Bike riding again!

 For the past few Sunday afternoons we've been enjoying some family bike rides.  Yes, as in with everyone!  Morgan is on the tandem with Ryan who also pulls the trailer with the little ones.  Haley and I are on our own bikes.  It's a bit crazy as you can imagine, but we stick to the river trail which has been nice.  Haley is still trying to figure it all out...she rides her bike nearly everyday, but it's to her friend's house or to go see the horses....that kind of riding.  The idea of consistent pedaling for longer distances is something that's kinda hard for her.  So we keep our rides pretty short...it's best if we can end a ride when everyone is still smiling!

On this day, Haley was on the tandem.  Morgan stayed home nursing a sore knee she had from falling of her bunk.  

Anyway, this week Ryan is in CO working so I opted to take the little ones out for a ride myself while the older two were at school.  I stayed close to home as I was a bit nervous to ride down the big hill to the valley floor...the whole trying to ride back up pretty much scared me.  So I found a little loop with some hills of its own and that was plenty for me!  

Riding with the trailer took me back to when I pulled Haley and Morgan when they were wee ones.  Some old posts on that here and here.  Oh the memories!  But I will say that Piper and Rory get along waaaay better in the trailer than Haley and Morgan did...so there's that, which is nice.

Happy Monday ya'll!!

Lake Arrowhead Part II

Haley loves to create little videos with her Pet Shop toys using Ryan's laptop.  She sets the computer on the floor and then creates a cute backdrop to set the scene and then acts out little stories.  I think her and Morgan created about 100 little videos on Ryan computer!  Anyway, while at the cabin Andrew taught Haley how to do Stop Action filming.  Haley got a kick out of it and created a couple of very simple videos of her own.   

One of her videos. 

My dad, Andrew and I went to Big Bear do some mountain biking.  What we all though was going to be a couple of hours on the mountain, turned out to be four hours!!  I didn't think I was going to make it off that mountain!!  But it was beautiful!!  

That tree behind my dad is a Champion Lodgepole Pine and is over 400 years old!  One of the highlights of the ride.  Except we were supposed to ride around it three times for good luck...we forgot to do that...darn.

That also marked the first mountain bike ride I've ever done with Andrew...good times.

Mt. Biking, Dog Poop and a Confession

 Isn't this a good picture of Morgan?  I didn't take it...someone else did and then sent it to me.  It was from the Wednesday night mountain bike race.  And speaking of the mountain bike race...well, I'm pretty sure I was last...dead last in my category.  Wait...I didn't!!!   I just checked the results and I beat two people!!  How exciting...hopefully they weren't little kids or anything, my ego is already shattered, I don't need it to get any worse.  Just kidding...but seriously...I pretty much suck...I've got to do something about that, STAT!  But the good thing is my children have no idea where I place, they are just super stoked and tell me how awesome I did (Piper especially).  That makes me happy.

 So...onto a different subject.  We have a mysterious dog walker who lets their dog poop on our sidewalk and doesn't clean it up.  Sometimes it's in front of our house, sometimes it's in front of the neighbors, but there is usually poop somewhere within a block of our house.

So this morning I loaded the girls into the truck to go on some errands, but before I back out I walk to the street to bring the trash cans in.  What do you know...fresh poop...right by the driveway.  I look up and spot culprit!!!  A lady with her dog way down the street!! You bet I jumped into the car (after I quickly cleaned up the poop myself...I didn't want to run it over) and peeled out (not really, but it sounds good) to catch her!  Which I did.  I pulled up beside her and let her have it!  Okay, not really, she was really nice about it so I didn't have to get all bitchy with her.  So yeah...bottom line...clean up after your dog!!  That's just rude not to!

Then it was off to the store, which was most likely one of my worst shopping experiences.  Piper had the biggest fit about not getting a certain pair of shoes (I was picking up some sandals for Haley, Piper already has a pair that fit her).  She screamed, and when I say screamed, I mean SCREAMED for just about the entire time I was there.  It was awful...and embarrassing.  I had three big bins in the cart so I had to take the girls out, and they were both being very naughty and running away too (I think Piper kept wanting to escape to find the shoe section again).  So it just wasn't fun to say the least.  

