Bryce May 2014

We went camping again, this time to Bryce Canyon. 

I'll be honest, I've never really fallen in love with Bryce Canyon.  It is beautiful, but the only experience I'd had before this weekend was driving through it and admiring the view resting on my rump.  At best I'd walk across the parking lot for a better view.

This time we did it right!  The first day I biked the entire canyon and more, going 50 miles, elevations 8,000 feet to 9,100 feet.  What a workout!  It took six hours, including all the stops at the view areas.

The second day Todd and a couple friends took the shuttle to the top of the canyon (9100 feet) and ran 24 miles down to the base (6300 feet) and back up to Bryce Point.  W.O.W.  What a killer workout!

Avery and I hiked down to the base and back up, but only went about 4 miles and I felt tired from it!  As usual, we squeezed in a lot for such a short trip.  I didn't realize till now that I didn't get a single picture of Todd.  Sorry Todd!

Avery the little camper in her "tot spot."

I was happier than I look to be at the top, lol

Tuckered out from the steep hike.

Moab May 2014

We camped in Moab last weekend.  It was a short trip but we squeezed a ton in and had a great time.  Avery LOVED it and did OK camping, so we'll definitely be going again soon.

Friday Todd and 2 friends drove down at 4 a.m. to do Blue John Canyon, the same hike/ climb/ rappel that Aaron Ralston did when he got stuck and cut off his arm.  They stayed in Green River Friday evening.

Saturday at 7 a.m. Avery and I drove to Green River to pick up Todd.  He dropped off Avery and I and our bike/ trailer 10 miles outside of Moab and we rode in to town. 

Then we hiked to the water hole and swam in the pools and falls. Avery LOVED this part and literally squealed with delight for 2 solid hours while we swam.  The water was really cold but felt so great.

Then we ate dinner at the Moab Brewing Company with Todd's friends.  Afterward we went climbing at the Big Bend boulders while the sun set.  Avery also reallllllly loved this and she & I laughed so hard together at her attempts to climb little boulders and my attempts to help her up.  We were both pretty tired and in silly moods, and we literally laughed till we had tears streaming down our faces. :)  Meanwhile Todd got in a good climbing work out.

We camped across from the Slickrock parking area.  Avery had a hard time falling asleep so Todd and I chose not to have a campfire (it might have kept her awake with all the light.) Instead he and I lay under the stars together on his crash pad and talked about life and our future.  It was romantic and sweet.

The next morning we dropped Todd off at the Porcupine Rim bike trail head, and he ran the 15 mile trail.  Avery and I took a nap and went shopping while he was running.  Then we picked him up and ate a beefy meal at Denny's (Todd literally ate two meals cuz he was famished.) 

Afterward Todd and Avery hiked to the swim hole again while I rode 30 miles with long steep hills and huge gusts of wind to fight against.  It was a wonderful ride!

We met up at the water spring and then drove home.  Avery watched "Signing Time" and didn't complain one bit about the drive.  She learned how to hit the play button with her toe to restart the movie.  Clever girl.

Avery giving Daddy some love

 

Petroglyphs

   

   

   

   

Ghetto booty

   

Shangri La: the Swim Hole

   

Raynauds.  Gross I need a pedicure.

   

   

There are spring flowers everywhere right now!  So pretty.

 

Before & After Home Remodel

Here are some of the latest updates we have DIY'ed:

Back splash added and cased window:

 

Subway tile back splash

 

 Original kitchen vs updated kitchen:

 

Whitewashed fireplace

 Here's the original family room

  

 

Floating shelves 

 

 Trimmed out and refinished vanity, and framed mirror: 

 

   

Old pallets wood paneling

 

Avery is 1.5

My little girl is growing up fast!  She has been more and more fun as she has aged.  Sometimes I wish she could go back to the newborn stage again...  But mostly I just really enjoy the moments because I know how quickly they pass.

She can say 40 or 50 words, she LOVES being outside and digging in the dirt, she is very social and will yell, "HI!" at strangers till they can't ignore her any more and say hi back.  She's very mobile and runs around all day and pushes chairs around so she can climb up onto things.  She likes repeating words and really tries to get them right.  She loves reading books, and will "sing me a song" at my request.  She gives lots of kisses and hugs to Todd and I, as well as to her beloved Nay and Mini-Nay stuffed unicorns.  Sometimes she hugs her graham crackers too.  The three of us have lots of fun together.

