I Did It!!!

I made a goal to bike 100 miles within a week. I ended up biking.....112!!! I would have gotten another 15 in if I hadn't gotten a flat tire on my morning ride today. Fun story about that, I was still a few miles from home when I got the flat. I had no way to change it (brilliant I know, hehe). Needless to say it was a long walk home in very uncomfortable shoes with two angry little ones who were upset because I had promised them a trip to the park which we had to postpone. Anyway, it was a great week with a lot of fun rides! Me and the girls got in quite a few early morning rides. I also went on a 25 mile ride with Dave and the girls out to the causeway of Antelope Island and back. I have decided one of my favorite things to do as a family is to go biking. We are able to talk and sing silly songs and just have fun.

Here are Dave and the girls posing with Stephen the buffalo (Emma named him). This is where we stopped so Emma and Ali could get their wiggles out.

A quick kiss : )

I was also able to go biking with my dad this week. We went 42 1/2 miles, hehe, but who's counting. It was my longest ride so far. We had a lot of fun. I love biking with my dad. I love just talking about everything and anything with him. He has such a loving heart and a good head on his shoulders so I love to be able to hear his views on things.

My dad....such an amazing guy! Notice the beautiful scenery.

While my dad and I were biking we passed this lab playing in his yard, he just started running with us. I loved him! He was so funny running along with us and hanging out while we took a quick water break. We lost him on the way back because he couldn't keep up with us on the downhill. It sure was fun while it lasted though.

Almost home! Dave surprised me with a bike computer the day before me and my Dad set out. So the stats....we biked 42 1/2 miles in 3 hours and 37 minutes (this didn't include our breaks). My top speed was 29.7 mph (I was so scared, hehe).

and last but not least, this my friends, is the worst sunburn I have EVER had. I am so mad at myself. I completely forgot to put sunscreen on my back. Grrrrr, skin cancer and premature aging here I come :(

I have decided to mix things up for next week. My fitness goals include running 10 miles and biking 30 within a week. I know this doesn't sound as ambitious as this week's goal but running is a lot harder for me and I don't enjoy it as much. Anyway, wish me luck!

Whoops

Spandex biking shorts are ingenious. They are padded to help prevent against dead bum and chafing, tight so they don't get in the way and lets admit it, they just look good. Haha, ok, so maybe not the last one. Anyway, I recently discovered another use for them. Most of my jerseys don't have pockets so I came up with the brilliant idea of putting my granola bars, cell phone and other accessories down my shorts. The problem...apparently the condensation (hehe) from my hard working body shorted out my cell phone. Yeah, the warranty doesn't cover water damage. Luckily we have a good ol' sturdy, old school phone Emma has been playing with that I can use. The problem...I lost all of my numbers. So, my dear family and friends, please e-mail or text (if texting please send your name too) me your phone numbers. Thank you :)

Haha-I just realized I have another "lesson learned" to add to my list.....never stick you cell phone down your sweaty britches, hehe, ewwww.

Lessons I Have learned the Hard Way

• Never give someone a garbage can as a Christmas present
• Never try showing off to your friend by riding a bike down a gravel hill with no hands.
• Never cook a grilled cheese sandwich on high
• Honesty really is the best policy
• Never wait until your contractions are right on top of each other-make you cry-make you scream-can't breath-can't think-intense before heading to the hospital which is 45 minutes away
• You can accomplish more with a positive attitude then a negative one
• Never try out a new recipe on dinner guests
• Mustard stains
• Never read a scary book late at night when you are all alone
• Always look for the best in people instead of looking for their flaws
• Never give a baby your favorite beaded necklace to play with...no matter how naughty they are being in church.
• Never eat a big, juicy hamburger when recovering from the stomach flu
• It is better to be proactive than reactive

You live, you learn, right? Lets hear some of yours, come on, it will make me feel better :)

