Hi there! It has definitely been a minute. Or 7 months, but who is counting. My absence has been due to a combination of needing a break from the social media/blog world and equal parts being overwhelmed by work and family doings. But…I thought I would try to sneak in and share a little be about our year and what we have been up to! (Plus I am procrastinating cleaning our office which gives me anxiety just mentioning it!)
The beginning of the year was jam packed. I took on teaching a general biology course which basically consumed most of my life. Between my normal online classes, an A and P course and gen bio, it was a struggle to find time for much else. Thankfully, we did find some time to play in the snow! Because things were still weird, we did not get ski passes last season. (We do have them already purchased for this coming winter, though-bring on the snow!) We did, however, purchase uphill passes. I had never tried the uphill ski thing (skinning), but wow-I totally fell in love. It is an absolute butt kicker of a workout. We spent many a morning earning our turns! Cant wait for this year!
We also got into skate skiing. Another killer workout. This one took a bit more practice to figure out, but both Ken and I ended up loving it. Brooke rocked her classic skis all winter.
Brooke also got pretty into climbing at the Hot Springs. Girl is braver than me!
As the snow melted, we took advantage of the trails being dry (it happened too fast!). Love hiking with these two!
We have had the opportunity to visit some neat places over the course of the year. This is at Gates of Lodore. So cool!
Brooke got a quad for her birthday. She has been having a blast ripping around.
Brooke turned 8 in June and requested a Harry Potter themed day. Cutest ever, I know, I am biased. 😉
Always be hiking-and finding places to cool off!
So cool.
We spent some time in early June in Wyoming camping with family. It was lovely to get away. I did about 70 miles of the 100 mile Dead Swede gravel race, but was dealing with some nerve issues (which we later discovered was due to a mis-sized saddle). Luckily, I had a support crew that found me out in the middle of nowhere! Still fun. 😉
Joined our friend, Brent to ride to the top of Mount Evans. Wow. What an experience. So hard, but so worth it. I definitely scored a ride partway down the mountain in the back of a pickup truck because it is EXPOSED and basically terrifying.
Jasper is just living his best life.
For 4th of July, we headed up to Flathead Lake in Montana to camp with my sister and her husband. We had an incredible time and did so many fun things!
Brooke was sure she needed to bring her horse, Parker, home with us.
We also took the time to drive up to Glacier National Park. It was amazing! I didn’t even cry as we drove up Going to the Sun road-but it was close 😉
Just spectacular.
Lots of lake time!
Maybe even some relaxing!
Camping on the way home. Never ugly.
As we were getting home, we saw the beginnings of the smoke from this fire. Not my favorite summer time staple. Luckily, the weather has been cooler and there has been decreased activity. Hoping for more rain.
And that is about it!
As far as exercise-I have ridden a LOT of miles this year. It has been amazing getting to ride with Ken. Brooke is at an age where we can leave her home (basically she tells us to go ride! ha) for a couple of hours. I have definitely gotten much better riding with him. I have decided that I am not currently into the bike race scene after everything that happened last year, so I skipped the Crusher this past weekend. I have started to incorporate a lot more running into my life (hello marathon in Sept.-looking at you!). Trying to find all the balance.
It has been nice to only have online classes this summer, but come August, I will have 2 online and then two in-person A and P courses. Better start getting on that prep!
If you made it this far, thanks for reading! Hoping to jump back in more regularly-especially as workouts progress. Someday I will figure out how to fit everything in….maybe 😉
Fit After Little Bits 
Yay, LeeAnn … you’re still alive! I was actually going to send you a FB message this evening because I had thought of you today while working. I am so glad you’ve had a busy start to the year. How is everything in the boat right now? My parents are heading out for a couple weeks in August to check in on the place and enjoy a little break from work. Any fun things for kids going on in AUgust? They are bringing my dad’s 8 year old goddaughter with them! 💜
Hi Lindsay! I know, right! Completely vanished for a bit there. haha. Things in the Boat are busy. Like kinda crazy. We tend to avoid going into town on the weekends. Everything is pretty much back to the norm. So fun that your parents are bringing your dad’s goddaughter! The river is closed to tubing because it has been so warm, but still fun to play on the shore. I believe the resort has activities open: mini golf, etc. Farmer’s Market on Saturday is always a hit-mainly because food 😉 We spend time chilling at Stagecoach or Steamboat Lake because it has been SO hot. Hoping to get some rain!!
Hope you are having a great summer!!
Oh gosh … I didn’t realize it had been so hot out there I am sure my parents will be glad that they had air conditioning installed a few years ago in their place because when they purchased it new, the original builders hadn’t felt the need to install AC as historically it usually didn’t get that hot BUT my parents do not do well with heat when sleeping and my dad’s goddaughter has autism and adhd and needs to be cocooned in her weight blankets to sleep and if she’s hot she’s a nightmare! Please tell me you guys have AC to keep cool?! It has actually been pretty warm here in MN this summer too but hopefully the fall will come early this year?! Do you have any favorite kids places to go beside the stagecoach or steamboat lake? Where’s your daughters favorite place to go eat, etc???
They will definitely be happy with their AC! We dont have AC, but luckily it cools off overnight. We have learned to leave windows open and then close them first thing in the morning and it stays cool in the house during the day. Thank goodness for that!
Hmmm, besides lakes and the activities up at the resort base, Brooke really loves to swim at the Hot Springs. We try to go in the mornings before it gets too warm. We have also been hiking on Emerald and Spring Creek. There is a place with mini gold and a maze right in town that is fun.
Brooke loves Mambo for their pizza (and we love their happy hour!). Mountain tap is also fun because they have so much outdoor seating to watch people wandering on Yampa!
SO GREAT TO SEE YOU “BACK AT THE BLOG”!!!! Really enjoyed the pictures!! (Brooke looked so grown up and cute in the “horse” picture!!)