She calls ice cream "ice bum" and loves to eat it.  And her word for gum is "bum."  The girl loves to have bum and ice bum! He he.

I love reading to her before nap time and bedtime.  Feeling her tiny warm body in my arms and relaxing into the rocking chair to just savor her for a few uninterrupted minutes...  Aaaahhhh. :)

 

   

   

   

   

 

The Healthy Happy Family

I finished my "12 weeks of crap-free" eating.  Finally.
I also ran a half marathon, and I'm training for a century bike ride.  I rode 50 miles yesterday!  I've lost lots of pounds and feel energized and motivated and excited about life.  Simply put, I feel like myself again.

Todd started the "Specific Carb Diet" a couple months ago.  It is really strict, but supposed to help colitis and maybe even cure it.  Todd can't eat any grains, sugars, corn, potatoes, milk and lots of other things I've forgotten.  He has stared tapering off his meds to see if he can stop taking pills altogether.
I still eat grains but not nearly as much as I used to because I only cook food we can both eat. It wasn't fun to eat in front of someone who was trying not to eyeball me with sad hungry puppy-dog eyes. lol.  At the very least it has transformed our pantry and fridge into our own little produce department!

Avery doesn't eat much, but she loves smearing her food around and rubbing it in her hair.  She's always been quite robust, so we aren't worried about her playing with her food more than eating it.  She is doing great and is such a joy to be around!

And she just woke up, so that ends this post!

Happy Anniversary, Eight Years and Counting

Two days before our anniversary we decided to take a trip to St. George to celebrate.  It was a great trip.  I mean it, seriously we had a really good time!  Avery has been getting better and better at going on trips, and it's so nice to be back in the swing of things where we can just pack up and go.  Recently we have been staying in hotels, since camping has been a nightmare with Avery.  But I think she's ready to try camping again. :)

On Saturday we ate out for breakfast, biked 14 miles (up STEEP hills and into HUGE wind gusts which really sucked,) swam in the heated hotel pool, took a fantastic refreshing nap, grabbed some Cafe Rio and ate dinner at Pioneer Park, where we hiked and climbed and watched the sunset.  Avery went to bed and Todd and I relaxed and watched some HGTV (my favorite channel and a special treat whenever we're somewhere with cable.)  What a perfect day!

Sunday Todd went for a 2 hour run, then I went for a 1 hour run.  We packed up and checked out, then went for a 15 mile bike ride along the Virgin River.  It was flat and not windy, and a breeze compared to the previous day.  We picknicked at the park and blew bubbles with Avery, before driving home and getting lunch on the way.  Mmmm, Albertos!  What another fantastic day.

I feel so free and capable and happy.  And we want to have another baby, which I know will take that away from me for a couple years.  So I am really, really enjoying this part of my life right now.  I don't mean that I will be bound and incapable and depressed when I go through another pregnancy and birth, because there is so much happiness and love and bliss in having a baby.  But yeah, I'll be honest.  I'm kinda dreading doing it again.  It was hard.  Really hard.

I just keep reminding myself that going through the difficult parts of pregnancy and having a baby was totally hands down worth it.

 

Avery spotting daddy: 

 

Avery literally LOVES climbing.  It's in her blood.

   

The actual angle of the previous photo's climb: 

   

   

Sunset:

   

Biking lunch break

   

   

   

Blissfully blowing bubbles with beautiful baby:

 

Phoenix Marathon and Half

Todd did the Phoenix marathon, and I did the half marathon.  It rained and was a little windy and cold, but overall it was a well organized fun race. 

Todd got his personal best for a marathon, 3:14 if I remember correctly. 

I got my personal worst for a half, but I don't care. :)  I wasn't in it for speed, just for being free and able to do something like run 13 miles again.  It feels so good to be in shape!!!!!!!!  It took me 2:30 to finish.

We stayed with Todd's brother and family, the Tim Hammonds.  Libby ran the race too, her first marathon ever!  It was so fun to stay with them and let Avery get to know her Arizona cousins a little better.  Any time one of their 5 kids would sit in my lap Avery would freak out and yell and cry.  She's got something coming to her when we decide to have another child!

Since we both ran the race neither of us had a camera or took any pictures.  Here are a couple photos we did snap with Todd's phone (which have nothing to do with the race):

Avery and Henry, 3 weeks apart in age:

 

I just love how Avery's tummy hangs out over her pants. Tee hee :P 

 

My beautiful baby is getting big fast.