Chasing My Joy

My journey to becoming an Ultra Runner and Ironman

Disneyland at Christmas

A couple years ago we got to take the kids to Disneyland on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It was a surprise for them, we were already on a road trip and a dream come true for me.

Walking from our hotel to the entrance Emmy somewhere guessed but we had the cover of the stroller down because it was raining. It was so so fun to see how excited they were when they realized what we were doing.

It was a little rainy in the morning but it didn’t dampen the fun at all.

The decorations are just magical at Christmas time!

It was 2021 so masks were required any time we were indoors or on a ride, but we didn’t mind!

Because this was our first time visiting Disneyland at Christmas and we only had one day we prioritized holiday events rather than riding every single ride. We loved the Christmas parade and Small World Holiday, each room had a different smell!

We enjoyed the fireworks, while Emmy fell asleep in the stroller. It was so loud but we put the cover down and she slept through all of it.

We had so much fun being together and just taking in the beauty of the park at Christmas time.

It was raining on Christmas day but as the video shows the kids just danced through it, they were having so much fun.

We had considered just spending both days in Disneyland and that would have been amazing but we decided we wanted to see California Adventure decorated for the holidays as well. Both Parks were not very busy which was very nice.

Cars Land was so cute!

While we definitely prefer Disneyland, DCA is fun too. There wasn’t any parades, or fireworks, snow or light shows so it felt less magical. So if you only have one day I would absolutely say just visit Disneyland, you won’t regret it!

We were able to get many of the rides in, mostly because we did buy the Genie+ pass for the day.

The park at night was all lit up and so beautiful.

We left for the nigh worn out and much past our bed times!

It was a very merry Christmas!

Have you ever visited the parks during the holidays? A friend told me that Disney World is even more magical so we will have to get down to Florida soon to see for ourselves!

Favorite Winter Gear for Kids + A Winter Hike

Winter is here! At least in the high country it is. We are having a 70 degree here on the front range!

We love visiting Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park any time of year. I often come here when I am not sure what the conditions might be because it is a flat easy hike if you want it to be or you can add on as much as you like.

It was very cold and windy so I am glad I brought all of the kids snow gear, I just wish I had heavier gloves for all of us. We LOVE these winter gloves for skiing and playing in the snow.

We also use THESE micro spikes when it’s icy or we need more traction.

We have had these Target snow boots for years and love them, they work really well and hold up. Cannon is using this pair this year. You don’t always need really expensive gear to get out and adventure. Paired with THESE wool socks their feet stay nice and warm, they are starting to get a bit small, especially for Cannon (7 years) so we are going to grab THIS set.

I have THESE snow boots from Keen that I got the first year we moved to Colorado for winter hiking and snow shoeing. I LOVE these boots after 14 years they are still like new, waterproof, great traction, comfortable and warm. They were such a good buy!

We also bought these balaclavas for the kids for skiing and winter hikes. They wear them under their ski helmets and under knit hats on really cold days.

We have had many different sizes in THESE snow bibs, they have held up well and we have been able to hand them down to Emerald. When the kids where little we liked to get them THESE down bunting.

Under their snow gear the kids both wear THIS base layer from 32 degrees. Then depending on how cold/windy/snowy it is they will wear a sweat suit, jogger set or fleece as a mid layer.

We LOVE these packable, down jackets! They are warm, durable, pack down and are comfortable to wear.

Do you like to hike in the winter?

Do you have a piece of gear that you have loved for over 10 years?

Fall Bucket List – 2023

We are pretty far into the season already but we always have a fall bucket list to work through so here is this years:

  • Run a family 5k hopefully a real turkey trot
  • Go to a pumpkin Patch
  • Drink Fall themed beverages from Starbucks
  • Share hot chocolate with the kids
  • Spend Saturday playing soccer games
  • Get lost in a corn maze
  • Attend a fall festival
  • Carve Jack-o-lanterns
  • Get dressed up and go trick or treating
  • Bake pies
  • Make Boo Baskets for the kids
  • Make fun halloween themed snacks
  • Go for a hike in the mountains
  • Play in a pile of leaves
  • Go camping
  • Make fall crafts with the kids
  • Put up Fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving Book Nooks

Previous Falls:

We have had bucket lists for Fall 2022 Fall 2021  summer 2021 summer 2019  fall  winter and spring.

Gift Guide – Adventure Kids

Today kicks off Cannon’s birthday week! Yes, week…..we like to celebrate big because it’s fun. Totally unnecessary, but fun.

