My day started bright and early with a 4:30 AM wakeup call and a 5:00 AM date with the treadmill.

The kids woke up excited that it was Wednesday, our adventure day.

Emmy was trying to show me a peace sign.

Cannon and Emmy were having fun scooting around while I was getting ready.

Cory has to work but Cannon, Emerald and I have the day off and we often try to seek out some kind of adventure.

Cannon really wanted to take their new cameras into the mountains to take photos. Our mountains were getting 6-9 inches of snow so I didn’t think we should be heading up there so we compromised and went to the base of the front range in Lyons.

It was cold and snowy but it was worth it to get out of the house, sometimes the idea of the adventure is more important than the actual adventure.

There was a playground there and the kids enjoyed some time there.

We explored and took lots of pictures.

After we got home the kids were excited to wear their matching shirts.

We had a good time but I can’t wait until spring/summer when we can do more epic all day adventures. I feel urgency to make the most of this time before August when Cannon will start school full time and we won’t have these precious Wednesdays together.

In the evening I had a work training about updates to our teaching platform and new portals.

Any other teachers out there teaching online? Do you like it?

I hope you can all start your day as happy as Emmy

She was just super excited about everything this morning.

There was a lot of energy and shenanigans before school as well.

Cannon has been doing really well in school, I am so grateful that he gets to go in person.

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After such a long stretch of extreme cold it felt amazing to be outside in 38 degree weather.

Afternoon coffee and dreaming of the places we can go when things are more normal.

Humphry’s ears have been bothering him so he had an afternoon visit with the vet.

Me: Gets up at 4am to run for 90 minutes.

Also Me: Cannon, please get me the remote, I don’t want to get up….

Yes, my four year old is SO sweet and will basically jump up and get me anything anytime. I love hime so much.

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Are you a morning person? I am, Cory is NOT

Cannon had the day off of school and we were supposed to have a little Valentine’s party (outside) with friends. It was 5 degrees this morning so we agreed to cancel and try again when we all thaw out.

Emmy was excited to have Cannon home to play with but it’s feeling a bit like last years quarantine where we don’t go anywhere. I am SO looking forward to warmer weather.

I am also boring because I could eat the same things for lunch every day.

The kids did love walking on the celling

While singing Spider Pig

If you want to see something amazing please check out Billy Yang’s Post

His post about Justin Grunewald and his performance at the Black Canyon 100k. I teared up watching the video. Justin is so inspiring and Billy is just such an amazing story teller!

I recently read an awesome article by David Roche and wanted to share:

https://trailrunnermag.com/training/how-to-go-all-in-on-winter-training.html

It’s all about how to go all in and build a great base during the winter. I have been feeling down this week about being stuck inside so much, dealing with an injury and the pandemic. This was just what I needed to refocus on what I can do now to set up for a stellar spring and summer.

My goal now is to get healthy and strong so I can come out of this winter/social distancing strong and healthy, ready to hit the trails.

Davis and Megan Roche are very inspiring people, offer coaching and have an awesome podcast.

I can’t wait to listen to this podcast about Chasing big dreams and being unapologetically yourself!

Megan and David seem like amazing people and live right here in Boulder! I hope to meet them in person some day soon.

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Have you read or met anyone amazing lately?

We had a very cold, very Covid Valentine’s Day. Cory and I have never been big ones to go out and make a big deal about Valentine’s day but we also like to celebrate it. Now that we have the kids to shower with love it is even more fun.

We made them baskets of little gifts and Cory made them home made cake pops because cake pops from Starbucks are their favorite treat.

I don’t think it got above five degrees today so we mostly hung out at home.

We also worked on gifts for our family and friends.

The kids are getting more and more into crafts and that has been really fun.

We drove around dropping gifts on people’s porches.

Both Cannon and Emmy have been really interested in taking photos lately and begging to use our phones. They also drop their devises a lot so I don’t like handing them my phone. We got them both cameras and they are super excited to take photos of everything.

We had a special dinner planned and decided to take the kids to Cold Stone for the first time. Dinner did not turn out as we planned so we scrapped that and decided to grab Thai food before going to Cold Stone but then found out that the location near us closed. It became a comedy of errors but we still ended up enjoying dinner but got the kids to bed about an hour late.

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How was your Valentine’s Day, did you do anything special?

We are still trying to keep busy inside…not making much progress towards our goal of 1000 hours outside. I think we will get caught up in the spring and summer. I think I want to start keeping track of our time outside (very casually) to see if we actually make the goal of 1000 hours. But with a high of about 4 degrees today we just aren’t that brave.

