K ever in 34:54 according to their official time.  I'm not so sure it wasn't a bit faster since at the 2 mile mark I clocked myself at about 21 minutes.  I'm guessing I didn't take another 14 minutes for my last mile.  Either that or my timing was off somehow.  Either way, still my fastest official race time. Yay!  Paul was using this race as a starting point to gear back up for his training.  I think he's hoping to do the Cleveland full or half next year so he has lots of time to train!

Every year after the race we head over to Starbucks with the kids to get some drinks and watch the Homecoming Parade. Since Corey and Ashley had watched our kids for us while we raced they came with us. The girls were all decked out in their Kent State gear and armed with their candy bags.  It was a little chilly but nothing will stop these kids from candy!  Rylee was especially into the whole candy aspect.  She would leave no soldier behind out in the street.

:

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

Serious about their candy

Not so serious about it

Rylee's loot

Normally (since a free ticket comes with the 5K registration) we would head to the Kent football game.  We thought about it since, hey don't look now, but Kent is actually GOOD.  After some thought it was too cold and miserable to take the kids but we got to enjoy the game at home.  Can't wait to do it all again next year!