Hooray for Friday! I am so looking forward to this weekend, I am not sure what we are going to do but the weather is nice, Cory has a long weekend and we will be together. One of my goals for this weekend is to prep to run outside more, although we have daylight savings coming up so that might throw a wrench in things.

Yesterday I started out with a very easy run on the treadmill, getting up early has become so easy now.

After getting the kids up we got ready for school. Emmy had something in her eye we cleared it up with eye drops but she wasn’t feeling up to walking Cannon to school. Emmy stayed home to cuddle with Cory while I took Cannon to school. It’s nice to have just Cannon to hang out with sometimes, he is just the sweetest, silliest, funniest kid. His heart is gold and I really don’t know how we got so lucky.

After dropping Cannon off Emmy and I got ready to go to the pool. They have limited how many people can be in the pool at a time so we were happy to grab a reservation for just the two of us.

I threw it way back to 2012 with my Ironman CDA back pack, this thing is seriously the best gear bag!

Emmy was so excited to go swimming, she has missed it so much.

Her face must have hurt from smiling so much the entire time we were there.

After swimming we picked up Cannon from school and came home for lunch and nap. Emmy has been tired and has napped the last couple days.

It was a grey, cold rainy day so we stayed inside to play for the rest of the afternoon.

I had a class to teach in the evening, and I was pretty happy to get to wear my clogs under the desk.

Something that Cannon has really gotten into lately is yoga, he loves Cosmic Yoga on YouTube.

Emmy likes it too, but Cannon has been LOVING it.

I found these kids yoga mats in the dollar spot at Target:

You can get them individually in store or all four online I got Emmy the cat and Cannon the frog. They are going to be so excited to do yoga on them!

I was also SO excited to find this active set for Emerald, I feel like running shorts are hard to find for toddler girls. I scooped up both designs and I can’t wait for it to be warm enough for her to wear!

I got Cannon this Puma set from Costco I am excited for him to get to wear these to soccer this spring.

This weekend I am going to be putting together the kids’ St. Patricks Day baskets and I am loving these rainbow baskets!

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What are you loving lately?

Any fun plans for the weekend? We are still working on our plans, hopefully we will find an adventure to go on.

Getting up at 4AM is actually easy now, my body waked up easily with my alarm. I think getting up every day is really key, now I don’t think I could fall back asleep even if I wanted to! I finished Bridgerton while running three progression miles. I am sad that Bridgerton was over so fast and I will have to find something else to watch. The one upside to so many treadmill miles is that it is the only real time that I get to choose whatever I want to watch.

Wednesdays are one of my favorite days of the week, Cannon has the entire day off and we like to plan fun adventures. This week we met some friends to explore a space themed playground.

Cannon loved it and had so much fun. He is at an age where I don’t have to worry as much about him falling off so that makes it more fun for me.

It was so nice out that we ditched our jackets and played until lunch time. I am really looking forward to eating meals outside, unfortunately our backyard is very shady (great for the summer) so we have to wait until it warms up a little more.

After lunch and nap time, Emmy did nap, we walked down to another playground. It’s nice to take advantage of this nice weather while we have it!

They both walked the entire way, I have hight hopes to get Cannon up to 4-5 miles hiking this summer.

Emmy really enjoyed the sun.

When we got home we spent more time in the backyard playing with the drone and dreaming of a new patio. My hope is that we can get one installed this spring.

I asked Emmy to give me her best face so I could take her picture..this is what she gave me. I love how expressive she is!

I was sent this video and it looks AMAZING! Who else wants to go run in the Alps now?

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Anyone else enjoying warm weather? It was in the 60s here =)

4.5 hours outside

It has been so beautiful here lately it really feels like spring is showing up, I really shouldn’t get my hopes up too high.

Yes there is still some snow on the ground but the highs this week are in the 60s!

The day started with a 5k on the treadmill for me, nice and easy. I think my goal is to slowly move these runs more and more outside. I kept to the treadmill because it was easier on my injury and it is just so cold and dark, but it’s time to get outside more! I think tomorrow I will try to get some miles outside with the kids, they love running together!

After running we found the the Leprechauns had visited again, this time leaving chocolate coins.

I can’t wait to give them their St. Patricks day baskets.

After breakfast Emmy and I walked Cannon to school then ran some needed errands. After we picked up Cannon we went to a playground to enjoy the sunshine.

I love that they love playgrounds so much!

We spent the rest of the day playing together and resting a bit. I had a terrible allergy attack and felt pretty bad for a couple hours. I have no idea what I reacted to.

I had class in the evening so Cory got the kids while I went to work.

I loved this article by David Roche:

https://trailrunnermag.com/training/the-science-and-art-of-pacing-easy-runs.html

I love this description of easy.

If you take nothing else away from this article, remember this point: you can go as slow as you freaking want. 

