1,000 MILES!

Once again it has been way too long since I’ve blogged.  I wish I would spend more time on here and less time on Facebook.  If only I could blog while riding my bike at the same time…maybe I need a GoPro for the top of my bike helmet?!?  Although I’m only cycling a few miles from our townhome the views are spectacular.  Since my knee is still hurting, technically I’m going at a slow enough pace that I should be able to grab some shots of the vineyards, snow-capped mountaintops, and squawking peacocks that I pass.  I'll work on that!

I’ve decided to use this blog as my cycling journal this summer.  Some people make resolutions in January but I’ve decided to make a “summer cycling” goal.  My goal is to ride 1,000 miles in 3 months (June 21-September 22).  I figure the more official I make the goal the more likely I will be to achieve it. 

So far I’ve cycled 131 miles.  The weather in June wasn’t really cooperating with my cycling schedule.  But July is off to a much better start.  I’ve recently bought a new bike and jersey so I have no excuse to not get out there…and crush those miles! Ha!

Here is my new Jersey from Georgetown Brewery.  Love that Manny's!  JM caught me before my smile.  When I reach my goal I will make sure to celebrate with some cold Mannys.

I guess if I will be riding my bike alone more often now...I better learn how to change a flat tire.  Minor detail ;)  

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Has it really been over a year....

Highlights of the "year."

Cycled to Pacific City and back- August

Hood to Coast- first time!

JM's Cycle Cross- Fall 

Another year of first grade!

Off to Argentina- December 2012

Mendoza, Argentina

Steak in Buenos Aires

Good skiing on Bachelor with the Fullers

Our first duathlon in Bend- June

Liz met me in Palm Desert for Spring Break!

Pub Crawl III

Well we have both turned 30 now with great success. Here is our birthday invitation with memories captured from the evening. Good times!

It is that time of year... dust off your bike, hammer out those dents in your helmet, and bring an appetite for beer & slow-cooked brisket!

Please join us as we turn another year older & celebrate for the third year by biking around some of our favorite spots downtown Portland.

The tour de Portland will begin at New Old Lompoc at 3:00 to catch happy hour drinks. At 4:00, the party will travel 4 miles across the river (hopefully not by boat or car, but by bike) to Apex (1216 SE Division St. Portland, Oregon 97202).

At this local neighborhood bar we will enjoy their house made beers and outside seating. Next we will ride down the path to Hair of the Dog Brewing Company, 61 SE Yamhill Street. Meet us here at 5:30 for some more beer and delicious grub.

When everyone is full, we will move back to the Northwest to hit up Lucky Lab Beer Hall (Quimby and 19th) for some more beer and cupcakes. If you are meeting us here, we will arrive by 7. We will continue the night at a nearby hot spot or wherever our bikes may go. Look forward to seeing you at New Old Lompoc for the whole crawl or join us later at one of the other spots.

The family even came along! So fun to have Lindsay, Ford, Heather and Brian join us. How many bunny hops can Brian do?!?! Next year we will have to get our parents on the bikes. However, they did show up for the tasty beer and good food. Lastly, we hit up the Marathon. Oh boys, you are sooo strong! I hope someday I can see how strong your thighs are too!

Elementary friends..."Lake Grove is moving along, we sing our praises and songs..."

And yes, we are thirty and still having fun! Never thought I could still stay up to 3:30 in the morning. How does that saying go, "time flies when you are having fun."

4th of July

We had a great weekend celebrating our country's independence and Darcy's birthday up at Lost Lake. Of course, Grandma Dolores was missed but it is hard to not feel her presence in every part of the day; sunshine, delicious meals, sharing memories, giving thanks, waterskiing, playing cards, and even Ellie watching fireworks from grandma's bed. What a blessing to have a place that our family can come together to enjoy each other and get away from the day to day distractions. So thankful for a wonderful weekend. It's hard to find anything more exciting to take photos of besides these adorable kids.Uncle John Mark was exhausted after all his hard work in the yard. Papa Jack was still out working but his 'workers' needed a rest.Who wants to risk a burned thumb when you can use the microwave! Ha! Right Linds?!?
This moment only lasted 30 seconds but it was much enjoyed by EVERYONE! Grant is one busy-fast boy. Good thing he is just so dog-gone cute!

First for Everything

We had a great day up at Meadows trying out a new and cheaper sport...cross country skiing. I had to "train" for Pull, Pedal, Paddle. Let's just say, thank goodness I'm doing the cross country leg and not John Mark.

Grandma Dolores 1927-2011

Throughout our Grandma's sickness and exhaustive treatments, never did her memory falter. Even in her last few weeks we were able to reminisce about past memories. Right now, I can imagine us all being down at the lake house, sitting around our triangular table, eating a favorite salmon meal and listening to stories. Grandpa loved to tell stories and grandma of course loved correcting them. Some of my favorite stories involve a common interest my grandparents and I have…ADVENTURE! Grandma was an adventure seeker. I believe she lived by the motto: "there is no time, for down time." Her life was filled with many tennis matches, rounds of golf, skiing circles around the lake, carving turns down the mountain, traveling to numerous places, summitting Mt. Eleanor, and keeping a rapid walking pace that very few could keep up with... but don’t worry, even amongst all that recreation, there was always time for happy hour!

I wanted to share some advice I received that has helped me through my grieving process. A friend told me to reflect on an admired characteristic or trait of my grandma's. And to then incorporate that loved trait into my own life. I know there are so many people here today because my grandma exemplified many wonderful characteristics, so really finding that special trait can be a daunting task. However, after some time of pondering it was evident to me that I want to keep alive my grandparents love for adventure and my grandma's energy that always kept going...Although, I do remember when I tried out my adventurous side and died my hair brown. My grandmother, leaned over, asked me why, and told me that blonde's have more fun!

