5K

We have a semiannual 5K where I work. It's the one time we can bring our families and get together. Last year, I wore a "Chubby and Dangerous" shirt (Valentine's leftover with picture of a cupid) for the race. I tried running a little at the beginning and that messed me up for the whole thing. I hurt like crazy and didn't think I could make it at all. Because we went to a turnaround point and came back, it was hard to see so many people on their way to finishing the race when I was only 1/3 of the way done. The nice thing was they all cheered me on and gave me encouragement. It took me an hour to finish and I was the very last person. They were already picking up the cones, signs, and water tables.

Last night, I completed the 5K in 40 minutes, 36 seconds and I was not even close to being the last person to finish. I did what Traci taught me - paced myself by walking 5 minutes, jogging one minute. I adjusted as I felt tired by walking 2 minutes then jogging 30-45 seconds. I even jogged across the finish line!! That was an amazing feeling and I can't wait to see if I can get even better for The Race for Red. We only have 10 days left in this Heart Challenge. It's hard to believe this is almost over.

Promenade

The promenade at the prom. It's huge!! It was actually a lot more fun for me than it would have been if I hadn't chaperoned the choir and gotten to know some of the kids. Still, it's a really big high school and it took a long time to get through all the couples. Dexter's group ended up near the end (of course). It rained a bunch today so they changed their plans some and ended up playing hide and seek in the mall, running around the auditorium of their high school, and miniature golfing (?) around the high school lawn.

It took me nearly an hour to do Dexter's hair in three herringbone braids. I'm pretty safe in saying he had the fanciest hair of any guy there.
Dexter made his corsage for his date. It is a fabric rose on a fabric cuff. He even machine embroidered Prom 2009 on the back of the cuff. His friend Colby taught him how to do it.

Dexter's group was extremely good at coordinating the guys' look with the girls' dresses. Colby and his date were with the group, but had wandered off before we could take a picture. They're really a wonderful group of kids! I got to know most of them on the choir tour.

Dexter's date is Jenna King. She's a delightful, yet quiet girl. They made a very handsome couple.

Utah Proms

Proms in Utah are very different than what I'm used to. Dexter is going to his prom tomorrow and I'm still trying to get a handle on the details. Apparently, the dance itself is not really the big event. These kids make their arrangements in groups. The "group" of 3 or 4 couples plan an entire day's worth of activities for prom. Dexter and his group will begin at 8 am tomorrow with some outdoor games like ultimate frisbee. At some point they are moving on to play board games on the roof of the high school (one of the guys in their group has a dad with keys to the school). The boys have plans too cook dinner at one of the guys' houses. The girls need a couple of hours to get ready and the boys will get ready and occupy their time watching videos until the girls are done. The prom itself starts at 8 pm and is held at the Provo Library ballroom. At 9 pm is the promenade (is that where the name prom came from?) which is the highlight of the evening. Parents, friends, alumni, etc. gather outside and each couple is anounced at the top of the stairs and then parades down the stairs for all to see. My guess is that this was the best way for people to show off their beautiful clothes and get the most for all the money they spent. After the promenade, it's back to dancing until about 11 pm. Dexter says the da full of activities is Utah County's substitute for renting hotel rooms like other kids around the country do. Where my prom was more about the dance and who was dating who, the proms here are more likely to have friends taking friends. One of my friends has a daughter who is going with a friend instead of her boyfriend.... Very different! I'm hoping to get pictures on here tomorrow of Dex. His tux for the prom cost more to rent than what he paid to buy his choir tux!!! He did get a bit of a discount since they forgot to send pants with hix tux and he will have to pick those up tomorrow. Right now he is at a friends house working on the corsage for his date. I heard sewing machines in the background and he said they weren't using flowers, so I don't know what to be prepared for. Last year the prom was on his birthday and he had no money (plus he was only a sophomore) so he didn't go. A vanful of his friends stopped by in their beautiful clothes to sing "Happy Birthday" to him. It was darling! To be continued...