This year we are scaling back a lot because instead of a big party and lots of gifts we are doing a big trip instead. Cannon is really into Super Mario and Universal Studios just opened a Mario themed land so we are gifting him an experience instead. He is even asking his grandparents for interactive souvenirs for the trip. We are a big fan of experiences over things but also know that sometimes you need (or want) things to enjoy said experiences.

Here is a list of things Cannon either wants or would want if he didn’t already have them:

  1. Hiking Shoes – We have had many sizes of Merrell hiking shoes and we love them, they are great for around town and technical hikes. They have lasted being handed down multiple times.
  2. Storage Clipboard – My kids love to draw so these are great for keeping paper and pens handy on trips and on the go.
  3. Packable Rain Jacket – These rain jackets have come in handy on all of our trips lately as well as hikes when a rain storm can come out of nowhere. These pack down very small into their own stuff bags and come in lots of colors.
  4. Down Jacket – Even on our trip to Switzerland in August it was cold enough to need a jacket. We love these down jackets because they are light, pack down small and have a hood for when you don’t have a hat.
  5. Kid Safe Headphones – We have had these for years, I like that they have a cord or they can use bluetooth.
  6. Kids Backpack – We love to use these on hikes and on airplanes. THIS ONE is great for toddlers too.
  7. Digital Camera – So fun to take photos while traveling, still works after being dropped many times.
  8. Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet – Key for travel also these things are tough, they have been dropped so many times.
  9. Head Lamp – This is so fun for camping!

Some specific things we are getting Cannon for our trip:

Cannon really wants a Power Up band for Super Mario Land and an interactive wand for Harry Potter World so his grandparents gifted him money to buy those in the parks. We are also going to upgrade his Fire Tablet that is five years old now.

Do you gift experiences over things? Cory and I love to do this and now our kids are into it too!

Family Friendly Hike – Lily Lake

One of our favorite hikes is up in Rocky Mountain National Park called Lily Lake. It’s a very easy to navigate hike with great accessibility. It’s one of my go-to trails when it’s just me and the kids because I know it’s safe.

The main loop is just shy of a mile and can be navigated with a stroller.

Back in 2018 Cory made it around with our double stroller and a busted Achilles in a boot.

Now the kids hike on their own!

We brought lunch to enjoy while watching all the wildlife. I LOVE summer in the mountains so much.

We choose to add some elevation and distance by going up over the ridge. There are many other trails that connect to the main Lily lake trail so you can add distance if you like. You can also paddle on the lake and the kids want to bring our boards next time.

If you are in the Estes Park area we can’t recommend this trail enough! We have also visited in the fall and winter….all beautiful!

Previous years:

6 Days in Tulum: The Perfect Family Friendly Itinerary

Last year we had travel credits to burn with Southwest that were about to expire. We spent time looking at all the places Southwest flies and when I saw that Cancun was an option I knew immediately that I wanted to take the kids there. I love the mix of tropical ecosystem, beautiful beaches, vibrant culture and rich history. We think we came up with the perfect way to spend six days in the Tulum area as a family!

DAY #1: FLY TO CANCUN + DRIVE TO AIRBNB

The flight from Denver to Cancun is short and easy, it’s also very nice that a checked bag comes free with every Southwest ticket!

It was nice to fly directly into Mexico, customs was a breeze then we were out into the muggy heat to pick up our rental car.

Public transportation is very affordable and easy in the Cancun area but we decided to rent a car this time so we could move around more easily with little kids. Renting a car was also very affordable. We drove from Cancun down to Tulum which is just about an hour and a half. We stopped at a grocery store along the way to pick up some breakfast essentials. I always love going to grocery stores in foreign contries.

We choose to rent an Airbnb instead of going with an all inclusive resort and loved having our own kitchen and private roof top pool.

We loved our rental and highly recommend it if you are in the area. The complex was quiet and felt like a tropical retreat.

We got to our rental pretty late so we settled in and enjoyed the pool before heading to bed. We really enjoyed the air conditioners that each room had!

Day #2: TULUM RUINS + GRAND CENOTE

We stated our second day out nice and early so we could get to the Tulum Ruins before the crowds and heat.

The ruins are very close to where we are staying so we felt like we had the place to ourselves.

The littles markets at the entrance are bustling with lots of things to purchase.

