Yesterday was a family/friends trip to Sparks Lake with paddleboards. What is amazing is the ability of the kids to jump on the boards and paddle around like pros.
Sparks was beautiful - it's a shallow, medium sized lake with lots of coves to explore. Towards the end of the day we found a great little sandy beach w picnic table that might have saved us from some cuts and screams. By the end of the day, however, even sandy shores could not offset exhaustion as Abby & Hayden simultaneously began wailing about separate injuries (one physical, one mental), bring the idyllic mood back to reality.not
We have misplaced the camera's battery charger, thus the lack of photos.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Grit Clinic
While Jeff was spending the time (3 wknds ago) with the kids at Elk Lake, I was at a women's mountain bike skills clinic here in Bend called Grit Clinics. I have no pictures which is probably best, as I fell a number of times, one of which occurred in the middle of a flat field. How did I do that?!
The Grit Clinics are amazing - teaching basic mt biking skills, then progressing to riding skinnies, teeter totters, pop ups, wheelies, and descending stair! Holy moly! Me, the biggest chicken on wheels, doing things like that!! All done with great instructors and lots of encouragement, of course.
When I posted a few weeks ago about Elk Lake, I was waiting for an ortho appt to have my knee examined, assuming a meniscus tear or bone bruise (from the amazing fall in the middle of the flat field). After the appt last week and confirmation via physical exam of probable meniscus tear, I was set for an MRI. Then, the next day, my knee pain disappeared. Completely. For you PTs, I think the PA ended up mobilizing the meniscus during the repeated McMurray testing. One of those "I'm not sure what you did but you fixed me thank you very much" moments.
The Grit Clinics are amazing - teaching basic mt biking skills, then progressing to riding skinnies, teeter totters, pop ups, wheelies, and descending stair! Holy moly! Me, the biggest chicken on wheels, doing things like that!! All done with great instructors and lots of encouragement, of course.
When I posted a few weeks ago about Elk Lake, I was waiting for an ortho appt to have my knee examined, assuming a meniscus tear or bone bruise (from the amazing fall in the middle of the flat field). After the appt last week and confirmation via physical exam of probable meniscus tear, I was set for an MRI. Then, the next day, my knee pain disappeared. Completely. For you PTs, I think the PA ended up mobilizing the meniscus during the repeated McMurray testing. One of those "I'm not sure what you did but you fixed me thank you very much" moments.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Scout Lake
Yesterday we met up with the Tacoma cousins and Grandma for some swimming at Juniper, then kayaking/SUP at Scout Lake (Just west of Sisters near Suttle Lake).
Side note: Soba Noodle Cafe in Sisters is closed. Poppy, also in Sisters, is closed on Mondays. Angelina's is a nice little cafe with delicious baked goods (not so good polenta pizza) and outdoor seating.
For those familiar with Abby (and me), open water is not our favorite thing. However, Abby surprised us all by climbing into a kayak and paddling out about 50'! Then... she piled onto the back of the paddleboard with Kaitlyn and Hayden and proceeded to SWIM (with lifejacket) in open lake water. Wearner family, if you are reading this, please recall the fearful girl hoovering on the shore of Hayden Lake for a week, unwilling to even touch a toe in the water! THEN... she commandeered the paddleboard and, with Kaitlyn as a passenger, stood up and paddled out into the lake. I think that credit must be given to Kaitlyn, who bravely made the first jump off into the lake and swim, followed by Hayden. Their encouragement must have made a big impact on our little girl.
Side note: Soba Noodle Cafe in Sisters is closed. Poppy, also in Sisters, is closed on Mondays. Angelina's is a nice little cafe with delicious baked goods (not so good polenta pizza) and outdoor seating.
For those familiar with Abby (and me), open water is not our favorite thing. However, Abby surprised us all by climbing into a kayak and paddling out about 50'! Then... she piled onto the back of the paddleboard with Kaitlyn and Hayden and proceeded to SWIM (with lifejacket) in open lake water. Wearner family, if you are reading this, please recall the fearful girl hoovering on the shore of Hayden Lake for a week, unwilling to even touch a toe in the water! THEN... she commandeered the paddleboard and, with Kaitlyn as a passenger, stood up and paddled out into the lake. I think that credit must be given to Kaitlyn, who bravely made the first jump off into the lake and swim, followed by Hayden. Their encouragement must have made a big impact on our little girl.