So I bought myself this.

It doesn't help that they now have a Starbucks inside the Target...it was a moment of weakness.  I have to take the girls to their school's big end of the year carnival this evening, I was tired, Ryan is gone and my parents left yesterday back to the LBC for a week, I was feeling lonely...I bought it in desperation.  It's pretty risky buying coffee around here.  This area isn't all that big and when I'm out and about I usually run into someone I know...seriously.  And since everyone and their mother is LDS I feel like a rebel and try not to make eye contact with anyone, and sneak out as fast as I can (which really isn't easy when I have two loud children in tow, but I pretend).  But can I just say...it.was.so.good.  My guilty pleasure: Latte with one Splenda.  Perfection.

So, anyway...there you have it...my little confession for the day.  I never said I was perfect.  I'll start over tomorrow.  As Anne of Green Gables says, "Tomorrow is fresh...with no mistakes in it."  Actually I think Marilla said it first...but whatever.

Now, I'm ready to tackle this Carnival.  Bring it on!

Weekly Race Series...here we go again!

Today marks the first day of the Weekly Race Series.

It should be an interesting race for me since I only road my bike...wait for it....ONE time this season so far.   Hopefully I won't be the only one suffering out there.  But anyway, should be fun. 

Also, just a side note...this marks my 1000th post!  

Pretty cool.

Biking Viking

Well, the Weekly Race Series has come to an end.  Wednesday night was the final race and it went out with a bang...the annual costume "race"!  When I heard we had to dress up, a viking immediately popped into my head.  Perhaps I was inspired by Lagertha (I may secretly want to be her).  So my mission was to recreate her look as best as I could...which actually isn't very well at all!!  But luckily, my neighbor's daughter is a pro when it comes to designing and creating costumes!  I bought the materials (found the dress at a thrift store for only 7 dollars) and she pieced everything together.  I made the horns and the axe myself (gotta take credit somewhere!).  I think it turned out pretty darn good!  I may have to use this for Halloween...so look surprised when you see it again.

It was fun!  And I look forward to next season...maybe next year I'll actually train for it!  

Weekly Race Series: Sundance

We were back at Sundance last night for my weekly race!  Unfortunately, I crashed.  I was still able to get up and finish, but I felt real dumb considering it was the EXACT same spot I crashed when I went mountain biking with Ryan a month or so ago.  It's a downhill, straight single track section right under the lifts...I'm not sure what my problem is and why I have so much trouble there!  Anyway, just bruised my knee and shoulder a bit...no biggie.  My teeth are fine...thank goodness.

Weekly Race Series: Sorensen Trail

I raced last night at the Weekly Race Series again...this time it was Sorensen Trail which is right outside of Heber.  It was HOT!  I was sweating buckets!  But, this is the first race that I felt somewhat competitive in.  I was actually ahead of some people by the time we entered the single track and I was holding them back pretty good until I had a little mishap when I was trying to maneuver around some rocks...I ended up falling over letting someone pass.  In fact, as he past me I heard him say, "Yes!".  No joke.  So I was determined to catch him the rest of the race!  There is a long uphill section and I was gaining on him...he kept looking back at me to see where I was.  That alone made me feel good...like I was making him sweat a little more.  Unfortunately, I didn't catch him and he got away from me in the single track.  But, like I said, I felt competitive this time, which is a good feeling when I'm used to being alone the entire race.

I have a lot of improvements still to make... like getting over my fear of falling and smashing my face on a rock knocking out all my teeth...or being able to make sharp right hand turns...but, I'm getting there.

In other news, we're off to Beaver tomorrow...Ryan is racing the Crusher.  Should be good fun for us all!
Happy Weekend!

Weekly Race Series: Sorensen Trail

Jeffy and me after the race.

Last night we loaded up the burban and headed up to Heber for the Weekly Race Series.  My program of no training in between racing isn't really working for me, as I was hurtin'!!  I had to pull out everything I had just to finish the darn thing!  And I'm pretty sure I was last...yep, dead last.  Oh well, whatcha gonna do?  Well...I guess train more...that may help.  I do have fun though, even with all my suffering.  It feels good to get out there and sweat, and it's such a great group of people, it's hard not to have a good time!

