Kindred Soul

I am grateful to have met my kindred spirit/soul.  Long weekends away from my kids are hard for me, and I thank God Rick understand this and realizes distraction is good!  I couldn't have imagined a better distraction than a weekend in the Methow.  My favorite area of the Methow is Mazama, so this is where we stayed...no cell service, and I couldn't have been happier.  My ex and my sister had the land line number to the cabin, we were good to go!
We shared Saturday with my sister and her family, I just wish they could've stayed the weekend with us.  However super proud of her, she ran the Mazama 10k trail run with me (that's actually 6.6miles), its not an easy run, has some serious climbs in it.  Cal ran the kids 1k, he was awesome!
Made a few trips to the Mazama store for Blue Star coffee, and snicker doodles (my favorite and they are wickedly good there)....oh, and if you are ever there, go back by the bathroom, I dare you to try to pass up the ice cream (and this is coming from a girl that follows  close to a vegan diet)!
We did find a new favorite (along with Twisp River Pub), the health food store in Twisp serves amazing , fresh yummy food!
I love that I am able to share my life with someone so compatible.  To be someplace and think and feel the same.  I never knew....

Drive in Friday evening

Hunter's getting ready to run

....Ben too

Me and my Sis..ready.  Our race numbers are on under our shirts, hence both our shirts poofing out

These two had some lively conversations!

At the Twisp River Pub



Thank you to my love, for being so patient with me, learning a new level of cycling!

Workouts 5/21-5/27

Monday 21st - 4.5 mile run
Tuesday 22nd - 26 mile ride (house Du course) 1 hour 27 minutes
Wednesday 23rd - Golds weights 45 minutes
Thursday 24th - 5.25 mile run
Friday 25th - 18 mile Malaga loop road bike , 1hour
Saturday 26th - 6.6 mile trail run, 55minutes
Sunday 27th - 30 ish miles on cross bike, called it the  "real estate ride" there were several properties we wanted to check out, and what better way than on the trails!
(MCT, Sandy Butte, Jack's, River Run, back MCT, out on Lost River Rd and back)

Compiling the List

I consider myself an avid reader.  One of my good friends put her top 20 (was more like 29, thanks KS) list together and I thought I should too before I forget all my faves!  In no particular order (with the exception of #1, my favorite)

1. Molokai (Alan Brenner)
2. Under the Banner of Heaven (John Krakauer)
3. Midwives (Chris Bohjalian)
4. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
5. The Kite Runner
6. Glass Castle (Jeannette Walls)
7. Life of Pi
8. She's Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Series- (Steig Larson)
10.  Unbroken (Laura Hillenbrand)
11.  The Zookeepers Wife (Diane Ackerman)
12.  The Help (Kathryn Stockett)
13. What Remains (Carole Radziwell)
14. The Hunger Games series (with the exception of the 3rd book)

I know there's more so as they come to me I'll add them

Currently I am reading a few, and they are heading out of town with me this weekend!

Fifty Shades of Grey (Naughty, I know....)
Let's Pretend This Never Happened (Super fun and light)
Animal, Vegetable Miracle (loving this one too)

One of my favorite quotes is;

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Today we spent the day free of phones and technology, enjoyed each others company and the gorgeous scenery of our hike.  I'd type more about it, but I am wiped!  Looking forward to jumping in bed, so I'll just show you a few of the 100 photos I took today.

If you're interested in this one, now is the time to do it while everything is in bloom and before it gets too hot and dusty!  My kids were fine, they are however 10 and 15 and it is a climb to the top (2.75 miles).  If you take dogs, pack lots of water! Click here for the directions to Sauer Mountain!

Could it end any better than this?  I think not!

Workouts 5/14-5/20

Monday 14th - 6 mile run
Tuesday 15th - WVV's hill climb TT Squilchuck to Mission Ridge (20 minute warm up, 30 minute TT, 10 minute cool down)
Wednesday 16th - 45 minutes weights
Thursday 17th - Fairview loop, 24 mile (1 hour 23 minutes)
Friday 18th - 37 miles Nahahum Canyon (2 hours 27minutes)
Saturday 19th - 6.33 mile run
Sunday 20th - 5.5 mile hike, 1800 feet elevation gain (Sauer Mountain)

Living Adult Like

Do you ever wake up and wonder when you became an adult?  I have moments like that, and it makes me giddy that I am.  I like being in my thirties, feeling secure and confident in what I am doing.  I like owning my own house and business, and good lord I get to parent two kids!  This adult thing is ok.
I had such a busy week, I've been looking forward to Saturday and getting the chance to stay home and take care of things here. 
The kids are each having friends stay over (which I know they've been looking forward to), Luke had 4 buddies last night and Lo has a friend tonight.  I escaped early this morning for a run with a friend, got home made myself a pot of coffee (and promptly drank two big cups), breakfast for all and then the laundry started.  Most house things I don't mind....laundry bites!  Typically it's clothes on Friday and linens and towels on Saturday.  Next up mow the lawn (this on the other hand I love), weeded, tore out two more bushes, more garden.
Makes you realize not all days you have to be going and doing things to have a perfect day.  This has been such a wonderful, looked forward to day.  Now I get to sit back and admire all the hard work!

Bike Please!

The report on our challenge is good.  I didn't drive once on Tuesday and only to take Luke to Drivers Ed Wednesday and tonight, otherwise it's been walk and bike.  We needed to get back into this habit!

