Leaving on a....

Jet plane!  We're packed and ready to go.  Have I ever mentioned how much I love traveling with my kids?! Well I LOVE it.   I've traveled with them since they were babies, we have a routine, and it's believe it or not super easy!  We ALWAYS travel light only packing the essentials.  Both kids pack their own, and for carry on's,  pack what they are willing to carry!
People laugh but I love airports and I love being on the plane (perhaps this what lead to my previous employement with United).  I am one of those that gets there AT least 2 hours before, love it.  Love sitting down feeling organized and people watching.  The plane ride, good lord, when esle do I have HOURS to sit and read, seriously the longer the better!
Off to the big city we go.  We've got a lot on our list, Luke's choice was a Yankees game, and Lo was a broadway play, mine Ellis Island! 

Faith

This Sunday I became Callahan's Godmother.  I am truly honored.  Through the service  the priest kept reinterating that this should remind us of our own baptism in the church.  In the last year and half I have been on a journey to find my faith again.  I spent years respecting my ex's agnostic views,  it challenged my thinking.  But I am happy to say I have returned to my roots.  I  love the faith I grew up with and am happy to embrace my role as Cal's Godmother.

Workouts 6/18- 6/24

Monday 18th - Hike Lake Clara 2.75 miles, ride 20 miles
Tuesday 19th - run 4 miles
Wednesday 20th - run 5.25 miles
Thursday 21st - OFF
Friday 22nd - Bike 21 miles 1 hour 9 minutes (rained on but no wind)
Saturday 23rd - 10K Saul Galeagos memorial run, 46:52....hilly, but super fun event!
Sunday 24th - Cashmere plus loop 31 mile, 1 hour 44 minutes

7:45

7:45am on Friday.  Done with my ride (it did rain majority of it but coming back into town, the sky was clearing and it was a beautiful sight), coffee's on.  Sorting through mail, and paper work, children are still asleep, planned to hike today, but due to weather I think we will chill.......this is the life!

Ann enjoying  quite time with me

Oh how I love this

Beware of the Spaghetti Squash

I was curious with the CSA if I'd need to buy extra produce or the basic share would be enough for Rick, the kids and I.  For all of us it has been more than enough each week.  I've had greens left over each week, and this week I had onions, left over too.
That  along with my garden I am almost feeling like I have too much food.  Fortunately there's a few of us and we garden swap.  My one friends always has a ton of peppers, and my spaghetti squash is taking over a whole bed.  I had a bit of a problem with the birds and my lettuce early on, but Rick fixed that, now I have 3 regular heads almost ready, my romaine will be ready next week and the swiss chard is making a come back.....not sure if my bistro greens are going to make it.  I have four different tomato plants, cucumbers, carrots, one wax pepper,  and an artichoke (not sure if its going to work or not).   I missed growing food last year, it's good to be back!

This weeks CSA share

Live in the Sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air-
                                                      -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hiking has always been something I loved, my ex did not, so it was rare unless I pushed.  This is something I can now give  my kids.  I love showing them the beauty that surrounds us, I love hiking high and coming to a lake, I love that Luke notices how the landscape changes as we go, I love the smells.  Most of all I love taking the time to be with them and my dog (today we also grabbed Rick's dog).

*Note the basset is not here with us.  He is a great hiker, but you have to be able to tolerate his whining in the car, and I have lost my patience with him!

Lake Clara

Workouts 6/11 - 6/17

Monday 11th -  4.5 mile recovery run
Tuesday 12th -  WVV 40K TT:  warm up 2 miles, time trial 25 miles (1:10:52) cool down 2 miles
Wednesday 13th - OFF
Thursday 14th -  5.25 mile tempo run/ intervals
Friday 15th - 26 miles (1:37), Sleepy Hollow, Fairview, American Fruit, West Eaglerock, April/Anna, down Lovell....home
Saturday 16th - Issaquah Highlands Garage Sale (and that was work)
Sunday 17th - 52 miles, 3 hours 6 minutes (Nahahum up 4 miles, Cashmere, Mission Creak, Du hill, Home)

Here's to my Dad!

I snatched this from my friend Jane's Facebook page.  I think it sums up my Dad!

