Rand Road Run 2010

This week was Red Ribbon Week at Cassidy's school. The focus is "Say NO to Drugs!" and each day has a dress-up theme. There were door decorating competitions, a pep rally, a performance by a brass ensemble, and the week ended with the Rand Road Run, the school's annual fundraiser that emphasizes physical fitness. Our family joined Cassidy for a day of fun activities and fellowship with her classmates.

MONDAY: Team Sports Day

(I forgot to photograph all the other dress-up days: PJ's day, Wacky Day, and Sunglasses Day!)

Lily had her preschool Orange Party on Thursday, so I made her a special shirt for the occassion. She was SO excited when she saw it that she squealed and threw her arms around my neck...TOTALLY worth the effort for that one moment! :)

Watching the cheerleaders as they get the crowd excited!

Walking with friends over to the field games

Race #1: Jumping over bales of hay

Race #2: Sack Race

"Jump, Cassidy, Jump!!!"

Tug-of-War

This was Cassidy's FAVORITE game!

The Face of Determination

PULL!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE WON!!! WE WON!!!

Celebrating Kindergarten-style :)

Finny stretching his legs while Lily takes a break from all the fun!

Balancing a pumpin on her head...there were 3 sizes and, of course, she chose the LARGEST one! :)

Lily's tatoo - a dinosaur

Cassidy's tatoo - a PINK ant

Lily and Cassidy's classmate, Zoe, were fast friends...maybe because they are the same size! :)

Lily with her best bud, Zoe, and Cassidy's best bud, Callisa

Meeting Mr. Snoopy, the Hot Dog Man

Lily showing off her dance moves...Finny (not pictured) was busy impressing all the adults with his rhythm! :)

Lily taking off at the start of the run!

Look at Cassidy GO!

Lily ran the ENTIRE time. Even when she fell and bumped her knees, she refused to quit and let me carry her. She said, "No, I have to do it myself. They don't hurt anymore." Then she dusted herself off and took off again! That's my tough girl.

Cassidy started and ended strong, but wanted to be carried part-way through the run. Mom says I would have been the same way at her age. :)

In the end, both girls did a great job. Cassidy ran 11 laps - exceeding her goal of 10 laps - and Lily ran 13 laps. Each ran about 1 1/2 miles total! Pretty awesome for such little legs! :)

After all that great exercise and fresh air, we were all STARVING. We had a little family picnic in Cassidy's classroom. YUM!!! :)

My Heart is Purple and Gold!

Our Pirate Family traveled back to G-ville yesterday for ECU Homecoming. It was a great day in Pirate Country!

"My heart is PURPLE & GOLD. I'm a Pirate down to my soul and I don't back down not at all. Find out when the cannons explode...All out til the last whistle blows from the flag with the skull and crossbones!" ...Udon Cheek and the Marching Pirates

The girls with our Pirate Captain, Coach Ruff

Pirate Grads
Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate

Daddy's Pirettes

Getting ready to watch the parade

The girls and PeeDee...Lily didn't want to get too close!

Cassidy got a pirate hat during the parade.

ARRRRRRRGH!!!

Croshaw and First Mate Finny

Former Fleming Hall Residents...ahhh, the memories! :)

Silliness

Tailgating with pimiento cheese and corn dip...we are in HEAVEN!!!

One Happy Girl!

Lily was STARVING!!!!

Playing peek-a-boo with Daddy's hat

At the football game...we took turns pooping out...it's Cassidy's turn right now! :)

WHAT A GAME!!! WHAT A DAY!!!

We had to most amazing day yesterday as we cheered (well, screamed, really) the Pirates to victory in OT over the NC State Wolfpack. What a game! As stressful as these nailbiter games are, I just LOVE the excitement and electricity of these moments! There we stood with bated breath as the Pirate Defense fought for victory and made the game-winning interception! I with we had a picture of our family as we all reacted in unison, along with 50,000+ of the Pirate Nation in the stands with us! What an unbelievable moment to share with our family!!! We capped off the victory with a celebratory Pirate dance...even our Pirate Captain, Coach Ruff, joined in!

Our day ended with a family dinner and some playtime with cousins Jordan and Samantha. Sam and her parents, Ashley (my cousin) and Todd, had made the trip from VA for the game, too. Sam is almost exactly 9 months younger than Cassidy and 1 year and 2 days older than Lily so these girls LOVE any opportunity to be together! It was the perfect end to a wonderful day!

My Favorite Pirate Cheerleader are ready for action!

Showing off her cheerleading poses

Sweet Cheeks

Finny's got his game face on!

Big Sis/Little Bro

World's Cutest Pirates

Finn's 1st Pirate Game...the first of many!

Aunt Heather, sweet baby Jordan, and Uncle Bailey

The girls with Aunt Jennifer and Mema

It was Lettermen's Day, so the girls got to go on the field during halftime with my dad when the Letterwinners were recognized. They were SO excited!!!

My Favorite Kind of Day

This is my favorite kind of day. The kind of day when we...

...practice our gymnastics...

...and show off our muscles...

...where we run and jump and climb...

...and give lots of kisses to remind each other of our love...

...where sisters are also best friends...

...and where even though a fight with sister makes us sad...

...a cuddle from Mommy can make it all better...

...where I'm still laughing and joking with the man I've loved for 14 years...

....and we make silly faces...

...and snuggle with Daddy...

...and then we make MORE silly faces...

...and then snuggle some more...

...and there's nowhere to go and no one to meet...just time for us to be together in this beautiful moment, on this beautiful day...

...and I get to hang with the world's cutest Pirate...

...and life is good.