David Roche

So go out there and DON’T get after it 😉

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Do you like easy runs?

Is spring showing up where you live?

It was a great state to March for us. My 4 AM wake up is getting easier, I got 4.8 miles in on the treadmill. Soon I will take more of these runs outside!

Then we were visited by leprechauns who turned our milk green!

We jogged to school then Emmy and I stuck around to play with a couple friends. Then we went to a different playgrounds and saw friends we haven’t seen in a very long time. It was so nice to get outside play and see them!

Emmy rejected her nap again and enjoyed some cuddles with Cannon instead.

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New month new goals! I am so excited about all we have coming up this month. If the weather cooperates, Cannon will start soccer and we will spend 1/3 of the month off in our camper!

March Goals

• At least 84 hours outside, more would be better to get caught up on our 1000 hours outside goal.
• At least 4 Hikes this month to work towards our 52 hikes a year goal. If we get to do our Utah trip we will easily exceed this goal.
• Continue my goal to get up at 4 AM every day and run at least 3 miles until the 19th (not going to continue this while we are on vacation).
• Work on my creation skills by publishing 3 videos in March. One a week with a break while we are on vacation.
• Run/walk at least 125 miles this month

Anyone else enjoying “early spring”? When do you think spring starts?

Any goals for March?

I am sooooo excited it’s March, the deepest darkest part of winter is behind us. We are now almost a year into living with Covid-19 and very hopeful there is a light soon at the end of the tunnel. Both my parents have started the vaccinations process and I can’t wait until it’s our turn. We have so many fun plans this month and I am looking forward to more light and easier time outdoors!

I got up early to run a few miles on the treadmill before the family got up. I am feeling pretty tired but it’s nice to have my run done before the kids get up at 6 AM.

We then went to a local trail to look for Prairie Dogs.

The kids love just playing in the mud and being out in nature.

We got a drone, so we brought that along to practice flying.

In the evening Cannon helped me make dinner. We tried a new recipe for Creamy Shrimp Pasta highly recommended!

Emmy helped too.

Both kids loved it.

I swear the kids enjoy meals more when they help make it.

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Now that February is over it’s fun to look back at the highlights:

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One of the best things we did was to get to go camping in Colorado springs! We loved getting out in our camper and exploring the area.

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We really enjoyed celebrating Valentine’s Day together.

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We went to playgrounds any time we could.

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We played in the snow a lot!

It was a good month and we are looking forward to many more adventures!

Hours Outside : 54.5

Hikes: 6

It was an amazing day from start to finish even with a little failure.

We started the day enjoying a beautiful sunrise.

While I love the summer, the snow capped mountains are magical.

Emmy and Cory shared some story time while I got ready to go for a run.

I did get up at 4 AM but I did some PT exercises and other tasks until the sun came up so I could run outside in the snow.

Best decision ever.

It’s been too long since I have seen this view.

Once I was done running we got ready a headed to the mountains in search of a little adventure.

We went to Lily Lake in Estes Park, we know that there is a flat trail there. We didn’t want to tackle any steep trails when there was ice and snow.

Unfortunately with high winds and blowing snow it was not a pleasant experience.

None of us were having fun.

So we cut our adventure short and headed into town for coffee and treats. We explained to the kids that it is still worth it to try for an adventure even if it doesn’t turn out the way you expected. (Emmy was there too but she was so miserable that she hid with Cory).

On the way home we stopped at the Colorado Cherry Company. This is such a cute little road side restaurant with amazing baked goods.

We picked up this beautiful cherry pie. Happily we had enough to share with my parents as well, it’s so nice having them so close.

Then it was a Costco trip to pick up the essentials.

And some new non-essential toys.

We played outside in the snow until we were too cold.

Then came in for dinner and pie!

After a quick shower Emmy tried to convince us that our bed was hers.

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Do you have adventures that fail?

Do you love Costco? We are big fans and end up going every week.

Quick check in to say happy weekend! I was pretty tired this week so I am very happy that the weekend is here.

This is what happens when you forget to set out your clothes the night before. I had to grab my things in a dark room at 4 AM so honestly it could have been worse. Three easy miles on the treadmill while starting Bridgerton.

Cannon was happy to get to go back to school after being home for a snow day. He was also happy to be off for a snow day with us. He is just so sweet and happy most of the time. I often wonder how I got so dang lucky with this awesome kid.

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He also had a great day at school, he has never once complained about having to wear a mask or any of the other changes.

While Cannon was at school Emmy and I hit up Target to get some creamer (they were out and so was the grocery store) but ended up buying a bunch of Easter candy and things for their Easter baskets. We will be out of town for most of the end of March so I need to get a jump on this stuff. The store was full of spring decor and swimsuits, and I am ready for it!

I changed my Garmin watch face to a spring theme, it’s a bit wishful thinking since it’s still February.

