Bicycling

Today was one of those....just perfect... kind of days. Aaron let me sleep in this morning and took the boys right down stairs, so that I could sleep, when they woke up.  He fed them and got them ready for the day.  When I heard Lydia cry...I went in and scooped her out of bed and nursed her in my room.  I just love that time with her.  It is absolutely the thing I will miss most when I wean her...I love the closeness and bonding time we have as she nurses, and I pray for her, tell her stories, etc.  After she nursed Aaron came and took her and let me sleep even longer...which I did...and he got her fed and ready for the day too!  When I got up, he told me that he was taking the boys to the park down the road...and handed me Lydia, who was ready for a nap.  I laid her down, did some quick clean ups of rooms upstairs, made myself breakfast...and ate it checking the internet, and got ready for my day...it was almost too quiet--almost...

Our plans for today were to go on a bike ride...a long one...so when the boys came home from the park (covered in mud from riding through mud/water puddles from last nights rain) and Lydia woke up...we headed off.  My awesome husband is a cyclist...he is fast, puts in lots of miles (he rides on his lunch hour at work with a group of guys) and a REAL cyclist. I, on the other had am not...so when I promised to ride with him this year, although he was pleased that we could ride as a family...he wasn't so thrilled that he really didn't get much exercise when I had to pull Lydia's trailer because he was pulling the boys...and I couldn't keep any speed up, or go as far. So, being the handy man that he is...he (and his dad) welded a contraption to put on the back of the boys trailer so that he could pull both at the same time...thus equalizing the effort he and I were putting out...and not slowing me down anymore than I already am!  Today was the first time we went on a long ride. Alone, or just with the boys, he rides on the country roads around our home...but together we drive to the bike trails, that used to be railroad tracks, about 40 minutes away.  We went there today and road 10 miles out...and 10 miles back.  It is a great trail, with lots of nature and quite a few travelers...so it doesn't feel too secluded.  We were doing good until, when we were beginning our ride back to the car....it started raining, and then the wind picked up--and was already at our faces...it was a hard ride back to the car.  All in all, it was a great day!  I am proud to say our overall mph...was almost 12 mph...and we didn't get too many mosquito bites (the swarmed whenever we stopped for the boys to take a potty break).  We even got to eat at one of our favorite new Mexican Restraunts--it has been hard to find a good authentic one in this new town!  We're ALL pooped and that is a very good thing!  Hope you had an amazing Saturday....one that was blessed with time together as a family, too! 

Love and Blessings,

Amanda

PS...I'll try to remember to snap a pic of the new trailer "train" sometime soon! 

Largest Loser

Ok...so at our old YMCA I participated in their Get-Fit Challenge and did well loosing some weight, and getting more in shape.  I have a LOT to loose, so after we moved here, I started going to the Y on Tuesday nights and riding a bike (I can watch The Biggest Loser and get some miles in).  Aaron convinced me to participate with him in the Tour De Doughnut this year, which is about 30 miles--and one day of the Hilly Hundred, which is about 50 miles.  He is also trying to cut time from his Century and has his own goals for the year.  Since about a week after we moved, I have been going to the Y and getting my miles in--and Aaron gets everyone in bed and works at home those nights.  Our new Y has a program similar to the other one I participated in, The Largest Loser, and I decided I needed the motivation.  Our first weigh in was this week and I was not looking forward to it.  The good news is that I had maintained my weight loss from the first challenge!  Yesterday was the fitness assessment and it was tough...I would compare it to the fitness testing you did in school--but in school I was much more in shape all of those years ago.  Then, I heard many people saying we'll see you in the morning--I thought that was strange, as the group I signed up for had classes every day, but in the evenings.  So, I decided I would ask...and...as luck would have it I was wrong! The classes are in the evening on Tuesday and Thursday and at 5:30, yes 5:30 in the morning Monday, Wednesday, and Friday...yuck! I have worked so hard to get my kids to sleep until 8 or 8:30 and was very disappointed in finding this out--however I am committed to the program, and it will probably be very good for me! So, this morning I rolled my already sore, behind out of bed to go to the Y when my alarm went off at 5:00--in the morning, just need to say that again for emphasis--in the morning.  We did some circuit training and it was good.  I came right home afterwards and then Aaron went to work. 

Yesterday was a better day temperature wise for us, it was finally in the 50's and we hooked up the bike trailer for Lydia and the boys pedaled their little hearts out for at least a mile after we had eaten our dinner.  They love their bikes and all I can say, is that it is a good thing they wear helmets, because they love to fall! They are sooo funny! Hope you had a productive, exercise filled week like we did! Have a blessed Easter!

Love and Blessings to you,

Amanda