I finished the Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon! Yay me!!!

On Saturday, I finished my first mini marathon! The Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon was a sold out race with 15,000 runners! I registered back in January, and ran many miles from January to April! But my hard work paid off.

We spent the night with Mike's parents Friday night in La Grange to be closer. I slept very little Friday night--I was so anxious and nervous that we would not hear the alarm! I woke up at 4:45 to get ready, then Mike drove me downtown to catch the shuttle to the starting line. He left and went back to pick up Emma and Gabe, and Nana and Grandpa.

At 7:30, the race began, and I was in Corral C and it took 10 minutes just to cross over the starting line. There were 15,000 runners after all, so it took a while! The mini's course took us through Iroquois Park, and through the famous Churchill Downs! The racing horses were practicing, which was so cool! And by the time we exited Churchill Downs, we were more than half way finished! But, the stretch from Churchill Downs to the finish line was the hardest part of the run for me. But, I kept on running and never stopped! Now, 3 blocks aways from the finish line, I was really, really tired and sore and just ready to finish! Another runner and I almost stopped to walk ,and a specatator looked at us and shouted "Come on Ladies! Don't give up! Only 3 more blocks to the Finish Line!" And that's all I needed to hear to start running again! Let me just say...the fan support along the route was awesome. They would clap and cheer and shout out words of encouragement. It was amazing! I also saw my friend Carrie and her girls at 2 different locations throughout the race. She was there cheering on her husband and friends. She even snapped a photo of me!

But, the most amazing part was seeing the Finish Line in sight--and then looking over as I heard, "Julie!!! Julie!!!" Mike, Emma, Gabe, Nana and Grandpa were yelling and cheering for me! There were so many people there, and I was afraid that I would not be able to see them. But there they were,smiling and cheering, and then I ran happily to the Finish Line! My official time was 2:28:00!

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." --Mark Twain




This is when I first saw Mike and the fam cheering!

See the smile on my face? The end was near!


At runners reunite. I LOVE my medal! :)

Emma's kindergarten Easter Egg Hunt!

Last Friday, Emma's class had an Easter party complete with a sight word egg hunt! Mrs. Blanc had included a sight word inside each egg (along with other treats), and then the students went back to the classroom and divided into groups of 2, and read their sight words to each other. They loved it! Then they went back outside to play a relay game. After the game was finished, they went back to the classroom to have snacks. It really was a wonderful party, and the kids enjoyed it. I love Mrs. Blanc--she really does love and treat her students as if they were her own children! There were several parents at the party, and she made a little speech about how she loved our children and she thinks she has the best class! She even became teary-eyed...it just shows how much she loves her students. And they love her for sure! Another thing I like about Mrs. Blanc--siblings are always welcome! She brings out toys for them to stay entertained and even had them snacks! Gabe already loves her, and kept picking her "flowers" outside!


Emma at her party!

They played a relay game, balancing the egg on the spoon.

Ava and Emma read their sight words to each other

Emma during the egg hunt



Gabe and papaw went for (slow) ride around the yard on Easter Sunday afternoon.

Easter Sunday!

Easter morning--they were very happy with what the Easter Bunny left in their baskets!

Our family--on Easter!

Aunt Tonya, Gabe, Emma and mommy

Daddy and Gabe

Aunt Tonya and Gabe

Gabe's on a mission!

He looked so handsome in his new Easter clothes!

Emma with her Easter hat!

Emma's reaction after she found out Macy found more eggs...

She's on the hunt!

Aunt Tonya helped Gabe!

Emma and Macy

Mike took this one of Gabe after he fell...but he got up and kept on hunting!

The little ones got a head start.

Easter Saturday at Nana and Grandpa's!

We had such a wonderful and busy Easter weekend! On Saturday we headed up to Nana and Grandpa's for dinner and an egg hunt, and the kids had a ball! Let me tell you...Emma Caroline was on a mission. She even told Mike when he tried to get a picture in the middle of the hunt, "No daddy, I don't have time for pictures right now!"


Gabe gave Maddie a ride on the scooter!

BUNNY CAKE!!! They immediately started (trying) to stick their fingers in the icing!

Oh, this was after the egg hunt. Gabe had to spend a few minutes in "timeout". :( But I thought it was a cute picture so I posted it.

Gabe's getting his goody bag from Nana after the egg hunt. There were "winners" in each age category--2, 3, 4 and 5!

Going through their Easter goodies

Brenna and Emma

Maddie and Gabe

She was on a mission!

On the hunt...

Gabe needed a little help...

He found one!

The was at the beginning of the hunt...

Best picture we could get of the Tharpe grandkids.

Gabe liked helping Uncle Dave in the garage!

Gabe's Preschool Easter Egg Hunt!

Yesterday was Gabe's Easter Egg hunt at preschool. He had so much fun! I cannnot believe that we are so close to the end of this school year. My little boy is growing up way too fast! But he is thriving in preschool,and I know he will do wonderful in 4 year old preschool next year!



He found an egg!

On the hunt for Easter eggs!

Mommy and Gabe

He loved it that I was there with him!

Lining up to go outside

Mrs. Michelle's MTW preschool class

They are the cutest little bunnies that I have ever seen! My friend Carrie painted their little faces, and they just loved it!