This weekend we went to Iowa (and South Dakota) to see our niece Alicia's graduation. Alicia is talented in music (instrumental and voice) and is off to USD in the fall to study Music Education.
On the way down Holly, Lilly and I picked up our niece Kalie from the airport for a surprise visit to Alicia's graduation. She found a last-minute sale and was able to fly in for the weekend as a surprise to Alicia. Fun.
Holly and I were able to bike both Saturday and Sunday. Jeez it was windy. Both days. I'm guessing a constant 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Medtronic and Biking
Last night I rode with 4 other guys out of our Mounds View campus. It was a nice ride around Bald Eagle Lake. Steve, Scott, Pete and Bruce. With the ride to/from work it was probably around 60 or so miles for the day. The wind finally broke and the evening was very nice.
Today is "Bike to Work Day" for Medtronic. I got a granola bar and free coffee at Caribou for biking in. Funny/scary story too. I was riding the last stretch with Mike, a guy I've mountain biked with before. We were riding side by side through the roundabout and each were planning to take our normal route into the parking garage. Unfortunately, that meant I was taking a right turn and he was going straight - not the best scenario when I was riding on his left. We bumped into each other and luckily our bikes locked together so we just skidded and flailed until we came to a stop at the side of the road. Whew, I'm awake now!
Today is "Bike to Work Day" for Medtronic. I got a granola bar and free coffee at Caribou for biking in. Funny/scary story too. I was riding the last stretch with Mike, a guy I've mountain biked with before. We were riding side by side through the roundabout and each were planning to take our normal route into the parking garage. Unfortunately, that meant I was taking a right turn and he was going straight - not the best scenario when I was riding on his left. We bumped into each other and luckily our bikes locked together so we just skidded and flailed until we came to a stop at the side of the road. Whew, I'm awake now!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Lilly Can Crawl
Swimming, that is:
I went for a run for the first time in a week yesterday. My ankle felt pretty good. It didn't hurt but I could feel something wasn't quite right. I ran again today and was able to do the 7 mile loop at work. Same feeling. The big positive is no pain. I'll take a few more days off and see how it feels next week.
I went for a run for the first time in a week yesterday. My ankle felt pretty good. It didn't hurt but I could feel something wasn't quite right. I ran again today and was able to do the 7 mile loop at work. Same feeling. The big positive is no pain. I'll take a few more days off and see how it feels next week.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Gardening
Tonight was gardening night. First, Lilly "mowed" the little pot of grass she planted at daycare:
Next, Lilly and Holly (mostly Holly) planted the beans, cucumbers, pumpkins and sunflowers. The pumpkins have been hand selected to reach up to 500 lbs!
I watched an impressive gymnastics show tonight. In the outfield at T-Ball. Actually, Lilly also did a great job tonight aside from the few handstands. She was very good at being patient when it was her turn in the field.
Next, Lilly and Holly (mostly Holly) planted the beans, cucumbers, pumpkins and sunflowers. The pumpkins have been hand selected to reach up to 500 lbs!
I watched an impressive gymnastics show tonight. In the outfield at T-Ball. Actually, Lilly also did a great job tonight aside from the few handstands. She was very good at being patient when it was her turn in the field.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Happy Mother's Day!
Holly's mother's day present:
At first it was going to be a cruiser to ride around town and to work. Then I thought it should have some gears and decent brakes so she could take Lilly in/on the trailer/tag-a-long for longer rides in the park. Then I thought what sense does a flat-bar road bike or hybrid make when she could get a mountain bike and put slicks on it? Then she could have a town/trail bike and a bike to do off-road stuff when she wanted just by (me) switching out the tires.
At first it was going to be a cruiser to ride around town and to work. Then I thought it should have some gears and decent brakes so she could take Lilly in/on the trailer/tag-a-long for longer rides in the park. Then I thought what sense does a flat-bar road bike or hybrid make when she could get a mountain bike and put slicks on it? Then she could have a town/trail bike and a bike to do off-road stuff when she wanted just by (me) switching out the tires.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Spring Pics
A few tulips and one Lilly
The sunset off the bridge and
calm water can be so peaceful
These are the pictures I'll look back on in February to convince myself that spring will come.
