Trails Fest 2014

Recently my parents participated in the NTN trails festival weekend. 

 It was basically a weekend of celebrity the awesome trails our town has to offer. You can hike them, bike them, ride them, run them, or race them. Race them in many ways. Races were held to generate some money to build more trails. There were options to race XC, dual slalom, enduro, and a trail run.

 Thanks to my Grandparents well timed visit my parents didn't have to pick  one they picked them all. By the end of the weekend my parents accumulated a lot of hardware and a lot of aches and pains. It's an awesome opportunity to stretch your talents, experience, and limits and to sleep in your own bed the night before a race. Think global, race local, and have a jolly good time. That's my Mom, wearing her big girl pants and getting caught with her pants down as Cooper pulls ahead.  In the dual slalom there are no age categories and no classes. My Mom used to help Cooper buckle her ski boots and onto the chairlift when Cooper was my age and now Cooper is a pro rider. What does that tell you? The ski is the limit for me.

 Well almost all the events. I'm spilling the beans they did not compete in the downhill and they only raced the 5K trail run when in truth they really could have done the 1/2 marathon the morning of their Enduro bike race. I don't know what they were thinking the 1/2 marathon only went up the ski hill once and a summited a mtn climb that takes 8 minutes to pedal a bike up. Wimps!

 Grandpa was quick to get started on a project. A playhouse it will be. I mean if the chicks goat chicken coop shouldn't I have a playhouse.

 It's not quite finished but that hasn't dampened my tea parties. Come on over, lemon tea is my specialty.

Look at my digs. If my LA landlord could see me now. 

Thanks Marquette Photo for taking the amazing photos we were able to post to Facebook. I'm sorry I couldn't upload them to the blog, but you make my parents look like super stars and forever they will hang on the basement wall with glory.  I say cheers to that.

Daddy Daughter Date

This weekend my Mom took the opportunity to road trip to Cable/Hayward Wisconsin with a couple of other Mom's to race their mountain bikes. 

The Mom's may have been at a Wisco Disco  but I had a Daddy Daughter date!

 Don't worry I didn't do anything out of the ordinary...You know the usual. Play at the beach ..naked..with icebergs.

 But like a weekend in Vegas..What goes on in Vegas stays in Vegas. So a few things may have happened while Mama was at the Wisco Disco I may have sipped Root Beer at the Boarder Grill

I may have eaten a little frozen yogurt or a lot. I suppose you want an update on my Mom's race. I'll keep it short and sweet because my fro yo is melting. The race course and company were top notch. My Mom felt a little like the person who pulled an all nighter studying for a final as the trails were soaked with snow less than 3 weeks ago. She didn't feel super confident about pushing to the front of the line up for the roll out ok she was in line for the porta potty. Leaving the start she was boxed in bad choices ) and by the time she got to the single track it was like waiting in line for the Walmart cashier to ring you up. By the way, the person in front of you has a coupon but they just have to find it.  Racing tight turn single track for 32 of the 34 miles is awesome but it is hard to pass until the second half. Many lessons learned mucho ego deflated .This is not a marathon, triathlon, nor a race on wide open pavement. If you don't get out in good position in a race like this it is over in terms of racing because you are on the brakes or off the bike even while the contenders are riding ahead of the traffic jam and in the end it only your own fault. Oh frustration station ! A times like this I think "Oh What would Pete the Cat Say?"

I am sure he'd say move it along. "Move it along! Move it along! When on race day we fail, we move it along!"

Mama! You Forgot the Sand Toys!

 On May 29th I arrived at the beach dressed like this.

My Mom thought it was appropriate for the temperature and weather. I was not there 30 seconds before I saw the boys and said "Mama, take my clothes off". Mama's in for it isn't she?

 
If the boys are in the water...So Am I!

Mama! How could you? You forgot the sand toys!

Well I'll just have to make do with this here iceberg I fished out of Lake Superior. 

 At least you were smart enough to have a swimsuit on hand in the car. I know, you meant for it to be worn in the 84 degree kiddy pool at the YMCA.

 Mama sometimes you really need to rethink things.

 Open your mind and the horizons are endless.

That's A Lot of Candles!

 Recently my Mom had a birthday. I did a great job singing her happy birthday but I couldn't quite count high enough to account for all the candles on the plate. 

 It was a happy day seeing as there was cake but a sad day as I had a fever. No fun! I rallied for the cake cutting. Currently, I am afraid of fire, flames, and loud noises so I couldn't bring myself to watch as my Mom attempted to blow out the candles.

 I rallied back quickly and was set to (tea) party. My Mother shares her birthday with the black flies. Thank goodness for the screen porch. My screen porch has a wonderful coffee house feel except it's age appropriate for toddlers so instead a chess boards we have puzzles.

 Now that winter is over we sure are enjoying summer riding. It appears I can ride off road too. Annika Ruth...Rolling with the Daisies!

 I can also drop boys. My Dad's wheel might be a hair in front of mine but if you look closely you can see my body is actually ahead of his. He just has bigger wheels.