Hills Kick Booty

I told Garrett I wasn't going to write this one, because it makes me look vulnerable and I don't like to think of myself that way.  Anyway, here goes.  Yesterday I really wanted to go for a hike.  I have wanted to go for the past month on a Monday when the boys are in school, but things just haven't worked out.  Well, it didn't work out yesterday morning either because it took all morning to get my new keys.  But I still wanted to go, so around 4:40 when we were all home I asked Gar if he would take care of the boys so I could go hike.  With the time change I knew it was still plenty light out and it was warm too so I went for it.  

The mile marker at the start said the hike was 5.1 miles.  I thought it would take around 1 1/2 hours, but had never done it before so I wasn't sure.  I was jogging at the beginning because it was fairly flat.  I even ran a little bit uphill, but as soon as the hills got bigger I barely could walk up the hills.  I tell you, hills kick my booty bad!  The whole reason for wanting to get out and hike is that I am planning on hiking Half Dome in June with my sister in law and some friends.  (I kindly invited myself along)  So, since hills are hard for me I know I need to get out there at least once a week.

To make this not so long of a story, I will cut to the good part.  I get to the top of the mountain and feeling good start jogging again.  I have to go slow because I am going downhill now.  Eventually I get to a part in the trail where I cannot see it continue.   There is only a stream and rocks and I start freaking out a little.  I estimated that I had gone about 3 or 4 miles and it was 6:10.  I then turned around and thought I was going to have to go all the way back the way I came, putting me back to the car around 7:15 or 7:30....which would be dark by then.  So as I headed up the hill I started freaking out more and called Garrett crying saying, "BLAH, BLAH, BLAH"  (I don't remember what I said exactly)  He said, "Well, maybe you should start jogging a little so you can make it out faster".  

I try to catch my breath and just do it, because what other option did I have.  Then these joggers passed me.  I hadn't gone far from the trail end so I put aside my pride and yelled to them after they passed, "Can you get out that way?"  One guy said yes, that you had to go through the rock and water, but the water is not high anymore.  So I followed them, back far enough to keep my distance, only a little bit of rock and water...not enough to get my shoes wet or anything.  Then the path open up and I could see the main road.  To think I was going to go all the way back around when I was almost done?!  I think it was around 6:40 when I got back to the main road, plenty of light still out and lots of people around.  It's not like I was in the middle of no where, it just felt like it at the time.  

What's the moral?  I don't know exactly.  But I know now that I won't start a hike in the evening again unless I know my way around it.  I tend to think I am a tough little gal, who doesn't get scared easily, but I know I am just as vulnerable as the next person and I do need to think safety first.  Even my "Fearless, Faithful, Female" shirt wont protect me from everything! :)

Monday Check In

Daylight savings time is going to throw a little wrench into my 6 a.m. runs.  Good thing I haven't been too consistent on this anyway!  So here's my rundown for the past week:

Mon. - 7

Tues. - 4

Wed. - 7

Thurs. -3

Fri. - 0

Sat. 7.5 (in Mammoth, with the altitude and hills....I think this should count as at least 10, but it was a run/walk)

Sun. - Skiing

Total - 28.5

Today I am hoping to go for a hike as soon as I get my new key made up.  Have a great Monday everyone!

P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E

Garrett and I just finished a six week bible study with a group from our church on the Fruits of the Spirit.  Most of you know that one of the fruits is patience.  As we studied this section we were learning how God is not going to just grant us patience when we ask us for it, but rather he will put us in situations that will help us to grow in this, putting us in places that we would typically be very impatient and have us work on trying really hard to be patient.  

Many people see me as a very patient person, and I typically am.....with people and kids other than my own.  I have all the patience in the world with the kids I work with, because I know that I see them for an hour and then they go home with their parents.  Anyway, this weekend we went to Mammoth for a quick getaway.   My patience was tested pretty much all weekend.  Saturday, just by a simple walk out to the golf course to go sledding.  I had my agenda: walk outside, get the sleds, walk to the golf course, sled.  Simple enough, right.  Kids always have their own agenda and sometimes I just have to learn that it is not always my way that is best.  After all I wanted them to be having fun in the snow, and they were.  They were kicking and punching the snow mounds.  They were climbing on top of the snow.  They were trying to find snow that was clean enough to eat.  And here's me in the background..."Do you guys want to go sledding?  Do you guys want to go sledding?  Come ON!"  Not very patient, huh?  

So we eventually got out there and managed to do a few runs.  The hills weren't as steep this time, but we still had some fun out there.  Zach really just likes to sit and eat snow, so I let him once we were out in the "good snow".  

(With the attitude in that video it's a wonder I made it through the day)

I thought I was taking more pictures, but I was using our new video camera and actually only got the one picture at the top of the post.  

So now we're back at home and just to add one more test of my patience...... I left my keys in Mammoth!  You may remember that I lost my keys several months ago.  I never found them and I was too cheap to get myself a new car key so I just took Garrett's and we have just had that one.  So now I really have to get a new key first thing tomorrow.  At least this time I know where my keys are, they are just about 5 hours away from me.

Fun Thursday

Zach, Dodger, and I had a great morning together.  We walked over to the park and were able to have the whole place to ourselves.  Dodger had fun running around off the leash.  Zach had fun digging like Dodger in the sand.  On the way back home we stopped by the "dry creek" and let Dodger play in the water.  Zach had a blast being a boy, getting dirty, and throwing rocks and sand into the creek.  Another fun time of not having things planned out and just going with the flow.

The Watch

Mornings around here are not the most fun.  Mostly because I am constantly hounding Kevin on what to do next in order to get ready for school.  Well, yesterday we had a minor breakthrough.  We got a free watch out of the cereal box.  Kevin loves it and has taken to looking at it often to tell me what time it is.  So yesterday I told him we needed to be in the car by 8, and he needs to be in line at school by 8:15.  I've told him this probably 1000 times before, but now with the watch he was actually able to see it for himself.  We were in the car on time both yesterday and today, with very little pushing on my part!  Why hadn't I thought of this before?   

Meanwhile, Zach and I are spending the day at home.  I took him to the doctor yesterday for his lingering cough and found out he has a double ear infection.  Last night we were up several times and he has thrown up a few times too, I think because of he fever from his infections.  Hopefully the medicine will start working soon and he will feel better.  So the plan for today.... taking it easy!

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Yesterday the cub scouts went to San Pedro to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium.  We actually didn't spend a lot of time in the museum, but rather spent time at the tide pools. It was interesting seeing the boys reactions to the different things we saw.  It reflected their personalities as we would see each new thing.  Kevin, being more reserved and not interested in trying a lot of new things, would point something out and then immediately say, "Zach, you want to touch it?"  Zach, having a more adventurous spirit, was willing to touch anything and everything that he was presented with while Kevin watched on with a smile on his face.  

Those are some cute grunions.

Standing on the inside of a fish tank.

We found a little hermit crab.

And it's probably best that this guy who has a fear of fish was at the Lakers game instead!  :)

Monday Check In

Here's the run down for the past week:

Monday - 5.4

Tuesday - 4.6

Wed. - 4.0

Thurs. - 5.5

Fri. -0

Sat. - 10.2 (and I thought for sure it was around 11 or 12)

Sun. - 0

Total for the week:  29.7 (pretty close to my goal!)