The Exception to the Rule

Oh my was I looking forward to this weekend!  The kids and I have been CRAZY busy, with track several nights a week, Lo's volleyball two nights a week, add appointments, concerts and lots of homework to the mix the last two weeks, this mama was tired and looking forward to letting their dad take a little bit of the responsibilities.  It is rare that I like my kids to be away.  Recently I was doing a glass half full/half empty deal.  I was feeling mopey that I don't have the option to be with my kids 365 days a year, I'm a numbers gal, so I actually sat down and figured out exactly how many days in the year I go without seeing my kids.  Here you have it, twice a month (which is every other Saturday, this also means I have the kids 13 days in a row, after that Saturday).  5 days at Christmas break and 2 at Spring break.  I don't have it so bad.  Maybe it's the principle behind it, or it's a maternal thing (for most that is)!   Their Dad and his girlfriend kind of like to be the fun time people on their limited time with my kids.  I'd like to see rules and responsibilities set, but it's not going to happen, and in a way I get it.  This weekend though was the start of Apple Blossom, I wanted as little to do with it as possible.  I don't like the crowds its brings, I don't trust the food in the park, amongst a few.  All I want to do is be in the hills running or on my bike far away from it.  I fully embraced letting the kids go to their dads this weekend so I could do just that!  I've had 16 years of doing the festivities with the kids, I was happy (VERY happy) to avoid the carnival, food fair, and parade(I did venture down for Lo's dance performance in the park, and that was enough).  I biked, I ran, I enjoyed clean healthy food, we even tilled the garden.  I stayed both nights at Ricks.  We often go between the two houses, but his felt like such a peaceful get away.  His master bedroom looks to Sage Hills and is so calming, compared to the sirens going off in my neighborhood nonstop during this week.  He also has the most comfortable couch in the whole world and cable television, we sat, relaxed and watched a program on National Geographic about the extreme ice survey.   Truly lovely.  This weekend was the exception to the rule for me, as far as my kids being away, but it was wonderful.  It feels good to embrace it, without the guilt.

Here's a few photos of my lovely run this am.  I had the trail to myself until I ran into a familiar face 6 miles into my run!

Workouts 4/22-4/28

Monday 22nd- Run 5.25, swim 2000
Tuesday 23rd- Bike 28 miles
Wednesday 24th- swim 1800
Thursday 25th- run 6 miles
Fridays 26th- Bike 32 miles
Saturday 27th- have no idea how far we biked, set out for the Icicle, but got turned back at Stine Hill with 44 mile an hour wind gust, went up Nahahum in stead...bike comuter battery died
Sunday 28th- 8 mile Sage Hills run (out of the running funk, but certainly not running fast)

Just a Run

My running funk seems to be over, for now.  Possibly the longest lasting funk I've ever been in.  Hitting the trails has certainly helped.  Last summer I started running Sage, then when the fires hit discovered trail running Lake Valhalla, and it kind of took off from there.  Luckily there is some fabulous trails right here in town, and they've peaked my interest and kept boredom at bay!

Today I set off for a quick 5ish mile tempo run, wearing these:

 

I have been a long time user of compression socks.  I wear them often after long runs, traveling,  and when I've had a busy week I wear them at work since I am on my feet for over 6 hours.    Today was a first, I didn't take them off after work and ran in them!  I get it, they were sweet.  Not sure if it's the fact that I was out of my running funk or the socks but took off feeling like a rockstar, until I hit mile 2.  My previous nights Indian food and running DO NOT go well together (there's a new Indian restaurant within walking distance to my house, a vegetarians dream).

I won't go into details (that's just not apporpriate) but the next 3 miles home were interesting.

 

Good socks, good run, Indian food just needs to be reserved for the night before bike days!

She Did It!

Lo completed the Foothills Hiking Challenge.  I am so proud of her, and her decision to do this.  She came home from school a couple of weeks ago with the card and said she wanted to do this.  I looked over our schedule and we picked the days we could do what hikes, and there she went.  The only one I don't have a current photo of is Saddlerock, she actually went on that with her school last Wednesday!
Way to go Lo, super super proud of you!


