Six on Saturday

1. It's been a long week. I don't know when I've ever been so glad to see a weekend roll around. Our kids started school on Tuesday and they all had a terrific week but we are all tired!

 Will--first day of 10th grade

 Sarah--first day of 9th grade

Abbey--first day of 5th grade

2. Does anyone else find the first week of school exhausting? It pretty much kicked my tail. Between all the driving (three different schools) and the mental task of keeping up with everyone's schedule, I've been completely spent each evening by dinnertime. One night this week I went to bed before 8pm. It was awesome.

3. Last weekend John and I went to Crested Butte for the first time. Oh my word, it was
F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S! I'm pretty sure it now trumps Estes Park as my favorite place in Colorado. The natural beauty was stunning and the drive, the lodging, the food, the hiking, the shopping were all AMAZING. We were pretty wowed by it, and are trying to figure out when we can go back! Maybe even to ski? We bought a steal-of-a-deal for this hotel through LivingSocial (it was GREAT!) and we ate some pretty amazing meals at Maxwells, Le Bosquet, Teocalli Tamale, The Secret Stash, and of course coffee from Camp 4 Coffee. (I linked to those simply so I could remember for future reference!) That getaway to Crested Butte probably deserves it's own post but for the sake of time I'm lumping it all into this one.

 Terrible photo but amazing french food!

 Crested Butte is known for it's wildflowers but we were there at the tail end of that season. Those that we saw were gorgeous though--I can only imagine how beautiful it would be in July. I think this would be a fabulous place for fall aspen viewing, but it's a bit of a drive from Co Springs (4+ hours). Some of the aspens were already starting to turn while we were there! 

 Starting to feel like fall in Colorado! I love it!

I had a cup of decaf each morning--best coffee EVER. I'm not exaggerating.

A couple of friends told us to make sure we visited The Secret Stash for pizza (so we did) and we ordered The Notorious Fig. Never would've thought of putting fig on pizza but oh my gosh, it was amazing. This week I stumbled upon a fig pizza recipe in my Pioneer Woman cookbook (the newest one) and I think I could make my foodie husband very happy by attempting her recipe. 

4. John's parents came out for a visit and stayed here with our kids while we were gone. While we were playing in Crested Butte, they went to a fancy-schmancy wedding in Denver for one of John's mom's cousins and had a great time too! Mimi and Papa were here for a week but they gave us some space for the first two days of school and escaped to Ouray, CO for their anniversary. We are always so grateful when they get to spend time with us--one of the perks of their retirement!

5. After having the summer off from my part-time YL job, I started back to work this week. I feel overwhelmed already. It's not so much the work-load as it is saying good-bye to the freedom (and sloth) of summer. I'm in the process of trying to work my schedule so that I can still have time to hike and volunteer and do all the other things that help my family function smoothly. Honestly, it feels hard to find balance.

6. This weekend is a good mix of rest, productivity, and activity. Will has a cross-country meet this morning and later today we have a good-bye send off for some friends moving to North Carolina. We're going to try to get back in our church groove tomorrow and sometime this weekend I need to take my high-schoolers shopping for the supplies they found out they need this week. I'm hoping to squeeze a nap and a hike in there somewhere too. Wish me luck!

The Color Run:::Colorado Springs 2012

I first heard of The Color Run in early spring when two friends in Atlanta posted pics from their 5K on Facebook. Oh my gosh, it looked like SO much fun! A few weeks later, Angie and her family did The Color Run in Southern California and I knew right then and there that I had to sign up for this race! Unfortunately, the Denver Color Run was sold out by then and there wasn't one scheduled for Colorado Springs. After being very patient and checking the website obsessively frequently, the "happiest 5K on the planet" announced plans to come to my area and I quickly formed a team and got us signed up. 

Last Saturday was the big day.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with The Color Run, here's the 411:

It's a 5K run...but you can walk if you want...but it's not a timed run because it's designed to be FUN!

Runners are encouraged to wear white.