Today, I am sore.

Weekly Race Series: Soldier Hollow

Last night we loaded the family up to Soldier Hollow for this weeks mountain bike race.  This time it was the biathlon where we ride and shoot...just like in the skiing biathlon.  Jeffy joined us and we had such a good time! 

I'm not sure how I feel about this photo.  Jeffy looks great, but I kinda look like a guy.  Where are my boobs?!  Oh wait, that's right...they deflated after I finished nursing Rory.  *sigh*  I miss them.

I have to hand it to Ryan...he wasn't feeling all that great (a little stomach bug going around our house) but he still managed to dig deep and chase the kids around while I raced!  What a guy!

Unfortunately, I won't be able to race next week because Ryan will be in Quebec for work.  But I may still go with kids and cheer on Jeff anyway.  I love this series!

Happy Weekend ya'll!

5K and sick kid.

Haley and Morgan's school held their annual 5 K fun run Friday morning.  This year I ran it with Morgan and Ryan ran with Haley.  I was so impressed with them both!!  Haley ran the entire thing without stopping once!  And Morgan did such a super job...she was all smiles the whole way!

I'm so proud of them!!

The weather has been warming up these past few days...feels a bit like summer!

In other news...our little Rory is sick with the harfs.  We have a pretty big event next weekend (our temple sealing!!) so of course something like this had to happen.  This is just how our luck is...if we have anything major coming up, it never fails, a kid will get sick.  So if I wasn't stressed out before (which I have been), now I'm completely stressed!!  I DO NOT want to have to cancel and push back our sealing!!  Too many things are in place now...we have family flying and driving in on Thursday!

Please, PLEASE, I need everyone healthy!!  Someone can get sick Sunday after the sealing is over...heck, they can even get sick Saturday night after the sealing....BUT NOT FRIDAY OR SATURDAY!!!

Say a prayer for us.

Weekly Race Series: Sundance

I'm continuing my quest to being a full fledged mountain biker.  

This week I tackled riding in the mud.  The weather was hit and miss all day, but an hour or so before the race the sun was out and things were looking good.  Unfortunately it didn't last long, as it started to pour rain as soon as we were off the line.  The trail got really slippy fast!  It definitely wasn't what I had in mind!  And at one point I pulled the "There you see her...and then you don't" move by riding along and then quickly losing my balance, unable to clip out of my pedal I fell the long way down the mountain into the trees and disappeared from sight (had there been someone to witness it that is).  I got a massive bruise to my butt/hip to prove it.  But that's all part of it...right?

My chain eventually fell off, and the mud was caked on so bad I could not get that sucker back on!  I ended up having to throw in the towel and coasting back down the mountain.  I wasn't alone, and many people had a mechanical and were forced to end early.

But all in all it was still good fun!

Classic mud butt.

Oh, and in case you were wondering...I got my white kit looking good again.  Thank you oxy clean.

Happy May!

 We celebrated May Day yesterday by passing out our traditional flower bouquets to our neighbors.  

Always good fun!

Then we loaded up and headed out to Heber for my very first mountain bike race!

It was very chilly and I was very nervous!!

The location wasn't the greatest for spectating, and there wasn't a whole lot for kids to do.  Oh, and no bathrooms...and  as the picture shows, not a whole lot of suitable bushes either.  

The girls would have been fine (they don't really have too many issues with peeing in the great outdoors), but when a couple of them say they have to take care of different business, then we have a problem!  So after being at the race for about two minutes, we loaded back into the car down the hill to a gas station.  Kids have great timing, don't they?

But anyway, the race was good fun!  I signed up with the beginners and I don't think I did too bad!  Not sure what my final result was as it was FREEZING and we decided not to stick around after.  

This will be a weekly thing, so hopefully I'll get better as time goes on.  Ryan brought up that I've raced track, road, cross and now mountain bike.  I never thought about that...pretty cool...I'm kinda proud of myself.  No, I will not be doing any BMX...sorry folks.

