Chasing My Joy

My journey to becoming an Ultra Runner and Ironman

Archives for December 2022

We Really Probably Shouldn’t…But We Did

We started out the day with still lots of snow on the ground and an even sicker dog. So we were sure that our New Years trip was off and that we were staying home.

We were all bummed about missing our trip but came to terms with it and had lots of house projects planned. Our biggest worry was actually that Humphry was sick and that we shouldn’t take him and that he could be really ill. We got some “samples” to the vet and waited to hear back on what to do to help Humphry. We heard back in the afternoon that Humphry just had a bacterial overgrowth that can be easily treaded with antibiotics and were given the green light to take Humphry with us from our vet.

We had accepted that we weren’t going so we weren’t properly preparing for our trip all morning, which meant that we were scrambling to get a very late departure. We packed, picked up Kermit in deep snow and got on the road.

And because we were supposed to be having dinner at our campsite, but left our house around 5 pm We fed our kids Burger King (parents of the year). It’s times like this that we probably should just throw in the towel but we have a hard time giving up an adventure.

We got to our site, which was amazing, after our bedtime and settled in for the night.

Do you ever say yes when you really should just say no?

Snow Day + Changing Plans

We were supposed to get 1-3 inches of snow but ended up getting around 10 inches overnight so we spent our morning digging out.

Luckily it was a bright sunny morning!

It was a heavy wet snow so it stuck to the trees and made everything so beautiful!

Once we got the sidewalk cleaned off we got ready and joined friends at the sledding hill.

Cory took a little time off work to join us in the fun!

We all had a lot of fun then headed home for lunch.

In the afternoon the kids went in the backyard and played in the snow some more because time outside is the best.

We finally got the kids to come in when it started getting dark. We grabbed Greek food because we have been big slackers on getting to the grocery store. Will need to take care of that tomorrow.

We had planned on camping at Cheyenne Mountain State Park this weekend for New Years but given the amount of snow we got and our dog seeming sick we also might be rethinking that plan as well.

Do you have fun plans for New Years?

FOMO + 12 Months of Book Nooks

Another Day another scooter ride in the morning to get our bodies moving.

We scooted down a pretty steep hill to a playground, both kids rocked it. I am so proud of both of them and they really show me how to take on life and learn new things.

Playground break!

We are loving these scooters that the kids got for Christmas! The box says for 8+ but little four year old Emmy is doing great. It probably helps that she mastered her little three wheel scooter when she was two.

We got home and it was snack time! I am trying to get Christmas taken down but it will probably be up into the new year since we are going camping this weekend. Also we are too busy having fun. FOMO!

We went to the library to exchange our Christmas books/movies for snow themed books.

Then we spent two hours with friends at the pool living our best life!

While at the pool it started raining, it always reminds me of home when it rains.

Then it turned it very beautiful snow, looks like we are going sledding tomorrow!

I threw up our January snow themed books, I love these bookshelves so much.

I am so sad I missed

January
February
March
April
May
August
September
October
November
December

I am so bummed I didn’t take pictures of June (Ocean themed) or July (camping/mountain themed) but I will be sure to do so this year so I have all 12 months documents.

Building The Life We Love + 2023 Family Goals

We’re loving winter break, choosing fun adventures and being with our friends. We had a 60 degree day so we made sure to make the most of it and spend lots of time outside.

We joined some friends and spent a couple hours and a super fun playground.

Then we came home for lunch and played a little Mario Party that Emmy got for Christmas. I am not a huge fan of video games but the kids love them and a little bit can’t hurt.

Then we went out for a hike because I wanted to get our bodies moving.

The trail was sloppy but that’s not too big of a deal, the kids loved it. I always bring extra shoes and plastic bags in the car when we hike in case our shoes are super dirty. We definitely needed them today.

I LOVE goals, I set them (and sometimes break them) all the time. It was fun setting and meeting our goals in 2022, so now we are going to hopefully do the same with our 2023 goals.

We worked on our list together and tried to focus on goals that align with our values and create the life of our dreams. Our family values include: Time outside, travel, adventure, staying active, practicing kindness and being together. 

Here are our 2023 family goals:

If you make family goals I would love to hear some!

Boxing Day+ Bowling + Checking in on 2022 Family Goals

We had a nice quiet boxing day, which was much needed because our house was a disaster. I have no idea how we caused so much chaos in half a day.

We spent some time outside playing on our new scooters with sparkly new helmets. The best presents are ones that help get us outside!

I can’t believe how good Emmy is on this thing already!

Cannon also is already a pro!

Cory volunteered to take some floor duties at work this week but we were so exctied to take the kids bowling for the first time.

We met Cory’s family and had the best time playing arcade games, blowing (badly) and eating surprisingly good bowling alley food.

Other than having fun we have been talking about our family goals but before we set them I wanted to check in on our 2022 family goals.

Family Goals 2022

One of our goals was to hit 1200 hours outside, and while I didn’t track as well as I did in 2021 I do know we hit this goal some time late this year.

Another goals was to camp this summer in our local area, and this one was easy we love our Colorado mountains in the summer.

We set the goal of 30 nights in Kermit (our camper) and we made it 40 nights. Pretty proud of that especially since we spent another 16 nights in an RV in Europe and 20 nights in hotels.

We set the goal to travel abroad and we achieved that by traveling to Mexico in May and Europe in August/September.

