Ramblings with pictures

Not sure if you know this or not, but I have a very cool cat. The kids and I picked up two cats from the humane society in 2007 (because who can really adopt just one if two are in the cage) AnnaBelle and Meredith Grey. MG was Kaiser's kitty, unfortunately when we lived in East Wenatchee she was not afraid of the coyotes. AB moved with us and runs the 'hood, she's just plain awesome.

 

I don't even have to put a water bowl out for her.....but she does prefer clean toilets!

 

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Prepping

The little miss and I have spent the day getting our goods organized for our upcoming Mt. Rainer camping trip.  For as much as I love the outdoors, I haven't been a "camper" since I was a kid.  It's not that I don't love waking up in the woods, breathing in the fresh air, I'd just prefer to do it from a cabin.  This whole camping thing is a lot of work, not to mention for me it's been pretty expensive (I've been told it's a one time investment).  Fortunately Rick has pretty much everything, but I bought a very nice 750 down filled sleeping bag (this is where I wasn't willing to skimp) plus I needed to get the kids sleeping mats, and food, all I can imagine is my son eating all day!
It's not that I was opposed to it, but quite honestly I don't like being unprepared in situations.  Truth is I don't think if we were faced with a life threatening situation my Ex would've been able to get us out alive....after all we have an infamous story from the "attacking" pheasant  on the Icicle Gorge trail a few years ago.
Rick on the other hand has a long list, I was reviewing.  There are things like a hammer, tarp string, water filter, and a saw for peets sake!  I never would've thought of any of those, granted I have no idea what we need them for, but pretty sure Rick does....
All in all I am getting very excited, to experience this with the kids.  They unfortunately haven't grown up camping, with the exception of camping a few times in the parks near town.  Rainer is something I want them to see as well.  People come from all over the country to see it, and yet it's in our very own state.  Also looking forward to hiking with my camera, so hopefully I will have some fun photos to share......wish me luck, or better yet wish Rick luck!

Food and dry goods stocking up

My fridge has never been this full

Balance

This was one of those rare weekends I was really glad my kids were at their Dads for his every other weekend.   This weekends training plan called for a 2 hour run and 1 hour swim Saturday and a 3 1/2 (60 mile) ride and 20 minute run on Sunday, and quite honestly to work out for that many hours when they are home, I just wouldn't be OK with it, and likely get up at 4 am to get it done....so yes I will say it, it was nice they were  having fun and being watched.  

The weekend was wonderful, it was nice to have the time to get those workouts in, and of course some fun on Friday night.  I love my friends, really love them.  They are the greatest bunch of gals and guys to be around, so anytime we can all get together is so fun, often coming home with sore ab muscles from laughing so much.  We decided to celebrate the summer solstice with a progressive appetizers and drinks party (must of us live within a mile radius of one another), the only condition was from house to house you had to use non motorized transportation.  Needless to say the night was a huge success and we plan to make it bigger and better for next year!

Below are some photos of the night, in all we went to four houses.  At house #2 we decided we'd take a picture at each house....well that only happened at house #2 and #3

Taking off from house #2

This was the scene all night, and no I do not condone helmetless behavior

Well this wasn't  a planned stop, but we tried to pick up our friend Steve...he wasn't home, his loss

Two of THE greatest people you will ever meet

Mojito's at house 3


There were pictures enroute to house 4, however they were blurry....imagine that

June 17-23rd

I am too tired to go into workout detail, so just going with distance this week.  Note:  each one did have a specific goal/drill

Monday 17th- 1600m swim, 6 mile run
Tuesday 18th- 24 miles on the bike
Wednesday 19th- swim 1600 M, run 5.5 miles
Thursday 20th- OFF super tired
Friday 21st- bike 28 miles, swim 1500m
Saturday 22nd- run 13 miles
Sunday 23rd- bike 58 miles, 15 minute transition run

Cheers to Friday!