Deer Valley

Jeffy, Ryan, Me, and my dad on the lift.

We scored some free tickets for Deer Valley in Park City from some pretty awesome friends.  Thank you, thank you...as we couldn't afford that place any other way!  For the record, I have never been to any other resort besides Sundance in Utah.  And of course Sundance has a little special place in my heart...it's our home away from home in the winter.  But, oh my goodness, Deer Valley is HUGE!!  We had such a great day!  Everything was perfect...the weather, the food, the company...we had a blast!  

My mom watched the little ones (thank you mom, you are a hero) and the older two ended up walking home with friends after school and stayed with them for the afternoon.  It worked out great!

Today we are gearing up for Piper's little Birthday party this evening!  

Happy Weekend!

Weekend Review

Friday I was able to stop in and have a much needed visit with a friend from my old neighborhood.  It was wonderful to catch up!  I let too much time go since the last time I saw her...I don't want to do that again!  And oh, how the memories flooded back as soon as I drove into the neighborhood!  When we moved from CA 9 years ago this was our first introduction to Utah and we had no idea what we were getting into, but those neighbors welcomed us with open arms.  I knew every single person that lived on our street and always felt I could go to any of them for anything...always!  Except for "Grumpy"...he's the only exception. 

I drove past our old house, and although we still own it, I miss it.  Such good memories there.

Haley and Morgan in 2009.

Saturday morning I went for my first ride of the year...a mountain bike ride no less.  We may be buying a new bike for me from a friend so I was trying it out.  It's pretty nice, and considering my ability level it's probably too nice for me!  But I do like it!  However, I was a bit discouraged as I am so slow!  I think an 80 year old women walked past me like I was standing still!  Okay...I made that part up...but seriously, I was slow.  I had to walk up some steep pitches too...it was sad.  So considering that, I felt like a poser riding such a fancy schmancy bike.  But whatever.

The top tube...unfortunately, no matter how much that was staring me in the face, I still had to walk in places.

Sunday we churched it up and then had a really nice dinner at my brother's house.

It was fun to get together with everyone!

In other news Rory has been extra clingy to me these last few days...and to be honest it's kinda wearing me down.  She did not sleep well last night and I was up most the night with her.  I slept in the spare room with her pretty much laying on my face the entire night.  Good times.  I'm pretty much running on fumes today as I'm pretty worn out.  Ryan leaves tomorrow for CO, so here's to hoping I'll be able to manage the rest of the week okay.

I'll leave you with this little video of Piper.  

With the iphone she can watch herself as I'm recording...I think it tripped her out.  

Happy Monday.

On a mission.

I'm on a mission to get into shape...and lose about 5 pounds.

I've hit a brick wall weight wise and just recently pounds have started creeping back on.  It may or may not have something to do with the consumption of a lot of cake recently.  What can I say...I love my sweets!

So, lately I've been doing yoga twice a week and skiing once or twice a week, crunches every night, and the occasional running up and down the stairs...but I need more.  So, this morning I attempted to go for a jog. 

My jog turned into more of power walk instead...unfortunately, my knees can't handle jogging very well.  But then again, I probably walk faster than my lame jog anyway.  Either way, it felt good to get out in the crisp morning air.  

I want to be consistent with my new goal of getting some type of physical exercise everyday...that's right, everyday!

Do you think sex can count?

Just wondering.

Snow Day Workout

   I've been feeling a bit couped up this week and this was my attempt to get my heart going and maybe even sweat a little.  If I did this everyday...I bet I could get rid of my last pesky five pounds a lot quicker!
The girls had fun taking my pictures.

My snow day workout:

10 leg lifts using chairs.  

You may need a kid to sit in them, as mine kept sliding...and they're a bit rickety so I don't think I can use them again.

10 times up the stairs...fast.

Don't worry...you'll feel the burn by the 8th time.  And it was a miracle I didn't fall.

Look...I was so fast Morgan couldn't even get my picture!

50 crunches.

Take a couple minutes to get a drink and do the whole thing again...two more times.

What do you think...think I can do it everyday?!