It finally Happened

Sweet mother it's finally happened...and I'm sure it was a fluke. I slept for 7 hours straight! That's right...Fisher slept for 8 hours straight last night...he is a 4 hour sleeper if that long. I haven't slept longer than 4 hours straights since the little tyke was born...now look at me...he is teasing me tho...I can feel it...he probably won't sleep tonight...but hey I'll take it. 7 hours...I'm like a new woman.

The Things I do

The things I do to keep up with my husband. This week is our 'training camp' and he wants to hit up all these climbs on our bike. It would be awesome if I was in like awesome shape...but I feel like a fatgirl riding her bike. I'm okay with that...I guess. Yesterday he took me up Sierra road...which is a steep crazy climb...and today he is taking me up Mt. Hamilton it's a 20 mile climb up to the top. Oh jeezzz....this guy is going to kill me...well if he doesn't kill me he's just going to get me in great shape....what a jerk huh. Well I will let you know how it goes...I did this ride a few months ago so I know I can do it....I just want to try to add a little grace and less swear words this time.

Mt. Palomar

We are here in California for a few reasons;
Visit Family,
Ride our bikes, and
Watch the pros ride in the Tour of California.

We were in San Diego to visit my sister and her hubby...while we were there Seth wanted to train...we went to Mt. Palomar in So Cal...I'm not too familiar with riding in So Cal, so when Seth told me we were going to go ride somewhere...I was not too worried. What was I thinking...there are two codes I live by.

1.) Never ever ever ever shake a baby.
2.) Don't let my wall down when Seth is my coach and tells me we are going for a little climb.

Lucky for me Seth gave me a little bit of a warning when we drove to the climb that's because I asked which hill we are going toride up. He pointed to the one far away with snow on it. Not a hill...but a mountain. Ahhh crap.

We have Fisher to watch so one person rides while the other person stays in the car and watches the boy...

I went up first and this ride was bonkers. Seth made a little video check 'er out.

Pin The Blue Ribbon on me!

This last Saturday I did my first mountain bike race....this year I am all about racing...I have no idea why. It is just something to keep me busy...I suppose I need something to stay or get into shape. Well a different shape. I rode the Frozen Hog...it is a race on the snow...but this year we got really lucky and it was on slush and mud...yeah it was terrible! I pretty much ran the entire thing...and when I did bike...it was nuts! I was sliding all over the place and had some crazy crashes. It was really fun! Since I ride in the 18-29 age group there really wasn't anyone else riding...and combine that with my amazing skills I so got 1st place. It was a great start to the racing year...I don't expect other races to go that way...but as long as I am not riding in 6 inches of slush and mud I will be happy.

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

I missed World Nutella Day this year...it was yesterday! How on earth could I have missed that...probably because I had no idea it existed. That is not an excuse!

Hazelnut + Chocolate + Spread = Joy

I'm no mathematician but I know that equation...duh. I suppose I am going to have to make up for it by making a Nutella something or other this weekend. Maybe it will be my power food for this weekend. Tomorrow I am doing my first mountain bike race. This season I decided to start racing bikes...it really isn't ideal...I am in terrible shape. It should be fun...I am focusing on enjoing it and learn a few things here and there. It is a small local type of race...I am a little nervous but that is good...I just don't know the proper etiqutte and such for a mnt bike race. I will found out tomorrow morning. Okay well I am off for the right kind of pre race dinner...sushi.

Choice

I have been trying to eat better...you know clean up the diet and get rid of junk...(and in turn get junk out of the trunk)....well that was until yesterday. Seth's Mom comes up once a week to watch Fisher while I go to work. I only really work one day a week...it's nice. Well to thank her I wanted to get her these dark chocolate mint sandwiches...well I went to Bluebird chocolate to get some...but they were out...but while I was there I had to pick up a few caramels and these sugar free raspberry jelly sticks that I love! Of course I ate them all with little to no self control...it was like popping popcorn. Now I need to go to the Bluebird Restaurant because they sell Alvahs Chocolate...not Bluebird chocolate...it was a little confusing...and they had the chocolate I needed...and more...so I bought a few pieces there...and of course ate them all within an hour...this was all before dinner. I tell you I had the worst stomach ache. I knew that if I made the choice to eat nothing but delicious chocolates before or after dinner I would indeed get a stomachache...and I did. Sometimes I hate my free agency, mainly I hate my lack of self control. On the upside...Seth did offer me a rootbeer float and I said 'no way' and then I wanted it more than ever....but I did not give in. It's a small victory.