At each kilometer marker there is a color station where volunteers throw powdered color on you as you run past. Each runner is given a packet of colored powder to save for the finish where there is a color explosion every few minutes and everyone throws their color packet up in the air--dousing the runners with even MORE color. It is crazy fun, crazy messy, and crazy awesome. I HIGHLY recommend you find one in your area (drive if you have to) and register. Go here to read more and find out if there's one close to you.

Okay...some pics.

Here is part of my team at the starting line. We ordered matching tank tops with our team name on the back. 

Self-portrait. Awesome facial expression, eh? And yes, I wear earrings to 5Ks. I wear them when I hike too. I get a lot of flack for that, but I can deal with it.

Seriously y'all--this was SO MUCH STINKIN' FUN!

Just in case you're wondering, all of the color washed out of my hair and off of me after a shower, though I did have to do some scrubbing. I did miss cleaning one spot (my belly button) and realized it the next day when I had a nice orange ring on my t-shirt after a workout. Awesome.

I sprayed my tank top with vinegar before I left the race and ironed it when I got home to try to preserve as much color as I could and it worked! It's not quite as bright as it was post-race but it's a happy souvenir. :)

BIG thanks to my friends' husbands who came and took pics for us! And then shared them with me so I could share them with you.

Friday afternoon randomness

My house feels normal again now that Will is back from his cross-country camp. I never feel settled when one of my peeps is gone. We're all glad he's home and I think he is too. He told us that he had to get up and run every morning at 6am while there and hike every afternoon--oh the injustice. 

I've had to get creative and find new places to hike this summer because of all the trail/forest closures related to the Waldo Canyon fire. This morning my friend and I hiked the middle and upper Columbine Trail in North Cheyenne Canyon and it was SO beautiful! I've actually found several amazing hikes this summer that I probably never would have if I hadn't had to look for new terrain. It's good to shake things up every so often, right?

Isn't that so beautiful? The two deer in the picture below were SO close to the trail and they weren't the least bit afraid of us. I hate my picture turned out so blurry.

When we were in Santa Fe last week we made a trip to Trader Joe's and I stocked up on some of our favorite TJs products. I also found a few new things to try including blue corn tortillas. YUM. I used them in my very favorite enchilada recipe last night and they were quite possibly the best enchiladas I've ever made. Corn tortillas usually fall apart when I roll enchiladas but these were PERFECT. I don't know if it was the blue corn tortillas or if it was because I finally found a good method for flash-frying them. Regardless, they were perfect and delicious.

I think one of the things I despise about the end of summer is the MOUNDS of paperwork. The high school(s) send a link with all of the student forms that need to be printed and completed before student processing (which is next week--blech) and each grade level packet is 40+ pages. Thankfully, I don't have to print every single page, but I have to print a whole lot of them and then fill them out. YUCKO. I despise paperwork. Despise it. I also dread the onslaught of paperwork that accompanies the first weeks of school. It's slightly overwhelming to keep up with all of that for three kids and three different schools. 

We're going to try to squeeze in another pool day and maybe some hiking next week--in between XC practices, some back-to-school shopping (we're not buying much until fall actually arrives), student processing, company arriving, and one last summer getaway. Summer is winding down and I'm very very sad, but I'm thankful that we still have some fun days left to enjoy to the fullest. Peace out, peeps. Enjoy your weekend!

Chatter

Right now my house is way too quiet. Will is away at camp, John is at work, and the girls are still sleeping. Our plans for the day (the pool with friends) fell apart at the last minute due to the weather so I'm enjoying a very leisurely post-walk breakfast. I'm savoring it. I see many not-so-leisurely days in the very near future!

I've got a little chatty list going...

1. I had a free Redbox rental code yesterday and decided about 7pm that the girls and I should rent The Help. I went to my nearest Redbox, got the dvd, came home, put on my pjs, got all comfy on the love seat, and then the stupid dvd wouldn't play--and I tried my laptop too with the same results. John told us we could order the movie from our on-demand cable but it wasn't available. I was so disappointed. I chatted online with a Redbox representative and got two free rental codes as compensation, but I was really in the mood to watch that movie last night. Oh well.