My Solitary Ride

I was supposed to run a 5K race this morning. I ended up canceling because we made other plans. Those plans got canceled. So, Kelli and I decided to go for an early morning bike ride without any little ones. Due to unfortunate events Kelli had to cancel. I decided I really needed a workout though. I swear, I'm addicted to exercising. I know that sounds odd but if I don't get regular workouts in my mood starts to dip. Anyway, I decided to leave my sleeping family and head to the gym. I got there and it was closed. I forgot it was Saturday and they don't open until a little bit later. Bummer. When I got home I was tempted to crawl back into bed with Dave, but like I said, I REALLY needed to get a workout in. So, I grabbed my bike, helmet and gloves and headed out for a ride. This was my first time biking alone. I am usually with Dave, my Dad or Kelli. Even when I'm not with one of them I'm pulling the trailer and have Emma and Ali to keep me company. At first I was uptight, restless, and perhaps a little bored. Then I really started to push myself. I got lost in my cadence and the beautiful surroundings. My bad mood started melting away. I loved it. It was so therapeutic. I envy Dave who gets a chance to do this almost everyday. I was able to get a really good ride in, one of the longest I have ever done. I am now in a much better mood and ready for a fun day with my little family. I suppose I will go get some cleaning in while I wait for them to wake up, hehe, sleepy heads!


*Note-the picture is obviously not from my ride this morning. It was taken awhile ago from a ride Kelli and I did with the little ones. It shows the awesome scenery though.*

The Demolition Derby

You know, there is just something gratifying about sitting with great friends, eating Navajo tacos and watching beat up ol junker cars chase each other down and plow into each other and over and over again. It may not have been the best derby and it may have been a tad over priced, but it was still a blast!

Crunch!

My sweet little snuggle baby

Remember how I said Grey and Ali are the best of friends? Well these pictures prove it, hehe. Poor Grey, he didn't want anymore snuggles!

Hehe, ah kills me.

Adam and Mindy

Brock, Kelli and Grey.

And last but not least.....the crazy millers :)

~Splish Splash~

Today we had another fun playdate! Jamie invited us over to her aunt's pool to go swimming. Jamie had her boys, Parker and Hunter and then Kelli was there with handsome little Grey. I just have to say, OH, WHAT FUN!!!!

Emma hung out in her "boat" with her "paddle" most of the time.

Ali spent most of the time jumping off the edge or out of our arms into the water. She LOVES it. It amazes me what a little water monkey she is.

Don't let looks fool ya, this water slide was crazy. It gives you a surprise flip right at the end. Ali and I sent Emma down. Emma was nervous so Jamie was there to catch her. Ali, Grey and Parker all went down too. Ok, so the babies started closer to the bottom :)

I love these two. Grey and Ali are such great friends. Now I know what you all are thinking, they are babies-they can't be that great of friends. They get really excited when they see each other though. They have grown up together. They are just so cute. Emma calls Grey "Ali's Prince". Note-Jamie had to hold Ali there because she kept wanting to dive in. Nut.

Can you find Ali in this pic? Yup-headed into the water. Look at Jamie's face. Good job Jamie, way to drop the baby hehe.

I just adore these girls :) What fun friends.

Ohhhhhh

A Love-A-Fair

Its that time of year again....fair season!!!! For playdate this week we went to the fair. I love our county fair. It is free to get in and has a million different, FREE, activities for the little ones, pony rides, sand pit, legos, discovery tent, petting zoo, a clown giving out balloon animals, etc. It was great fun! Emma, milking the cow, and doing a great job of it :)

Als in the lego pit

Our playdate crew, Kelli and Grey and Mindy and Kaleb. Note poor little Em in the picture. She was very upset because her blue "neigh" balloon from the clown had just popped. Which brings me to another point....I am so thankful for great friends, so when I feel my patience leaking out my ears and a grown-up size tantrum coming on I can send Emma over to them so we can both calm down, hehe.

The long anticipated...PONY RIDE. Emma has been soooo excited for the pony rides. She was so cute as we were waiting in line for them. She was running around showing Ali how to ride a horse. It was a great demonstration. She was so proud of herself, riding all by herself.

Ali did a lot better then I thought she would. Sometimes Als gets a little nervous (to say the least hehe) around animals. She did great though. We even got a few smiles out of her. I think she was just too tired to care :) It was way past nap time.


Happy fair season to ya all!

My kind of Saturday

What a perfect Saturday!!! We got in some biking, some good ol' fashioned mountain biking! Dirt, big ol rocks, trees, single track, it was so much fun. Dave pulled the girls in the trailer, it was interesting. I would compare it to taking a big truck on an ATV trail. It worked though and we all had a blast. We did the river trail up Logan canyon. For one of mine and Dave's first dates we biked the same trail. On our date I walked most of the trail. I thought it was physically hard and very technical. This time I was able to ride it all and it was just pure and simple fun. I'm glad in 6 years I've been able to improve, haha.