I first started biking 5 years ago with my ex.  This was something he wanted me to do, and I was eager to be able to do it with him.  I enjoyed it so much I took to it instantly.  Now I am with a man that is an excellent cyclist.  He is so good, it's fun to watch.  But more than that it makes me want to get better, and put the time in on the bike.  I have learned how to be a more efficient rider, to climb faster, to train smarter and I am slowly learning all the different components of the bike and how different ones better suite different rides. 

I've been treating myself every other weekend, when the kids are at their Dads, with long rides (60 +) miles.  This is such a luxury to me, to have that time on the bike.  My favorite place has always been biking to Leavenworth and Lake Wenatchee, but you have to have time to do it.  Now every other weekend I have all the time in the world for it.

These are a few photos from last week done on my point and shoot.  The first few are heading up Joe Miller and the heights, the others are Peshastian and Leavenworth.  I think these say it all!

Up Joe Miller

Past the church

Peshastian

Heading up the Icicle

Two awesome cyclist!  End of the paved road at the Icicle

We're taking the challenge

We're Hakensen's and we bike!  It's bike to work week, and it just happens to coincide with my car going into the shop tomorrow for a few days.  The goal: we will bike and walk everywhere with the exception of getting Luke to drivers Ed and today I plan to get my URM and Costco runs done, so the rest of the week we should have very few excuses!
Before my ex jumped ship on his parental responsibilities he used to take the kids to school in the morning, and I was a year round bike commuter, I LOVED it.  Now there are some logistical problems I can't seem to get around, mainly getting Lo to daycare at 6:15, but there's no reason Mondays we can't do it, and Thursday mornings I can do it.  This is an important part of my life and living by example for my children, so I am vowing to get back to it!  Today's a start!

She is AWESOME!

The essentials!

Mother's Day

I love Mothers Day, and who better to spend the day with  than the two that made me a Mother!  This weekend is actually their Dad's weekend, but per our agreement I get to have them Mother's day, and he Father's day. So I actually got a little bonus present with them coming home a day early!
It has been a perfect weekend (other than I am waiting patiently for my man to get home from Moab!). 
The girls and I got together Friday for Happy Hour, it's been WAY too long.   Then Saturday I enjoyed the most beautiful 64 mile ride.  We parked at Anjou (because we don't like to stop mid ride) rode Leavenworth and added going up the icicle to the dirt road and back!
Kids came home at 5,  more than ready to get home.  We packed up quickly and took off to Seattle to spend the night and go to the ZOO!  The kids and I LOVE zoo's, really anything with a mammal exhibit!  It was perfect!  I will say though we stopped at the Queen Ann Trader Joe's and leaving there I was reminded I am no longer a city girl.  Loved living just outside of San Fran in my twenties, now I crave open space, trees, no traffic and spotting cell service (yep the Methow was on my mind).  Home now an settling in to watch the Matrix 3!
Happy Mothers Day Mom, Du and Oma...and to my best friends that are truly amazing, committed Mothers!

I can watch orangutangs forever

Oh and Gorilllas (remember Diane Fossey, I was obsessed)

Thanks for the fun pic Luke!

Workout 5/7-513

Monday 7th - 5.5 mile run
Tuesday 8th - 24 miles (Burch, Lovel, April, back sleepy hollow) 1:26 minutes
Wednesday 9th - warm up 1 mile run, 40 minutes weights, 1 mile cool down
Thursday 10th - 5.25 mile run
Friday 11th - 41 mile ride, (2:10) Chumstick, Beaver hill, Tumwater
Saturday 12th - 63 miles (3:38) Stine, Deadmans, North Rd, Icicle to the dirt road, Back E.Leavenworth...
Sunday 13th - Happy Mothers Day to me, taking the day off and walking the Zoo with the kiddos!

10 on 10 May

I actually planned ahead this time.  I took my 10 photos Monday the 7th.   I love late start Monday, yes it's a pain for working Mom's, but I am fortunate enough to be able to schedule myself to come into work later on Mondays.  I love these extra couple hours with the kids in the morning, truly truly love it!  The day itself is never that exciting, but oh well!

*I know there's only 9 photos, my hummus one got lost on the way...

Early am run

Reward after the run

Breakfast with the girl

work

Veggie prep for the week

Waiting for my son's class to get out

The unexpected

She'll always be my baby

Goodnight

Mom Time and Fresh Air

There may be an advantage to single parenting, and that is, when we want to go, we go!  We had nothing on the schedule this weekend, except Apple Blossom, but I was craving some solitude and alone time with my kids, and no distractions. So we peaced out to my favorite place, the Methow Valley.   I LOVE taking these opportunities to spend 3 days with them.  I am always humbled  these are my kids.  They are funny, smart, caring, thougthful kids.  To NOT have to run around and do errands, and shuttle to and from, but instead wake when we want, eat breakfast together, hike and chat, have lunch, sit in the hot tub, have dinner, sit around and read....together for 3 days is pure bliss to me.  I think all three of us came back refreshed!
I've said before, but I'll say it again.  I think the greatest thing I will ever do in life is be their Mom.  I want each and everyday with them to count.  My gift to them is these experiences and my time.  At the end of the day, I want to know I have given all of myself I could give to them....they are two of the loves of my life.

* On a photo note, I took almost a 100 photos.  I'm limiting myself to 10 on here (and that's hard), but I did post 20 on FB!