2012 Marathon Weekend

Dear Abigail,

This past weekend marked the 3rd half marathon Mommy has participated in.  Each year, I know it's going to take a lot of hard work to get to it, but at the end of the day, there is nothing like crossing that finish line.  AND,  each year I know the whole weekend is guaranteed to be fun!  Why?  Because we always have family and friends participating too, so what else do we do, but celebrate!!!  On Thursday, Mimi, Ash-ash, Clara Lee and Emily headed this way.  Mimi and Ash-ash were racing too, so they had to get here an extra day early.  Later on Friday, Pic-pic and Uncle Jay joined us, but we'll get to that later.  Thursday was our usual Thursday, with gymnastics and playing outside and even a little bike ride up and down the road while Kate slept. You asked 1 million times if Mimi was here yet, and each time I'd say "They are closer" then you'd make me show you with my arms how close.  While we were patiently waiting, the weather started getting a little fishy.  By fishy, I mean those dark clouds, no rain, but high winds.  In other words, tornadoey.  Mimi had said they weren't too far from Franklin, so I decided to turn on the tv, just to check on this weather.  Well, about 5 mintues into watching it, the news weatherman popped on the screen in a very panicky voice saying "If you live in Franklin, anywhere near downtown, get in your safe spot now."  Well, at first I was like 'whatever.  You are always so dramatic'.  But then he repeated himself like 10 times and showed exactly where they were talking about and, well, it was right near our house!  Of course, Dadddy wasn't home so I wasn't sure exactly what to do, so I picked Kate up, told you to grab your flashlight and we headed to our safespot.

Oh,  where's our safe spot you ask?  Well, your Daddy was clever enough to build a tornado shelter in our fancy new house!  Now, I wasn't quite prepared, nor was the shelter, for this tornado, but it made me feel better just sitting in it.  I was a little freaked out by the darkness, other than your flashlight and my phone, and a little concerned that I'd never know if we could come out or not, but overall, we were safe!  You loved it, until I was talking to Daddy on the phone and mentioned that I was concerned a rat might walk across my legs.  None did though.  I talked to Mimi, too, and they were minutes from our house so I assumed we were safe to get out, and we were!  But just a couple miles apparently a tornado touched and flipped a couple cars!!!  Shewwwww!! What a way to start a whirlwind of a weekend!!  (pun intended!)

So Mimi and the girls made it and you were SUPER pumped.  They didn't get there until 7ish so you didn't have too long to play, but it was plenty enough time to destroy a couple things and burn some energy.  Yes, destroy.  You popped the air mattress...
On Friday, you, Em and CL took off right where you left off and forgot all about even eating breakfast!!! You will see in a few, this was kind of a theme for the day, forgetting to eat.  Or rather, just not eating.  Anyway, so we took our time getting showered and dressed and then all of us piled in our car and headed downtown to register for the race.  Someone told you, not sure who, but someone told you we were headed to a party, and you kept asking when we were going to get to the party.  You even asked "Are people going to be dressed in costumes at this party?"  Ash-ash got a kick out of that.  And no, no one was dressed up.  It did take us a solid hour to find a parking spot.  Good gracious we all were growing impatient, but finally we got in and out of the registration.  It was kind of a hassle to get to, in and out of the registration for you kiddos, so I suggested we do something with y'all, and because you were rather disappointed there was no party... So, Mommy had remembered there was a carnival going on in downtown Franklin, so we headed that way.  Well, while looking for it, we looked it up and realized it didn't open until 5!! So, we headed to our house and let you kiddos play.  Oh, and eat a little lunch since it was now 2 and we hadn't eaten a snack OR lunch!! Good gracious where does the time go with this crew! 

After you guys played on the playground and Mommy and Ash-ash ran to the store, we packed and loaded the car up yet again and headed to the carnival!  You had been to the fair almost 2 years ago, and didn't want to ride any rides, so I wasn't sure what you were going to do, if anything, at the carnival.  Boy, was I in for a shock!  Immediately you wanted to ride every ride you could see.  And Em, too, and Clara Lee, too, but she quickly changed her mind! 

First, you and Em rode the boats.  Again, this was your first ride, so I wasn't so sure, but you loved it!!!

Next, CL wanted to ride the strawberries, so we headed that way.  Now this one spun around in circles, and how fast was dependant on how fast you could spin the wheel.  Again, I was a little concerned...

But clearly for no reason at all!!!  You loved it again!!! Now you were ready to try anything!  So... we did.  You had your eye on the roller coaster.  I was very hesitant about it but you were tall enough if an adult rode with you.  So, after begging and pleading from you, I hopped on with you and Em.  