We did decide to hire a tour guide for our visit because we wanted to learn more about what we were seeing.

The ruins are stunning set right on the edge of the Caribbean Sea.

It’s a bit of a walk from the parking lot but the tropical atmosphere makes it nice. The tunnel entrance was a highlight.

The kids did a pretty good job listening to our guide.

But when they got bored they just ran around in the fields.

This place is just gorgeous!

When we were done at the ruins we shared some Coco Frio, the kids were so excited to try drinking from a coconut, but they didn’t like it LOL.

We drove into town and found a little taco shop, the one Cory wanted to try was closed and the one we found was okay.

After lunch we decided to visit Grand Cenote that is really close to Tulum. This place was amazing, the Cenote was partially open to the sunshine and partially a cave. There were bats flying in and out, turtles and fishing swimming with us and stalagmites reaching down from above.

I was worried that it would be too cold or maybe scary in the caves with bats flying around, but she was in awe. Her face was lit up and she loved it all so much. Cannon loved it too, swimming around exploring everything, I was never worried about him not loving it.

We brought the kids’ life jackets from home so we always knew they would be safe have a jacket that fit well. This cenote did have jackets for adults and kids available. .

[Source]

After swimming there were showers and places to change before going back to our rental.

When we got back Emmy and Cory were very worn out so they took a nap. Cannon and I decided to test out the roof top pool and hang out in the loft together.

For dinner we drove down to the beach and found the cutest little pizza place.

This had to be some of the best pizza I have ever had.

We all loved it!

We walked around a bit after dinner, said hello to the ocean, then went to bed way too late.

It was a very full, magical start to our trip!

Day #3: XEL HA

For our third day in Mexico we visited Xel Ha.

Xel Ha is a eco water park in a beautiful inlet from the Sea. We swam with sting rays, jumped off cliffs and floated on lazy rivers through a Mangrove Forest. There were sea caves and Cenotes to explore. We had the best time.

Meals were provided with entrance at the park and we ate breakfast, lunch and dinner there. We stayed way longer than I thought we would there was so much to do!

We left after dinner and the kiddos ended the day with a swim in the roof top pool.

Day #4 – CHICHÉN ITZÁ, VALLADOLID + CHOO HA CENOTE

Our fourth day in Mexico we visited Chichén Itzá. It’s about a two hour drive to the Mayan ruins from Tulum. It was really interesting to drive through the Yucatan peninsula and see all the little towns. Seeing the ruins was amazing, and very interesting to imagine how life must have been in the past. We opted for an audio tour this day so we could move more at the kids’ pace.

It was very hot so far off the coast but we loved learning about the history of the area.

It’s always a good idea to arrive as early as possible to beat the giant tour busses. We had lunch in the little Colonial town of Valladolid on the way home.

The tacos were good!

Then stopped at Cenote Choo Ha to cool off. The water was cool and clear with lots of fish. We really have loved having a rental car on this trip so we can move at our own pace!

It was very cool climbing down into the cave!

By the time we got back to our rental we were ready to take one last dip in the pool then go to bed!

Day #5: AKUMAL BAY, SWIMMING WITH SEA TURTLES

For our fifth day in Mexico we visited Akumal Bay.

Famous for their abundance of sea turtles and magical little reef. We hired a guide to take us out to swim with sea turtles, rays and lots of amazing fish. We saw baby turtles and swam about a mile and a half in the bay, it was amazing! Our guide even towed Emmy and Cannon along in a buoy when they got tired.

I highly recommend hiring a guide from Akumal Dive Shop, we got to see lots of wildlife and it was done in a way that protects the reef and turtles.

After out guided tour we walked down to a little beach club for some amazing sea food for lunch. The kids enjoyed the pool at the club and got to explore some tide pools.

We really wanted to hit one more cenote but had to hurry back to our rental for the Covid tests needed for our travel home. We had one more swim in our rooftop pool, then had to pack our bags. Sad to leave out sweet little jungle house as the kids called it.

Day #6: TRAVEL HOME

Our travel day home turned out to be around 14 hours when all was said and done, it all adds up given that the flight is only about four hours! We had to get up around 5 am to get packed out of our rental and return the rental car.

Driving north to Cancun to the airport was a little sad we wished for a couple more days, but life and responsibilities call!

The Cancun airport is small and easy to navigate, we were all sleepy from our very early wake time and late nights.

These two kids have become such good little travelers, we really are lucky!

