Our Together Forever Family: Fourth of July/5K Run

I think this might have been my favorite Fourth of July to date. It started off super early for us because of my race. For the first time, ever, I ran a 5K with two ladies from the ward. I had so much fun! I cannot wait to run another race soon. The race started at 7:15 a.m. and I had to be at the registration desk an hour early, AND, since the race was an hour away from our home, we had to get up and have the kids ready by 5 a.m. All I can say is I am so grateful my girls wake up happy. That comes from Chris, not from me. Anyways, so we ran the race and I am happy to say that my finishing time was 27 minutes and 3 seconds, which means I was running about 9 minute miles. That is my fastest time, so I was happy with it. I wish I could have said I placed, but I can say, I did not come in last, so it was good!

This was my game face! I was actually trying to be serious, but was holding in laughing, so the combo gave me this face! This is Caroline, the one who convinced me to run this race, with her daughter, Andrea.

Minutes before the race

Jan also ran the race with us.

After the race, the town held a parade that we attended. It was fun! For a minute, I felt like I was in Mt. Pleasant, UT watching their small town parade, which I have fond memories of attending while visiting my sweet Grandma. It was great! Lexi seemed to enjoy the parade quite a bit.

Pre Parade snack

My girls, especially Lexi, love watermelon!

Lexi with her friend, David, waiting for the parade to begin

The race was called the Hungry Duck Run and then in the parade there was this duck float. I guess the town likes Ducks?

One of the participants of the parade handed out these huge flags.Thanks to Daddy, Lexi got one!

Following the parade, Caroline and her family came with us to the lake up there where we played in the sand/water, ate a picnic lunch, threw a frisbee, and chilled out in the hammock that the May's brought along. Oh, and there was kite flying. It was so great! It was just what we needed!

She was coming to grab the camera, but in the process, I saw this sweet face, so I captured it before she tried to eat the camera.

This was the first time Christine crawled "normal." Ever since she learned to crawl she inched like a worm and then the faster she got, it became an army crawl that was so fast and smooth people told us she looked like a snake. But, now at 11 months, she decides to crawl in the traditional style. Funny!

She loves the water. She trys to drink it though, so we have to watch her like a hawk.

I wish I could say the flash made us all look white, but sadly, that is what MI has done to our skin. I cannot wait to get some color back in me this summer.