Monday, August 08, 2011
Elk Lake
Let's just take a moment for me to express a few words about my husband: Kind, Generous, Amazing. I say this because he volunteered to watch the kids for a weekend (plus 2 more on Sat) while I spent 2 days at a women's mountain bike camp. More on that later.
On Sunday he met up with our Washington friends who we see more in Oregon now at Elk Lake, that magical place. I can't add many comments because I don't know what went down, except for some unusual canoeing skills demonstrated by Jeff. Reference above: Amazing.
On Sunday he met up with our Washington friends who we see more in Oregon now at Elk Lake, that magical place. I can't add many comments because I don't know what went down, except for some unusual canoeing skills demonstrated by Jeff. Reference above: Amazing.
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Splash N Dash 2011
The kids version of the Deschutes Dash (a triathlon) is called Splash N Dash. Nothing too strenuous and a whole lot of fun with ice cream and a medal at the end.
Hayden made the front page of the Bend Bulletin for his run out of the obstacle pool!
Hayden made the front page of the Bend Bulletin for his run out of the obstacle pool!
Warming up for the race...
...even stretching the face a little!
Hayden down the slide...
...through the obstacle course and on to the bridge...
...catch that runner...
...and a victory smile!
Abby's age group had an extra obstacle tunnel to crawl through...
...and a jam-up in the obstacle course...
...but she made it through (twice)...
...and ran to the finish line!
The chilly finishers and in line for ice cream!
Abby decides it was her last June "tri." Warmer temps are needed for next time.
Cuppa Yo
Cuppa Yo, a self-serve frozen yogurt shop (with TOPPINGS!!!), has become a favorite of the kids. Does anyone remember TCBY? In college, that was the place to go for a treat. There or the Iceberg drive-in. Anyhow, I thought TCBYs had disappeared back in the 90s... until I took wrong turn, ended up in Gresham and rolled past what appeared to be an operating TCBY shop. Same logo. It must be the only TCBY to have survived the froyo decline and anti-carb movement.
Nana and Papa visited/worked/unpacked and were treated to the delights of Cuppa Yo (much better than TCBY, by the way).
Nana and Papa visited/worked/unpacked and were treated to the delights of Cuppa Yo (much better than TCBY, by the way).
"Well, let me tell you..."
"Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?"
Abby's Recipe: gummy bears, m&ms, fruit loops, Capn Crunch, chocolate sprinkles, chocolate sauce... and some chocolate froyo waaaayy at the bottom.
"Look! We ate almost all of it!"
Sagebrush Street Fair
On an unusually chilly day, we hit the Sagebrush Street Fair. Sagebrush is a week of events that benefit hundreds of local nonprofits; a really innovative way to consolidate fundraising while making sure that money is spread to large and small organizations.
The food options were great... for Jeff. I had the one fish dish (can't remember what it was!) and Jeff had a shrimp something or other. The kids had ice cream cookies, quite possibly the most decadent ice cream cookies they have ever tasted. Chocolate chip cookie with toffee ice cream between, rolled in toffee chunks. And bacon. Oh, yes, the bacon. Forgot about the bacon. The kids said they liked the "peanuts" on the outside. Sure, kids. You've tasted the other side. Stripples will forever fall short.
The food options were great... for Jeff. I had the one fish dish (can't remember what it was!) and Jeff had a shrimp something or other. The kids had ice cream cookies, quite possibly the most decadent ice cream cookies they have ever tasted. Chocolate chip cookie with toffee ice cream between, rolled in toffee chunks. And bacon. Oh, yes, the bacon. Forgot about the bacon. The kids said they liked the "peanuts" on the outside. Sure, kids. You've tasted the other side. Stripples will forever fall short.
"Ice cream cookies!!"
"Oh, that's good!"
Jeff enjoys some shrimp
Model Magic
Abby discovered Model Magic at the High Desert Museum camp, so a large bucket of it was purchased and imaginations ran wild. Despite seeing only snippets of Star Wars they were able to recreate a scene (I think - haven't actually watched the movies) using Model Magic. Not sure how the dragons fit in.
The Millinium Falcon is in there somewhere.
Luke Skywalker (what a pretty-boy)
Princess Lea chained to Bubbafet (?)
Dragons
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