Run, Bike and Good Beer!

My dear friend is leaving next month for PA school in Atlanta, before she left she wanted to run her 1st Half Marathon.  Since I decided to do Winthrop Marathon in September I thought this would be a good kick start .  So we decided to do Pacific Crest in Sunriver, OR (keep in mind I didn't realize until the week I left Sunriver sits at 4600ft).  I have some good friends that moved to Bend last summer, and they let us stay at their cabin in Sunriver (HUGE thanks to Doug and Erin).

Ready to run 13.1 miles

Finsihed!  I set a personal PR of 1:45:06 and Katie and impressive first with 1:44:48

We even got to see our friend Sarah finish the half iron triathlon....she rocks!

Felt so good the next day we decided to bike to Mt Bachelor...just a 21 mile climb to the top

It was breathtaking!

Epic ride!

After two pretty amazing days, we spent Sunday night in Bend and enjoyed the Bite of Bend, and later went to a great brewery called 10 Barrel!  This weekend was such a wonderful treat!

Belated Fathers Day Post

Here's a cheers to some wonderful Dads.  My brother in law Ian, and my Dad!  Happy Fathers Day again you two!  You serve as excellent role models for my kiddos!

Perfect Adult Beverage

Last April when I was in Boston the cities main water supply was contaminated.  No water or sodas in the restaurants so I sampled quite a few "beverages".  My favorite was the Sweet Teatini.
Came back and promptly bought a bottle of Sweet Tea Vodka, it became Lars and my favorite go to beverage to make for friends, now I believe all of my friends have on hand at all time a bottle of Sweet Tea Vodka.
The original recipe is 1/2 ST Vodka, 1/4 lemonade, 1/4 sweet tea.  I've modified and tried several variations...all good.  Crystal light lemonade and STV (sweet tea vodka),  just sweet tea and STV, or you can buy the bottle of 1/2 lemonade, 1/2 tea in the store and mix that with the STV! 
Cheers and happy drinking!

Fittings

I found this card 4 years ago.  Most of you know the story of 2007, and I don't particularly feel like revisiting that pain tonight!  But when I came across this I instantly liked it, and for whatever reason I held onto it for the last 4 years.  Today I found a perfect frame and it sits displayed where I can see it.  I smile and feel strong when I see this. 

In case you can't read it, it says:

I'll collect my tatters, the perfect pieces of me,

and notch them together in an informal pattern

just to suggest myself.  Then I can start the welding process,

and in a short breath, I'll be fine.

Newbies

Three years ago my friend Ivy enlightened me on the Issaquah Highlands Yard sale.  It's a very large neighborhood in Issaquah that once a year has their yard sale.  Some years there are a ton of houses participating, others not so much.  The thing is each year the stuff you find is random.  Last year my sister was pregnant and I went with 2 car loads of friends and it was a jackpot for anyone expecting.  I stocked my mom's house for the up coming grandchild.  This year I found wine racks, clothes for Logan and other odds and ends. 
So this was my 3rd year going, I missed going with the girls the night before, because I have the wee ones this weekend, but it actually worked out great.  My sister and Logan have both been dying to go.....so off to the west side we went at 6:30 this morning!

On our way!  Du's car prepared with the rocket box...sorry about the pic with the eyes closed, Du!

A little rain won't stop us!

Wet and tired we carried on to our next stop

A little IKEA fuel couldn't hurt



Our final stop!



Summer...maybe

A friend kindly invited us onto his boat  Friday.  Middle of June and the temperature was maybe 80, not hot enough for me to get in the river, but it didn't stop Luke from having fun.  Here's to warmer weather, and many more fun summer days!

My Boy's Growing Up

It's official, I have a high school freshman in my house!  Luke went to middle school in 5th grade at Sterling, then we moved to Wenatchee for 6th-8th, so after 4 years of middle school I think he was ready to move on.
As with each stage of my kids life, I have LOVED every stage.  I am so proud of the awesome young man I am raising, we had such wonderful memories of middle school, and fairly smooth sailing ( a few minor bumps here and there).  I will say having a child 5 years younger, still in elementary school might just make this transition to Luke's next stage a little easier, as well as I am able to appreciate it and certainly not wish time away!  Very proud of you Luke and love you so much!

Luke's most loyal fan!

Even Ben had a great time, and enjoyed some snacks!

Very handsome young men!

My pride and joy

Thanks Mom, Du and Cal for coming out today!  Love you all!

Stuart

It's late and I am tired, and running bright and early before work, so I will make this quick.  Tonight we adopted Stuart (Lilo named him).  Stuart is a very sweet white male rat that my employee tried to feed to her snake...several times.  He is a survivor and they didn't have the heart for him to be food after all that, so she asked if we wanted him.  I had a rat in high school and thought it was great.  So tonight we welcomed Stuart, we played and watched the little fella for hours!

My Girls

A glimpse at some very special people in my life.