After our ride we headed to.....BEAR LAKE to cool down!!! It was sunny some of the time, rainy part of the time and for the most part windy. The rain was like nothing I have ever experienced, big warm drops. It was actually fun playing in the rain. Emma stayed pretty clean and dry playing with her sand toys and running in the water. Ali got wet and muddy. She loved the water and would crawl out in it until we would stop her. She also loved squishing around in the mud, little monkey.We grabbed a famous raspberry shake and then headed to visit my parents for a bit before heading home. On the way home we passed a rollover accident in Logan canyon. We were some of the first people on scene. I wish you could have seen the car, it was INSANE. It had gone through the guard rail and then completely flipped over. It was smashed and had part of the guardrail sticking straight through it. Dave took control of the scene and provided medical care for 45 minutes until the cops and ambulance were able to get there. It was really cool to see him in action. So all in all, even with the rain and unexpected delay on the way home it was a great day. In fact I would say the rain added to the fun. Anyway it was definelty my kind of a Saturday!

I almost forgot to mention...my road bike came Thursday! I love it, I just love it! Dave (with the help of Emma and Ali hehe) put it together Thurday night and Friday morning we got up at 5:30 and were able to get a ride in before Dave left for work. It was perfect. I love biking with my family, chatting and watching the sun rise as we cruise past wide open fields.

One more thing....we counted the bikes in our shed....yeah, there are 6 adult bikes, one Emma sized bike, one trike and a bike trailer. Hehe, apparently we collect bikes :)

Do Princesses wear hiking boots?

Mine sure does. My little Princess also rides stuffed pink unicorns, loves macoroni and cheese, finds animals to pet everywhere we go, loves to sing and dance, has freckles scattered across her nose, has a bed covered in books and loves to play outside. If you have a princess in your life I have found the perfect book for you.

It is an adorable book that celebrates the uniqueness of each princess. I love it. Emma really loves it. As you can probably tell by the pictures Emma is obsessed with princesses latley. We spend a good portion of the day twirling around the living room waiting for our prince (usually daddy) to come home. The other day Em (Princess Wee) insisted on wearing her pretty princess dress to the store. She ran up to a random 12 year old boy and with drama seeping from her voice exclaimed, "Help! I can't find my prince anywhere!" Little nut. I sure love her. Her active imagination keeps life interesting and keeps me laughing.

I Love....

• Wasa multi grain crisp bread. This is a new find and I absolutely LOVE it. Its especially good when you spread a little fat free cream cheese on it and then add some sliced tomatoes and a sprinkle of sprouts...mmmmm.


• Early morning bike rides. I have started loading the girls up in the bike trailer bright and early and setting out for a ride. It is nice and cool, there is hardly any traffic and its a cheerful atmosphere. There are numerous walkers, runners and bikers who always have a smile and friendly hello. I have found a couple different routes that take us past big corn fields, wheat fields, old fences and barns, cows and horses. Its really scenic and relaxing. We usually find a park on our ride where the girls can get out and play for a bit. I especially love when Kelli and Grey join us on our rides (hint, hint).


• The new, New Kids on the Block song. I know, I'm a dork, hehe.

• Catching up with old friends. We had Jessica, an old friend from high school, and her husband Alex over for dinner and FHE yesterday. It was so fun to visit and catch up on the last 5 years, hmmmm, 6 years, hehe.


• Emma's version of candy land. Instead of just picking a card off the top Emma digs through and finds a blue one each turn. She then yells out "LOOK, I found a blue one!!!" and counts out the appropriate spaces. Yeah, she beats me almost every time.


• Our Family Room. When we moved in our basement was completely unfinished. We now have a cozy family room. Dave did a great job. I love it. I love the extra space and I love hanging out downstairs and watching movies with the fam.

