Alex's Lemonade Stand Weekend!!

Every year, this weekend will be a special weekend for our family.  Now only is it the anniversary of Sabrina's cancer diagnosis, baptism, and tumor resection, but it is the weekend of the MN Alex's Lemonade Stand events.

Saturday was the 2nd annual Lemon Run in Edina, MN.  We ran it last year with Sabrina and this year we brought along the whole family.  I pushed Sabrina and Kadence in a stroller while Ashlyn, Aubrie and Jim ran.  Within 30 seconds, Ashlyn was crying saying her legs hurt...we talked prior to the run about why we were doing this and if children can go through the pain of cancer and its treatments...we can run. Ashlyn needed a few reminders, Aubrie ran like a trooper, needing a few water breaks, and Sabrina and Kadence had it easy.  Our goal, as a family, was to run the 1.1 miles (not the full 2.2).  We finished our goal in 13 minutes...not bad with four little kids, water breaks, and a stop for a photo.  The big girls crossed the finish line with speed and strength.  In the end, it felt good to do this as a family.  The big girls even made the news...check out this link...the girls are seen crossing the finish line (about 50 seconds into the clip).

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=978090

                  We stopped for a photo at Sabrina's sign...it was near the end of the mile run.

                                             A picture of our girls with their race numbers.

A family photo after we finished the run...notice the big girls were a little tired and the little girls wanted        
                                                              out of the stroller :)

                                                 Sabrina was recognized as a survivor.

                                                                  Another family photo

                                         Sabrina and Molly (another neuroblastoma survivor)

Today we went to the Mall of America for the 8th annual MN Alex's Lemonade Stand.  We have volunteered for the past 3 years.  The same family that hosts the run, hosts this stand as well (Molly and her family).  We brought Sabrina with us, her special day with Mommy and Daddy.  Nana brought Ashlyn, Aubrie and Kadence around lunch time and they stayed for some dancing and singing.  The dancing was fantastic...Sabrina loved watching them and Aubrie loved to dance to the music on her own.  Jim and I provided some musicians to perform in between the dancing shows.  Our singers did an amazing job and we are very grateful they volunteered their time.  Some of them graduated yesterday and had an all night senior party.

                                                Sabrina ready for the dancers and singers!!

 A video was made with photos of local childhood cancer fighters, survivors and angels...this was one
                                                           of Sabrina's photos :)

                                                     Eagan High School's "Cache"

                                                      Eastview High School singers

The goal of these two events was to raise $20,000 for childhood cancer research and funding...we will find out soon what the final amount  was.  What a great weekend.

Now...for the last week of school :)