End of Year

I close the year with an open mind and a happy heart.  This year has brought so much goodness into my life, I count it as one of the best of my adult life.  Quality time spent with friends and family, my relationship with Rick grew deeper and stronger, traveled to Hawaii (twice), New York City, San Juan Islands, Bend, Las Vegas and spent many weekends in the much loved Methow.  Only did a couple races, but spent  all summer and fall hiking to new areas with the kids.  Really took it all in this year, appreciated all this life has given me.  The chance to be free of my  past relationship, and really discover love. 
The year started off with an email from a woman my ex had long denied ever "communicating" with.  I won't go into what it entailed,  but from that moment on I no longer mourned the past, instead thanked God for the chance to have, live and learn from the life I have now.   I am surrounded by friends, and family that love me, and I love them.
For the first time in many years my life feels like my own.  It's calm and peaceful and everyday is filled with joy and love.

Wishing you all love and peace in the New Year!

*By the way, my little miss was hoping we'd make it to midnight, it's 11 and she's out.  I skied another 24K , I'm wiped too....the best I can do is waking up when my 15 year old comes home!  Goodnight!  

1 More

One more day and the kids are home!  Pretty excited for them to come home, but I will admit this week has been nice!  In fact when I look back on the whole Christmas break it has been fantastic.  10 days in Hawaii with my loves (doesn't get better than that), then even though they've been gone and Christmas day was hard, I've had a fabulous week.  Got to meet up with friends from near and far, worked, skate skied 80 kilometers in 4 days (and plan to go again tomorrow), took in 2 movies (Les Mis and Lincoln, both great), cleaned my house, caught up on mail, sorted through years of emails (found some classics in that bunch) and bills. 
Yesterday, skiing with Rick I did 3.5 laps at the hatchery (28 kilometers)  I never go that far because I usually need to be back somewhere doing something.  Yesterday we had all the time in the world, I skied until I knew I was tired, which is when I start making mistakes!  I just took it all in and enjoyed MY time.
I also realized another plus to this situation, when I was talking to Lo last night, she was super excited to have gone sledding.  I have to admit, I only like being outside in the winter IF  I stay warm, which means Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, or farm skiing, but I DO NOT like sledding.  There is nothing I particularly enjoy about going fast downhill while cold air blows in your face.  I have never liked it.....but my ex is dating someone with 2 small kids, and Lo being 10 still likes to go!  So in a way, lucky me I've been off the hook for having to go sledding for the last 2 years.  I am great with someone else taking her if it means she still gets to go and I don't have to do it!! 
I am ok, nope, better than ok!  My heart is full, I am content and I realize how very good my life is.  I will enjoy this last night without the kids, perhaps watching a movie (rare) and eating popcorn for dinner!   Then ring in the New Year with the loves of my life again!  Cheers!


LOTS if this, skiing



Horselake Road with a happy dog

3 Down

And 3 more nights to go, and my only week of the whole year without my kids will be over! I have to say its going much better than expected. I've listened and learned from other Moms like myself, and have been busy! In fact a little too busy, I haven't stopped since we got back. I am taking tonight for myself and having a very rare moment of alone , quite time, blissful! A typical week for me, my kids are always here in the evening except Wednesday night and every other Saturday night, so I take advantage of those nights to catch up with friends and some alone time with my boyfriend. Tonight I am a happy exhausted and just wanted to hang at my house (that I really like but never get to stop and enjoy). I have worked each morning and skate skied every morning or afternoon. Today work was busy, skied 20k (2.5 big laps at the hatchery) and just wanted to come home vacuumed, shovel, do laundry and read my book ( The Secret Race ). Thank you to the most understanding boyfriend too, for totally getting it!

The last of the sun today, was sunny and clear when I first got there

Snuggled with my favorite blanket and hot chocolate! Goodnight!

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'O Ku'u Aloha No'Oe

Found this one tonight when I was editing pictures (thank you Lilo).  I love it, and the man in the picture.

It's in the Books

I survived the first Christmas in 15 years without my kids.  Honestly, I am glad the day is done.  My family was truly amazing (and I know they were missing my kids too), in all it was a good day.  There's just something missing with them gone.  That excitement in the morning when Lo is the first one up, waiting for me to get up, then waiting again for her brother, then patiently waiting again in the living room staring at the stockings while I'm making coffee.  I realized on my drive home from my parents tonight thats what makes it so special and fun, it brings you back to the excitement you once felt.  Today I missed that.  Don't get me wrong, I know how blessed I am, and I got up this morning with the best intent of making the best of it, but I'd be lying if I said it was great.  This one's in the books, and onward we go!
This though is how my day started, felt dang good to revist these (although the body's always a bit shocked)!

Ko'u Aloha

My loves, as simple as that.

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More Aloha

Hard to have a bad day in Hawaii. Fairly non eventful day, but it was perfect. Took my good camera downtown Kona today.
 

