I am loving running outside in the morning before my family get up without a headlamp!

I usually am leaving the house just as it’s getting light enough and the views, sounds and smells are incredible.

The pelicans were hanging out in a local pond.

And the trees are blooming, it’s such a beautiful time of year here, I am trying to soak it all in before full summer heat sets in and by July everything starts to turn brown again.

From Semi Rad

What is your perfect running weather, I think mine is sunny, in the 50s and no wind OR upper 60s and raining, I really love running in the rain.

I walked these two to school, Cannon only has four more days of preschool left.

In just a few months I will be dropping Emmy off here as well.

We spent the rest of the day playing in the backyard because it was so beautiful out. We really really need to start mowing the lawn. But it had to wait because we needed a quick dinner before I had a class to teach.

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What is your favorite running weather?

Just a typical couple of days before summer officially starts, I can’t wait! While we still have responsibilities like grocery shopping, laundry, yard work etc, my intention is be outside making as many memories as possible this summer.

Emmy helping me pick up groceries (please keep grocery pick-up forever!)

Then we had gymnastics for Emmy she now has only one more session, which is too bad because she just really started to warm up to it.

Emmy was so happy when Cannon came home from school so they could cuddle and watch their favorite show (octonaughts on Netflix) together.

Cannon and I worked on the tiny bit of “homework” he brought home, I am a little scared of what Kindergarten might look like.

Coffee will always get me though.

This amazing smoothie and finally sunshine after days of rain were gooooooood.

Today Cannon didn’t have school so we all visited a playground together with some friends. It’s so nice when we all get to play together.

We spent the rest of the day shopping for a gift for a friend and playing in the backyard. We enjoyed dinner outside on the deck. Summer has officially overtaken fall for my favorite season!

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Anyone have kiddos in or past kinder age? How was the homework?

What is your favorite season?

This morning I gave the kiddos their “welcome to summer” buckets. It’s mainly things I would give them anyway to use over the summer but they get so excited when I package them up as a gift to kick off summer.

They were very excited take their buckets to the park this morning!

This year they are getting new sand toys as many of our old ones ended up in the trailer, lost or broken.

This was their buckets from last year…I love these Native Shoes so much, we didn’t include them this year because Cannon doesn’t need a larger size yet and Emmy got new pink ones for her birthday.

Emmy’s Pool Float – Target

Cannon’s Pool Float – Target

Emmy’s Bucket – Target

Cannon’s Bucket – Target

Goggles – Speedo

Sunglasses – Target Dollar Spot

Bubble Machine – Target

Cannon’s Swim Trunks – Old Navy

Emmy’s Swimsuit – Old Navy

Summer Shoes – Native

Cannon only has a few more days of school (5 days to be exact) and I am so looking forward to slower mornings. I am going to have to come up with a lose daily schedule so that we don’t become complete sloths.

While Cannon was at school Emmy and I met some friends at a playground before the rain came in.

We went straight from the playground to pick up Cannon and come home for lunch. Emmy actually went down for a nap which was nice because I got some time with just Cannon.

After Emmy’s nap we went to the library to trade out our current books and movies for new ones. The kids LOVE picking out books and movies for the week now that we actually go into the library instead of just doing curbside pick-up. It was important to Emmy to stop and smell the roses.

Don’t Want to Run Today? Try One of These 5 Mental Tricks

I liked this article from Women’s Running about running when we don’t feel like it (not injured, just not feeling it). They had some of my favorite tips. One of mine if you are a morning runner is to never hit snooze, always get up immediately with your first alarm. If I try to hit snooze sometimes I accidentally turn off my alarm and just sleep through my time to run.

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What are your favorite tips for when you don’t want to get out and run?

On Friday we grabbed Cannon from school (he gets out at 11:05)and headed south to Great Sand Dunes National Park.

It’s about a four and a half hour drive for us and it’s beautiful.

We stopped in Buena Vista for coffee (for the adults) and treats (for the kids). If you’re in the area Brown Dog Coffee is AMAZING (also a location in Salida).

We found a camping spot San Luis State Wildlife Area Campground directly West of the Dunes.

The views from from our campsite was incredible.

Once we got set up in camp we made our way down to San Luis Lake.

The kids had a blast playing around in the shallow water.

This was taken right as Emmy completely fell in =)

On Saturday morning we headed over to the Great Sand Dunes. It’s important to get there early especially in the summer as the sand can reach 150 degrees!