Cannon has been really enjoying sitting in the heated front seat while waiting to go into school.

It’s crazy to think that one day he will get to ride up here and then I will be riding in the passenger seat while he drives (cue tears).

I bet you can’t guess Emmy’s favorite color….always swimming in pink.

While Cannon was at school Emmy and I played trains.

Later My mom dropped off home made coloring sheets for the kids. They love them so much and it’s so sweet of my mom to make them for each holiday. She is SO talented!

For dinner I made some skillet lasagna for the first time:

https://www.melskitchencafe.com/skillet-summer-vegetable-lasagna/

Recipe suggestion from Hungry Runner Girl.

After a 4:30 AM wake up I enjoyed a progression run on our treadmill before taking the Cannon to school. I am seriously missing walking the kids to school but it’s just been too cold to have them out that long.

Emmy and I have been passing our time, playing, reading and cuddling.

A friend gave Emmy some ballet hand-me-downs and I can’t wait for her to get to take lessons.

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It was a teaching night so we had clam chowder and Cory took over kid duty.

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Here are some Friday Favorites:

We are really loving these chairs from Create & Kids and These Lunch Bento Boxes

The kids have been loving this water mat.

These insulated mugs are great for our coffee and hot chocolate while camping.

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My brother got the kids THIS set of Lincoln Logs for Christmas. It has been so fun playing with them since we had them as kids and they love them too.

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Any favorites this week?

What is your temperature limit for being outside with your kids? Last year my limit was 15 degrees because the kids would stay closed in the stroller. This year they are always wanting to get out so we haven’t been walking unless it’s in the mid 20s.

It was another snowy cold day here in Colorado, treadmill and indoor activities for us.

Emmy was happy to enjoy time with Cannon since he didn’t have school today.

In the afternoon we had Cannon’s parent teacher conference over zoom. I miss last year when we got to go in, see his classroom and his work hanging up on the walls but I am thankful for technology and getting to talk to Cannon’s teacher.

I had a PT appointment to continue to work through my knee injury. The process feels slow but I think we are making progress.

This tweet is old but I am trying to take inspiration of Des Linden and focuss on the process.

Cory and the kids came with me to my appointment and played at a playground while I saw my PT. They had the best time even though it was very cold. We were trying to think of plans for the weekend and checked the weather.

On Sunday we are forecasted to have a low of negative 13 degrees!?! That is the lowest I have ever seen for our area. We have been trying to get out more in all weather but I think that is way too far for me.

We finished the day with the best dinner.

Cory made crab cakes and the were amazing! Emmy also loved them…Cannon was not a fan so he ate a hot dog instead.

Cannon has also been really into taking pictures lately so he asked to take a picture of story time.

I got him and Emmy cameras for Valentine’s Day, they are going to be so excited.

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Do you enjoy the process?

Do you have any plans for Valentine’s Day?

I started my day with a 4:30 AM wake up and a good hour on the treadmill. It always feels good to get it done before the rest of the family wakes up!

We finished up Cannon’s valentines for his classmates, he can’t give out any food items and we had to send them in early so they can quarantine. I am just excited that he gets to have a party with his friends.

Right before it was time to leave for school snow started to come down.

There was a 1% chance of snow today.

1% chance…….

Also please note the -1 degrees on Friday….we have been trying to be outside a lot and adventuring but this blast of cold has us mostly inside and we are feeling it. Really looking forward to spring!

I drove Cannon to school since it was too cold to walk and while we were waiting in the parking lot he enjoyed the heated front seats.

While Cannon was at school Emmy and I put dinner in the crock pot.

Then we did some YouTube ballet. I think Emmy is going to really like dance.

The rest of the day was hanging out, cleaning up and teaching for me.

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What has your winter been like?

While we were camping in Colorado Springs we decided to spend the day at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

The kids were stoked to feed the Giraffes!

It was pretty great.

We had to reserve tickets ahead of time, they had limited admissions and wear masks while visiting. We felt safe and like we had lots of room to social distance.

I love this little zoo so much, it is nicely themed, and has great conservation messaging and funding.

The zoo is built into the side of the mountain which makes for very interesting exhibits.

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So many great animal encounters.

I loved the new African shores exhibit.

We rode the Sky Ride to the top of the mountain.

The ride is an old ski lift so that was exciting for the kids. You get amazing views both up and down the mountain and into the exhibits from above.

We had a wonderful time and it’s definitely worth a visit if you are in the Denver/Colorado Springs area!