2. I bought some new athletic shoes on Saturday. I'm particularly fond of Brooks Cascadia. I've worn Brooks for as long as I can remember because they fit my narrow feet so well and this particular style is perfect for the kind of terrain I tackle daily. I was NOT very fond of the only color option available. I texted John this pic on Saturday after I bought them.

They are an obnoxious blue and turquoise. Obnoxious. But I bought them because I'm brand loyal and they're tried and true. I'm hoping the trail dust will tone down the turquoise. 

3. I am getting really excited about football. Razorback football. NFL football. High school football. Fantasy football. You name it, I'm ready for it. 

4. I'm reading The Weird Sisters right now and I really like it. My friend, Kelly, recently asked me how I choose books. Honestly? I have no real method. I rarely buy books, but when I'm at the library I generally look for a title or cover to grab me. If one of those two appeal to me, I'll usually read the front flap and add it to my check-out pile or reject it immediately. I end up rejecting way more than I choose. Sometimes I'll read a book based on recommendations. A friend mentioned The Weird Sisters one evening while we were out walking and a few days later I saw it mentioned in a magazine at my hair salon. I stumbled upon it (quite by accident) on my last library trip and was intrigued by the title so I checked it out. How do YOU choose books? Read any good ones lately?

5. I started this post over an hour ago (in between loads of laundry, a text conversation, and bites of breakfast) and now one of my girlies is up and my morning isn't so quiet. She's telling me (in gory detail) about a show on Animal Planet called Infested. She just told me she doesn't think she can ever watch that show again. I think I'm about to lose my breakfast. Adios, friends. :)

Monday musings

I need summer to slow down. We still have two complete weeks before school begins but they're going to fly by. Especially next week. I'm starting to feel sad. I wish summer lasted longer. Sigh.

We sent Will off to cross-country camp in Winter Park today. I'm afraid that kid is in for a rude awakening. We've been trying to get him to run all summer and he's protested wildly, just like you'd expect a 15-year-old boy to do. He's hit the trail half a dozen times in the last three weeks but they're going to be running 60 minutes a day (at a much higher altitude) this week. I'm pretty sure he's going to wish he'd listened to his mother. But I'm also sure he'd never admit that.

After we dropped him off for camp, the girls and I went to buy school supplies. I'm happy to report that we got everything on our list at ONE store. That might be a back-to-school miracle. My two high-schoolers don't get a supply list until the first day of school so we bought some things they anticipate needing + some things that are always hard to find once school has begun. Keep your fingers crossed that we got everything covered.

Last week we went to Santa Fe for a few days. John had to go for work and agreed to let us tag along. We LOVE Santa Fe. It's one of our favorite places to visit and the food isn't so shabby either. Green chilies, anyone? I asked John to try to find a hotel close to the plaza with an outdoor pool and a free breakfast and man, did he deliver! It was perfect. And relaxing.

 Our fabuloso hotel!

Waiting for dinner at The Shed. We hit most of our favorite dining spots and even added a new one that will join our favorites list!

(CanNOT wait for TJ's to open in Colorado!)

Two of my more observant friends have noticed that I'm no longer on Facebook and have emailed me about it. The night we returned home from Santa Fe, I deactivated my account. It's not permanent and I'll be back but I just needed a break from some of the noise in my life. I want to be intentional about enjoying these last weeks of summer without distractions, and if I'm honest, Facebook is a huge distraction. I often joke that it creates ADD-like characteristics in me but joking aside, it's true. I already feel more focused and definitely more free (not to mention productive)!

Alrighty. Gotta get a few things crossed off of today's list so we can play tomorrow! Y'all have a great week. 

OH, if you want to cheer for our local friend in the Olympics, today is her qualifying round for the Women's 1500M on Friday. I don't know if it's televised this afternoon or tonight (or even at all) but watch for Jenny Simpson. Today is the qualifying round, Wednesday is the semi-final, and Friday is the final. GO JENNY, GO!

I'm not in my twenties anymore...

In my mind, I feel a lot younger than I actually am.

Sometimes I look at my two teenagers (who are both taller than me) and wonder how they can be as old as they are if I'm so young. That usually jolts me back to the reality that I'm in my forties. Granted, I'm in the low forties but I've crossed the line nonetheless.