I'm usually an afternoon cyclist, but with the kids home for the summer I've been up and at it as the suns coming up. I am loving starting my day this way. So peaceful, so few cars, temperatures are amazing.

Just a glimpse of 5:30 for you....

 

 

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Bragging Rights

Finally uploading pictures from the last weeks of school!  No surprise but Lo cleaned house on awards at the end of year assembly.  She's just remarkable in her work ethic!   One of the really cool awards she received was the Sportsmanship Award, this is awarded to one boy and one girl  in the whole school and their name goes on a plaque in the office.  I know she's a great kid, but for others to recognize that makes me so proud of her!

 

She just finished with a great volleyball camp, put on by the High School girls coach, LeAnne and her players.  She LOVED it!  No pictures, because I never brought my camera in, but did take this one this am of her stocking (she comes to work with me and opens the shop, putting everything out for the day for $5 a morning......love having her there with me)!

 

 

Embracing Life

We are in full summer mode in the Hakensen house, and loving it! Feeling pretty fortunate to have a job, in which I control my schedule. Clearly being self employed I need to be working to make money, but my material needs are minimal, and I am very good at living well within my means.

Three years ago my ex and I lost two friends to cancer within 6 weeks of each other. One a 32 year old mom of two and the other a father in his early forties, I have two friends in their thirties currently fighting for their lives against brain cancer, all this puts my life in perspective. My time here on this earth has no guarantees, but the one thing I do know is I want to soak in every possible moment I can with my kids while they are still young (ish). I did this last year and doing it again this year, during the summer I cut my work time by almost half. I am lucky that I love my job, and do look forward to showing up to it, but for the summer when the kids are home this gives me a nice balance. My son is driving this summer and has more freedoms, so it's pretty much Lo and I each day. I kind of want to make this summer about her, she's such an awesome kid, always going along with whatever everyone has going, but sometimes it needs to be about her. She has several camps lined up that she's really excited about, plus every Friday she gets to have a friend over and head to Chelan. My son is gone on various trips this summer, so she'll get to experience a little "only child" time at my house. At her Dads she  doesn't get to have friends over or much, because they also have his GF's  kids around (and there again she nevers complains, and is wonderful with them) yet she's really at that age where for years she's watched her brother and all his buddies hang out, now she wants that, and lucky me, I can give her that!  Although sleepovers are a whole other deal, boy sleepovers are super easy, the girls,  goodness sake they are loud, and don't sleep!

So far we havent done anything spectacular, but we've certainly enjoyed taking time around here....even finding time to bathe our overly dirty dogs!

Enjoying the outdoor pool

A long overdue groom

Oh and chasing rainbows

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Workouts 6/10-6/16

Monday 10th- Skyline run, 6 miles, 1400y swim
Tuesday 11th- OFF
Wednesday 12th- Run 13.5 miles
Thursday 13th- Bike monitor loop, open water swim (lake Chelan)
Friday 14th- No 2 canyon to the top, plus one interval back up to the horses
Saturday 15th- 3 mile run, 1400M swim
Sunday 16th-  bike the Icicle (my favorite)  60 miles. 
*this ride is awesome.  Awesome hills, views and smells!  Start from Anjou (so you can end there) head to Nahahum canyon road and cross back into Cashmere.  Take Stine and Deadmans out (you'll take it coming back too, but I think going out is a more challenging hill, but in a good way), cross to take North Road into Leavenworth, back roads through until you get on Icicle.  From there until the dirt road is 13 miles, the climb starts about Sleeping Lady and is 10 miles, do not be afraid, its not hard, just long and gradual, and the sweet reward is the decent, tale East Leavenworth road back.     Heads up though, this ride is best done on weekdays or first thing in the morning.  There's several campsite and rock climbing spots up the Icicle and the car traffic increases as the day goes on!

Good Morning

Waking up my favorite way (well almost favorite, on the bike at least, not so much No. 2 canyon intervals). Happy Friday!

