Grimes Glen again- this time with the Morphy's

Any time I would mention a hike, Megan would ask if we could go back to the waterfall hike. Then, while talking with Veronica Morphy, we set up a hike for her day off where we would take our kids to Naples and hike Grimes Glen again.

We had, of course, and awesome time! They also brought their three dogs, which was fun for my girls to see them hike, too. We all made it to the second falls, but when Veronica M. saw the steep path, she decided to stay behind with the dogs; those little babies were already shivering and she didn't think they'd make it down the trail again.

Miranda was up the trail before I could say "Let's go"! Nica took a little more persuading, but she also made it up with no problem. So awesome!!!

We hiked to the third waterfall, where, of course Miranda swam and swam. She also climbed up the side of this waterfall, but she sat at the top and cried because she was too scared to come down. Garrett climbed up and helped her come down. He was awesome! Of course, the second time she climbed up (she wanted to walk over and touch the waterfall), I was not pleased that she had to be rescued again.

We had an awesome hike, but my thighs were jelly by the time I hiked down the steep part twice. On the way down at the steep part, Miranda was sitting at the top of the falls crying. I told her I would help her get down and then come back for Nica. She continued to cry, and I asked her what was wrong. "I'm afraid I'm going to die!" she wailed. We said a prayer: that she would trust God and her mom and to know that she would get down safely. She was still scared, but calm and made it down NO PROBLEM! Veronica M. was a sweetheart and helped Miranda down the last (sippery!) rope climb to the bottom. Nica also needed help, and Veronica was again there to help her those last few sliding steps.

Baileys to the left, Morphys to the right. At the trail head of Grimes Glen.

First waterfall. Nica wanted to climb up it partway.

Zoë waiting for the other kids to come back. They had taken off (too far!) ahead of us. Zoë had hiked to the top of the fall while waiting for Veronica M, Nica and me to catch up.

Morphy's: Veronica, Mya, & Garrett with their dogs: Doddy, Cleo, Pepper.

Nica walked away from me and back towards Veronica just so she could hold her hand.

Swimming hole at the second waterfall.

The girls walked over to get a "shower" in the waterfall.

Did it!

Ice bucket challenge? Who needs that when you have a natural one here!?

Doddy was NOT happy with being tied up. She howled to be let loose so she could play in the water, too.

Splashing

And of course, Miranda was swimming.

Megan was more interested in comforting the shivering dogs (this is Cleo?)

They found a log at the base of the waterfall and were bringing it over.

Can you see them? Miranda followed her older sisters and Garrett up this super steep trail and walked along the thin ledge even before I could say "Let's go!"

Miranda (pink) and Mya (blue with red backpack) on the thin ledge.

Nica getting ready to climb up the steep hill.

Garret, Miranda, Mya, Megan, and Zoë at the top of the second waterfall.

Closeup of Garret, Miranda, Mya, Megan, and Zoë at the top of the second waterfall.

 The hike to the third waterfall was easy and fun. But more fun was the water (cold!) at the third waterfall!

Nica wanted to get in, but was hesitant at first. She loved getting into the water!

Megan touching the third waterfall. Mya almost there, and Garrett climbing the ropes to get there.

Miranda headed to touch the waterfall (even though she couldn't climb down the first time, she went up again and then cried because she couldn't get down the second time either! Grrr. We'll have to work on that- either understanding limits, or understanding if you get up, you have to get yourself down!)

While helping Miranda, Zoë found another trail on the left side of the third waterfall and hiked up that one, too!

I did it!!!

Garrett hiked up after Zoë. Mya followed them, too.

Nica taking a selfie.

Megan found her "shoe" rock again!

Climbing down from the third waterfall.

Miranda's walking stick (that I made her drop because she whacked Megan with it- accidentally).

Remember the frog and the face from the first time we made this hike?
Nica found this elephant face in the same spot!

This leaf was suspended, just hanging in the air. Spiderweb strands held it between the two trees.

This one I could frame. *sigh*

Megan found the perfect scooped-out sitting rock.

She also found a weird frog.

Why weird? Because it was missing its front limb!

Veronica helping Nica down the last steep slippery part of the hike (back to the second waterfall swimming hole).

Who knew my girls would be such awesome (short distance?) hikers?! We will definitely be doing more of this!!!

Sunburst 2012

I still don't like to run.

But it was AMAZING to run a race with my daughter. And, yes, I'd do it again! In fact, next year I think Megan wants to join in.

Before the race- we had our running shirts sporting our Sunburst 2012 decals (can't see 'em).

Zoë was awesome and "trained" with me. It was like dragging a donkey some mornings, and other afternoons it was like chasing a gazelle. But, she trained and was prepared.

We were about 1/2-mile into the 5K (3.1 miles) race and she said to me, "Mom? I want to run the whole time. That's my goal, to run the entire race."

After the race.
I was SO PROUD of her!
And, you can almost see the decal on the side of her sleeve.

 

And SHE DID! I was ready to walk a few times (I was definitely not as in shape for this race as I was last year.) We finished in 35:03. Less than 12 minute miles made both of us really happy (and it was less time than Zoë's first 5K race.). We had other friends race "with" us, and it was great fun cheering on other friends running the 10K, Half-Marathon, and Marathon.

Travis rode bikes with Miranda and 'Nica to meet us at the end. It was a crazy and frantic day for him. He is such an awesome guy to do this for us!

'Nica loved the popsicle I brought her, and loved riding in the trailer. Zoë hopped in the back and I biked them both home. Miranda rode her own bike (no training wheels!).

