FRIENDS BIRTHDAYS TAHOE OH MY

I know it has been awhile, or at least it seems like it has been a while since I last blogged. We have had a nice two weeks with friends visiting from Whistler Canada to celebrate Vans's big birthday that included trips to Tahoe, trail runs, TRX workouts and lots and lots of swimming.

Mommy on the Run and family arrived on the 14th and mayhem immediately started. Mommy on the Run has a four year old (Monkey) and a 1 year old (Bundles) so that means the Peanut (age 4) and Squeaker (age 1) had built in daily play dates ... as did Mommy on the Run and myself and Vans and Mr. Bear. They have a true bromance.

Squeaker & Bundles

While they were here, I took Mommy on the Run to a TRX class and a core conditioning class. I think she enjoyed it ... at the very least she saw why I constantly complain that some body part of mine is sore! I also took her on my Ridge Loop (of Death) run near the house. It is a 7+ mile run that combines some trails, fire road and pavement. A mix of everything but with some nice views of the surrounding area.

Early in their visit we spent a lot of time at the pool with the kids. The temperatures here were in the high 90s while our pool was about 84 degrees ... which incidentally was roughly the air temperature for Whistler. Mr. Bear and Monkey LOVE to swim so they were in heaven at the pool.

Fun pool games

 

Aqua-Baby

 

We took them to the local duck park

 

We went to the Thursday night concert ... the kids loved dancing

 

The Canadians :-)

 

We literally took hundreds upon hundreds of photos between us so I cannot possibly show all of them or explain everything we did while they were here. We literally were on the move for 10 days straight (you kind of have to be with four little kids and two "grown" kids).

 

Towards the end of the week we went up to Tahoe. We stopped at Sand Harbor for the day and had some amazing beach time. Sand Harbor is one of the nicest beaches in Tahoe. Just great sand, easy access to the water and great people watching.

 

 

The purpose of going to Tahoe though was to celebrate Van's birthday. Mr. Bear, Mommy on the Run and I all collaborated earlier in the summer and picked the perfect house that had one of Van's "wish list" requirements ... a view of Lake Tahoe.

 

The view from our deck which ran the length of the house

 

For months I had sent out emails to all of the people in our lives inviting people up to Tahoe to help celebrate Vans's birthday. Besides our Canadian friends, we had people who flew in from Arizona and an old "skate" buddy who drove up all the way up from Sacramento to spend a few hours as well as a few friends from EDH and their kids. People either popped in for the dinner/drinks celebration or they came for the beach time or both. It was definitely a packed day that was a lot of fun. Vans's was happy.

Long time friends.

Vans and Mr. Bear mountain biked on both the Flume Trail and Tahoe Rim Trail while in Tahoe. Mommy on the Run and I gladly watched the kids in exchange for an opportunity to run for a few hours in Cool with Pigeon later in the week. That is right, it was a blogger run! Mommy on the Run and Pigeon were able to meet for the first time but both reach each other's blog.

Mommy on the Run has been interested in all things Western States for a while and she was super excited to learn that we would be running from Cool to No Hands Bridge. She also knows a lot about Cool too.

Mommy on the Run

 

Pigeon & Trailmomma running again!

 

The run was fun. I took up the caboose because my ankle was not feeling 100% AND because about an hour before I took an hour long strength and conditioning class that had me doing many many squats and lunges and my legs were toast. Pigeon and Mommy on the Run didn't seem to mind.

At one point since Pigeon and I were finally running together again AND I finally remembered to bring the camera ... we just HAD to bring back the JC Penny poses we had done a few summers ago.

Modeling our Visors

 

We made it to No Hands Bridge and I think for the first time ever, Pigeon stopped and read the signs with us!

 

History

 

On No Hands

 

After our photo session at No Hands Bridge, we went back the way we came and decided to go up K2.

 

The bottom of K2 ... it is one steep hill

 

I was not exactly thrilled. ha

 

K2 is almost an entire mile in length and one rocky climb. My ankle was extremely unhappy during the climb but I secretly enjoyed the workout.

 

But the views are awesome at the top

 

We finished our run just as the temps were really starting to heat up. I forget that Mommy on the Run is not used the heat we deal with up in Northern California. I don't think it bothered her that much because she was smiling ear to ear when we made it back to the car.

 

Smiling!

 

Thanks Pigeon for being tour guide!

 

The whole Mommy on the Run family has since returned to Whistler. The house is awful quiet without them all here.

