Pumpkin Run 2011

Wow! What a morning! The weather was gorgeous and perfect for this event. The 7th Annual Pumpkin Run was a HUGE success!!!! The race raised $62,454 for Le Bonheur Children's Hospital! This is amazing! Thank you to everyone who participated, signed up as ghost runners, and came out to cheer us on... This is so wonderful and will help so many children! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I have to give a shout out to some very special friends who came out for the race. Russell and Nancy Lindsey are the sweet parents of my wonderful college friend, Fran (who my children call Aunt Fran because she is just like a sister to me - so dear and special) who came from Covington early on this Saturday morning to support Le Bonheur! It was so wonderful to see them! I was not thinking completely straight and did not get a picture of them with us that morning (which I am so sorry about and REALLY regret - will definitely have to get one next year!!). But, Mrs. Lindsey texted me a picture of her and her medal - she won 3rd in her age group!!!!! Good job, Mrs. Lindsey! Thank you for coming to support Lucy and Madeline!

Here we are, Team Miracle! On the left are our good friends - Madeline went to Kindergarten with their daughter, and now Eli goes to preschool with their son! We've come to be such close friends and it really meant so much to us that they came out for the race! Mom had to work, but hopefully will get to come next year!

Tiffany, Brad and sweet baby girl Sabrina are to the left of the stroller. Across and down are Nonna, Pop, Tim, Mimi, Lauren Ashley, Dada, Aunt Dessa, Uncle Steven (AKA Uncle Ninny!), Parker, Madeline, Eli, Susanna and me. What a great group! We had a fun time walking the course and visiting. Vadessa and Steven were talking about expanding our team's goals next year to fundraising and more team members - very exciting and inspiring!

Tim, Vadessa and Steven ran the race!!! Super job, guys! Vadessa's FIRST 5K, and you'd never know it! She did AWESOME!!!!! She looks like a pro and did a fantastic job running! Way to go, team!

Brad, Tiff and Sabrina in her fun red wagon! Sabrina shared her wagon with Susanna during the race and we all had a great time watching the two of them!

Here we have Strawberry Shortcake, Elphaba, Minnie Mouse and Mimi pushing the stroller!

Here we have Chick Hicks and Buzz Lightyear!

Dada and Suzy Q playing! A super close friend of mine from college, Heather, gave Madeline the Minnie Mouse costume when she was Susanna's age. She lives in Orlando and loves Disney! It's so fun that Susanna gets to wear it now, too!

Our friends Angela, Steven, Laney, Will and Matthew come out every year for the race, too! Matthew is a cardiac kid and Angela is a parent mentor, fellow Friday night dinner in the CVICU friend and Tea Party founder and planner extraordinaire!!

Madeline rallying to do some art! Unfortunately, she started running a fever again Friday night. She did not feel well race day. She sat in the stroller most of the morning.

Our annual picture in front of the van! It's fun to compare them each year and see where we are as far as kids' growth and phases! Susanna is definitely on the go, and at this point, Eli and Madeline were done!

I had to include these two from before the race! Eli is Chick Hicks from the Cars movie! He's doing a regular Eli face and a "mean Chick" face!

A fun morning for a wonderful cause!