Favorites – Summer 2023

Summer is fast approaching and I thought it would be a good time to share some of my favorites for the season. I love summer and getting out with my kids is my very favorite. Here is some gear that makes summer even more enjoyable. 

1. Arizona Birkenstocks

I am in love with Birkenstocks and wear them year round. These Arizona soft foot bed keep my feet happy all summer. I also love the rubber version for beach/pool days.

2. North Face Back Pack

I love this pack for both a day hike and for travel. There are great pockets for your laptop and all your tech gear that can be replaced with a water bladder for summer hikes.

3. Hydro flask Mug

Everything is better outside in the summer, even coffee. I love my Hydro flask mug for camping, early mornings at the trail head and simple back yard hangs.

4. Peepers Sunglasses

These glasses are so lightweight and comfortable. They can be ordered with a prescription if that is something you would like.

5. Stanley Adventure Quencher

I know this water bottle seems over hyped but I think it lives up to it. I have both the 30 oz and 40 oz and love them both. I use the 40 oz in summer more because it really does stay cold even in a hot car. My kids are always “sharing” my water with me so it’s nice to have a sharing size. I also find I drink more water than I normally would when I have my Stanley.

6. Sweet Pack

I love this bag for summer, it’s so light and I don’t worry about staining the Vegan Leather. It’s also great for travel, I am excited to take it to Italy with my.

7. Bogg Bag

I love this giant bag, I use it all year but in the summer I use it almost daily to go to the pool. It fits everything (and more) that we need. It’s also great for soccer games and trips to the beach.

Please share some of your summer favorites so we can add them to our wishlists!

Soccer + Spring Break Prep + Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to everyone! I hope you are having a wonderful day regardless if you celebrate or not.

We gave the kiddos their Easter Baskets this morning because we wanted them to have some time to enjoy them before we left for our trip. We will still do an Easter Egg hunt in the morning.

I tried to do mainly useful items in their baskets with a couple treats and little toys.

They loved their baskets and can’t wait for the Easter Bunny to come tonight.

Normally we have soccer all morning on Saturdays.

This week Cannon’s team had a bye week so it was just Emmy who had a game. It was fun seeing her play but also nice because we had a lot to get done.

We spent the rest of the day racing around getting ready for our spring break trip. We were too sick and it was too snowy to go during our spring break in March so we moved it back three weeks and now we get to go! Cannon won’t miss any school because it’s testing week, his grade doesn’t test yet. Emmy will miss school but we think it’s worth it for the adventure.

We took some breaks to dye eggs and have fun but mostly it was trip prep today.

What are your plans for the weekend? Ever had to reschedule a trip?

It Was a Good Friday

My very favorite mornings are slow mornings where everyone is home and no one is rushing off somewhere. Cory worked from home and we did homeschool until it was time to go to gymnastics. We had some errands to run to get things ready for our trip that we are leaving for on Sunday.

Then more school and outside time because it was so nice out.

I walked while the kids road their bikes.

I am trying to get at least 7000 steps a day for my health outside of any exercise I do. It is going to be a lot easier to hit that goal now that the days are getting longer and nicer.

I am super jealous of Cannon’s fat bike, but I am excited to start riding on trails this summer. Cory bought me a sweet new mountain bike, I love it!

In the evening we had a glow egg hunt for the kids, it was too bright to really be a glow hunt but they had fun and were up way past their bedtimes anyway.

Everything is better with friends!

What are your plans for the weekend?

Past Our Limit

We were supposed to get 4-5 inches but woke up to less than an inch, it’s always hard to predict the weather here.

regardless it was VERY COLD so we stayed inside all day.

I do believe in no bad weather, just bad gear…..we just don’t have gear for 25 below zero wind chill. I think anything below zero is past our limit and I am okay with that.

We did our normal school things, we started reading the classic Winnie-The-Pooh and I have never read it so it’s fun to do so with the kids. This book was given to my brother when he was just four years old so that is pretty special too.

In the afternoon the kids played in the basement while I did some PT and ran a few miles on the treadmill. I watched a couple Billy Yang videos while running. I loved his A {Trail} Love Story.

I do my strength training without shoes to strengthen my feet, but always run on the treadmill in shoes. I once ran in socks on a treadmill for a running gate analysis and got a terrible heat blister.

After dinner Cannon had his first night of basketball, he LOVED it. Emmy loved that her friends showed up too so she had some girl time.

What is your limit for enjoying time outside?

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