We LOVE Birthdays!

There are some AMAZING cupcake and cake places in town, but my girl LOVES to bake. Unfortunately time doesn't permit as much anymore, but when it's Lilo's birthday that's what we do. I used to always make her treats, but now she is an equal participant. When it comes to Lo, nothing is ordinary!

Her colossal cupcake for the family party, this is frosting goodness at its best!

School birthday treats for tomorrow. She wanted Lucky Charm treats, the decided to add chocolate and sprinkles!

Posted with Blogsy

Party # 1

Lo and Cal's family party was last night.  Cal's birthday is the 11th and Lo's is the 12th so we celebrated those two last night!  Thank you to my wonderful family for making my girl feel so special and have such a wonderful evening!


Ben "helping" Lo

Lo's gift from Gram and Pop, they were a HUGE hit (and a surprise to even me), she liked them so much, I came home from my run this morning, and she answered the door in them!

It was better than good

It was a great Nordic season in Leavenworth this year. From Christmas on I skied 80-100k a week on beautifully groomed trails, the most I've ever been able to.

We drove up the ski this morning as the sun came up, we were the second people on the perfect corduroy, came around for the second lap and realized this may be the end of my skiing here this season. No new snow in the horizon and the consistently warm temps, the conditions are quickly coming to an end. By our third lap, the conditions of the perfect trail had already deteriorated. It's ok, it was a wonderful ski to end it. Saw all of the familiar early morning skiers, wanting the beat the crowds and get the best snow, and in the coming weeks will see the same people on their bikes. Pretty amazing community of outdoor people around here. So cheers to a great season.

On that note, PLEASE people if you do ski the trail, pay for a pass. It's reasonable and supports LWSC, the group that makes it possible to ski with such great conditions. They are a wonderful organization, but it's through these funds they can continue to make it happen!

The sun peaking through

Pretty sweet if this was my last ski!

Posted with Blogsy

Fear

The quote "do what you fear most" keeps popping up, and I keep asking myself what is it I fear?  I failed at marriage, and that was something I feared, but I came out stronger and with a lot more perspective!   I tried to think of a physical event I fear, swimming comes the closest, but rather than fear it's just a goal to improve!  At this point in my life the thing I fear most is still failure, but it's in failing my son.  He's almost 16 and it has set in, that my guiding role in his life is coming close to an end, that one day soon he will be an adult making his own decision, and I hope that I have raised him to be a competent, successful adult.  Its hard, and I am doing it on my own.  The illusion that his Dad would co parent was just wishful thinking on my part, he's more interested in being his buddy.  I don't think it's right, but I see where it's coming from, and it is what it is.  My child is a bright, smart kid, good kid, and good to his Mom and sister, but he's lazy at times and lacks ambition right now.  I am constantly asking parents with older kids for advice.  I originally thought without a doubt he'd go straight to a  4 year university, but his grades the last two years have been less than stellar, not because he can't do it, but because he does the minimum that's required.  He can take a test without ever studying and passes, but those grades don't cut it for a 4 year, nor do I want to send him to a 4 year school until he figures out the importance of hard work.....it's hard, and stressful, and right now this is what I fear the most.
I know he will be ok, and the path I originally thought he'd  take, might not be the one he takes at all, but eventually he will get there.  The ultimate wish I have for him is to be happy, and he will always have my love and support.  Rick and I often joke that if we build a house I may need to make a room for him.  He'd be welcome anytime and for however long, but when he has a family of his own, it'd be nice if he could support them!

Slowly but Surely

I've mentioned before I often go into a running funk at the beginning of winter, flat out don't want to do it, and don't.  I take a break, pretty much from the time Sage Hills closes until the roads are clear and the sun is shining.  In saying a break, I go from running three days a week to one.  I run one 5 ish mile run a week, just to remind my body what it's supposed to do when I get back into it!