The great thing about these girls, they are right here in town.  I don't think we go 5 days without seeing each other, I love them!

Superstar!

Yep that's what she is, to me!  Today was the Hershey Track and Field District meet.  Lilo did the 50, 100 and standing long jump (her favorite).  I was so proud of her, she ran her little heart out, and had fun doing so!

Lo with her buddy C.  His mom and I were BF's in 1st grade on and this year these two were in the same class!

Jumping

Way to go girl!  Your Mamma loves you VERY much!

Long Awaited Spring Cleaning

Had a little yard sale this last weekend with one of my Bff's, along with her boyfriend and some major help from my Mom and Sis!  For those that know me, I take very little value  in material items.  As a result I typically don't buy things that don't serve a real purpose, nor do I hold onto things.  I currently have a house that is much too large for myself and the kids (in my opinion), as a result it has become somewhat of a storage unit.   I don't like clutter, so off it went.
This was the most fun and successful yard sale I have ever had.  So much stuff I have wanted to haul to the dump became others treasures.  It was also symbolic in a way.  I had been storing someone else's stuff that "he" didn't want either....so I sold it.  I was careful to  sort through  personal belongings or things of sentimental value so they  didn't get tossed, but the rest out it went!   A purging of sorts of a life that once was but is no more.  And goodness did it feel good!
I say cheers to fresh starts!

We weren't the only ones making $$, my daughter and her business partner in the lemonade/brownie stand

I think this liitle guy sold them a few extra cups just looking cute!

Pearl Jam - Just Breathe (Live at Austin City Limits)

One of my favorites!

Anything Irish

I love St. Patty's Day,  I love Irish rock, more specific Dropkick Murphy's or Flogging Molly, and I love Irish dancing!  So for Mother's day I got my Mom, myself and Lilo tickets to see Riverdance!  Couldn't take pics of the event...darn.  So glad I finally saw it!

Lilo and my Mom waiting for the start....I got caught taking a picture right after this

After.  Lo in her new Riverdance tshirt

So great to share this experience with my daughter and Mom

Vegan+Fish

Oh and I am giving Vegan+fish a two week trial run.  Most of you know I have been pescatarian (vegetarian + fish) for the last 11 years.  This year I have contemplated making the switch to a vegan diet.  All it took was my good friend and fellow pescatarian to suggest we try it, to ensure we don't fail we gave ourselves a two week trial run.  I will say it is easier than I thought, my goal is to be as close to a raw vegan as possible.  What this has done these last few days is be mindful and conscience of what I eat.  I made the most delicious salad the other night, spinach, quinoa, mango, red onion, and some pineapple salsa.  It was bursting with flavor!  Also my employee (which I did not know this) has recently turned vegan and turned me on to this fabulous website veggie-wedgie .

Oh and I re read my last post.  There sure was a lot of mention of L (I've taken to calling him abbreviations....L is a safe one on here, some aren't so nice).  Lets just say in the last couple weeks I have seen some true colors of this man, always knew these character flaws were there, but chose to ignore them.  It's good to have clarity.  That being said, it's no longer my problem and I can just sit back and enjoy the parts of L I choose to, the other parts....well they can be someone else's problem.

A Clear Picture

Oh where has the week gone?  Well it was certainly a full week.  Let's see I left for Boulder, CO Thursday night had 3 full days there and came home early Monday morning. As always Boulder was amazing and Noah the perfect host.
  Of course made a stop at Trader Joe's, and then some quick shopping in North Bend.  I will say I am feeling like a big girl now driving back and forth to Seattle, the last 14 years of my life it was always L.  I think he may have been surprised as well, he called me when I was in North Bend and was surprised I hadn't called him when I got in, he thought I'd need directions.  It's a very good feeling this new independence!  Managed to get home in time for a 10 mile run with a great friend, and then hang with L&L at Lo's track practice.  Pretty good and full day, Monday was!
Tuesday was a wonderful day to chill with the kiddos
Wednesday, managed to squeeze in an early morning 5 mile run before a lot of work, book club, then a quick drink with a friend (late night but great to reconnect and touch base with everyone).
Thursday first time I have been on my bike in over a week, oh what a wonderful day it was.  Needed to grab something from L so rode out to his work, and then carried on through Eagle Rock and back Sleepy Hollow, by the time I got home I had managed to get in 32 miles...loved every minute!  Then more track and got ready for yard sale, my sis came over and we (she did most) worked in the garage until 11.  I am calling this sale purging of all things L....boy does that feel good too!
Friday got Kaiser out for an 11 mile run (have I ever mentioned this dog can go forever), worked, packed the boys up and off they Dad, Brother In Law, Nephew and L&L went off for their man camp weekend....happy to NOT be included in that!  And more yard sale getting ready...
Now I am just hanging out waiting for Lo's brownies for her and her buddy's lemonade stand.

Didn't take many pictures.  It's really a place you need to see because photos can't do it justice

Boulder sits at 6000ft..yep that's pretty high1