 

 

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Summer Has Started

Today was the last day of school for the kids. We said good bye to elementary school for good, and onto summer! Lo of course had a fabulous last year. She has fond memories of great teachers and friends from both St Joes and Washington. My son, well we were just glad to be done with another year, I will say he enjoyed it, his GPA didn't as much.....

I'm wiped, keeping with traditional I let the kids have friends over and slumber party the last day. My son is grounded this week (the result of an "incident" at his Dads last weekend). I was meeting friends in Chelan for a open water swim, so Lo and friends were going to swim a bit, but the clouds rolled in and got too cold for their little bodies, however the lighting was fabulous to snap photos, so here you go!

 

 

 

 

 

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For Goodness Sake

.....I am a Broadway junkie!  Lo and I had the most fabulous time last night watching the Tony's, oh how I love that she loves it!   If you missed it, they were fabulous!  Seeing the ladies from Mama Mia she had her pictures taken with presenting, as well as the guy from Rock of Ages, and one of the gals from Chicago was a highlight for her!
We have Disneyland and Kauai coming up in the next few months, but after that, back to Broadway we go!!  I put on my list (that's our deal, we all get to pick one, then the rest are at the mercy of TKTS) Matilda, and Kinky Boots, she picked Bring It On.  The girl loves  NY and at this point wants to live there when she's an adult.  Her Mom would LOVE that!

Workouts 6/3-6/9

Monday 3rd- run 5.5, swim 1400 (main set 2x300)

Tuesday 4th- bike 26 miles

Wednesday 5th- swim 1400, run 1 mile warm up, 6x800 with a 400 jog in between, 1 mile cool down

Thursday 6th- off

Friday 7th- bike Eagle rock, 22 miles

Saturday 8th- run 13 miles, swim 2000 y

Sunday 9th- bike home to Leavenworth 56 miles RT

That ride felt like the longest ride ever. I was so wiped from Fridays field day and workouts, then Saturdays 13 mile run and the open water swim totally wore me out! Think 2 naps, went to Ricks and fell asleep, then again at my house later!

Fortunately (I rode w Rick Sunday) he had done a crazy 6 hour mountain bike ride Saturday so he was feeling it too, but we took off into a decent head wind, and the legs and mind were just not there! I have a rule when I ride, I don't stop, I don't do the whole stop half or 3/4 of the way, I like to ride non stop then reward, but today the only thing I could think of was I needed coffee so at mile 45 we did stop at Anjou to fill waters and grab an Americano, felt better, but the reason I don't stop is everything tightens up and it makes it hard to get going, was very thankful for the tail wind!

Loved being on this again!

This pretty much saved me!

After this weeks workouts, I felt no guilt about lying on the couch soaking in the early evening rays on Sunday!

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OWS

Went to my first open water swim clinic, thankfully to ease some of the anxiety it was put on by my friends Jenn and Jason.  Fabulous, I would recommend this to anyone that has a bit of anxiety at the thought of jumping in the water with hundreds of people trying to spot buoys.    Needless to say, and surprising myself, I loved it!   Already have another OWS planned for next week.  Felt very comfortable in the water, was slow so I have a lot to work on.  Thinking this years races speed won't happen, but definitely looking forward to making swimming a regular thing for many years to come!

Sniff Sniff

Up until today I've been pretty excited for Lo to move on to middle school, after all I've been with a child at the elementary schools since my son was 5....11 years ago.  However today it kind of hit me, no more elementary.  I've spent every Friday morning working in Lo's classroom this year, and when I got to the school today it hit me that this was the last one, then I went on to be the class mom at field day, last time with this too.  Granted field day is exhausting, Lars and I have spent the years since our son was in kindergarten trading off who's year it is to volunteer, not exactly my favorite, but both kids have ALWAYS wanted us there, this year it was me.  It was bittersweet, glad that was the last time for that, but at the same time, it was the last time!
And YES it was the last time, I will throw this out there since I keep getting asked.  There will be no more little ones for me.  I realize I am in a relationship with a man that has no biological children, and would be an amazing father, but I have a 16 and 11 year old. He has many nieces and nephews, and I have little nephews and a niece soon on the way!  I am very happy with my life where it is at.  I will look forward (in the future) to being a grandparent and Rick and I will get to share that!

