The Splash Dash

Our school usually hosts an annual "beginning of school year" picnic.  We attended last year and it consisted of some poorly organized relay races, a speech by the principal and the coach, and lot's of really hot people.  We brought our own lunch, but no one warned us there would be no shade, so we melted, along with the cheeses on our sandwiches, while other more prepared families huddled under the little bits of shade offered by their Easy Ups.

At the end of last year I was asked what I would change about our school and I said, "the picnic!"  Our principal took me seriously (she felt this first family activity sets the tone for the year) and organized a new activity, The Splash Dash.  So, Saturday morning, we put on our running shoes and our swimming suits and headed down to the school.  We ran a one mile loop around our school which coincided with our districts "healthy school" initiative.  The kids led the way with the principal and a lot of parents joined in the fun too.

By the time we were done with our race, the water activities were up and running.  Our local inflatable company donated two giant water attractions and the local fire dept. came with their hose.  There were snow cones, and cotton candy, and no melting families, or cheese...

They ate their snow cones too fast for me to get a picture...

Sadie's new kicks..

She would NOT let go of her cotton candy.  She didn't really like the way it dissolved on her tongue, but used it instead like play dough, causing every mother within two feet of us to continually ask me if I knew what my baby was doing.

Overall, a much better start to the year.  Definitely the beginning of a new tradition!!