This is Fisher with his food self control...when he's done he pretends to be asleep.

Awesome Baby Boy

I am just loving this little tyke.

Betsy took these awesome pictures...she is sooo good!

Squeals

We were with our friends this last weekend and their little girls were dotting over Fisher the entire time, it was really cute. Emerson who is 4 was holding Fisher, and Fisher started squealing...

Fisher: (squels)

Emerson: Awww you sound like a cute girl

Biking

Alright lets start with an adorable picture of Fisher...I love the little scarf. This last weekend we were in Park City visiting some great friends, they have these 2 little girls 4 and 2.5 years old. Well the 2 year old is very articulate, and well spoken. I was feeding Fisher and she wanted to sit on my lap, but I couldn't so I told her to go sit on Seth's lap...so she does. Then the following happened;

Elle (the girl): Can you put my blanket over my head?

Seth: Sure, like this?

Elle: Can I drink milk from your boobies?

Seth: (In shock!) No. We cannot do that?

Elle: Can I drink milk from your boobies?

Seth: Help, can someone help me, I don't know how to answer this.

Needless to say Seth and Elle compromised with water in a sippy cup. It was great I was just laughing at him...I was no help.


Next thing: I colored my hair, I am now a brunette. I like it...I may keep it.
Remember when I vowed never to ride my trainer again? Last week I did really well I went mountain biking on Monday and Tuesday. Then I went road biking with Fisher on Thursday and on Friday I went on a nice 27 mile ride. I felt pretty good. Then on Saturday my coach MADE me get on my trainer for a miserable 45 minutes. Ewww gross. 18 Hours of Fruita will be out of control fun.

It's Official

We are officially signed up to do 18 hours in Fruita. I am super excited, so excited in fact that I skipped dessert and got on the trainer for an entire hour. Seriously an hour is so long when you are on the trainer and even longer when you are watching Mama Mia...okay really? Merl Streep? What was the deal? I would like to say that my training and dessert skipping was all due to my high level of commitment...but it most definaltly was not...Seth finished off the ice cream...nerts...and then made me get on the bike...that's what coaches do. It was brutal...I HATE the trainer and no way can I do this for 12 weeks...I can barely image anything worse...maybe finishing Mama Mia...but I still may do that...it was like a train wreak...I wanted to look away but couldn't. Actually have you ever seen an Indian music video (dots not feathers)? Those videos are hypnotic!!! As a kid I would watch them all the time, partially because I could not turn them off. It's a weird vortex.

My new plan is to ride outside. I don't know how I will do this yet, the snow is an issue...but I have to figure out a way. I am working out possibilities but I don't care..I hate that trainer and it has only been one week! On Monday I am going to get a babysitter and go bike up green canyon. I am going to make it happen...but first I will check the weather...forget it, even if it is snowing I will go. Okay deal.

My Battle with Butter

I have a confession to make...I don't really watch what I eat...like I don't over eat and just be a gluttonous mess...and I don't eat junk food...but I do like to bake...which is my biggest problem...to bake anything worth eating, you have to add butter. Under no circumstance would I EVER substitute margarine for butter....it's all about standards really. Different taste, and I just like things old school I suppose...but never would I add shortening...so I guess I do watch what I eat...I just would be better off if I didn't bake. Like this last weekend I wanted to make croissants, so I go about making them...little did I realize that it would take me two days and 3 sticks of butter. Yeah...I know...I know...okay it was a mistake...side note though, they turned out amazingly...and I will never make them again. Honestly if you really need a croissant just go to the bakery and get one, not 2 dozen. Luckily I have Seth who has the metabolism of a giraffe and he ate a lot and then I just froze the rest. While training I have to eat carbs...so then I get all crazy with different types of pasta recipes and make my own pasta...then breads...I have to have a loaf of bread to go with dinner...yeah I know I AM MY WORST ENEMY! Maybe while I train I will control what I eat...but the problem is the baking...I just need to tap into my healtier side...which I have, I just have been ignoring her.
As you can tell I am going to use my blog to use as my confessional. Which will suck, but you guys are so supportive....I can't tell you how many calls I got yesterday calling me fatty...now if that isn't motivational I don't know what is!