Jacobson Preserve

Sage Hills



Horse Lake Reserve

Horse Lake Reserve

Dry Gulch

 

All of the trails are VERY do able for all ages.  They're really more of a nature walk than an actual hike, with the exception of the incline of Saddlerock.  With Lo we "hike", but on my own Horse Lake, and Sage are exceptional trails to run!  If you take your dogs, (and I guess this goes for kids too) the ticks are out, so if the dog or kids wonder off the trail, do a tick check.  Snakes have also been spotted with the warmer temps...

 

 

According to Lo:  Her favorite is Sage Hills, Easiest is Jacobson , Hardest, Horse Lake (pretty sure this is because it was the longest at 5 miles), Least Favorite, was Dry Gulch, she said it just wasn't as pretty as the others.

And she's super concerned about the erosion of Saddlerock, so stay on the trail and avoid it if it's muddy!

What a Feeling

I am having so much fun seeing Broadway (or soon to be Broadway) shows with my girl.  As of now she has dreams of living in NYC and one day performing, I will do everything I can to encourage her to do whatever it is in life she loves.  She may change plans completely and that's OK, but she and I will always have the memories of sharing these experiences together.
We took a day trip with my Mom over to Seattle to catch Flashdance at the Paramount before it heads to Broadway.  I was fabulous!

Hot chocolate/potty stop on the way over

Not supposed to have camera's on there, hence the bad quality

workouts 4/15-4/21

Monday 15th- 4 mile run, 2000 yard swim
Tuesday 16th- bike Monitor loop 24 miles

Wednesday 17th- bike Joe Miller- essentially bonked on the way back at the turn onto terminal street. All my doing, day 13 with out a rest day (this would typically be it, but it will be Sunday this week), busy day at work, as usual just had coffee for breakfast, got home had to make a few phone calls, had a handful of popcorn while doing so and set off, with just water.  Felt just fine until 4 miles from home...YIKES

Thursday18th- 6 mile sage hills run
Friday 19th-  Bike Mission Creek - 42 miles
Saturday 20th- run 9 miles
Sunday 21st- Day Off!!

Going Forward

I recently changed my FB profile picture to one of Rick and I, this is only the second time I've done that.  I was a bit shocked and humbled by all the likes and sweet comments it got.  I look at the picture and I love it, I see happiness in it.  For others to see that, and be so happy for me, wow, it brought tears to my eyes.  You may remember THIS post, it was hard to write and the sadness I felt, really hurt.  I was scared on so many levels, would I be ok financially, would I be enough for my kids, could I handle a big old house and a business by myself, was I ok being alone...that's just a few.
Two and a half years later I see a girl in a picture that is happy and in love. One that has overcome those fears.  Thank you ALL for your love and support.  It has meant the world to me.  THANK YOU!

I don't post a lot about  my relationship, or bombard people with pictures of us, here or on FB, but we're good, very good!.  My previous relationship I think  I felt the need to prove to others we were good, talk myself into the fact that we were good, or even direct it at the other women.  It was a possessive behavior, as though he were mine, when really I was never enough for him.
This relationship is different, there is love and respect, and it goes both ways.  I feel happy and secure, and there is no doubt....ever. I don't need to post it, I know it,  and all those around me know it.
Looking back I wanted to figure out why I stayed when it wasn't good for me.  All I could come up with was that I believed we were a "unit"  and that I couldn't do it on my own, second my kids.  I was one of those, I would've stayed forever if it meant being able to be with them everyday.  In a way I am glad he did what he did, it didn't leave me much choice other than to file for divorce.   A blessing in disguise.
Rick and I have very few problems, granted we don't live together, but that's actually one of the obstacles we sometimes face.  We both own houses,  which means often neglecting one of the houses.  The other for me would be the only time we stay the night with each  other is when the kids are at their dads, which isn't very often.  Quite honestly sometimes I miss that time right before bed, the snuggling and talking,  falling asleep and waking up with the one you love.  But if that's as big as our problems get, well then it's ALL good!