Lucky me

I've shared these on Facebook but not here, they are very much worth sharing. Lo is THE sweetest, kindest child. Full of affection and love, not to mention incredibly thoughtful, I get notes in my purse, on napkins or posters made all the time. I LOVE them, and I love her so much!

It's that deep love for your child that sometimes makes your heart hurt. I have said time and time again, I hate that I don't see her every other Saturday, those Friday and Saturday nights I don't get to tuck her in and kiss her goodnight are the worst. I can forgive my ex for a lot of unimaginable things, but taking those days from me, I don't think I ever will.

Perhaps that's why she leaves constant notes, reassurance that it's only a day, and her love is always here. She's mine, and I feel as though I've got to be the luckiest woman to have been blessed to have gotten to be her Mom.

My Mothers Day Card

this was left this weekend, I didn't get a pic of the right side but there's a dried rhododendron flower taped to it to, from when we were deadheading the bush....love it ALL!

 

 

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Saturday Picture Dump

Caught up!  Phew!  Saturday was wonderful for both of my kids.  Both looked amazing and had a great time!  Our Saturday am had started with Lo and I doing yard work, but from about 10 on it was show time!  I was with her at the recital from 12-6 (with a quick 45 minute run home to feed her dinner before her evening show), when her Dad came to the evening show, I took off to get my son ready for prom pictures and dinner.  Super long day  (Lo's evening show didn't get done until 9:30), but so worth it.  Lo was in her absolute element, and my son and his friends, had such a wonderful time!  Here's some highlights:
*both my Mom and Sister showed up to see my son off, however, I missed taking pics of my sis with my camera (took some of her with him but with her phone, dang it)!

Show ready

Her biggest fans!

Back stage primping

Entertaining ourselves with the fish eye lens

Handsome fellas

Love this boy!

They were all so beautiful!

He did good!

Soggy

Today's Ride looked a little something like this:

Got up super early to get a ride in before the kids woke up, two minutes into it it started raining I turned back, got home and said screw it grabbed the rain coat and went for it. Had to change ride plans and went where the rain seemed like it would move out, so a forced ride to Joe Miller, I won't lie, it was brutal today. Not nice drivers on the hwy, was soaked by the time I turned onto JM then quickly got very warm, resulting in freezing coming down. I took this pic about 3 miles from home.....started to clear and is totally sunny. Of course!

What's one to do now but drink coffee and edit yesterday's pictures of dance recital and prom (I'll share)!

 

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Workouts 5/27-6/2

Monday 27th- 1.25 mile warm up (ran to the track) 8x600 with a 400 jog in between, 1.25 mile cool down home, total of 7.25 miles

Tuesday 28th- Skyline, #2, #1 canyon to the end of each on XC bike (no computer) swim 1400 main set 6x75 with 20 second rest

Wednesday 29th- 5 mile run, 2000y swim

Thursday 30th- 12 mile run, 1400y swim (main set 3x200)

Friday 31st- 54 mile bike, Nahahum Canyon out and back, then Pinnacle loop, 20 minute transition run (Total ride time 2 hours 50 minutes)
Saturday 1st- OFF

Sunday 2nd- bike Joe Miller 27 miles.

Saturday Morning

I am an early riser. I love nothing more than getting up between 5 and 6 and having some time to myself to gather my thoughts (my daughter enjoys this time too, so I don't have a lot of alone quiet time). Today's one of those days from 10 on it will get crazy here, we have dance recital and prom, which means make up and hair for my little one, and running around for my older one!

Right now I will enjoy the peace and drink my yummy coffee until I feel it's an acceptable time to go mow my yard!

 

 

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