I like to enjoy running, therefor if I'm not,  I simply take a break and know I will enjoy it again.
I didn't race much last year (travel become more of a priority than race fee's), but the year before, 2011, which was the year my divorce was final.  I raced and truly became a runner.  Not knowing how I would be able to fit everything in as a single mom, I decided running races would give me a great focus.  I needed that release and time to think in my day.  Running also requires a lot less of a time commitment than bike events or Tri's (didn't say easier, just less time).  The goal was a 10k, half then the marathon.  I ran my personal best in all three, the 10k I had never been able to break the 50 minute mark and ran it in 48minutes, same with the half, my very first one was 1:55 and had gotten it down to 1:50 but couldn't break it, until I ran with my dear friend and tried to keep up with her, pushing me to a 1:46 finish.  The same time I setting these goals, I found out my Ex's girlfriend was running the same marathon (yeah what are the chances of that ), so quite honestly a good goal was to beat her, and I did.  Training provided great motivation to stay on track and focus on my goals.  I enjoyed almost each run,  the closer I got to my goals, the more my heart and mind healed.  Running proved to be a wonderful therapy.  My long runs were often just my dog and I it was wonderful.

Since then, I've haven't been as focused, and I am ok with that.  I spent the winter skate skiing a ton, and enjoying it.  I opted to run this morning, my dog has been neglected in this department, since I took a break, and I think we both enjoyed it.  I ran happy.  I'm not to running 10 miles yet, because I don't want to push it.  I've stayed in great shape, but I know when I get too eager ed I get injured, so slowly and surely my dog and I are entering back into the running world, and happy to be doing so!

Now on to birthday prepping!   Lo's birthday is on the 12th, but every year, not really sure how this happens it always last the whole month.  This weekend its the family party, next weekend it's her birthday weekend in NYC, then the following week, her friends party! 

In writing this post, I have thoroughly enjoyed 3 cups of this!

My least favorite thing (along with chicken) to touch, but I've been told I cook great meat for a vegetarian!

Little of this a Little of that!

I was down and out with the cold for four days! Pretty much laid around and watched movies in my jammies, honestly for being sick it was dang good! Didn't even care that I wasn't out doing something, I wanted to rest and feel better. Monday rolls around and I am feeling rested, still got junk in my lungs but it wasn't stopping me. Managed to get in 2 bike rides, in insanely amazing sunny weather, 2 runs...the same, 2 swims (just to clarify, this was Monday-Thursday, not just a day) and today skied 24k (3 full loops), the weather and scenery was splendid, the trail could've been better (super icy, pretty thin and torn up), heading up tomorrow simply because the fresh air and sun on the face feels amazing, but taking my old ski's. My good ski's were a little angry at me for trashing then today!

My house on the other hand is in dire need of being cleaned, dang adult responsibilities!

the ride

 

The ski

 

Posted with Blogsy

Resolution Time

I like New Years resolutions.  Quite honestly I put a lot of thought into them each year, about what it will be, how will it improve my life.  This years was easy, so easy I made a couple.

First on my list is cell phone off at 7.  We already have the rule  no cell phones in stores or at dinner.  Now after 7 mine is off, unless the kids aren't with me then it will be on for them.  I didn't typically get on my phone in the evening but here and there I'd be texting, and before you know it it's time for bed and there went my evening with the kids.  Evenings are somewhat sacred to me, I love our time, and rarely have anything scheduled, if I found myself wasting it by being on the phone, I'd be so disappointed in myself.  So off they  go!

Second, now I typically don't do any "diet" type resolutions, but this year it's about cutting out the fake stuff, as in all things labeled diet, or sugar free.  I've gotten better over the last few years, but it's hard to make the shift.

And last is kind of a beauty or perhaps lack thereof.  This past year or two, I have felt more comfortable with myself.  Beautiful and happy.  My favorite pictures of myself are often with my hair barely brushed and little make-up.  I like the natural me, always have.  But had always struggled with trying to be what my "other" wanted, tall and thin I had down, but I don't like the glamour and glitz.  I am a beach bum at heart.  I don't dye my hair, and  rarely even get it styled (I will say if I go grey I reserve the right to decided then whether to dye my hair or not),  I have thick hair, with a lot of body, I don't blow dry, or put product in it, now I am aiming to "train" it and only wash it every 4 days.  I've always been an every other day girl, but this year I am going even less maintenence, this I may or may not be able to pull off, but I like the idea!