CTR: Choose to Run

South Bend Stake Field Day, 2011

They had a 5K race for people to run. Despite the hard work, meticulous planning, maps and markers, the course was terrible. Why? Because in this quiet tree-lined neighborhood there were THIRTY-PLUS family Garage Sales this morning! UGH!!!


We SB Runners had donned our Running shirts with the old Sunburst decal and our new CTR decals. Tara and I were also running with our daughters,


and our girls even had CTR decals on their new running shirts:


I hadn't trained with Zoë at all. The week prior to the race I was "shadowing" a physician for CME (Continuing Medical Education), and I was basically working 6-hour days. This left barely enough time for dinner and I didn't make enough time to run with my daughter to help her "train". She didn't know how to breathe, how to pace, and she really struggled with a stitch in her side and sore legs.

But she finished! 44 minutes and 50 seconds for a 5K Not too shabby for a little girl who has never run 3 miles before in her life! Oh, and she wasn't the last person across the finish line. That made her feel better, too.



She wants to train, and she's excited for the next race.

Oh, what have I done???

Morning Thoughts...

I still hate running. Uhhh, maybe hate is too strong a word.

I lay in bed this morning as my husband, who is helping me with my exercise program, tried to kindly and gently wake me up this morning to go running with him. Yup, he's running with me to help encourage me to keep up my running (well, I still can't claim I'm running- more like a trot).

I didn't want to open my eyes, move my body, and the thought of going out the door to run 2 miles made me want to burrow under the covers and ignore that I was alive.

I stumbled to get changed and shove my feet into my sneakers. I then clomped out the back door, my eyes not even really open yet, and walked up the street for a while. I finally convinced myself it was ok for my brain to send a signal to my legs to move faster and start running. They responded a little bit, but I still felt like they were covered in lead instead of sweat pants.

It doesn't help to think that I'm also keeping somebody who is over a foot taller than I am from actually running/jogging (our last run he started walking and I asked if he was ok and he sheepishly responded that he could walk as fast as I was trotting... yeah, uh-huh, I was mortified and embarrassed!).

We made it, tho'. Thirty minutes, 2.5 miles later, still with lead weights but at least my eyes finally opened up. Well, I think they did; all the fog this morning made it difficult to tell.

I get home, wash up, and then Miranda (who woke up and came in to use the single bathroom we have in the house while I was showering) started talking about how cool it was to have a swimming pool with bubbles in it. Huh?

The sink was stopped up. REALLY blocked. I tried a plunger- no luck, just splashing. I tried some drain cleaner (not drain-o, but some stuff that is supposed to keep the drains clear, not clear drains). I then tromped down to the basement, grabbed the "snake" and prayed it would work so I didn't have to spend $150, wait 3 +hours, and use a no-sink-bathroom for a day.

Boy, did I fell like singing "I am WOMAN, hear me ROAR!" when I unclogged the massive black goo that was hair and soap and scum stuck to the end of the snake. One more 12-foot length of snake and splashed with said scum, I was successful in opening the drain. Yahoo!!!

Travis commented to me, "I bet you'd rather be running than doing this" as I was covered in splatters of black sludge, trying to pry hair from the end of the scum-coated snake, and realizing I needed to get back into the shower to get all the yuck off.

I reflected maybe 10 seconds and said, "Um, NO, actually. I would much rather be doing this." I would rather be using my brain to solve a puzzle that would result in the free and good use of something, and save us $150 in a service fee, and have the satisfaction of learning something new. I would FAR rather do that than run.

So, why do I still "run" even though I've finished training and finished the 10K? Well, I like how my jeans fit a little better, that I've lost 3 pounds despite my (sometimes excessive) chocolate consumption, and I like how I actually feel better in some ways.

I still don't like the process, but I do like the results.

I just wish I could be at the point where I really enjoyed the run...

Memorial Day Bike Ride

Sunday evening before Memorial Day, Travis was looking a little green and a little run down. He turned to me and said, "I think I might just take tomorrow off. I haven't had a day off, well, in months." Yeah, he even works Christmas Eve! (Although I don't think he went in on Christmas Day last year....)

I got a HUGE smile on my face, barely containing the urge to bust out into spontaneous dancing, and demurely (Ha!) asked, "So, what would you like to do?"

He said he'd like to go for a family bike ride.

Ahhh, be still my beating heart!

It took a few trips back to the house (diaper change kit, water, sunscreen) before we got underway. We headed along the river trail that runs from our house to downtown area. Sadly, they had it ripped up, so we had to turn around and head back by our house. We then decided to keep going to ride our bikes to St. Mary's Lake at Notre Dame and eat a picnic and feed the remaining (stale) bread to the birds.

Ahhh, heaven! It was sunny, warm, the ducks were sleeping in the shade, we had a great picnic! Miranda chatted the entire trip as she pedaled on the back of Travis' bike. Veronica was happy to be sitting in the bike trailer, just enjoying the breeze and the view. Megan was riding her bike really well, and trying to keep up with Zoë who was waaaay out in the lead.

We then came home and while 'Nica was taking a nap, we played with the water (sorry, no pictures of that). We then ate grilled hotdogs and toasted GIANT marshmallows (made into gooey s'mores) for dinner. A Perfect Day!

Taking a break before feeding the swans.

Ahhh, he looks so much more rested!

See that smile?
I sure do love this man!

Eating Ginger Snaps that Travis made. Yummmm!

Miranda posing with the swan she just fed. She got brave enough to even let the swan take the bread right out of her hand!

Megan ducking out of Zoë's camera shot.

Yeah, I'm on the phone.

'Nica is a little more comfortable with a water bottle in hand.

Tossing rocks, drinking water, and feeding/watching the birds.

Our Beautiful Daughters:

Yeah, I love spending time with my family!