Tour De Park City

Yesterday was Dave's biggest race (ride) yet, the Tour de Park City. It is a 170 mile race that gains 10,000 feet in elevation-which means-BIG climbs. Dave was nervous, I was nervous. Dave has trained a ton this summer and done two centuries in pretty good time so, although nervous, we thought there would be no problem. We crawled out of bed around 4:00 in the morning and Dave started the race at 6:00. He started out riding with a group from work (shown above) but over the ride they broke up and just went their own pace. Usually when Dave does these rides I meet him at a few pit stops for encouragement, because of how this one was set up I wasn't able to so I just headed home. I put the girls down for a much needed nap around 10:30 and at 11:00 I got call from Dave. The call scared me. Dave said he was at about 85 miles and had bonked, he was done, he had nothing left. The thing that scared me was that he wasn't making much sense and his speech was slurred. I could tell he was really hurting and not doing well. He was in the middle of nowhere (Wyoming) without food or water (the last pit stop he had stopped at had been out, CRAZY, I know). I loaded the girls up in the truck to go find him but decided against it. Anyone who know me knows that I get lost, very, very easily, that and I was pretty worried and shaken up so I called Adam and Mindy. They didn't even hesitate, they came and got me and the girls and we set off to find Dave (Thanks a MILLION guys). We found him at a pit stop at 105 miles. The poor boy had crawled another 20 miles-his indomitable will and strength AMAZE me! He was doing a lot better by the time we got to him, he had been able to eat and most importantly, drink, and rest in some shade. The worst part for me was seeing how discouraged he was. It broke my heart. I assured him that all bikers, even Lance Armstrong, have bonked before. Now for those of you who don't know what a bonk is I am going to link you over to Fat Cyclist's page. He describes it perfectly. Here is a synopsis from his blog

"Now, I don’t know if anyone who doesn’t do endurance sports really knows what a true bonk feels like. It’s actually kind of interesting. First of all, you have only the slightest amount of power. You can turn the cranks over, but just barely. Next, you stop caring. You know that you must look ridiculous, riding your bike at three miles per hour (yes, really), but you just don’t have the energy to care about appearances. You completely lack the ability to rally — it doesn’t matter how bracing a pep talk your friends give you, you aren’t going to be able to buck up and go faster. In a really good bonk, I’ve experienced a disconnectedness between my mind and body: this can’t be my body inching along, right? Surely, if this were my body, I’d be able to tell my legs to go faster. Sometimes — not always — I’ll feel cold.
All of these sensations, though, are pretty much secondary to the main emotion: misery. It’s a self-pitying, helpless, weak, beyond-tiredness, beyond-hunger, beyond-thirsty, miserable misery."

To sum up your body just has absolutely nothing left. I mean nothing. It isn't only a physical thing but a mental one. Oh so a quick, interesting note...remember how fatty mentioned feeling cold? It was over 100 degrees outside and Dave was FREEZING. In the car he was bundled up in sweaters and blankets and turned the air off in the back. Anyway, although Dave is upset about not finishing I couldn't be more proud of the boy! He was able to keep going when he body started shutting down. The most important thing-he is ready to get out biking again. I love ya babe! Also, for more information and Dave's side of the story check out his blog :)

Dave's little cheerleaders (it was 5:30 in the morning and COLD)

Hehe this picture cracks me up. Dave got Emma dressed that morning. Look at Emma's face its like she is saying, "What the heck?" Yeah, its Ali's jacket :)

My Little Srapbooking Buddy

I am happy to say I am almost caught up on little Al's scrapbook! Then I'll start playing catch up on Emmas, hehe. I have decided to simplify. For the girls' scrapbooks I am only going to do their milestone pages and then just a few pages from the year that are a must because the pictures are so cute and it really tells a story about them. I've decided to put our family one on hold and just use cute photo albums (thanks for the idea teddy!) for now. Anyway I've really enjoyed scrapbooking again, I forgot how fulfilling it is to grab some pictures and paper and create, ya know? The best part of scrapbooking though has been the time I have been able to spend with Emma. She LOVES it. I give her punches, paper, glue, pictures, scrapbooking paint, stickers, etc and she keeps herself entertained for hours. Yesterday we did beach pages. Here is mine

And here is Emma's

I think I like Emma's better, hehe. I'm really proud of her. She really gets into it, has fun and makes some cute things. Go Emma!

I had to add this last picture....here is little Ali while we were scrapbooking-bored, mostly naked and wanting some attention. Hehe poor little monkey.

Can you say....

YUMMY!!!