Scenes From a Ride

Most rides I love and get excited for, others I know are good for me to do so I do them. Joe Miller is one of the latter. Although it's a bit twofold, when doing just Joe Miller I often dread it, however if you add another four miles of climbing to the four already done and head up to the heights, the ride makes it into my top three favorites list. I don't mind the climbing, but at this time of year if you add the heights you have at least 8 miles of descending, and no matter what clothes I pack to put on at the top I end up getting so bitterly cold it nearly ruins the entire ride. For another month it's just Joe Miller and down Stemilt Creek.

There's a few reasons I am not fond of this, first it's a bit boring, as in not scenic going out on the hwy, lots of traffic and debri, once you get to Joe Miller, it's actually quite beautiful and the climb is one of my favorites around, but in the course of the ride, that part is rather short, so I don't do it all the time.

Today was breathtaking and I wish everyone could experience what I do and see on the bike. (Note: I froze on the decent).

 

 

 

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No Motivation Needed

On two wheels I am free. I LOVE being on my bike. I lose myself out there, and can go for what feels like forever.

I have perma grin plastered on my face. The air, the sun, the road, the hills, the friendly farm dogs, other cyclist. They all make me so happy. Then in my head I start thinking about how much I love going to work, and how I love having the afternoons free to be outside. I love having a collection, from the years of good gear that keeps me nice and warm so I can enjoy the view during this time of the year.

 

I love that little fire that ignites in me when I can tell a male cyclist, a complete stranger is ready to dismiss me as a "girl" cyclist. I like determining, whether I can hang or flat out smoke them. This of course is with the exception of my fiancé and his friends, I know my limits!

 

Now if only running on the road could be this easy!

 

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Funks and Desires

Ok, I'm in my annual (perhaps semi annual, or even quarterly running funk). Truth is I love working-out, outside. This year I've gotten plenty of time in on the bike (with the exception of the three weeks I was patiently waiting for my broken hand to heal and was on the trainer), I got to trail run into January, then started Nordic skiing and snowshoeing. I've even enjoyed swimming twice a week, it's just the road running (without the sun) that does not get me excited.

The solution is to decided on a race, so I actually start training. I originally planned to do Boise 70.3, not because I have to,or have anything to prove, but because after last years 70.3 I loved it and would like to do one again......however my other passion is traveling.

That's me...ALL the time. I love everything about travel, everything! The problem is balancing the two. The kids and I are gone at least once a month from now until August. Crazy, but also very exciting. Needless to say trying to fit a trip to Boise to race the first part of June, is a little difficult, so I have decided to combined our Bend vacation with a race. Which means I need to start applying myself a little more on the run.....dang.

I had gone snowshoeing yesterday and loved every minute of it, I REALLY did not want to run today. A little trick I do when I feel completely unmotivated, I make myself run to the track, easy enough 1.25 miles from my house, once there I talk myself into 400's, easy enough it's one lap at a time, with a 200 slow jog in between. Accomplished 8 of those, and honestly it felt great, slow jogged the downhill home, and was very pleased with myself!

This is not to say Thursday when I plan to run again I will be anymore excited, but one day at a time, and it will eventually come back again!

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The I Dump

I do love Mondays, but I fill them to the brim, by 9 pm I am ready to shut my eyes. So while I had many great posts floating through my head, for now we will settle with photos from my phone of our last couple days happenings!

Perhaps this is a sign of the future. Went to dinner at my friends house, her son and Lo have been in school together for the last 5 years, but now it's not quite as cool to be having dinner together ( or at least it captured by photo).

Sunday Rick and I made our way to ski a few loops in Leavenworth, early enough to be home to make the kids breakfast. I knew we'd be the only ones out there because I did this all last year, but Rick was still surprised we had skied the entire first loop before someone came in. I love this time, being the first ones on the perfectly groomed trail.

My fiancé looks grumpy, but he's not, I just caught him mid talking, giving me pointers on V2 and V2 alternate (with nobody there it was a great time to practice).

Does anyone remember these? I practically made Lo get one because I was so excited.

My FAVORITE work mornings, when she joins me. I LOVE having her there, plus she is a HUGE help in the set up!

 

Kaiser hasn't been getting out as much because, I'm in my annual running funk, but today we went snow shoeing with a friend. The snow was quite deep and we had to make fresh path, wore him out in a very good way!

 

 

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Corduroy

Not the material, but the perfectly groomed trail! I have waited ALL winter to ski in Leavenworth! Skied at Stevens, Mt Bachlor and the Methow, but there is no place that I'd rather be on a Friday morning than Leavenworth. I checked the forecast last night and knew the ground would freeze and if I got there early enough, before it warmed up too much it could be good. It as perfect, I love being outside, hearing my own breath, getting so lost in the movement I don't get tired. This is how today was for me, I skied three full loops (24k) like nothing today. I was just in the zone, takng it all in, so happy to be out there.

Thank you winter for finally showing up!

 

 

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Tired Tuesday

This is what we've been up to all afternoon/evening, it's wonderful.

 

 

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Details

Here you have it! A few questions I keep getting asked. Always first is the ring.

Then "did I know"? No, it was a complete surprise. Rick and I had gone away at the end of summer to the Methow and talked one night about our future. There was no doubt in either of our minds of where our relationship was going. We would one day get married, when the time was right. (After going through a hard divorce, a few years ago, I never saw myself getting married again, then again I never thought I would meet someone that would value all that comes with growing and evolving together. Rick made that idea and commitment beautiful again).

