Fun Run

On Saturday our family participated in our first one mile fun run. Hunter has been running several times a week for several months now. He's been working on building endurance and stamina. We thought a race would be nice motivation. Hunter took a full two minutes off his best time and Emily took first place in her division.

The most satisfying part of this experience was watching my children encourage each other. They didn't compete against each other. They hugged and gave high fives. What great kids. I am truly blessed.

My American Girl

On Thursday I took Emily with our friends Lydia and Rachel to American Girl Place in Manhattan to have afternoon tea and see "Circle of Friends," the stage show that will be closing forever on September 1st.

We decided to make this fun excursion Emily and Lydia's Birthday party this year.

Emily got a new doll. She named her Julia. Then she named her Kate. I'm not sure what her name is now. Julia/Kate has a dog named Coconut. I think Emily likes to play with Coconut more than Julia/Kate. Julia/Kate got some new clothes and a fancy bag to travel in. Coconut got a doggie carrier.

We had tea at the cafe'. It was soooo cute. Everything was tiny and cut into shapes. Emily was more interested in the tiny little cup and saucer for Julia/Kate than in the food.

The show had a great message about friendship and how friends should treat each other. Emily has been singing the circle of friends song ever since. We had a great time and I am so happy that this little American Girl is mine.

The reason I love American Girl is that it let's girls be girls and doesn't push them to grow up too fast. That is also one of the things that I love about Emily. She loves to be seven and she is not concerned about being older. Emily is a joy. It is a pleasure and honor to be her mother. She is happy, eager to help. She is optimistic, she is grateful, she remembers her manners and she does her best to choose the right.

I love my Emily. Happy Birthday.

Tagged

Carissa tagged me....

The rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages).
2. Turn to page 123.
3. Find the 5th sentence.
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog.
5. Tag 5 people.

"Don told me this upcoming passage felt different from the one he made a decade ago."

What Should I Do With My Life? by Po Bronson

This is a book Michael read several years ago. It has nine stories about people who "answered the ultimate question." I pulled it off the bookshelf upstairs yesterday because a girl in my ward is moving and I wanted to copy the chapter for her about the girl who was so upset because her family moved that she didn't utter one word to them for two years. She was a teenager, they lived in the same house and she refused to talk to them. I really need to read it. Sounds like a great coping strategy.

I tag Michael, Amanda, Denise, Lisa, Lynita