A Father's Love: A father is respected because he gives his children leadership... appreciated because he gives his children care... valued because he gives his children time... loved because he gives his children the one thing they treasure most - himself. — Fathers Day 2012

I've always known my Dad loves me, and have  known I could count on him for anything.  But it's taken me 34 years, and dealing with my kids disappointment and inability to count on their own Dad to truly realize how lucky I am.  
These things have made me realize I never felt that way, if anything I took my Dad for granted because he's always there for me.  I forget something, lock myself out, rip the car door off, break a window, need someone to take the kids somewhere, pick up my dogs, you name it,  big or small he comes!
He showed and still shows leadership, he has always taken care of my Mom, Sister and I,  he is selfless and humble with his time,  he has and still does give of himself.  He does things because he care's not because he's asked to.   I couldn't have asked to be raised by a better Dad.  I'm not the only lucky recipient of  his love and dedication, my children are too.  I am so grateful they have him to model after.

I love you Dad and thank you for all you do for us.

He's also a tad camera shy, so I never get good pictures!

Ready or Not it's Summer Break

The last three years have become somewhat of a tradition for Luke.  He and a handful of buddies come over for lunch, hang out, house hop then spend the night.   I truly love this!  I love that they get so excited, I love feeding and having them here!  Makes me glad I didn't sell my house.  When Lars and I bought it 4 years ago this was the reason.  We thought it'd be the perfect place for Luke to have friends over and hang out in the basement. Next week the bedroom and bathroom will start getting remodeled down there and it will be even better.  Last night 7 boys sleeping down there was a little cramped!
I always take the next day off, so  woke up early went for and amazing ride, got back just as Lo was waking up.  We got the breakfast stuff out for the boys, and watched some Hulu and read, drank coffee and hot chocolate.  Then onto the yard for mowing and weed pulling (which I actually love).

The last two summers I have worked full time through the summer, but today sitting around hanging with the kids I've decided it will be a part time work schedule this summer!  The business is back on track, and quite honestly this time with my kids goes way too fast, I love my job and work, but I love them more.  I have some really great employees right now, and I am going to take advantage of that!

Even AnnaBelle like summer vacation

I serve Caffe Vita at the shop, but what a treat to drink it all morning at home!

fun. - Some Nights (Bing Lounge)

They are my new "crush".  As you may remember I had a slight obsession with the lead singer of the Killers, then the lead singer of Foster the People (and will say it intensified when I saw both live), now it's Fun!  Fortunately my friends are partners in crime on this one, looking forward to seeing them in August!

Not Sure

My goal was to make it 2 weeks on half a tank of gas.  We have been committed to biking and walking when we can (even in the rain to Iwa).  I'm close, but driving tonight to Palisades for the last time trial in the Velo clubs TT series, and I will need to make a URM run tomorrow, may push it to make it to Friday on a half of tank......we'll see! 

On another note, the kids only have 2 more days of school.  Granted I love summer vacation with them, but good lord this year flew by way too fast!  Luke's first year of High School is over, just like that, and my baby will be entering her LAST year of elementary next year...crap!
We have lots planned to keep us busy.  Starting with New York in just two weeks!  A San Juan bike trip with my love in July, fine tuning our dates for Bend in August, Las Vegas in September, and working on something for October.  I love this!  Needless to say I don't have any races planned (not that I won't jump into a few), but just like last summer I am really looking forward to focusing on my little family, making our time together a priority (work outs will still happened,  but more likely when kids are with friends, or early mornings)!

Workouts 5/28 - 6/3

Monday 4th - 4.5 mile run
Tuesday 5th - Run Wenatchee track workout on the treadmill 10x400's with a minute walk in between each 400) did a mile job warm up, 1/2 mile cool down (total 5 plus miles) 30 minutes of weights
Wednesday 6th - 20 minutes of much needed stretching!
Thursday 7th - 3 mile treadmill run (22:36, 7:32mm), 20 minutes abs and arms
Friday 8th -  24 mile ride (Burch Mt,  Rolling Hills, up Knowles and down , Majestic up Am. Fruit, Lovell, Arpril/Anna, down W. Eaglerock, out to Tom Dick and Harrys, back the the reverse hills)   1 hour 27minutes (was picked up soaking wet from my BF, love him, at Lowes, otherwise it should've been around 27 miles)
Saturday 9th - 6 mile run
Sunday 10th - 48 mile road ride 2:54, 20-30mph gust (not fun) Home-Nahahum-Cashmere-Mission Creek out and back- Sleepy Hollow-Home

Pseudo 10 on 10 June

This was a pretty pathetic attempt on a 10 on 10 on my part this month.  Since Memorial weekend it has been non stop in the Hakensen house!  As of Thursday I have essentially been married to the Wenatchee Omnium, coordinating volunteers, and spent 13 hours in the wind yesterday taking care of volunteers, radio's, results, check in,, packet hand outs and kids race (I might add its all fun though). 
I originally planned to take photos last Saturday when my sister and I were having a yard sale, but only took a few pictures.  The next day Sunday the 3rd gave it a go again, and made it until 3, so I opted to pick up where I left off at 3 the following afternoon............there's only 8.