I think one of my friends said it perfectly in a comment about that picture, "looking back and moving forward...literally"

I Juiced

And failed. I really don't think drinking my calories is for me. Seemed like a good idea, I have the worst breakfast habits. I work early and it's crazy busy, so I drink an Americano throughout the morning, come home grab a snack at noon and workout. My workouts are getting longer and harder so thought if I could blend up a bunch of fruits and veggies and drink it throughout the morning that would be awesome. Today was all things I like to eat Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, orange, pomegranate seeds, spinach, chia seeds and almond butter......not for me!

Now I'm home eating leftover Cobb salad (but vegetarian style, so not really Cobb at all), and drinking a glass of water with chia seeds.

What can I say...I prefer to eat my calories!

 

 

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Book List Add Ons

Most of you know it's rare that I watch t.v unless it's Lo and I sitting down to watch Gilmore Girls DVDs, or sometimes House Hunters in bed.  My love is in books.  I love to read and ALWAYS have a book in my bag with me in case I find myself with a few free minutes.  I haven't been very good about updating my list but here are a few note worthy reads I've read the last few months.

The Immortal Like of Henrietta Lacks- by Rebecca Skloot
-fascinating book that brings up so many discussions

The Still Point of the Turning World- Emily Rapp
-very sad (you know from the beginning the outcome) but beautifully written tribute to this authors son.  I got the same feeling reading this as I did years ago with Tuesdays with Morrie, only instead of an adult with ALS this is an infant with Tay Sachs.

Let My People Go Surfing- Yvon Chouinard
-Let's just say, you may only want to buy Patagonia after reading this

I'm currently reading:  The Mistress's Daughter by A.M Holmes, so far so good!

Workouts 4/8-4/14

Monday 8th- 6 mile run 1800y swim
Tuesday 9th- bike Fairview, back American Fruit 26 miles
Wednesday 10th-  Recovery run 3 miles
Thursday 11th- Run, 6 miles at Sage
Friday 12th- bike 32 mile Cashmere loop
Saturday 13th- run 8.5
Sunday 14th -  bike 52 miles, Nahahum and back, Mission creek and..then home.  Feeling stronger than ever on my bike, and enjoying it 100%

Being Sixteen

We're a few days into it and I think all is well!  There was one mishap, when my son pulled my car into the garage and left the lights on Thursday night (never mind that the annoying ring was going off when you forget to turn your lights off).  Needless to say Friday morning he drove himself to school in his car, and when I went to take Lo in my car I had a dead battery.  Thankfully we live fairly close to school and could walk!  Other than that, it's actually pretty cute to see him so excited.

Birthday ice cream date with Mom, he drove!

Best Day

At 8:08 pm (and yes I am aware that's Hawaii's area code, coincidence? I think not) April 10th 1997, my son was born. The course of my life and meaning to it would forever change for the better. It saddens me that 16 years have gone by so fast, when I want to savor every moment, yet at the same time these 16 years have brought more joy to my life than I could've imagined. I am both terrified and excited to have to have him driving. I kind of want to keep him buckled up in the safety of my car!

It's amazing to think I was only a few years older than him when I had him. The bond between us and what we share is unbreakable. On April 10th I was blessed, to have been given the job of being his Mother! On this day we celebrate and make it all about him. I've taken off work to do breakfast, lunch then take him on the trip to the DOL!

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Workouts 4/1-4/8

Monday 1st- run dry gulch 4 miles, swim 1800 yards
Tuesday 2nd- bike du course with 2 hill repeat 30 miles
Wednesday 3rd- swim 2000 y, run 5.5 miles
Thursday 4th- OFF
Friday 5th- Bike Eaglerock, 24 miles, swim 1650 y
Saturday 6th-  Hike Sauer Mountain 5.3 miles, elevation gain 1800 (no motivation to run, just wanted to be with the kids so opted for the hike instread of running)
Sunday 7th- Rain in the am forced me (and everyone else I know) to Golds, 2 mile warm up at 5k pace, 40 minutes weights, 2 miles again at 5k pace (was supposed to bike, but again it was one of those weekends, where I really just wanted to chill with the kids)  Figure I won't take a rest day this week and get it all in