 

Today I met Pigeon in Cool again to run the full course for That Damn Run Half Marathon. We really only ran about 12 of the 13 miles but apparently we were very close to a bear that Pigeon HEARD but we never saw (others saw him) and we also had to nurse a very tired Traildog to the end. He was struggling poor pup.

 

My legs feel pretty darn good considering I ran in Cool on Wednesday with Mommy on the Run and Pigeon, then 7 hill miles in EDH with TiggerT on Friday followed by 12 miles in Cool today. I have not run this much in a while and although my ankle is a bit swollen and sore ... my legs and my heart are smiling. 

 

 

 

 

 

SIDE BY SIDE

A friend of mine asked me what the girls photos would look like side by side. A parent at the girls' daycare stopped me to say that her and her sister are constantly asked if they are twins, yet they are three years apart ... she thinks my girls are going to have the same questions.

I know they look a like as infants. The Peanut's baby photos could easily be Squeakers and vice versa. I mean, I know the difference and I know who is who ... but right now, I don't think they look a like much at all. Definitely related, but not twins. Who knows, maybe it is their different personalities.

So it has me wondering what Squeaker will grow up to look like ... of course "herself" is the easy answer but right now, she has none of the traits that the Peanut had at 14 months (namely, Squeaker LIKES to sleep) ... Squeaker is also a dare devil with amazing balance and coordination (a gift from Vans no doubt) where as the Peanut has my uncanny ability to have gravity constantly pulling at her and forcing her to fall, trip and end up bruised and battered. Sorry kid.

So here is a little game of Who is Who ... I won't write who is who until the very end so good luck!

A

B

C

D

E

So who is who? :)

Answers:
A: Peanut, B: Squeaker, C: Peanut, D: Squeaker, E: Peanut

AUGUST ALREADY

Wow it is hard to believe that it is August already (and that I have not posted anything yet). Needless to say, I've been busy. Busy just enjoying the summer, my girls and the craziness that comes with all of that.

I've been really working hard at some strength training lately and some TRX stuff. It is paying off a little bit because I am seeing some results in my arms and core (some, not a lot ... yet). However, there are only so many hours in the day and because of this, I am not running nearly as much as I was before. On one hand it is due to time issues and on the other my legs are just tired ... tired from strength workouts, tired from chasing two little girls (one who is recently attracted to the cat food) and just tired from sleepless nights (thank you Olympics).

Last Saturday though I went to Cool for the second free training run for That Damn Run Half Marathon and 10K.  The Race Director for this race is none other than my old Way Too Cool 50K/AR50 training coach (and friend) Coach Nikon. The race shirts for this race by the way are pretty darn awesome.

This is on the shirt!

I have big plans to do the half marathon course ... even though my running has been less than stellar lately. The race is late October and actually is the the last race on my list (minus Clarksburg which I promised to run with TiggerT who is training for CIM).

The run on Saturday was great. Pigeon was there. I pretty much ran with her the entire time ... just like old times except she is in awesome shape and I had to walk a lot of the climbs. I didn't mind and I know she didn't either. This race is going to be one tough half marathon though ... it has a brutal mile climb in the middle that just goes and goes and goes. It's in Cool though, one of the prettiest places to run and that can't be beat.

I have about a month left before I have to start working again and enter the real world. I am having mixed emotions about it and feel like a roller coaster when I think about so I am just not thinking about it. I have way too many other exciting things happening before I have to dust off my skirts and heels.

Vans is having a birthday in a week so or so (it's a biggie) ... and we're having company that arrives next week and is staying with us for a whole week AND celebrating Vans's birthday. Lots to prepare before they get here and of course I want to cram everything in that I can while they are here. It has been lovely being home to enjoy all the visitors we've had lately because normally I am a slave to lack of vacation time and have to work while everyone else is having fun. Not this time!

The girls are getting so big too. Squeaker is almost 14 months old and is running (not quite steady) around the house. She adores her big sister and pretty much lets her get away with MOST things ...

Like playing fairy dress up

The Peanut is really into swimming lately and loves watching the Olympic swimmers. She is only four but the kid can free-style and I am quite impressed. She's getting braver swimming across the pool by herself and jumping off the diving board. We tried introducing her to dance (ballet, tap, jazz) at her own request but the poor child has my coordination skills (sadly) and it wasn't a good fit. She's told me she would like to go back to her private swim lessons that we normally do in the winter.

Vans is moaning because apparently swim meets are the "worst" according to more experienced parents but I can't help but smile that she is so interested in something ... I was never a great swimmer and if she likes it, I say go for it.

Hanging out at the pool at night

Squeaker however, enjoyed the Peanut's dance class more than anyone.