I'm also reminded of my age from time to time when I take a tumble.

Yesterday some friends and I hiked the Incline.

The Incline is a killer workout and one of my favorites--though I'm not willing to concede that I actually like it until I'm at the top and headed back down.

On our descent down a very crowded Barr Trail, I slid and fell. O-U-C-H.

Today I'm feeling it. My right leg is scraped up, my knee hurts, and my right arm and shoulder are super sore from trying to catch myself when I went down. Ugh.

I'm feeling every bit of forty-two today. Sigh. I suppose I am only twenty-something in my mind. Now, where's the ibuprofen?

Yesterday was not the first time I've fallen on the trail down from the Incline. I busted it on New Year's Day when John and I basically slid down Barr Trail on a sheet of ice (ummmmm, that was NOT a shining moment for two forty-something adults).

I've been wondering what kind of damage one could see from the Waldo Canyon fire from atop the Incline. Turns out not much. The Incline is actually very close to Waldo Canyon, but it's so close that you really can't see too much. If you want to know what you CAN see, then you'll have to hike up there yourself. That is if you can talk your twenty-something-year-old self into it. Grin.

Lazy Saturday

We're having a super lazy Saturday. The kids and I have played hard this week and we're all feeling slothful today. I love the ultra laid back pace of summer weekends. Also love that we don't have anything we have to do today.

How about some random nothingness today?
I bought a new cap this week and I love it! I kinda have a thing for caps/hats. I love wearing them. You can't really see the purple flower on the side but it's really fun! Actually you can't even tell how cute the cap is from this picture. You'll just have to trust me.

We stayed up so late last night watching the Olympic opening ceremonies. As usual I thought it was a little weird--I just don't get all the artistic interpretation--but also very interesting. My favorite part is when the athletes parade into the arena. Seeing their smiles is amazing and heartwarming and I feel so happy for all of them--especially the athletes from tiny countries! What an honor to represent your country at the Olympics.

I downloaded a free Olympic app for my iPhone to keep up with events, schedules, athletes, and medal counts. It even lets me watch events live (through my cable provider) and I'm pretty jazzed about that since we're taking a somewhat impromptu road trip this week to one of my favorite places and I'll be able to watch while we're on the road! Yay! The app doesn't have great ratings but I've had no problems with it whatsoever. 

Fair warning: Y'all might get tired of me talking about the Olympics. 

We have a little more than three full weeks of summer left. BOO! I feel the need to pack the remaining weeks with as much fun as I possibly can and cross a few more things off of my summer list. I am NOT looking forward to structured days and crazy schedules. I'm going to have kids at three different schools again this year (and for the foreseeable future) and that means that my mornings and afternoons are pretty nuts. I'm grateful that I get to be the one to take them/pick them up every day but it does get a little hectic sometimes. Will is old enough to get his driver's permit but he has shown zero interest in it so we haven't really pushed him. I'm hoping he comes around soon. I've gotta admit that I will be happy when he can help out with some of the driving around here.

That's about all I can think of right now. My patio, my favorite outdoor chair, my newest Southern Living magazine, and a glass of ice water are calling my name this morning. Peace out, peeps.

The Flip Side

I know I sound like a broken record when I say that I love summer. I really really really do and I've always loved making summer fun and special for my kids. Since they were little I've tried to make summer a time that is markedly different than the rest of the year. I've planned crafts and baking projects, trips, outings, fun activities, playdates, etc. You name it, I've done it. And I've loved every minute of it! 

Last summer something shifted. The bottom line? My kids are growing up. Things that have always been a part of our summer were met with mixed reactions. I heard words like "We're too old for that, Mom", "Do we have to do that? Do we have to go?", "Mom, this really isn't fun for us anymore". Honestly, the realization that things are changing makes me sad. I've had to shift my focus a bit and let go of things that feel important to me. I've had to lengthen my mom-tether a bit.

BUT...

I had an "aha" moment this week. The flip side to them growing up and saying good-bye to beloved summer outings and projects and "kiddie-fun" is that we get to have new kinds of fun--without me being stressed! We went to Elitch Gardens with some friends on Wednesday and I wasn't constantly counting and corralling kids. I mean yeah, I kept my eye on them but it wasn't H-A-R-D like it used to be and I didn't come home and want to collapse in an exhausted heap. It was great! 