Post run stretch (rare), coffee, because she's cute, being GU girls at Red Devil trail run, mop, 1st day of crossing gaurd, ice cream

WooHoo!

First Wednesday of the season to pick up my CSA share!  All kinds of greatness in my box today.  On a sad note, in my garden the birds ate all my bistro mix greens and swiss chard, so tonight Rick and I are on operation save the greens!

Conscience Living

I'm doing a little experiment.  I filled up my gas tank Friday June 1st and am going to see how far it gets my by the 15th (the 16th I am heading out of town and will fill up again).  I live in town, and need my car  very little if I actually plan! 
Happy to say I am back to commuting by bike 3 days a week, and hope in the summer it will be back to 5.  I volunteered at  RunWenatchee's trail run this Saturday so I had to drive to the trail heads beyond Cashmere, but coming back into town it forced me to do my URM run  since it was en route.   For the business I am at URM once a week and Costco twice and need my car for those trips, but its making me plan better.  I buy majority of my groceries at Costco, a few little things we may need I can walk to Safeway, and once a week I get my CSA share from Farmhouse Table (which I can also walk to).  Eating out and movies is right down the street, again walking and summer music is down the street.  I used to fill time going to Target when I'd run out of one little item, now I maybe make a trip there every 6 weeks.  Not only saves in gas but money I'd spend buying things I don't need.
I support Washington state gas tax (our federal excise tax per gallon is 18.4 cents, and the state/local tax is 37.5).  Because of my business and needing space to haul stuff (that and 2 dogs, one being an 85lb. Shepard) I drive a car larger than I'd like (Honda CRV), but for the most part in town I get 21/22 mpg and hwy around 27.
Another bonus to this, is the time spent with the kids.  I walk Lo home from school most days, it's during this time she talks all about her day, in detail while it's fresh in her mind and she's excited.  Our evenings and weekends aren't spent running errands.  They are spent at home, or together out doing stuff.....bonding!
My goal by the 15th is to have only gone through 1/2 a tank.  I am the volunteer coordinator for a bike race this weekend, which means a lot of driving to Malaga, so I am going to have to try to cut driving in all other areas to make this goal!  We'll see!

Out with the old..

My sister and I had a yard sale Saturday (she  is the master yard sale organizer, should be for hire).  I had one last year and cleared out all my ex's stuff, he never came to get.  This year I went top to bottom in my house and cleared out anything that was not of use for myself or kids.  Lots of clothes, vases, extra lines, mixing bowls, pans, throw pillow, you name it!   I also cleared out things that had been given to us as joint gifts, a purging of sorts of a past life.  Nice things, but nothing that served of use for me, out it went!    It felt good,  however it brought on the need for a deep clean of the house....now time to sit back and enjoy!

Workouts 5/28-6/3

Monday 28th - 2 hours easy on Cross bike, Mazama trails
Tuesday 29th - Alcoa TT by WVV (20 minute warm-up, TT 9.2 mile 26:06, 30 minutes cool down)
Wednesday 30th -  30 minutes weights
Thursday 31st - Run Wenatch track workout, ladder of 5-4-3-2-1 with a 400 job in between, 20 minutes arms and core
Friday 1st - 43 miles Pinnacle loop  2.5 hours
Saturday 2nd - OFF
Sunday 3rd - 8:03 mile run, 1hour 9 minutes (8:35mm pace) not my fastest run, but felt great!

Lucky

I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and new.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am lucky indeed to surround myself with so many great friends.  I can honestly say every one enhances my life,  I am inspired by many, and learn from them all.

One of my dear friends moved away to Georgia last year to go to PA school at Emery University.  So proud of her, but I miss her.  She was home for just over a week so we scheduled a ride together, our favorite, the Pinnacle Loop.  It's in our opinion the BEST ride, lots of hills (little to no hwy), you climb quite high, but the views are phenomenal, and from my house its right around 43-47 miles (depending where you cross the hwy), for a 2 1/2 hour ride it can't be beat!

So excited to ride togethwe we even wore the same jersey!