Sisters and 60 miles

Cherae, Chanin (my sisters from another mother) and I decided we needed a summer-end bike goal.  We chose the Goldilocks 60 miler and started riding in May to prepare for this ride in late September.  There were some set-backs along the way - surgery - vacations - kids - life in general.  But, we did try hard to get in at least 1 ride per week - slowly building up the miles and endurance for long rides in the saddle.  My favorite part about this goal was the journey to get there - it's been a great way for me to grow closer to these two amazing women.  I know that we all care for each other deeply - but it's even better having regular time together.  I miss this part of my week now that the weather has changed, schedules have changed, and the sun doesn't cooperate by going down at 5:30 every evening!  Now to the ride...

It was spectacular fall weather EXCEPT THIS WEEKEND.  Seriously - the worst weekend out two months!  The rain was coming down pretty good early in the morning - so we postponed our start time by an hour or two to try to stay a little drier.  It worked for the most part.  The ride was cold but at the same time - great.  Once we had the right amount of layers, warm gloves, and a little more sun after noon - the ride was fantastic.  And WE. DID. IT.

Rachael joined us for the first leg of the ride - we had our high five as we passed the first photographer.  She didn't intend to do that ride in the rain - so she went her way at stop #1, and we continued down the road.

Also - we had our own personal pit crew - Steve.  He stopped at every rest stop to make sure we were well and willing to do anything to make our ride better.  This is when he showed up with full-finger gloves for his wife - she needed them!

The worst part of the ride was just before lunch - the rain started to pound down and it was pretty dang miserable.  Luckily - it was relatively short considering how long we were on our bikes that day.  At the lunch stop we sat in Steve's car and all switched to dry socks and turned the heater up REALLY HIGH.  It was glorious - FOOD AND WARMTH!

At the finish line together - (and the sun had come out by now)

I love you Chanin and Cherae - thanks so much for doing this with me.  

I'm looking forward to next summer's rides!

Hunter is 14!

Hunter is 14!  That means Carson is 15 - they are forever going to have their birthdays celebrated together, but I think that's just fine with them.  (Their birthdays are a week apart)  They are super close in age and close as friends as well as cousins!

Look how tall this kid is now!  I remember taking a pic in the spring where he was equal to me - and suddenly - there's no question about who's taller.  He's growing like crazy.  And his voice is lower too.  (EEK!)   I get a little sentimental when I think about him being my first baby - it's definitely weird to see my son grow up.

For his birthday - he took his 3 closest friends, Carson, Liam, and Chans to Provo Beach Resort - they did bowling, a ropes course, lazer tag, Mini Croquet, and arcade games.  They had a blast hanging out - and maybe this marks a big moment that mom/dad weren't there for the party.

All about Hunter:

Favorite food: it's between a Chile Relleno and Cafe Rio Pork Salad

Favorite Book: Enders Game or Michael Vey 2

Favorite show: Simpson's 

Favorite class at school: Band (Clarinet) and Drama

Favorite Game to Play: Terraria or Destiny

Favorite Sport: Swimming (and Basketball is a favorite too)

Spends his free time: gaming or reading

He likes to to know what to expect - well in advance - when it comes to calendaring his life.  If I give him warning about commitments, meetings, responsibilities - he'll do it!

He's a Lego loving-builder, thinker, funny, thoughtful, caring and kind young man.  I love that talks to me and isn't embarrassed to hug me in front of friends.  (I keep thinking it'll happen any day)  He's growing up and turning into a fine young man and is a great example to his younger brothers.

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!