The Seasonal Medano Creek was running and that was by far the kids’ favorite part of our visit.

We neglected to take any cute pictures of the kids in the creek =(

We tried to go sledding on the dunes and it didn’t exactly work, but it was still fun.

It would have been fun climb the dunes and see the view from the top but the sand was already hot and I think that hike is way beyond the kids ability and attention span. One day it would be nice to come back and get to the top when the kids are a bit older.

After our morning at the dunes we scrapped our plans for a hike because the kids were having fun at the campground and just wanted to play.

We were happy to slow down and just enjoy where we were.

On Sunday we packed up and pointed our car home. We stopped in Salida for a playground break.

There is a fun playground right along the river and just down the street we grabbed sandwiches at Sweeties highly recommend if you are in the area.

We have stopped in Salida a few times on trips and really want to spend more time there, so cute!

We have been to seven national parks in the last year and Great Sand Dunes National Park was my least Favorite. It was fun, and beautiful but also smaller than I am used to. Definitely worth a visit if you are in southern Colorado!

We almost didn’t go on our weekend trip because there was so much to do at home. It’s just the boring maintenance stuff that everyone must do and ours has been piling up.

BUT we decided that these kids are only this little once ,they will grow up and not be so interested in just digging in the dirt.

Or playing in the sand. So much of what I am reading is pulling me towards more unstructured play and time out in nature. That is exactly what we got this weekend.

While I came home to a not so clean home and a to do list a miles long, I also have no regrets!

What do you give up to live your most fulfilled life?

“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” – John Muir

We are living the good life, dirty hands and happy hearts.

I hope you do something this weekend that’s lights up your spirit.

I finally got it all together and got outside for my morning run, I can feel that things are changing and summer is coming.

The sunrise is nice and early so I don’t have to worry about my headlamp or running in the dark and I am loving it!

I had a few peaceful minuets to sit on our porch and relax before heading inside to take on the morning hustle with the kids.

It was such a beautiful day, Emmy and I spent all day outside, playing with friends at the playground, walking and picking “flowers”. It’s so fun to see our time outside each day creeping up. In January/February we were averaging around 0-1 hours a day. Now it’s easy to get between 4-6 hours because we are playing outside, eating our meals outside and meeting friends at playgrounds.

After Cannon came home from school we ate lunch in the trailer at Emmy’s request. We are taking a trip the Great Sand Dunes National Park this weekend and the kids are very excited to get out and adventure. I hope they always stay this excited to get out in nature with us!

The rest of the afternoon we spent playing upstairs in the loft while I packed up their clothes and grabbed some groceries.

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I saw on instagram the Mike McKnight is posting a film of his transformation and his taking on the Colorado Trail FKT. If you want to see some incredible trails, this would be something to watch!

Seen anything inspirational lately? I can’t wait for the May 27th premier! Although the idea of low carb running makes me a little sad….clearly it’s working for Mike =)

I REALLLLLYYYYY wanted to run outside this morning but I didn’t collect clothing that would be warm enough for the 30 degree weather. I thought I had some set out but I actually put them back away so……that’s what I get for cleaning up.

So I begrudgingly ran a few miles on the treadmill and felt grateful that it was available to me but tomorrow I will be more prepared!

We met a friend at a playground and spent over two hours playing outside, it was so good to catch up a breathe all the fresh air.

In the afternoon we set up the bubble machine, and played in the backyard for a few hours, still working on our 1000 hours outside.

I really loved this short article from Outside:

https://www.outsideonline.com/2382741/rewilding-american-child

The more I read about nature and children’s need to play, explore and be free the more I want to prioritize adventures and go all in on our Dirt Bag Summer.

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Anyone else planning a summer outside getting dirty, letting your children run wild?

I got up early to snow, ice and cold so it was a few easy miles for me on the treadmill.

I really thought we would be done with mittens, hats and snow gear but not yet…..

I think that’s why it’s so surprising that Cannon only has nine more days of school before summer break!

After dropping off Cannon at school, Emmy and I went to gymnastics. She loves to hang on the bars and to practice on the beam.

I received a reminder that it was spirit day at Chick-fil-a, I wasn’t planning on going out for food, but it’s just so tempting to support the school. It’s brilliant actually, well played Chick-fil-a.

I saw this online and had to send it to my mom.

She owns a Tesla.

Then it was time for me to teach for the evening.

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How is the weather where you are, is it more like summer or winter?