New Daycare / Riding to Work
Lilly started her new daycare this week. It is preschool and summer daycare provided by her new school. Holly has been dropping her off and picking her up so I'm free to bike into work again. It has been nice - I really missed it.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
200,000
The 4Runner hit 200,000 miles today. Holy cow. I'd have gotten out of the car and done one of those, "I love what you do for me...Toyota" type heel clicks if I wasn't late for Lilly's swim class.
T-Ball on a Great Night
Outdoor baseball, whoops, T-Ball in summer. Doesn't get any better. Lilly did well tonight with a minimum of kicking dust and picking dandelions.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Biking, Yard Work, Sitting in the Sun
Thursday I biked with the Trailhead group. Good ride. I picked up my new Loon kit from the shop afterwards. Upon leaving the shop I noticed I had 7 missed calls. Crap. Holly and Lilly were stranded at gymnastics with a dead battery. I rode home, to get the 4Runner and came back for the jump start.
Holly went for a ride on Friday evening while I took the kids to the park.
Saturday morning I did some singletrack for a couple hours and then rode a lap on the bike trail. Great morning to be in the woods. I found a little loop with a nice climb and just turned it over for an hour. I returned home around 10 to a load of 4 cubic yards of mulch to be put down. I'm guessing we laid down around 100 wheelbarrow loads. Sheesh. Part of it was expected as mulch decomposes every year. The other part was unexpected as the river took a bunch on the way out of our yard.
Holly did the "Chili Dog" ride Sunday AM. She cut a little off and came home early because she wasn't riding the best. That and Berger ran her off the road. Actually, she said it was most likely her fault. Lilly and I were excited to see her in time for lunch at Jimmy John's.
Lilly colored a picture of Jesus in church today. He was wearing a pink robe. "Boys can wear pink too dad." I'm not sure about me, but I'm cool with Jesus wearing whatever he wants.
Pastor Bill shook my hand in church today and told me he ran across this blog while looking up our mailing address. Immediately my mind is racing to remember if I said anything objectionable. He said it sounds like we lead an interesting, active life. That sounds about right. It was really cool to hear he read something about us.
I did some more yard work today while the kids played in the yard. One of my tasks was to put together the dock and pull some more wood off the dock. Sure enough my luck caught up to me and I ended up in waist deep, 50 degree water. I'd be lying if I said it was pleasant. But it also wasn't terrible. I was able to stay in the water long enough to clear all the wood off the lift. All the kids were in stitches. Yeah, that's right. Keep laughing.
Right now I'm out in the driveway, having a beer, watching the river flow by. The kids are playing behind me and it's 70 degrees and sunny. Relaxing. I hope you all are doing the same.
Holly went for a ride on Friday evening while I took the kids to the park.
Saturday morning I did some singletrack for a couple hours and then rode a lap on the bike trail. Great morning to be in the woods. I found a little loop with a nice climb and just turned it over for an hour. I returned home around 10 to a load of 4 cubic yards of mulch to be put down. I'm guessing we laid down around 100 wheelbarrow loads. Sheesh. Part of it was expected as mulch decomposes every year. The other part was unexpected as the river took a bunch on the way out of our yard.
Holly did the "Chili Dog" ride Sunday AM. She cut a little off and came home early because she wasn't riding the best. That and Berger ran her off the road. Actually, she said it was most likely her fault. Lilly and I were excited to see her in time for lunch at Jimmy John's.
Lilly colored a picture of Jesus in church today. He was wearing a pink robe. "Boys can wear pink too dad." I'm not sure about me, but I'm cool with Jesus wearing whatever he wants.
Pastor Bill shook my hand in church today and told me he ran across this blog while looking up our mailing address. Immediately my mind is racing to remember if I said anything objectionable. He said it sounds like we lead an interesting, active life. That sounds about right. It was really cool to hear he read something about us.
I did some more yard work today while the kids played in the yard. One of my tasks was to put together the dock and pull some more wood off the dock. Sure enough my luck caught up to me and I ended up in waist deep, 50 degree water. I'd be lying if I said it was pleasant. But it also wasn't terrible. I was able to stay in the water long enough to clear all the wood off the lift. All the kids were in stitches. Yeah, that's right. Keep laughing.
Right now I'm out in the driveway, having a beer, watching the river flow by. The kids are playing behind me and it's 70 degrees and sunny. Relaxing. I hope you all are doing the same.
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