Hau'oli La Ho'omakika'i

There are many, many things to be thankful for on this beautiful day, but today goes down as one of my most (unexpected) proudest mama moments ever.  This morning we got up bright and early for the 7th Annual Wobble & Gobble (a fun family tradition) on our beloved Walua Road trail.  Even though we didn't do a thing to prep Ryan for the race (such as forewarning him that he would run, or taking him out to run beforehand), we figured we'd let him have some fun in the 1-mile race. So I fully expected that after running only a few hundred yards that Ryan would stop to walk, crouch down to pick up bugs and throw rocks, and then ask to be carried the rest of the way.  I projected a finish time for Ryan of somewhere in the 40-minute range, and settled down near the finish line for a long winter's nap.  ;-)

And they're off!!!  All race distances start at the same time, so this is about 290 runners on the trail (sadly, this is the only kind of view of the field that I get...the kind from waaaay in the back)!

So I was super duper shocked when I saw my little guy come tearing down the trail in less than half that time!  But then I cringed when about 50 yards from the finish line I saw him pitch forward, tumble and conk his head on the pavement!  Daddy picked him up, dusted off his bloody knee, held him for a minute while he cried...but then once he heard me hollering at him, he immediately climbed down and ran in with tears and exhilaration in his eyes.

Look at him go!  Bloodied knee and all!  Special thanks to his 6-person entourage/support team of Kenichi, Daddy, Uncle JJ, Aunty Lynne, Aunty Mika & Grandma Janice for encouraging him the whole time...you guys rock!  Extra turkey & pie for all of you!

Ryan and Coach Kenichi post-race proudly modeling their finisher medals!

A few more special thank you's to Jason & Melissa Braswell, owners of Big Island Running Company & sponsors of the race (that's Melissa Braswell on the left), and adorable, unbelievably cute Makena for giving Ryan a huge encouraging hug mid-race and for presenting him with his medal afterward.  Maybe Mama Noriko will agree to an omiai kekkon (Japanese arranged marriage) with us?  Please?

I was a little bummed that I didn't get to see Ryan during the race (I was manning the refreshment table), but I won't deny that I'm amazed, proud and happy to have learned that my (normally very chill, pretty lazy) little boy has some fire in the belly!  What an amazing, unexpected gift on an already bountiful day.

As soon as we got home, it was time to start cooking our share of the Thanksgiving feast (stuffing, pumpkin pie and homemade blueberry mochi (...you know, just like the Pilgrims once ate)!

Thankfully, we had two expert little sous Chefs to help us swirl the blueberries in!

We'll cap off the Thanksgiving festivities with an evening dip in the pool with most of the family.  And for those of you thinking it's far too cold to be swimming at night, you're right.  It is.  I bet it will dip down to about 79 later today, so we'll definitely be shivering!  ;-)