Shamrocks and Shenanigans

As I mentioned a few posts ago - there is ALWAYS something to do in Ann Arbor. We source these family friendly excursions from a jackpot of a paper - The Ann Arbor Observer. My aunt (Big MR) has this little gem delivered monthly and attacks it with her neon yellow highlighter. I am proud to report that I (Little MR) have subbed in during her sojourn North, though admittedly am probably highlighting slightly different events.

Last Sunday's nugget? The Shamrocks and Shenanigans 5K, 1K and Kids Dash. Now, you many remember that Will and I (and Maizey) love participating in the Detroit St. Patrick's Day run. (See here and here.) Last year we skipped it - largely due to this. And this year we're realists. The weather forecast for Sunday's Detroit run is a high of 30. We have two kids. One jogging stroller. No place to pre or post-party... so the Patty's Day event last weekend, walking distance from home and featuring a 100 yard kids dash, was just the ticket.

It was Maizey's first race - not something to sniff at being a Spurgeon. 

And, it was FREEZING. 

 While Dad and Maizey took in the course,

 Lu and I tried to stay warm. (Coffee for me, soothie for her.)

 Then it was time to line up for the dash.

There was some hesitation so Dad joined her at the start...

Especially entertaining as there were serious warm-ups,

lead by this suited leprechaun/Darby O'Gill lass. 

(Yes, Lass.) 

Warmed up, or as warm as they were getting...

Then, it was time for the pep talk.  

 On your mark. Get set.

 GO!

Admittedly, though harboring the Spurgeon enthusiasm for running, she inherited the Breclaw attention for it. Note the sideways glance above. Definitely no eyes on the prize for Miss Maizey. Though I do think she got first in her division (3 and under). No matter she was the only entrant.

What followed were, sadly, a lot of tears. It was COLD. And not wanting to be late, we were way early = long time in frigid temps. Not to mention her after-race nosh: ice cream. Which she insisted on eating. So, no glorious pics of the party, or Will running the 5K, since the ladies and I hightailed it home for cocoa and heat.

Once inside, girlfriend was more than happy to show off her medal.

And I was more than happy to show off my counterparts.

Lovely ladies. 

(And yes. I look tired. I'm exhausted. But happy.)

Gobblers and Ho Ho Hos

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is the Milford Christmas Parade, and this year marked the third annual Gobbler Gallop 4-miler. For the Spurgeon household, it was our third  MCP, Maizey's second MCP, and Maizey and Will's first Gallop.

 It was Maizey's first race, so she was slightly dubious. 

But warmed up to the idea after a Santa Dada pep talk.

Lucy and I abstained.

On your marks. 

Get set.

GO!

This was moments before Will hollered to me: "The tires on this thing are completely flat!" Love him, but imagine my holiday joy when I was able to respond, "Not my problem!"

And 38 minutes later
(he blames the tires - I blame the pre- and post-partum supportive bowls of ice cream)...

Finished!
All jokes aside, I do see more races in the Spurgeon Family future.

After the race we went to meet up with our fave parade partner.

Jack. Future Milford Mayor.

Two years ago...

 And today...

 How fast time goes.

But the cluster $%& that is our parade group never changes.

Only compounded by the parade line-up occurring on our street.

 Come on everybody!

 Hustle. Hustle.

Stroller brigade.

Despite Maizey's recent obsession with The Grinch and the Whos, 

she didn't warm up to their human counterparts.

Can't really blame the girl though. 

As they were more Edward Scissorhands than Cindy Lou.

Good thing Milford has these two spunky gals,

keeping the Girl Scouts from Huron Valley extinction. 

Happily, unlike the memorial parade,

there was candy.

 costumed weiner dogs,

Jaclyn's family,

Bundled Lucy,

And Santa.
It was a fab kick-off to the holiday season.

P.S. As an aside, Will and I experienced our first "Where's my kid?" We were settling into our parade spot when I looked over at Will, expecting to see Maizey nearby. She wasn't. I hollered to him, "Where's Maizey?" He got a confused/panicked look on his face. We started scanning the crowd, looking for a purple-clad little person. Shouldn't be hard to find. But, she was. Hard to find. We couldn't find her. For about 2 minutes, with my heart beating increasingly faster, we searched the crowd for her. Calling her name. One of our tallish fellow parade goers spotted her about half a block away, alone, looking scared and lost. The emotion I felt when I saw her was unlike anything I'd experienced before. As cousin Molly said, "Parenting. Not for the faint of heart."