We've been to the pool a lot and I've been able to sit and chat with friend while keeping an eye on them. I can get in the water if I want or I can lounge on my chair. Gone are the days that I'm constantly holding on to a kid or trying to keep three afloat. Gotta say it's NICE!

I've also been able to squeeze in my hikes in the mornings while they're still sleeping. Win-win. They get to sleep in and I get my outdoor fix yet am home in time to make them breakfast and spend the day with them. 

I'm definitely liking the flip side of things more and more.

They've still asked to do some of our usual summer fun stuff. Like camping in the backyard. Watching movies at night on the patio. Swimming. Hiking (okay, they haven't asked me to take them hiking but they've been somewhat agreeable to going). Going to the Rock House for ice cream. And to Sonic for happy hour. I can live with that!!! My hope is that they will look back on these days and have very happy memories of childhood summers. 

 Yeah, we have to bundle up to watch movies outside at night. LOVE evenings in Colorado!

 We hiked Seven Bridges last week with some friends (a LOT of friends actually). Great hike, great company. 

 Abbey and her friend at Groovy Hippie Paint Day at Paint the Town. FUN place! 

 I braved Elitches with the kids. Amusement parks aren't usually my favorite thing but we all had a GREAT day. I liked the water park the best. 

This was Abbey's first roller coaster ride (and according to her, it was also her LAST). So thankful for my friend Heather who took my girls on this ride. I am not a fan of roller coasters!

Team USA

I've always loved the Olympics. Aside from the 4th of July, I can't think of anything that inspires my sense of patriotism and awe like the Olympic games. In case you've been living under a rock, the opening ceremony for the 2012 London Olympics is tomorrow! Gotta say that I'm VERY excited about these games. I usually prefer the winter games over summer, but I really love gymnastics and track and field events. This year, we actually know someone who is IN the Olympics! Jenny Barringer Simpson is a local (so y'all cheer extra hard for her!) and she and her husband are involved with our area Young Life organization. She's running the Women's 1500M and could be a medal contender. Knowing someone makes watching that event so much more awesome! Go Jenny!

Last week the girls and I went with some friends to check out the the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. We've lived here for almost nine years yet we'd never been. My friend and I thought that since the games were so close we might have a great chance of seeing some athletes/teams training.

The only team we saw training was the women's wrestling team. I believe the tour guide said that this is the first year that women's wrestling has been an Olympic sport.

I definitely wouldn't add the OTC to my "Top 5 things to do in Colorado Springs" BUT if you have time to check it out, it's interesting, informative, and FREE. I loved the short film at the beginning of the tour and I loved the flags of all the Olympic nations that lined the walkways around the complex. The grounds are beautiful and the facilities are impressive but I guess I really hoped to see more athletes. Maybe they'd already left for London? Who knows.

One interesting thing I learned while there is that they Olympic Training Center has a torch on the top of the building that stays lit while the games are in session. I think it would be cool to see that lit at night! We might have to drive down that way just to check it out over the next few weeks.

This seems to be the summer that I'm crossing things off my "I've never done that" list so I'm glad we checked it out! Now, let the games begin!

Currents:::July

Current Books: Guess what? I finally seem to have my reading groove back! Here's a list of what I've read/am reading: The 19th Wife, Little Bee, No Matter The Cost (more about this in another blog post), The Art of Neighboring. Seems like I'm forgetting something...

Current Playlist: My girls are One Direction crazed right now and I like their stuff so that gets a lot of playtime. I listen to almost anything/everything that my kids like with a few exceptions--Maroon Five/Adam Levine. Ick. Cannot stand his voice.

Current Color: Hmmmm...lately I'm loving the aqua color of the pool!

Current Smell: Sunscreen and chorine...ahhh two of my favorite summer smells.

Current Drink: Water. John asked me the other day if I missed coffee. Can't say I do. I've been caffeine-free for 14 months. I do occasionally drink a diet coke, but it's pretty rare. If I want soda with a meal I drink Zevia.

