Monday, April 30, 2012

Griffin 7 months

It's unusual that I get the post up on the actual day he turns a month older, but Griff gave me the gift of a long nap so here it is









So here's the Question: RED or BLONDE??

Randoms from the last month

Feeling the grass for the first time. He doesn't like it touching him but he likes to pull at it



Looks just like B in this pic. I literally turned around for a second and returned to find this

He was in the kitchen while I used the all too loud blender and he hates loud noises. This distracted him

Eats well


Sunday, April 29, 2012

Tif and Ashley in town

I mentioned in the last post that Tif convinced me to ride a century and be on a Lotoja relay team. We need some training. So she and Ashley escaped the cold SLC weekend and come down here to get in some riding, much needed girl time in, pool time, and some surprise "Mountain Man Rendevous (Rondy)" time.

Brandon was great to take Griff Friday night and most of Saturday so I could just do whatever with the girls (Thanks, B! I needed it). So Friday night when Tif and Ashley arrived, we went on a quick ride in perfect temps. Ashley said it best when she said, "riding always makes me happy, no matter what mood I was in before." After the ride we were headed out to dinner when Tif saw my orange shoes by the door.
She loved them so much she had to go get a pair at the new Gap outlet immediately. We took a spontaneous trip to the Gap for 30 minutes of the most fun, rushed (they were closing), successful bargain shopping I've ever done. I hate shopping, just ask Brandon. But we were finding things we liked around every corner and often found the same items. All three of us walked out with some great finds and Tif and I now have the same orange shoes and a new pair of blue shoes.
I make a big deal about the shopping because I haven't been shopping without a baby or pregnant in...well 16 months. And, I don't typically like shopping, but this time was so fun.

Saturday we went for a 30 miler. We (and when I say 'we' I mean Tif and Ashley because that's the farthest I've gone in 1.5 years and also the third ride I'd done in 4 days so my legs were toast and I'm not sure I could have gone longer. Btw, those two are strong riders and so fun to ride with. Although, I think I'll feel much better about it when I get some portion of my biking legs back. 

At the pool I caught Griff entertaining himself with his own little song/babble/dance thing. I should've gotten on film so you could hear it, but the pics are still pretty good.










 After the pool we headed to the Mountain Man Rendezvous. The Rondy is a weekend-long event out in the brush of Southern Utah where people reenacting pre-1840 mountain life. It's like a mini village set up with teepees, tents, dutch ovens and open fire cookouts. People dress the era, cook the era, and sell goods of the era on trappers row. They also have hatchet throws, frying pan tosses, archery, black powder gun shooting, and enough awesome people watching to keep anyone from being bored. The people who do it go all out authentic. It was like taking a step back in time.

notice the rest of the animal skin, including legs, cascading down my back



We just found out it was this weekend so we headed up, but didn't give ourselves enough time before they shut down all the public stuff for the night. Next year, we are planning ahead so we can shoot and throw things.

New York style pizza to end a fantastic day

Saying good-bye at the end of a great weekend.


Intellectual Conversation


Training Again

My friend Tif talked me into doing the Little Red Riding Hood Century ride with her and Ashley in early June. I have been on my bike 4 times in the last 1.5 years, but why not? She also convinced me to sign up for Lotoja on their relay team. That's not until September, but if we get chosen in the lottery there will be some tough climbs to conquer. I have a lot of work to do to get my climbing legs back and my fitness level anywhere close to where it used to be so I got started this last week. Here is a shot of my first solo ride post baby. It felt so good to be out on my bike again. Let the training begin!
Sunset at the end of a stormy day. Our house is in the background

Fishing Lake Powell with Uncle Dana

Brandon went out to Powell with brother-in-law Mike to fish with the legendary Uncle Dana (the same guy who has the Candy Cannon). Dana knows more about fish and fishing than anyone any of us know personally. He has an old fishing boat that has been around as long as Brandon can remember. They call it "the barge." I've heard story after story about fishing trips on the barge. I'm lucky to have some of my own. One of my favorite memories from our dating years was a night fishing on Fish Lake in the Barge with Uncle Dana, Jaime, Mike, and Brandon. The fish just kept biting. I can't remember how many we caught but I learned how to gut and clean a lot of fish afterwards. It only seemed appropriate that Griffin's first time in a boat and fishing would be on the barge and with Uncle Dana at Lake Powell, Brandon's favorite place in the world. While Brandon spent two days fishing, I met up with them one evening and then went out with them the next morning for an hour or so. Griffin seemed to like being out, but he was not a fan of the constricting life jacket that pushed his cheeks into a state of ginormousness and he didn't seem to know what to think of the fish. I think he'll be happy to go again though.
Leaving the dock. Uncle Dana in the background

cheeks!!

Brandon held Griff so I could fish

Uncle Dana was the first to get a bite

Mike and I were next.
So good to be at Powell! Can't wait to go back when the water is warm enough to swim in.

Visiting Jai Jai and Pops (and Baylee)

Mom and Baylee were in town for a few days so I hitched a ride back to Colorado with them for a week. Brandon drove out and met us at the end of the week. We had Griff's first Easter, his first taste of veggies and fruit, started riding in the baby seat of the shopping cart like a big kid (makes shopping SO much easier), and rolling from back to stomach with ease. We also got out to the ranch Pops helps take care of with Mike, the ranch manager. Cows are having babies so we went to see the little ones. Baylee, Brandon, Griff and I also too a long bike ride up Glenwood Canyon, but I don't think we got any pics of it. GWe had beautiful weather, a good time with family, and Boogies shakes, of course.


Love his temple dimple

Playing with George



Sweet potatoes. He hated them, but he loves them now




matchy

Last time he was at Boogies he was asleep in his car seat

Nap time on the floor

Dad always brings home fresh donuts from City Market. They are delicious


The Aspen Rec Center lazy river



Griff met his first Newfoundland dog. I grew up with one so LOVE them

the ranch up old Snowmass

ready to ranch



Excited about Easter

Exhausted from Easter walk on the Rio Grand Trail after church

Walking around the neighborhood

Cuties

Loves the drum Baylee gave him.


Walking in Basalt