A Family Day

Saturday, September 19, 2015
It rained off and on all morning but by 11:30 it looked like it might be over with so we set off for the nearby Springfield Oaks County Park where cross country runners from 98 high schools were gathered for competition.  Races had started at 8:00 this morning but the one we cared about would be at 12:40 --- Junior Varsity boys including the boys team from Berkley High School which our grandson, Jason, is a member.  There were people everywhere yet everything was well coordinated especially evident in the fact that the boys had been told yesterday they would run at 12:40 and they did!! (a new race started every 20 minutes for 6 hours!!!!!!)

As we were coming in from the parking area we saw Jason and even had a few minutes to chat whith him before he headed with his teammates to the start line area for last minute warmups and time with their coach. We found Dean already stationed in a spot where he could get a photo of the start. This is a picture of his team gathered to cheer each other on before lining up for the race.

And then they were off - kids from schools all over lower Michigan

Below Jason is just finishing up the first mile of the run.

And here he is coming out of the woods and up the last of three hills

And finally approaching the finish line.  His time was 23:28 a little slower than last week but this course was a bit tougher with more rolling country road.  

Jason stayed to watch other members of his team compete.  Ken and I decided to get some lunch and then head down to Huntington Woods where we could enjoy some time with our daughter and her husband.  Beth wasn't able to come because she had to take Scott first to a rock band practice and then to the studio where his senior pictures were being taken.

Beth and I enjoyed a walk around the neighborhood and then sat for a bit in the backyard chatting with Dean.  Later the three of us worked together in the kitchen on dinner with Dean as head chef.

We returned after dark to lots of "scary" noises, loads of Halloween lights and blow up figures.  Kids were returning in costume from trick or treating around the park and the island across from us had been turned into a "haunted island".  This is the first of several Halloween weekends that will be held here this year.  Thank goodness the rain had finally stopped so the kids could have loads of fun.