I'd like to think my husband and I are similar to my grandparents; we love to do the same activities, travel the world, and of course drink cheap wine…but we can only aspire to do those things with as much finesse and vigor as they did. Grandma, I will miss your bright colors, cinnamon rolls, and love for life…and like you said we blonde's do have more fun!

Never Been so Proud!

Who's more proud the wife or the handy man himself?

After John Mark's unfortunate idea of putting vegetable skins down the garbage disposal he was forced to pull out the instruction manual. After a laborious hour of tinkering around under there...the garbage disposal was fixed! I have never in my life seen him so proud of himself. Eureka!

Some Hawaiian Fun

This November, John Mark and I had a great trip to Hawaii with my family. Waikiki has done some great renovations in the past few years. I would recommend it. Wish we had more pictures to show the fun but the highlights include:

Sunshine, the beach, reading at the pool, hanging out with nieces, morning runs (minus JM not able to walk the last two days), Kona coffee, an island drive, the huskies winning their football game, shopping, yummy fish, and...
Of course the Mai Tai cruise! Here is proof the Mai Tai drinks were good.

Autumn

It's fall time in the Northwest with winter biting fiercely. Fall is a favorite season with it's cool mornings, dampness, color changes, and seasonal treats. It's not really those things I mentioned I like most about the fall, it's more the items you can use to battle those elements. Also, the tastes of those seasonal treats. Seasonal treat numero uno are these:

Pumpkin Pancakes. Kelsey and I made them one saturday morning. Then, when she went out of town, I was bored and made them for lunch. We just made them for family the day after Thanksgiving too. So good. Other seasonal treats, sticking with baked goods and pumpkin. Pumpkin scones. Pumpkin lattes are Kelsey's favorite this time of year. Butternut squash (Kelsey really loves these). Me...pumpkin cookies from Cougar Mountain...I love baked goods.

So, fall right. It's cold, wet, darker than summer. I love this time of the year to break out my beanies for my orange hair. I love wearing my ski jackets for the first

time, smartwool socks, and my boots. But, in all honesty I really just like racing cyclocross! From October to December...cyclocross unleashes it's 45 minutes (for me) of painful cycling pleasure. Once your done, you wash it down (your bike) with a garden hose and your pride (because you crash) with an IPA.

After doing this for 45 minutes it makes you want to do this:

Anyway, cross is wrapping up (kelsey is probably glad). So were getting ready for the Holidays. Their baked goods. Ginger bread lattes (I love these ones). Ginger bread cookies. Still wearing those ski jackets. Snow days. Ski days.

After a few of these:

I like to go to the car for beer and soup. Winter. Right around the corner.

Feeling like a monkey!

Monkey that did not eat her Wheaties!

For some reason I always get a good laugh out of this video. And this was about her fifth attempt!

Mysterious Lake

Mysterious Lake was one of the names they original thought of calling Crater Lake. It is mysterious but I like Crater Lake better.

Highlight of the Summer...Crater Lake!

I can't believe that it took me almost 30 years to finally get down to Crater Lake. I guess you could say, "A dream come true." We have been talking about this trip for years and finally due to John Mark's organizing and planning we made it! We started the drive early Friday morning (coffee in hand). We drove straight to Crater Lake so that we could start the afternoon with a great hike up Mt. Scott. The views were amazing- the closest we'll get to an overlook shot of the Lake. The hike took us under three hours and we ate our sandwiches at the top-yummy! Next we drove down to Diamond Lake where we were camped the first night. Great camp site above the water and had trees towering around us. Everything was wonderful except the millions of mosquitos that buzzed constantly around. Our dinner and s'mores were cut short due to not wanting to be outside for one more second. We woke early the next morning in anticipation to ride the rim. The weather was perfect; sunshine with a slight breeze. The ride was a challenging 33 miles with over 4000 feet of elevation gain. We were exhausted afterwards and eager to check out our second night accommodations at the lodge! We rewarded ourselves with beer, salami, brie, and bread! Our third morning consisted of a boat ride around Wizard Island and eating a snack at a beautiful view point before hitting the road back to Portland. Quick trip but extremely memorable!

Birthdays should never last for just one day...

John Mark took Friday off so we could continue celebrating his 30th birthday. Fortunately, his parents were able to join us on our adventure to wine country...well, the Willamette Valley Wine Country! We first met Mark and Chris at The Allison Hotel and Spa in Newberg. Beautiful but of course with a price. After drinks and appetizers we headed to Hotel Oregon in McMinnville. Hotels are not easy to come by during the summer season so we were thankful to get a spot. A family friend of the Baldwins recommended a great Spanish restaurant in town called La Rambla. Great food and fun atmosphere but don't expect to leave with a full stomach! Right Mark? We loved our wine and even kept the bottle. Of course, we never let an evening end without a few rounds of cards. The next morning we started wine tasting right away. Starting with with White Rose, next to De Ponte, then Archery Summit, ate lunch at Horseradish, and ended with a tasting at Elk Cove. You are probably wondering what our favorite winery was...I think we would both have to say hands down...Horseradish (yep, I know that is where we ate lunch-but honestly amazing!).






Next on our list for the birthday weekend was camping with the Christensens. As you can see by the photo with Meagan...our tent was not going to win any battles against theirs! We had a great time exploring the newly opened park, Stub Stewart. Unfortunately, there wasn't a whole lot to do there (great for families though) and the weather was overcast but you can't complain when you get to make a fire....right John Mark? Ha!