And our last goal was to just slow down, enjoy the mundane times, and stress less. Not sure if we met this goal or not but I think it should go on the list again because life is for enjoying!

I think we nailed the goals this year and I am excited to see what we can get up to in 2023!

How was your 2022? Did you set family goals?

Our Christmas 2022

We don’t have a ton of family out here in Colorado so we usually take Christmas Eve to find a little adventure just the four of us.

This year we decided to drive up to Vail because I have always wanted to see it at Christmas.

We decided to get in a hike before heading into town along the White River National Forrest North Trail.

We put some ice cleats on the kids but I don’t think they needed them. Also the trail had been used since the last snow fall so snowshoes were not needed either.

The hike was so nice, it was along a river in a canyon. I would love to do this again in the summer or fall.

After our hike we drove into Vail Village in search of lunch and coffee.

Vail is always so beautiful and it was gorgeous for Christmas.

Most of town is nice and dry because the sidewalks are heated! This little area with the tree is full of snow, because it’s a fountain where kids can play in the summer.

Same restaurant summer vs. winter.

We came home in time for a quick dinner and bedtime before Santa came to visit.

We also made some reindeer food to sprinkle on our lawn.

Our elves stayed one more day so they could do Christmas Day with us.

We woke up early to open stockings before Christmas breakfast.

Sorry it’s so blurry, so grubby hands got to my phone.

Our traditional Christmas breakfast.

After opening presents we went out for a bike ride/run. The kids got new bike bags for Christmas and Emmy loved bringing her stuffy with us!

We spent the rest of the day enjoying time with my parents and brother. It was so nice and relaxed with lots of yummy food. We brought Christmas Sangria to share and Orange Cranberry cake.

We made it home with just a little bit of time to play the new games the kids got from my brother.

We ended up not traveling for the holidays like we did last year, and I am glad we didn’t so we could spend the time with family. But we have plans to wake up on a sandy beach next year!

How was your Christmas?

Any resolutions/goals for 2023 yet? I am still working on mine.

Christmas Eve-Eve + Bucket List ✅

Cory got to take Friday off for Christmas and we were excited to get to spend the day with him. It was still very cold and the roads still icy so we put off our mountain adventure that we had planned and get our last minute Christmas tasks done.

Our elves were excited to come along with us for the day.

I finally found a toy that Cannon had requested, super excited to check this one off his list.

Been listening to this album on repeat with the kiddos, they love it.

After running around all morning we decided we wanted to get out and move our bodies, we all needed some fresh air. Cannon worked on riding his new fat bike in the snow.

Emmy rode part of the way then ran with me in the snow. She loves running and biking and it’s so fun to get to share what we love with our littles.

before bed we grabbed our elves, the grinch and hot chocolate so we could drive around and look at Christmas lights.

We are checking items off our Christmas Bucket List and are ready for the magic

  • Visit Santa ✅
  • Make Christmas cookies ✅
  • Build a gingerbread house ✅
  • Movie night with pop corn ✅
  • Drive to see Christmas lights with hot chocolate ✅
  • Make gifts for the Grandparents ✅
  • Send out Christmas cards (Late but still done) ✅
  • Decorate the Christmas tree ✅
  • Go on a horse drawn carriage ride – Missed them this year!
  • Make Reindeer Food ✅
  • Take a Christmas Eve hike ✅

Pretty happy with what we got done. What is on your holiday bucket list?

Some Bad Weather + We Will Miss Them

I really try to follow the wisdom of “No Bad Weather, Just Bad Gear” but today I had to hand in my “outdoorsy mom” badge and stay inside all day.

Like much of the country we had a crazy cold snap come through giving us four inches of snow and the coldest temperatures that I have seen since moving to Colorado.

I do believe that you can (and should) get out in almost all weather but we are not set up to go out in sub zero temperatures.

We just don’t usually get this cold so we settled in for the day doing all the fun Christmas things like baking, wrapping presents, playing and watching movies.

The Grinch, fuzzy blankets and a heating pad, these kids were living the life.

Just two more days with our elves, we will miss them!

What is your favorite thing to do on a snow day?

Winter Solstice Hike + We’re Not Used to This

It has felt like winter for more than a month so Emmy is very confused by today being the first day of winter.

We went to NCAR for a hike to celebrate the winter solstice. It was a bit cold and very windy, I was shocked that the kids didn’t complain at all.

We love this hike in the summer and winter time! You just need to be careful this time of year because ice can be hiding under the dirt in shady places.

Hiking NCAR 2021

Last year when we hiked here it was a struggle to get Emmy to hike more than a mile and now she is loving doing 3-4 miles.

We have lots of hiking/adventure trips planned this year and are going to work on getting up to 6 mile hikes.

We would have liked to go even further but we had to get ready for our upcoming storm and I had a doctor appointment in the afternoon.

we aren’t even getting that much snow but with windchill temperatures could drop to negative 50 and we just aren’t used that that. Cannon’s holiday school party and performance have been canceled and Emmy’s friend’s birthday party also had to be postponed due to the cold weather. We just aren’t used to it being THIS cold!

It was 50 degrees when I went into my appointment and when I left 50 minutes later it had dropped to 14 degrees!

Are you getting hit with frigid weather right now too?

Did you do anything to celebrate the solstice? We usually try to get out in so something to celebrate the changing of the seasons. Summer Solstice Hike

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