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Our walk to get Cannon on Tuesday vs. our walk to get Cannon on Friday.

While I am pining for spring I will gladly take the snow so we are less likely to have a draught over the summer.

After we picked up Cannon we enjoyed lunch together (I am going to miss that the most when Cory goes back to the office and Cannon goes to Kindergarten). I tried to get Emmy to take a nap but she refused so we played games instead.

We had salmon, broccoli and rice for dinner. I am always happily surprised that the kids do really well eating this dinner and enjoy eating the veggies. After dinner we had a dance party before bed time, they are cute but they always have so much energy right before bed.

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Are you looking forward to spring?

One more 4 AM checked off, 3 progression miles to start off the day.

It was a snow day for us, meaning Cannon didn’t have school and we got about 8 inches of snow overnight.

I love having more time with Cannon home and Emmy does too.

The kids helped us shovel the driveway and sidewalk.

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We spent most of the day indoors playing, doing crafts and cuddling.

I know it won’t be long before she won’t fall asleep in my lap anymore. Trying to soak it all in while I can.

It was a teaching night for me so Cory took over kid duties while I took over the office. When Cory goes back to the office in person I think I will clean out and redecorate our home office to be mine again.

Given that it’s been awhile I thought I would share some things I am currently loving.

Currently Loving –Theses Birkenstocks, even if the make me an aging hippie. I prefer them to any slippers. So good after a workout or cold mornings.

Currently Going –  To playgrounds and Hiking whenever possible!

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Currently Eating –  Homemade coffee creamer. It’s good and it’s fairly often that I can’t find my favorite creamer in stores.

Currently Researching – Our trip to Utah! We were hoping to go to all 5 National Parks but Zion is starting their shuttle service back up and we aren’t loving that idea. We might decide to go somewhere else in South-west Utah.

We will be using the GyPSy Guide App to inform our visit. The narration is grate, we loved using it in The Grand Tetons and Yellowstone

Currently Shopping For – Easter Baskets! We will be gone most of the end of March so I wanted to get most of our shopping done before our trip. Our stores seem to run out of seasonal items a few weeks before the holiday so now is probably the time to start anyway.

Currently Reading –  I just started Bravey by Alexi Pappas so I can’t give a full report but I have heard great things!

Currently Dreaming About- Summer camping!

Currently Watching – Lots of travel vloggers on YouTube and dreaming of going overseas. I have been gathering ideas for our trip to France (hopeful that we will actually go in 2022).

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The real test starts now for the 4AM wakeup, the weekend is definitely going to be the hardest. starting to really question myself taking on this challenge.

What’s current with you?

Woke up early again for a progression run on the treadmill. The early mornings are starting to catch up with me, I need to get to bed earlier!

We were pretty excited that to wake up to a wonderful Wednesday! Cannon doesn’t have school and I don’t have to work so we try to have some kind of adventure.

I went to the website Slides and Sunshine if you live or visit the Denver metro area this is an awesome website. They have reviews and pictures of tons of playgrounds. I was looking for somewhere new for us to visit when Cannon came to join me. He noticed a picture of Paco Sanches Playground in Denver.

He got so excited and asked to visit and I was happy to oblige. I am willing to drive further for a Wednesday adventure.

It was definitely worth the 25 minute drive.

Inside the “microphone” is the best climbing structure I have ever seen.

Cannon was having the BEST time.

Emmy was a little scared of the height.

So while Cannon climbed Emmy and I played closer to the ground.

There is so much to do at this playground!

Cannon’s pants didn’t have holes in them when we arrived.

A sign of a good day.

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What’s the best playground you have ever visited?

2 hours outside.

Another 4 A.M. wake up call to get on the treadmill.

I am enjoying my morning routine of stretching, rolling and drinking coffee before running. So far so good with the 4 AM challenge but I think the weekend will be the real test. Also those Birks are my all time favorite!

The morning remained ideal when both kids wanted to walk to school with me!

It was a beautiful morning!

Emmy really thinks she is ready to go to school!

But I am NOT ready for her to go so we walked down and met some friends at a playground insted.

I have been talking a lot about our goal to spend more time outside and the idea of 1000 hours outside.

I love to track everything for running and many other things so it just made sense to me that we would start tracking our time outside. I made a quick spreadsheet so now we have a quantitative measure of how we are doing on our goal. I am not obsessively tracking every minute just rounding time spent outside.

In general we want to hit about 84 hours outside each month to meet our goal. In January we only got to 42 hours (I probably missed some time because I was just estimating by memory, and this blog). We are behind on our goal so far but I am hopeful that we will make up for that in the spring, summer and fall when it’s much easier to be outside. There will be long hours outside when we are camping.

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Do you like to track things?

What is your ideal morning? It’s supposed to snow this week and I am hopeful that I can get out and run in it in the dark.