Current Food: I love that each season of the year lends itself to different types of cooking. Here are some new favorite recipes we've discovered this summer.

Turkey-Provolone-Pesto Sandwiches

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Gazpacho 

And I'm trying Buffalo Chicken Tacos tonight!

Current Favorite Favorite: HIKING! So many trails, so little time.

Current Wish List: An exercise ball.

Current Needs: I need a new television series to watch on DVD/Netflix. Suggestions?

Current Triumph: I don't want to jinx things and say that I have my blogging groove back too, but I do at least have several things that I want to blog about right now. That's a huge improvement over the last few months when all I could do was stare at the computer screen when I sat down to blog. 

Current Annoyance: I actually have a blog post in my draft folder of things that annoy me. However when I look at that list of (valid) annoyances I feel petty and shallow for letting those things get to me. So....I'm gonna let that draft be my "venting place" and keep things positive on the blog. :)

Current Indulgence: A daily nap. Even better if it's outside in the sun!

Current Mood: Relaxed

Current Blessing:  Last night after dinner, John and I got up from the dinner table and our kids lingered there for a bit longer telling stories and laughing with each other. I was listening to them from the other room and it made me smile. They seem to really love and enjoy one another and it is a blessing I don't take for granted.

Current Outfit: My summer uniform--capris, t-shirt, flip flops. 

Current Excitement: We have a dinner with friends coming up this week that I'm looking forward to. And I'm also really excited about THE COLOR RUN next month. A group of friends and I are doing it together and I can't wait. 

Current Link: Homemade Puffy Paint. Going to try this with the girls as soon as I hit Costco for salt and flour.

Summer Snapshots

It's no secret that I love summer. I don't know if it's the complete lack of schedule or the unhurried rhythm of our days but there is something so relaxing and peaceful about this season of year. I sometimes wonder if I'll feel this way when my children are grown and our lives don't revolve around the school calendar. Something tells me it will always be my favorite...

Besides haircuts, physicals, dental appointments and all those things I try to knock out during the summer we've been trying to have as much fun as possible.

We've been checking out new places...

The girls and I stopped by Squeak Soda Shop one day last week after someone told me they serve shaved ice. I've been trying to find a snow-cone/shaved ice place after consuming one-a-day while on vacation. It was a cute place and the shaved ice satisfied my craving! The soda shop is really close to the Waldo Canyon burn scar so on the way there we saw quite a bit of the fire's devastation. I couldn't keep the tears from falling...it's pretty hard to take it all in. We saw where the fire came to the end of some friend's street and stopped. There are signs everywhere thanking all the firefighters and first responders. It's a pretty humbling scene. One that locals won't soon forget.

Yesterday we hiked up to the top of Castle Rock. We didn't go to the very top (no trail) but we got up as far as the trail took us and looped around the giant rock formation. I bribed the girls with a trip to the pool afterwards. They're not big hikers but this was a short, easy hike and not only have we now officially crossed it off of our bucket list but they have bragging rights! I told them every time we drive past that big rock formation on our way to Denver, they can look up and say they've climbed it. I'm pretty sure they were more excited about swimming than bragging rights.

We also celebrated Sarah's birthday last week! She had two friends join her for a little shopping excursion, dinner, and a sleepover. Our shopping trip included a stop for her favorite dessert--Pinkberry! She had a fun day and got a VERY nice gift from her sweet daddy. We usually let her pick a place to go for a fun birthday dinner out. I thought it was sweet that she wanted to wait until Will got back from camp and go out as a family even though we gave her the option of going without him. She's a beautiful, sweet, thoughtful, funny, responsible, caring, smart and wonderful 14-year-old and we are so thankful for our Sarah!

Will got home from Young Life camp on Sunday and I am very happy to have all my peeps at home this week. I've had three weeks of summer with only two kids at home and I've gotta say it feels strange. With two teenagers I think that could become more and more of my summer norm but I am happiest when all five of us are home together. Will has one more camp to attend this summer and after that it will be almost time to start thinking about school. Oops. Didn't mean to even voice that thought. 

Until then, I intend to milk every last drop of fun out of summer!