5k A-Okay!

So I ran my first 5k today (3.2 miles), which was amazing. It was a big fundraiser for St. Helen so we showed up in droves.

We run in gym, most of the time 2.5 miles or so, but it's much different running around a gym vs. a cross country trek through Humboldt Park on a windy, 45-degree morning.

Got to the start line with my homegirls, Shea and Olive.

And then we were off and at it. Mom and I ran the whole way together, we lost Shea and Olive along the way somewhere, but we picked up my friend Piper, who is in the third grade. She ran with mom and me the whole way and then she and I picked it up towards the end and crossed the finish line together.

You can see the time on the clock says 34 minutes and four seconds so I ran about 10.5-minute miles, which I thought was pretty good for my first shot at it.

Mae and Pax went in the double stroller with Dad. Pax yelled out along the way, "Dad, this is AWESOME!" and Mae just took it all in... when she wasn't being carried around by Olive.

She decided she'd like to run next time, but just a mile, so we're going to sign up for a couple more runs.

Me? I can't wait to get back at it. Piper's dad asked me to join their runners club and I think I might have found a new home out on the trail!

Oh, and don't forget my wingmen.

First Time for Everything

Like getting communion.

I had my first communion today and I think the thing people said the most to me was actually, "Finley! I've never seen you in a dress before!"

My photo editor needs to get some more photos from his backup photographer but here are a few that we got:

First, let's start with the star of the show, c'est moi.

Then came the ceremony. I had a nice little speaking part but Mabel had a rough night the night before so Dad was sitting down with her on his lap sleeping and missed seeing it.

The whole crew was there (from left to right) - Papa, Nana, Eli and Zaya, Grandma and Grandpa. Loved the support from everyone.

Then afterward it was photo time. Here's the group shot, including the Pope himself!

Besties - Olive and Shea

Double Besties - Mom and dad... looking sideways.

My favorite teacher in the whole wide world, Miss Lozon.

And one more shot of the Big Dog, on my Big Day.

Oh, and that's not the Pope up there. We have a cardboard cutout of him in the back of the church and Dad and his buddy Rod thought it would be great to turn it around and have it look like he was at our first communion... real mature, dad (and Rod).

Before we end this post I'll leave you with this story.

So leading into my first communion we were up in my room - me, Mae, Dad - heading towards bed and I was explaining about my first communion. Mae starts asking questions and starting to get silly and so I stood firm and was detailing it again and finally I had to level set and I said, "Mae, it's SERIOUS! It's a serious thing!"

She got really quiet and started shaking her head and said, "Wait, Fin, are you going to see God on Sunday?" 

Classic Mabel.

Dads. Daughters. Dance.

So we had the second annual Dad-Daughter Dance at St. Helen last Saturday night and let me just say, we got down with it.

A few pre-party pics at the house.

Then we got to the dance and had ourselves a hoot and a holler.

Getting footloose with friends.

Adrianna is in the house!!

Hanging with Dad.

Yes, those are my Jordans on my feet, and Mae has her gymmies on too. When the dogs start aching you gotta substitute the stuffy dress shoes out, so we did.

And here's me hanging with my homegirls. This is one of my bestie - Olive.

And this should be a familiar face to all of you who have been following this blog of mine for the past four years. This is my bestie Nadia. They call us Ebony and Ivory. I'm not sure what that means, and who's Ebony and who's Ivory, but whatever, all the grownups seem to like it.