Mother's Day

B.A., before Annika, when my Mom was racing ....racing a lot. She used to say she was going to slay dragons. I think she once listed that as her profession on a race entry. 
As you can see, I need not slay dragons. I am a dragon tamer, befriender of the mighty beasts.
If my Mom was to list her profession now on an entry form, more fitting than "Stay at Home Mom" would  be Ring Master of the Family Circus.
 Mothers Day week consisted of the circus and a race and an overflowing toilet The Hope Starts Here race was a bit of a big deal with multiple races to choose from. 5K/10k/1/2 marathon run or the off road duathlon. My Mom chose the duathlon: 5k run.10 mile mtn bike. 5k run.



It may have been the most "fun race" she ever did enter. No time for thinking, analyzing, or questioning just chasing and being chased. Getting dropped on the first 5k, closing the gap on  the bike and choosing just the right spot to pass (make it stick),  running the second 5k faster than the first  resorting to the piss yourself pace 6:32pace to hold the off the next runner is pretty exhilarating. Victories can happen because you are the best, victories happen because of who didn't show up, but when they happen because you took what you had and executed it to your best....that is total awesomeness.

P.S. For full disclosure and public service here is my nutritional advice for the week:
Think Spring
Go Lean
and 
Eat Greens. 
Chop, Chop on the race course starts with chop, chop in the kitchen.
Wait a minute.....Anna want a cookie to wash down cake and ice cream. 

P.P.S: I asked my Mom to win me a purple trophy. 


Florida is Summer

It was May. It was spring.
 It was my job to find the corner spring was just around.

 I tried  and tried.
I even opted for a disguise but every time I got close...
Winter would come roaring back. So finally I said that's it ....Florida is Summer
 I packed my bag, rather my made in the USA Trunki and headed to Florida. For those of you not in the know a trunk is a carry on bag those under 60 lbs can scooter through the airport on. P.S. My parents are already thinking of upgrading the wheels.
 Hollywood Beach Florida had everything I could have wanted. A beach, a pool, swings and slides along the boardwalk and public transportation. This time the public transportation was a trolley.
 "A trolley!"
 Here I am searching for seashells. I'm a pretty tough beach critic. My petite beach resume consists of Del Mar, La Jolla, Mssion Beach, Carlsbad, Santa Monica's Annenberg, the sand dunes of Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and let's not forget....Malibu.

 For a weekend Hollywood Beach, Florida will do.
Oh yes it will.

Happy Easter

 On Easter some of us went for an egg hunt.

And some of us went on a tree hunt.

My Mom and Dad rescued that tree so my Grandpa could saw it up and make me something out if it. Rumor has it he is going to build me something mighty fine.

  The Easter bunny got a memo from the dentist and no candy was delivered.
 I was over the moon about my "kid rake". Apparently the Easter bunny didn't get any memos from the  child labor offices or social services. Along with the rake I got a matching shovel and hoe.
 Easter was also my Dad's birthday. I love birthdays.
 Any guesses why? I will eat my cake and your too! Broccoli...not so much.
 My cousins came to visit along with my Aunt and Uncle, Grandpa and Grammy and Mr. Sparky.
 It was an awesome time.