 

 

 

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Aloha Nui Loa

Means all my love. This was once engraved on my wedding ring, and still remains one of my favorite Hawaiian sayings. It's how I feel about my kids.
We have been on vacation now for just over a week, goodness it flies by! I am finding myself waking up in the middle of the night with anxiety with the anticipation of waking up Christmas morning for the first time without my kids. I've made peace with the fact that they will be away for a week with their Dad. I don't like it, but it's only once a year and my schedule for that week is FULL. I remind myself over and over that with the exception of every other Saturday I am with my kids everyday. 
This trip was strategically planned.  Originally I was trying to trade 1 day in October, with my ex to take Lo but, after multiple failed attempts decided looking forward on the calendar when I wouldn't have to trade was the better way to go.  When I saw 12 days straight, right before they head to their dads for a week, I jumped on the chance to come here with both kids.  It has been a truly amazing, memorable vacation in so many ways.  I couldn't ask for a better Christmas gift than over a week of time without any distractions with them.  When Christmas rolls around, it will be OK, not ideal, but OK.

Captian Cook adventure

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Photo Fun

Just some unedited photos from yesterday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Vacation Mate

Traveling is important to me. So it's a really good thing I have found someone I travel well with. In the year and a half Rick and I have been together we have taken quite a few trips, all of which have been wonderful. This trip is the second for the four of us all together (this summer we went to Bend for 6 days). I won't lie I was a bit nervous, I originally booked the trip for the 3 of us (with an open invitation to Rick if he wanted to join), and a month ago he decided to join. We were thrilled, but 10 days in a condo together, no big deal for me, but this is a man that lives in his large house, just him and his dog. I am happy to announce we are certainly vacation mates, we both love to get up and get some sort of exercise in. I am running each morning, he's riding, kids are lounging, breakfast and coffee on the lanai and on with another day in paradise! Life is pretty sweet.

Mauna Kea Beach

True relaxing

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Just Another Day

Yesterday we went to my favorite beach on the Big Island, you take what's called an "unimproved" road to get there, walk to the first beach, pass it then hike through the lava fields for about 20 minutes, seriously one of the most beautiful beaches.
Gecko competition ( a long standing Hawaii Hakensen tradition) is going strong, Luke and I are tied with 17, Rick with 12, and Lo holding strong at 5.
 

 

 

No trip to Hawaii is ever complete for us without L&L! And yes Luke is a red kind of reminds me of my Dad!

Morning run before the sun has risen

 

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Vacation

I come here often because I love it. The time away with my kids, away from work and distractions. The sound of the waves crashing at night and birds chirping in the morning. It's a place where I rarely wear makeup, don't brush or wash my hair, where everything gets a break. This time where my kids get to be relaxed and free, no school, or shuffling houses, no bed times or wake up alarms. Where we sit and really listen to each other, this is the best.

 

 

 

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Aloha

Sending a little Aloha from my favorite place with my favorite people!

 
 

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Workouts 12/3- 12/12

Monday 3rd- Swim 2400M
Tuesday 4th- 30 minute run, 45 minute weights (gym)
Wednesday 5th- almost 2 hour bike, 32 miles, Eaglerock to Cashmere, back Easy Street
Thursday 6th- 5 mile run (achilles acting up again)
Friday 7th- Swim 1800m, bike 30 minutes on trainer
Saturday 8th- 8 mile run
Sunday 9th- snow shoe, 1 hour 15 minutes
Monday10th- swim 2400M
Tuesday 11th- 20 minute run, 20 minute eliptical, 30 minutes weights...achilles was being a booger
Wednesday 12th- swim 1600, bike on trainer 45 minute

Vacation.....no more keeping track!

Appreciation

Today was one of those non stop days. From the time I made the kids breakfast until this evening we didn't stop. By dinner I felt like I was going to crash, then Rick shows up. This man brings so much light to my life, in the evening chaos tonight I stepped back, watched and realized just how melded he is into our family. Sappy I know, but my heart just swelled.  He is humble about his involvement with my kids,  you won't see him posting pics of himself and my kids, or gloating about time spent with them on facebook, and I love that about him! But I'll say it, like tonight when he jumped in and helped Lo with her homework, then moved onto helping with Luke's sweater for young life, he is very much a natural part of our lives. One that we (I speak on behalf of the kids and myself) truly appreciate. The reality is, with the exception of every other weekend when the kids visit their Dad, he is there in our day to day life.  His help and involvement on nights like this, just normal, busy everyday life, is grately appreciated.   Going to bed exhausted, and thinking how lucky/blessed we are to have him in our life.....

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Bff Christmas

A man's friendships are one of the best measures of his worth- Charles Darwin
         (I like to think this goes for women as well)

I love my friends and their significant others.  Truly blessed beyond measure to have these wonderful people in my life.  The Bff Christmas party has been going for a few years, last year we invited the guys, this year we debated but then went for it.  We all love each others spouses, fiance or boyfriends, they are wonderful, caring, respectful men, and quite honestly I think they want to get together with each other and celebrate as well.  It's one of my favorite nights of the year!
I could go on and on about the evening, but in a nutshell, there was a "manty" (mens panties) exchange, a panty exchange, and a cookie exchange, along with great laughs and lots of memories made!
Cheers to the Season!


Beauties



Manties



Pre-panties exchange

End to a fabulous evening