We had a magical first date, we had a memorable first "I love you" a few months later in Mazanita, OR. I knew that one day Rick would ask, and I knew it would be perfect. I knew he would give me that memory, to have this prefect moment of saying "yes" to a committed life together. I just didn't know if it would be anytime now or the next ten years!

 

Only one person knew, my daughter. She has known abut this since he started thinking about the ring, back in November. I had no say or idea about the ring. To have someone know me so well, and have made the most perfect ring for me, AND share this experience with my daughter, no words to describe truly how touched I was.

 

Hawaii is special to us. We have been three times in the last 2.5 years. Kauai has long held a special place in Ricks heart, and when I had gone with just Lo in 2011 I fell in love instantly. Everything leading up to 2/2/14 was memorable and touching, he is one thoughtful and patient man. Very proud of my uber sweet girl for her part in all of this too,

 

Date: we haven't set one. Nor do we know where. We are simply enjoying this moment.....very much! My daughter has helped me get started on Pinterest so I now have a wedding board and daily I have about ten pins sent from her of ideas. I love it, I love just taking it all in. I love getting excited with all of it and sharing that with friends and family. Next up and engagement party, because why not?!?

 

 

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Winter (finally) Arrived

Long weekends from my kids bite, however filling the weekend with lots of physical activity and good friends help!

We did our annual friends Methow weekend at the perfect time, by the time we got here on Friday they had a base of 32" and another 13" in the last two days. So much fabulous snow!

Started the weekend and Valentines day at our usual meet up, the Twisp River Pub

 

Did a 25k trek on Saturday that required a hot chocolate stop at our favorite place Kelly's, mid way.

Jason, Rick and Scott carried on even further, into semi un groomed territory for another 20k.

Sunday a smaller group of us ambitiously took off in all the fresh snow, only to realize about 15k into the ski that some trails weren't being groomed that day. A little back tracking, then a 1.9k inevitable trek through an un groomed cutoff lead us back to another trail.....we started referring to this trek as "the Donner party". It was an adventure to say the least and more of a workout than any of us anticipated!

 

This is after going through 5k of Jacks Trail which all the snow from the trees were dumping on us and covering the groomed trail...work is what that was. At this point were we so happy to see the meadow and hopefully have smooth skiing the rest if the way....

 

 

A little later

Happy to say we made it out, met with the rest and recovered nicely at Old School House Brewery

 

 

 

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Too Bad...

All good things must come to an end. I've had Lo the last five weekends, because of a holiday weekend that was mine and then our vacation. My heart kind of hurts having to let her go this weekend. This is usually the time when thoughts of my ex go something like "you selfish .....you know what".

We have it in our parenting plan that the parent without the kids can call the one with, to talk to them.....that helps (if you find yourself in a divorce situation make sure you have that in a legal document, you just never know). This is the part of divorce that I don't think will ever get easier, I just learn how best to handle it (for long weekends like this I peace out of town). I know plenty of people that have no problem with this, but I am super close with my kids, Lo in particular, she may be 12 but that is still so young, and I miss her something fierce.

Please don't think I am not grateful and I do realize I am with them everyday except every other Saturdays, but they are my kids and my feelings for them are strong. I love being their mom, and I miss the moments I don't get to have. There is great joy in my life, and I am grateful, just a bit bummed to part ways this weekend, it's been a wonderful 5 weeks.

Love you Bella girl.

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For My Girl

To my Bella girl,

Hope you had a fabulous golden birthday. Being that this is a winter Olympic year it brings me back to the year you were born. I remember waking up to nurse you in the middle of the night, rocking you in the family room and catching up on highlights of that days olympic events. I loved every moment. I knew you would be my last child and I wanted to savor every last moment, and still do.

You are the beautiful light in my world. I love you so very much each and everyday! I am proud to be your Mom. Cheers to being 12 my sweet girl.

 

(So this girl loves to drag her celebrations out, so friends party Saturday, family party Tuesday, birthday lunch yesterday, these are pics from that)

 

 

 

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Bella

This girl LOVES to celebrate her birthday, and I say why not. Tonight we continued the celebration with the family party (Cals birthday is the 11th and Lo's is the 12th).

Cousin bonding

Tomorrow she is 12. Yet still my baby. I love this girl more than I ever knew possible. She is an absolute delight in my life, and can't imagine my world any other way than having her as my daughter.

Tomorrow we will continue with our birthday tradition of going to lunch together and cupcakes after school. I look forward to this day all year. Love you Bella, up to the sun moon and stars...and back...and much much more!

 

 

 

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And the Celebrations Continue

I have so many photos I want to share from Kauai, but haven't sat down long enough to move them onto my external hard drive. This weekend was about celebrating. Got to share a toast with my lovely friends and sister. These girls have been through the good, not so good, bad, and all the way back up again with me, that is friendship. We laughed and shared a few tears. These woman are the real deal, genuinely happy for both Rick and I, and I love them for all they are too me, as well as their love for Rick!

This girl turns 12 on Wednesday, her "golden" birthday (thanks Rick for letting her know this), so of course it had to be a special party. Plenty of pampering for her and her friends, pedicures, manicures, food and movies, she loved it. I was exhausted, but to give her this one day she dreams up in her head and make her feel so special, so worth it!

Today got to spend a few miles out snowshoeing with him. I missed this kid (he opted out of Hawaii)! We are both similar in the sense that we'd much prefer and really enjoy being outside (however he is 16 so it takes that initial you need to get out of bed before noon thing first)! Loved catching up with him, free of distractions (his phone)!

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