Against my better judgement...

On May 2nd I am doing the 18 hours of Fruita...it is an 18 hour mountain bike race. You can do it solo, two man team, or a four person team. Seth and I were going to do it together, but we wanted two more, so we asked Kitty and Ivy to do it with us and to our uber super fabulous delight they said they would do it with us. Okay awesome right? Well kind of...these two are like greek gods...they don't have lactic thresholds like us mortals do...they are awesome and feel no pain. Then there is Seth who rocks and gets the job done...and he looks good doing it. If you think my husband doesn't know style, you may be right, except when it comes to biking. It is the weirdest thing, but he and his macho family they all know how to look good on the bike. So I am competing with crazy ironman athletes...and then there is me...I don't want to throw in the baby card...but I am going to...I just had a kid...like 5 months ago...but still, I'm soft and pudgy...my cardio kind of blows right now...and well it's winter and I like to eat...a lot. All of this brings me to the purpose of this post...I need to train. Yes I do, I don't like to train indoors tho...but I have no choice...Logan is covered in way too much snow topped with black ice. I would bike on the trails with the snow, but it would cost too much money to get my bike ready for that. So that leaves me with the indoors. Suck for sure! Okay so I get on my trainer and I train...well I don't know how to train...this is a problem...so against my better judgement Seth will be my coach. Yes my husband...if you bike or run or whatever with your spouse then you get my problem. Biking with your spouse is amazing...when you get ready together and start the first 3 miles together, then you split up...you let them ride and you ride at your own pace. DO NOT try to ride together in the first or second season together. I don't care how strong your marriage is, the rides never end well...granted this may sound a little harsh, but those die hards know exactly what I am saying. I kill myself trying to keep up with Seth, and I kills Seth with how slow I go, even though he would never say that...I know it...I can read his mind like a good wife.

Moving on. So Seth is my coach and I will do what he tells me to do with only a medium amount of hassle. In turn he will take this bag of jello and turn me into a lean mean mountain biking machine. I just hope our marriage can survive. I'm sure it will...in the long run.

Here are a few things that help me train;I have a trainer, tv, fan, and little table...oh and don't forget the motivational posters

It's my process...I'm not saying it's healthy.

Podium

I've never said we weren't going to be pushers as parents...why have a kid if you can't live through them?

Photo courtesy of Graham Watson

Embarrassing Pictures

What kind of Mother would I be if I didn't have some embarrassing pictures of my little Fish. Here they are, of course I think they are adorable, but when his first date comes around in like 32 years, maybe he won't find potty pictures as adorable as I do.Father and Son napping after a 'long' winter hike

Snowy Day

As my devotees you know I have some bitter sweet moments with the Winter, and really more bitter than sweet. (I just like the hot sun, what's so wrong with that) Every winter I try to make it a little more bearable than the last...so on this snowy day I am going to enjoy a hot cup of homemade hot chocolate: I stole this recipe from Mer on her blog...she has the best recipes, I would totally link her but her blog is uber exclusive...

1 ½ cups whole milk
2 ½ T water
2 ½ T granulated sugar (I've found that if I use baker's sugar, it dissolves really smoothly)
3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (use high-quality chocolate, 70% cocoa. Choose a chocolate you really love because it will be the most prominent flavor.)

In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, water, and sugar. Place over medium heat and whisk occasionally until the sugar is dissolved. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture just to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the chocolate. At this point, blend the mixture. If you have an immersion/stick blender, you can do this directly in the saucepan (actually, don't do that if you have non-stick pans!); if not, you’ll need to transfer it to a regular blender. Blend for 1 minute (on high speed, if using a traditional blender - and take care (!), as hot liquids expand when blended). The finished mixture should be very smooth and frothy. Don’t skip the blending step. It helps to incorporate the chocolate and makes the texture velvety-smooth. Serve immediately. This makes 2 servings.

I add one step to that I include homemade marshmallows. Yes I know...I didn't really think you could make them at home...but I did and they are most incredible!!!

