Mtns and Moab

SIDENOTE:  Hunter hiked Timp with Shayne!  They went to the saddle this year - next year to the tip-top!  It was a youth activity and in the end - very few youth went.  I am so proud of Hunter for doing it!!

For a little weekend break - we went to Moab.  We hiked some of Little Wildhorse Canyon (next to Goblin Valley)

Shayne took Hunter on his longest mtn bike ride ever - 21 miles... mostly downhill but it had some climbing too.  Hunter was nervous about it, but did it.  When asked which was harder - this or Bear Lake 50 miler - Bear Lake still wins as the toughest ride he's ever done.  I'm grateful he's doing hard things - when he approaches challenges he now thinks, "not as hard as that bike ride." HA!

While Hunter and Shayne went biking - I took the boys for a little mtn biking too.  I pulled Skyler in the trailer - and not, the trail was not made for a trailer.  That poor kid was going up and down and he shouting at me, "this is the last time ever I'm riding with you!"   Danny was not so happy about mtn biking, but Cole was just LOVING it.  He was sad that we only did a little bit of the trail.  The next day, Shayne took Hunter and Cole back up to that trail (in the Dead Horse Point Park) and they rode 15+ miles together.  I took the little boys to the new Dino Park - they were much happier here.

I'm glad that we love to do things together.  And it's just a LITTLE BIT exciting that our big boys are asking to ride bikes too...  it's like a dream come true for their dad!!

My Summer of Biking

Last summer I did a lot of running and I promised myself that I would dedicate 2016 to my bike - and less running  (I am really not a runner, even though I love how I feel after a run). 

All this biking in 2016 was SPECTACULAR!!

First ride of the season to celebrate Cheryl's birthday!

Biking to Suncrest with Rach before she moved.

early morning rides with Sarah - 

many rides with Chanin 

Taking Hunter for his first long road ride

Mtn Biking with Laura and Hunter

Sometimes I tow extras. 

Biking in Mammoth, CA

Early morning rides with Sarah and Valerie

I finally followed through with something I've wanted to do for several summers and started a girls mtn biking group.  We left at the crack of dawn and got home before the hubbies left for work.  We started off with easy rides and built it to be longer and harder each week.  I'm so excited for next summer.  We'll start it again and I want a girls trip to Moab to celebrate all our mtn bike love!

Biking at Bear Lake

Biking in Park City

The early mornings started to get darker and darker.  As long as there was light to come down - I was ok with it.  The views and sunrises were spectacular!

Here I'm trying to recreate a work of art that Rachael shared with me titled "Before They Wake"

A few of these rides were REALLY dark to start...  we're crazy.

We also took Cole and Danny biking.  I did a little beginner course with Danny and that was plenty scary - apparently this child uses his feet (dragging on the ground) to brake.  I thought he was going to crash for SURE.  I'm grateful he didn't.  I'll try again next year - but I'll be sure he knows how to use his brakes!

and the grand finale at the end of summer was the Goldilocks 60 miler with Chanin and Cherae!  

(I'll do a bigger post about this later)

We're having an Indian summer and the weather is still warm (I'm now posting in November) and Chanin and I still try to get in 1 ride per week.  We've found a new favorite mtn bike trail (right up to Suncrest) and the view of Utah County is AWE-mazing!

This has definitely been a summer of biking and ESPECIALLY mountain biking.  Shayne is loving the fact that I'm riding so much on my mtn bike (it's taken me a few years to really love it and he's passionate about it).  By no means am I good at it - but I am definitely improving and I CRAVE it.  Next summer I plan to master those switchbacks!!  I love my circle of girlfriends that I ride with regularly - its given me a chance to develop my skills in a safe place.  We're all learning together!!  When I see runners, I feel a pinch of sadness that they aren't on a bike like me! ha ha!

Wrapping up August

Here are some other highlights from August:

Danny with a new stuffed animal he bought with b-day money.

I had a girls date with Devri and Rachel - to meet Belle and see a production of Beauty and the Beast.  Rachel LOVED it!

My mouth full of rubber-bands as well as braces - but hey - the sacrifice is going to be worth it.  (that's my braces mantra)

First day of school for the boys.  Hunter (8th at the Jr. High), Cole (6th) and Danny (2nd) - I made them bike for a solid month+ - it was awesome!

Skyler and I went to Costco to pick up this "toy" for Danny (Danny bought it with the rest of his b-day money).   

The bounty from my garden - I am not a very dedicated gardener but I do love what I grow!

Skyler and I went to visit Anzer.  I made them each a book with pics all about the two of them - it turned out SUPER cute. 

Grandma mentioned letting the kids carve the over-sized zucchini - they loved this!

Skyler started Preschool (Pre-K!)  His new teachers quickly won him over and he now quotes poems and sings songs that he learns here.  He is loving it!

A night out to see Coldplay LIVE!  It was an awesome concert!  We were hanging out with Cherae, Chris, Chanin, Steve, as well as these kiddos - my boys were jealous that we didn't buy them tickets.  Maybe next time!