Sawyer's first race- The Sweater Dash

When Andy was training for his races, and when he runs his races, Sawyer always asks to go too.  He LOVES to run.  Most races you are allowed to take your kids along, but I decided to actually sign him up for one.  We hyped it up for a long time and he was really excited.  It seemed like a good one- The Sweater Dash 5k because we knew it would be just for fun, and they don't time you so people are so casual about it.

My dad signed up too because he had been running at the time.  We all knew it wouldn't be much of a "run" though with Sawyer.  We all got our "ugly sweaters" nice and early in the season at the Goodwill, knowing they sell out fast.  I remember my first ugly sweater party exactly 8 years ago.  I had never even heard of them.  Somehow they started getting really popular, and this year was ridiculous!  Everyone I know was either going to or holding an ugly sweater party...you can even buy kits to make them at Fred Meyer (for the low low cost of $40- wtf?)

Anyway, we arrived to a fun Christmas scene and everyone was dressed up.  We even dressed up Kellan.

They were doing the race in waves since it was so big... though it isn't exactly a race- there aren't prizes for winning.  We lined up right by the sign.  Yes, I am wearing Babylegs on my arm; it was so cold.  They gave Sawyer a hat for free at the packet pick up the night before so he was toasty.

They counted down and we were off!  They cut off the first wave right after us!

Sawyer did so good for what must have been nearly a mile.  He didn't stop running and we passed many people that had stopped to walk already.

He got tired eventually and we ended up walking the rest rather slowly.  Halfway through they had some scenes where you could take pictures...but they didn't have a photographer!  Luckily my dad had his phone on him.

We finally finished the race and got our medals (tree ornaments) and our apple cider in little mason jars with "the sweater dash" printed on them.

Then we went to meet Santa

Kellan decided to dance on the car before we left (we parked by the DJ)

Afterwards we drove all over to find Sawyer an orange ninja turtle dreamlite.  It is the one thing he asked Santa for.  Apparently they don't have color-specific skus so it took going to the Issaquah, Renton, then Kent Targets (and asking them to check the back because they weren't on displays) to find an actual orange one.  We celebrated by stopping at my old favorite drive-in in Kent.  Kellan just loved playing in his car seat while he was unbuckled, it was pretty funny.

I am so proud of Sawyer!  He did so well going 3 miles, and I know him and Andy will be running actual races together in no time!