Run, Bike and Good Beer!

My dear friend is leaving next month for PA school in Atlanta, before she left she wanted to run her 1st Half Marathon.  Since I decided to do Winthrop Marathon in September I thought this would be a good kick start .  So we decided to do Pacific Crest in Sunriver, OR (keep in mind I didn't realize until the week I left Sunriver sits at 4600ft).  I have some good friends that moved to Bend last summer, and they let us stay at their cabin in Sunriver (HUGE thanks to Doug and Erin).

Ready to run 13.1 miles

Finsihed!  I set a personal PR of 1:45:06 and Katie and impressive first with 1:44:48

We even got to see our friend Sarah finish the half iron triathlon....she rocks!

Felt so good the next day we decided to bike to Mt Bachelor...just a 21 mile climb to the top

It was breathtaking!

Epic ride!

After two pretty amazing days, we spent Sunday night in Bend and enjoyed the Bite of Bend, and later went to a great brewery called 10 Barrel!  This weekend was such a wonderful treat!

Belated Fathers Day Post

Here's a cheers to some wonderful Dads.  My brother in law Ian, and my Dad!  Happy Fathers Day again you two!  You serve as excellent role models for my kiddos!

Perfect Adult Beverage

Last April when I was in Boston the cities main water supply was contaminated.  No water or sodas in the restaurants so I sampled quite a few "beverages".  My favorite was the Sweet Teatini.
Came back and promptly bought a bottle of Sweet Tea Vodka, it became Lars and my favorite go to beverage to make for friends, now I believe all of my friends have on hand at all time a bottle of Sweet Tea Vodka.
The original recipe is 1/2 ST Vodka, 1/4 lemonade, 1/4 sweet tea.  I've modified and tried several variations...all good.  Crystal light lemonade and STV (sweet tea vodka),  just sweet tea and STV, or you can buy the bottle of 1/2 lemonade, 1/2 tea in the store and mix that with the STV! 
Cheers and happy drinking!

Fittings

I found this card 4 years ago.  Most of you know the story of 2007, and I don't particularly feel like revisiting that pain tonight!  But when I came across this I instantly liked it, and for whatever reason I held onto it for the last 4 years.  Today I found a perfect frame and it sits displayed where I can see it.  I smile and feel strong when I see this. 

In case you can't read it, it says:

I'll collect my tatters, the perfect pieces of me,

and notch them together in an informal pattern

just to suggest myself.  Then I can start the welding process,

and in a short breath, I'll be fine.

Newbies

Three years ago my friend Ivy enlightened me on the Issaquah Highlands Yard sale.  It's a very large neighborhood in Issaquah that once a year has their yard sale.  Some years there are a ton of houses participating, others not so much.  The thing is each year the stuff you find is random.  Last year my sister was pregnant and I went with 2 car loads of friends and it was a jackpot for anyone expecting.  I stocked my mom's house for the up coming grandchild.  This year I found wine racks, clothes for Logan and other odds and ends. 
So this was my 3rd year going, I missed going with the girls the night before, because I have the wee ones this weekend, but it actually worked out great.  My sister and Logan have both been dying to go.....so off to the west side we went at 6:30 this morning!

On our way!  Du's car prepared with the rocket box...sorry about the pic with the eyes closed, Du!

A little rain won't stop us!

Wet and tired we carried on to our next stop

A little IKEA fuel couldn't hurt



Our final stop!



Summer...maybe

A friend kindly invited us onto his boat  Friday.  Middle of June and the temperature was maybe 80, not hot enough for me to get in the river, but it didn't stop Luke from having fun.  Here's to warmer weather, and many more fun summer days!

My Boy's Growing Up

It's official, I have a high school freshman in my house!  Luke went to middle school in 5th grade at Sterling, then we moved to Wenatchee for 6th-8th, so after 4 years of middle school I think he was ready to move on.
As with each stage of my kids life, I have LOVED every stage.  I am so proud of the awesome young man I am raising, we had such wonderful memories of middle school, and fairly smooth sailing ( a few minor bumps here and there).  I will say having a child 5 years younger, still in elementary school might just make this transition to Luke's next stage a little easier, as well as I am able to appreciate it and certainly not wish time away!  Very proud of you Luke and love you so much!

Luke's most loyal fan!

Even Ben had a great time, and enjoyed some snacks!

Very handsome young men!

My pride and joy

Thanks Mom, Du and Cal for coming out today!  Love you all!