Two things

1.  Our local online web 'neighbourhood news' included a photo of me in the 33rd annual Terry Fox run, all I'm doing is starting my iPod so I'm not even going to link to it.. if I was wearing a shawl or making a particularly crazy face though I would... just for your enjoyment.

We are all signed up for the Oct 19th Colour Me Rad 5k.. although maybe no one should ask me to suggest a team name after a post-run 2nd glass of wine?

2. Random but speaking of running.. the other day I ordered a travel bag for my son Ethan's EpiPen and the stock image they used on their website confirming my order was unintentionally hilarious.

What is this supposed to be?

Ah yes.. anaphylactic allergies make me think of being SO happy that my kids are running away!  especially the little one, possibly right into a big pile of peanuts?  It's cool, though, we have so many EpiPens.  If they're so happy why are they reaching for them like that??? lol

Race 0

Terry Fox is more of a Canadian hero so if you are not Canadian (or a BAD Canadian! Shame! I'm going to take away your Timmies coffee!) and have not heard of his story or the Marathon of Hope, you can read the wiki.

Terry Fox Foundation's Facebook Page

Personally, I have always loved reading wiki/encyclopaedia on random interesting things or people.  Maybe you appreciate it too even if you have already heard of him; he did have a pretty remarkable and interesting life.  My life isn't nearly as remarkable but as a kid I was just never a good runner, I hid on mandatory track and field days, sat on the sides because I was always last or made fun of having a silly duck run.  Still, I have always wanted to do this particular fundraising run because it's so obviously inspiring.

So! Tuesday evening I sent my friend Brooke a message saying let's do the Terry Fox 5k in my city on Sunday.  There is a more casual 'participation' run/walk at 10am but I wanted to do the real one at 9am.  Her response was probably a swear word, and can we even do 5k?  It's a fair reaction for her since we'd only been out once together this September.  We have talked about doing a 5k Colour Me Rad in October and the Santa run December.  My end goal is a 10k around the bay in March.

During the race I was happy to see Brooke was doing well, especially for someone who has taken a long hiatus in running and has only been training 3-5 times this year, so I think it's a huge milestone for us.  We usually finish bottles of wine together, not races haha.  The most hilarious part was that we were about 30 seconds from the finish line and she yells for me to 'go on without her' which we kept joking about because uhh NO I am not crossing the finish without you!! it's literally right there!! lol.  I took a picture with my iPod at every KM mark.

...4K was kind of gross..

We got a massage after which was awesome! Why can't that happen at every race?? We grabbed a bite, had a high five, and headed to the team BBQ later that afternoon.

5K!  We're the wieners! 

 A good day.

If you want to know why I titled this post 'Race 0' it's because there is a statue at Mile 0 where Terry Fox started his run across the country.  We start somewhere.  As cliche as it may seem, every journey has a first step and the only thing important to the narrative of your story is merely to decide if you want to start.  Who knows, it might just end with a pleasant surprise.  Or hot dogs.. always start stuff that ends with hot dogs.

Ann-Marie's 1st race

Sunday sunday sunday!  

The Terry Fox Run

I didn't paint

First week of school is almost over, and it felt like a year long process.  Most notable in effort was my not losing my shit when the time came to send my second baby out into the world.  A world of all day Kindergarden and everything that doesn't involve his Mom.

I'm happy to report honestly that I left my tears for the car ride home, or under my hand as I grabbed a pic or two as my heart happily climbed the giant stairs of the schoolbus.. which he has been waiting to do for what I'm sure seems like his whole life.

He has been doing amazing in class and I'm very proud of him.  He comes home happy but when I ask how it was he bases his whole day on whether he has painted or not.  It's either "I painted" or "I didn't paint" and then other things come after that declaration.  Easy to please!

Ethan went to his first day last week, glad as ever that his best friend in the whole world (AND NEIGHBOUR) will be in his class.  I swear they will get tattoos when they are older they just love each other so much.

Luckily, I never have been or ever will be worried this boy is ready for anything...

....but is grade two ready for him?

Days of our lives!!!!

Did I fun-fail the Back to School sleepover party?  Let's find out.

7 seven year old boys took over my house on the last weekend of Summer.  Their parents called me nuts.

It was a lot more fun than I had ever imagined.

I wanted the boys to have one last blow out of crazy fun before school started, and I am really glad we did because all the friends did not make it into the same class this year so it was nice they had that experience together.  A few of them, including my son, randomly declared that this was the best night of their lives and they'd remember it forever.

Fun win!

Things to note.  Seven year old boys, en mass, are actually seriously hilarious!  This one kid was a gold mine of things coming out of his mouth that had me in tears all night long.  One of them exclaimed, in the middle of the party "That's Ethan's MOM???" to which another boy said "Yes! It really is!"  as to confirm the story for me.  No I'm just a really nice neighbour who likes feeding kids and hangs around Ethan a lot... he's pretty 'cool'.  When it came to movie time I was asking for suggestions and just said "What do you guys want to watch?" at least three scream "TRUE BLOOD!!!!!!" and one yells out DAYS OF OUR LIVES!!! IT'S THE BEST SHOW!  I swear.. yeah I'm going to be the parent to show all the kids True Blood, sure guys!  How do they even know what that is??

You know what else I learned?  Allowing them to play dress up and scream up and down the stairs in whatever game they are playing is not all that funny in itself.. but randomly noticing all the kids are shirtless and/or pantsless when they run by with play swords IS very funny.  More than once I audibly asked, to no one in particular, where are your clothes??  

I strongly recommend a team of 3 adults for a party like this.  One to set up the next activity, one to clean up the last activity, one to supervise the current activity.  We were a well oiled machine and come home time there was hardly any mess!

So.. our timeline of events:

1. screaming like crazy
2. eating pizza
3. find everyone's shirts
4. craft activity: glow in the dark bead necklaces/keychains
5. dessert WORMS IN DIRT (chocolate pudding with gummy worms and oreo cookie crumbled 'dirt' on top
6. have them decorate their loot bags for candy
7. change into pjs
8. outdoor activity: treasure chest piñata filled with gold chocolate coins, wrapped candy and glow in the dark stuff & finger lights.
9.  let the kids play with the glow in the dark stuff in the basement with sleeping bags
10. two movies: Spy Kids 3 and Epic
11. supervise the last few kids not sleeping until lights out
12. morning pancakes and listening to jokes about Mrs. Buttersworth (there are apparently lots)
13. pack the first day signs and Mabel's Label's stuff into their loot bags for home
14. remind the kids to tell their parents we did other things than run around in our underwear!