And the Race is On!!!

Our son-in-law, Michael, has gotten a fitness bug big-time.  He started with a very strict diet.  Bought all his own food and cooked it himself. Lost some weight. And he has taken up running with a couple of other men in his neighborhood that were runners.  Michael has never been an unhealthy person.  He has refereed soccer for years and had to stay in good shape to run up and down that field several games in a row.  This work on his part just takes him to another level.  

The Kentucky Derby is a HUGE deal. There are weeks of events prior to the Derby.  There is truly something of interest to everyone in the various types of events and activities held leading up to the Derby.  One of those is a marathon race.  Those who don't want to do the marathon can do a half-marathon.  Michael has never run in a marathon so he started out with this half-marathon race as his first venture into that field. 

Andie wanted to cheer her hubby on but was not sure about taking the Mini's into that crowd of people and keeping up with them and getting pictures of Michael.  I volunteered to watch the Mini's so she could have this momentous occasion with Michael.  Besides the fact that Bailey is taking a Saturday class each week and needed to be at that class.  

Friday, Claude parked his Jeep in Papa's garage and we took my car to La Grange.  Michael needed pasta for dinner to carb up before the race.  Andie made a huge pot of spaghetti and we all enjoyed that for dinner.  Michael ate the leftovers in two meals on Saturday after the race. 

Friday night Bailey came downstairs sporting her new pajamas.  Oh my!!  She loves to take selfies with my phone camera and use fun settings which I never even think about having on the phone.  The pj's have reflective skeleton surfaces on them.  They are florescent and when the lights are off they shine.  

Saturday Michael was out of the house early.  Andie and Hayden were up next.  Then I made it downstairs and visited with Hayden while Andie finished getting ready.  Bailey joined us and then Claude.  Michael had given Andie instructions as to the best way to get into Louisville and to find parking.  He also gave her a bag of goodies he would need after the race.  Andie headed to Louisville.  Claude and the Mini's and I enjoyed a quiet morning. 

Andie set the television to record the news coverage of the marathon. It turns out they actually got a good shot of Michael running and waving at the camera.  We signed up for text messages about his progress in the race.  We only got a text after the race was finished.

Here is Michael and his two running buddies and one of their sons before the race.

Here is Michael after the race was over when he and Andie found each other in all the masses of people.

Michael was one tired and very happy man.  He ran 13 miles in 2 hours, 7 minutes and 37 seconds.  Claude figured it at 9.69 minutes per mile for the entire race.  Such an amazing goal to accomplish.  So proud of him for working so hard at it and achieving his goal.

When Michael and Andie pulled into the garage, we heard the garage door go up.  I told the kids they should cheer their dad's accomplishment.  Bailey opted for another selfie. Such is this generation!

The plan was to spend the night and let Andie and Michael have a date, if Michael felt up to it.  If he didn't, Claude and I were going to head back to Sadieville on Saturday afternoon/evening.  

Michael took an ice bath to soothe the aching muscles.  He ate pasta and peanut butter sandwiches to replenish himself.  He and Andie had naps.  

Then the troubles began.  It is always hard when little ones struggle with emotions.  As a parent, I dealt with that and handled all the emotions a kids could throw at me.  As a grandparent who doesn't deal with it every day, my knee-jerk reaction is to do whatever to get them back on track.  Whatever is not always the right response.  Bailey and Hayden are at the age where lessons need to be learned about some appropriate behaviors.  They both seemed to need that training at the same time in the afternoon about the time for Michael and Andie to go to dinner.  

We had determined to load the car since Andie and Michael would be home early enough for us to head back to Sadieville.  Bad weather was anticipated for the Louisville area and that weather included hail storms.  Our car would have been out in the hail.  So, if we could get home and protect it from that damage, we thought that best.  Andie and Michael would have an early dinner, close in to their home, and then we would leave for Sadieville before the evening storms.

However, Andie and Michael ended up having talks with each of the Mini's and the end result was they felt they needed to stay home and parent their kids instead of go out for a dinner with a free babysitter.  Bailey was a flood of tears.  Comforting words from parents to the Mini's regarding their behavior choices.  Such patience on the part of parents will only be understood by the kids when they are in that situation themselves.  Claude and I are aching to help make it right with a total understanding that lessons must be learned now before those teen years hit.  We hugged and loved as best we could and then we hit the road leaving behind a tearful Bailey and a sad Hayden.  

Later I received a text from  Andie with this picture.  Bailey determined the best way to get herself out of her emotional state was a craft project so she made this mask for herself and helped her mom bake some cookies for Michael.  I sent a message back to Andie thanking her for the visit and sharing our difficulty with leaving like that and our appreciation that she understood that was difficult.  I thanked Andie and Michael for being good parents and making the best choice, even though a dinner with just two of them was something they really would have enjoyed and appreciated.  My statement to Andie, "Parenting is not for the 'faint of heart'".  

It was a good visit.  So proud of Michael.  So understanding of helping kids grow and learn.  Families are so very important.