3 packages unflavored gelatin
1 cup ice cold water, divided
12 ounces granulated sugar, approximately 1 1/2 cups
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
Nonstick spray

Place the gelatin into the bowl of a stand mixer along with 1/2 cup of the water. Have the whisk attachment standing by.

In a small saucepan combine the remaining 1/2 cup water, granulated sugar, corn syrup and salt. Place over medium high heat, cover and allow to cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Uncover, clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the pan and continue to cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Once the mixture reaches this temperature, immediately remove from the heat.

Turn the mixer on low speed and, while running, slowly pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the gelatin mixture. Once you have added all of the syrup, increase the speed to high. Continue to whip until the mixture becomes very thick and is lukewarm, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Add the vanilla during the last minute of whipping. While the mixture is whipping prepare the pans as follows.

For regular marshmallows:

Combine the confectioners' sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl. Lightly spray a 13 by 9-inch metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add the sugar and cornstarch mixture and move around to completely coat the bottom and sides of the pan. Return the remaining mixture to the bowl for later use.

When ready, pour the mixture into the prepared pan, using a lightly oiled spatula for spreading evenly into the pan. Dust the top with enough of the remaining sugar and cornstarch mixture to lightly cover. Reserve the rest for later. Allow the marshmallows to sit uncovered for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

Turn the marshmallows out onto a cutting board and cut into 1-inch squares using a pizza wheel dusted with the confectioners' sugar mixture. Once cut, lightly dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining mixture, using additional if necessary. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

Enjoy!!!Recipe by Alton Brown

Is it time to get a Christmas tree???

I think it may be time to get some real Christmas tree.

Boy Pirate goes to Church

He is getting so big...check out the stuffed toy in the upper right hand corner...yeah Seth's dad gave that to Fisher...it is the ugliest goblin night mare giving stuffed thing I have seen.

Baby Wearing

I am loving that I can wear Pirate Boy everywhere I go...I wish I could while driving also...but that's just dangerous! Fisher is with me all day on the body which is great...he is such an alert baby and I think a lot of it has to do with him being on my body...I know a ton of parents do the same thing...and I love it.

Thanksgiving...I know what I am thankful for....

Every Thanksgiving Seth and I try to go on a mountain biking trip...it's a great time to go play and enjoy our time together.  This year Seth was not around for Thanksgiving he had some school stuff he needed to do in Pennsylvania so I was in Sandy with his family.  Well since it's Thanksgiving I thought it was only right to go mountain biking, you know tradition of heritage...however my mountain bike was in the shop and I all I had was Seth's bike.  So Seth's the Captain, Scott, Webber, and I went biking up corner canyon on Seth's bike...well Seth only has one gear on his bike...and corner canyon defiantly has some elevation gain...needless to say I almost has a heart attack!!!!  I have no idea how people ride with only one gear and not even an easy gear...I had to stop/fall over so many times just to breath!  Oh my goodness I was crazy!  I am no where near that good of shape to handle that kind of lactic acid overdose.  The even crazier part of everything was that I actually kind of liked it...you know pushing myself that hard...even tho I hated it while doing it.  I know it's sick.  So the next day Seth's brother was in town and we had to go do the same thing...this time there was a huge problem...mud!!!  We thought the trail would have been a whole lot drier and it was at the bottom.  The closer to the top we got the muddier it became...and no one wants to ride on muddy trails mainly because you tear up the trails...and let's be honest only jerks do that...and I didn't want to be a jerk so I had to walk it up in sections a little off the trail...it sucked...but I know what I am grateful for I am grateful for gears on my bike...and good lungs...and well everything in my life...I have an awesome life with awesome people surrounding me.  I say often but not often enough - Life is Good!  

Back in Utah

For a 3 month old Fisher has been around...we have been out of state for about 6 weeks or so...I don't really know anymore...We have been to Idaho, Montana, Missouri, Arizona, Nevada, California...and now we are finally back home...yes we are home in freezing cold Utah. The high will be around 50 degrees which I guess isn't terrible. Now it will be time to start busting out all the cold gear...because this winter is going to be awesome!!! I am so looking forward to it...I am going to do all sorts of fun winter things like...uh....hmph...wear scarves...and...well let's just say I won't ruin the surprise...it will be awesome tho! Crazy awesome...just crazy......