Movies, Hikes and Snuggles

I did it!  I managed to stay home, and not fly off during Spring Break.  I REALLY wanted to fly..anywhere! Up until Wednesday when the kids came home I was looking for a quick deal to get away, but the problem is I have almost met the financial goals I  set for myself.  Also I have money set aside for new carpet, this of course was the money I was going to blow on a 4 day vacation...sniff sniff.  Then I switched my thoughts to a weekend trip to Seattle, but truth is I don't like Seattle, then to the Methow, but was just up there, and it's the in between season, Chelan but wasn't too thrilled about kenneling my dogs for a night up 40 minutes away.  So movies, hikes and snuggling won, and it was great!

There's a pattern I've started to see with Lo when she returns from her Dads.  Most of her time there is spent playing and entertaining his girlfriends two little girls, she enjoys it and is VERY good with them, but when she comes home she is so loud.  Not in a bad way, just a little obnoxious.   I call it switching gears and know how to deal with it, but at first it would drive me crazy.  In order to be heard at her Dads and  "share" space and time, she's loud.  It's an adjustment from my house, where quite honestly it's all about her.
This time was no different, other than I could tell she needed a little extra special time with just me.  Thursday after work we went home changed into comfy clothes and watched Gilmore Girls (our favorite).  Then yesterday I woke both kids up early, and we took off to hike Sauer Mountain, one of my favorite spring hikes, just us.  It was wonderful.  Last night Lo was snuggled up on the couch with Rick  and me watching Incredible's, when she fell asleep on my lap.  I took it all in, she really is changing and growing into a teen, but it's these moments she gets to be a child.
Scenes from Sauer:

How We Love Sage

I fell in love running Sage Hills last fall, it's late now so I won't go on and on about why I love it.  Instead will show a few snippets from mine and Lo's jaunt up there today.  I will say I love that this girl loves to hike, and she is the most excellent animal handler.  It's a win  win, one on one time with her, while the dogs get some exercise!

Poor Obie, he hasn't been feeling well, in fact got sick the night before, but he to loves Sage so he had to come too!

We were messing with the self timer, but the camera was on a narrow sign and the wind was blowing!
 

In Case you Missed It

Lo and I were searching cake ideas for an upcoming birthday and stumbled across my own recipe from Real Simple published in 2008. It's been "pinned" 166,000 times. For those that don't know the story, I saw an add asking for recipes for Real Simples Fake it don't Bake it section and submitted this....only I keep it even more simple and use cool whip!

 

Yep there's my name in print, pretty funny if you ask me!

 

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It Happens....

I buy organic vegetables, nitrate free meat for my kids, stay away from drinks labeled "sugar free" and then I do this

And Costco size! Ugghhh!

 

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Me Time..

I really contemplated with the idea of peacing out of town while the kids spent 4 days at their dads, but decided to stay put.  Normally I'd work a ton while they were away, but I was kind of craving some me time, and the weather was forecasting 70 degrees, so I scheduled myself half of what I'd normally do, and have been having the most wonderful solo vacation at home.  Long bike rides, trail runs without any time constraints, swimming, laundry, cleaning, reading and walking the dogs each day.  Heat's off in the house and windows are opened.  Dare I say I am really enjoying myself.  I start to feel a tad guilty, but then I think, this is rare in my life.  Some parents  are with out their kids for days, every week. This happens for me only twice a year (thank goodness), I think it's ok to be guilt free.  It use to devastate me, but now I'm starting to adjust.  It helps that my kids are 11 and almost 16, and not as dependant on me.  They know how to communicate with their Dad, and call and text me whenever.  As much a I love to travel, it has been just as lovely (this time) to stay put as well.  I've also loved this time alone, but VERY glad it only happens every so often, I look forward to my little people being home!

Getting dropped on Deadmans, so took the time to take a picture



Heading up to Dry Gulch, Kaiser thought it was a lake to play in