Please take note of your face in this one...

Yes, you got scared.  Very scared.  To the point where the guy stopped the ride to let us off because your face was priceless.  He was very nice about it.  And we went maybe 3 or 4 times around until I realized this was not your cup of tea!  But look at you here, you were back to normal in no time and begging to ride the next one.  Which was spin cup things and which you were not tall enough for, with or without and adult.   So just me and Em rode them and I can promise you you would have been scared.  I'm pretty sure my stomack flipped a couple times! 

You rode a couple more rides and then it was time to start heading out.  Em kept mentioning the Ferris Wheel, so of course, you kept mentioning it.  Mommy had just done this gravatron spin around thing with Ash-ash and was severly regretting it, so said I could not go on the Ferris wheel, so Mimi stepped up and took one for the team..  Here you and Em are waiting for your turn.  Both of you look a little concerned.  And one, the bigger one, Em, was VERY concerned!!

She almost didn't get on, but Mimi made her since you were getting on!

Can you see Em?!!  Mimi said she was super scared and you raised your hands up one time and she yelled at you to put your hands back down!!!

So, after the ferris wheel, we headed to Mellow Mushroom where Daddy had put our name down.  We were meeting Pic-pic and Uncle Jay there, too, and by the time we got there, there was an hour long wait.  Boo.  But we decided we'd wait it out.  Well, bad mistake.  An hour went by, and no table.  Your sister was clearly running  a fever and the rest of you kiddos were wild as can be, and hungry, and tired.  I left to take Kate home, but the rest of the gang stuck it out, or at least tried, but I got a call within mintues from being home and they were all heading home with the pizza to go because still no table!  It was a crazy hour or so getting everything situated at home, you kiddos bathed, fed and put to bed, but finally we sat down and all rested.  Except your poor sister who was not feeling well at all...
The next morning, early might I add, Mommy, Mimi and Ash-ash headed out to our race.  It was Mimi's first time and she did fantastic for being such a grandma :) 

While we were racing, the boys, or Daddy's I should say, gathered all y'all up and headed to your soccer game and then headed downtown to meet us.  Daddy said you did good at soccer and you told us all that you made a goal.  Come to find out, that goal as after the game was over, but nonetheless, you were super excited about it!! 
We decided to meet everyone at Joe's Crab Shack downtown, so we didn't have to get in the car and head somewhere else and then back downtown (more on that later).  Surprisingly, there was hardly anyone there!  Works for us!!  After racing 13.1 miles, we all were starving, and it wasn't surprising that Mimi got a hold of some legs!  Crab legs that is! 

After we ate, we all got cleaned up, or well me, Ash-ash and Mimi and then we changed you from your soccer clothes and walked to Robert's.  That's right, we were headed to a bar.  Maybe you remember from the past couple of years, but after the marathon we always head to Robert's to meet up with other people who did the race.  Chloe's grandfather was really sick a couple of years ago with a brain tumor but he stayed strong and fought it off so we run (and celebrate) that victory every year! So off to Robert's we go...

Of course, we had to stop and pet EVERY SINGLE HORSE along the way.  You think you are a horse expert now that we've been to the races!

Once we got to Robert's, we did what every good parent does - let their kid loose in a bar.  Not really, but it seemed like that!  It was pretty crowded, but you kiddos managed to find the dance floor anyway.  I'm pretty sure you found the front door a couple of times, too, but we (or someone...) caught you just in time.

You also were pretty stoked that your favorite person in the world, Chloe, was there...

I still don't think you get that Chloe and Clara Lee are cousins, but whatever, she's your favorite person nonetheless!!!

After hanging out for awhile at Robert's, we headed home to relax a little, or at least that was Mommy's plan!!  You and Em and Clara Lee of course found something to do, too!

You guys played and played and played with everything you could get your hands on!  Clara Lee's other grand parents joined us for dinner and Daddy cooked the most delicious hamburgers eva!!  AND, nothing tops a good grilled hamburger like s'mores!!!!

Delicious, I tell ya!  We finally all made it to the bed at one point or another and woke up to a yummy breakfast and another beautiful day.  You three girls mangaed to find the water hose and cool off, too!  Eventually, everyone had to leave and you were not happy about that.  You did not understand why no one was here to play with you and even said "Can we go to Ellie's house then?".  Ummm, no.  We're going to chill at our house by ourselves for a bit!!  You needed it and are much rested now!  Ready for another fun weekend, that is!!!!
Yay for racing!  And one day soon, I hope you get to race with Mommy.  Maybe you, me and Mimi can all race together??!!  Love you Abs!!!