Today I officially begin my self guided journey in understanding Yoga and learning how to incorporate it in my everyday life.

I began practicing yoga 18 months ago in a small studio just 2 miles from my home. At first it was scary and awkward but I had pre-paid for an entire year of classes so I was committed. During the first month it was difficult for me to find the time to go to class; responsibilities of being a wife and mother were getting in the way. For the next month, the studio instituted a challenge to encourage all us Yogis to attend more classes. It was February and the theme of the challenge was ‘Self Love’.   I found myself going 5-6 days a week for the entire month. It didn’t take long for me to start feeling the positive effects the classes were having on my mind and body. The postures (asanas) weren’t too difficult in my beginner class but I found that the standing poses were almost unbearable. My feet hurt so bad from what I think was planterfaciatus and my lack of balance was embarrassing...but I didn’t give up.. I had 10 months of pre-paid classes left. After the second month of Yoga, I found myself craving it and looking forward to going to class. Sooner than I expected, I stopped worrying about what others in my class were doing or what I looked liked, I just focused on myself and my own journey of self improvement. I found myself closing my eyes and focusing on how I felt, listening to my instructor and really trying my best. Every month I could see and feel more improvement in my physical and mental health. The aches and pains that had slowed me down for 4 years had vanished. In May, my husband and I celebrated our 25th anniversary in Sonoma California - I took my yoga mat with me and continued my practice. Yoga was officially a permanent part of my life.

My next level - reading these back to back:

  

‘It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.’ ~Ernest Hemingway

I purchased my first mountain bike 13 years ago when we moved back to Colorado. It was love at first sight. I couldn’t wait to take it for a ride. My first ride was on the streets in my neighborhood. It was like flying. The wind in my hair as I flew down the hill past houses, parked cars, children playing, dogs barking. It was amazing. I was in love. But then it was time to head back home. As I made a u-turn to make my way back, I could see the hill staring down at me, almost laughing at me. I didn’t let it intimidate me, I stood up on my pedals and started pedaling as fast and as hard as I could. If I was going to make it back home, I needed to get a good start. So far, so good. I made it past two houses before my legs started burning, my heart started pounding. My pedaling became slower and slower. I was breathing so hard that I couldn’t speak. I could feel my face getting red. Soon it was too difficult to pedal; I had stopped moving. I put a foot down to catch myself from falling over. Had I made a bad choice? Was I not cut out for biking? As I walked my bike back to my house, many discouraging thoughts passed through my mind. I had to decide what I was going to do. Then I thought of my best friend. He would be waiting at home to hear how my ride went. That’s when I knew I couldn't give up.

Needless to say, I got back on my bike. Each day I rode, it not only became easier, it became more fun. I discovered that there is much more to riding a bike than just pedaling. There is so much adventure to be had. We spent the summer exploring everything there is to seen by bike in and around our neighborhood. We rode through tall grasses, along creek banks, we even found a homemade pump track. I felt like a kid again. We only had Saturdays to ride together but I spent everyday riding on my indoor trainer just so that I could get stronger and be ready to explore when Saturday came.

It’s been 13 years, 3 bikes and 2 more kids since that first daunting ride/walk up the hill. We have explored hundreds of miles of trails together. We’ve been all over the Colorado foothills, the Rocky Mountains, Moab’s Slick Rock, through tall Sequoias in the high Sierras of California, down fast single track after a leisure lift ride to the top. We've experienced mud, snow, ice, sand, boulders, roots, streams and horse manure. I’m not sure there is anything we haven’t experience on our bikes but if there is, I plan on finding it, with my best friend.

Ryan,

Thank you for the best 19 years of my life. Thank you for always encouraging me and never giving up on me (and for changing my tires.) Thank you for always being there, excited to hear how my ride went.

I love you more than you can ever know.

Here's to many more years of adventure and mud. mmmm, mud.

What will the next ten years bring? As I reflect back at the last ten years I realize that there were a lot of surprises that I would not have predicted.

• We went in to 2000 with two children and came out with four. -Rosemary was born at the end of 2000 and was our 'last' child - then, halfway through the decade, we were blessed with our bonus baby, Sage.
• I bought my dream car, sold it and bought it back again.
• We bought our first home and moved to Castle Rock.
• Ryan switched careers from Psychology to Technology.
• Ryan and I both got serious about mountain biking.
• I, for the first time in my life, began running and was running 5 miles a day the year before Sage came along.
• My parents lived in our basement for a year.
• Chelsea lived with us for a year.
• We hosted a foreign exchange student for a year.
• We mostly finished our basement.
• We finally took the kids to Disney World - three times.
• Ashley began playing tennis and is on her HS tennis team.
• Lauren and Rosemary were admitted to the gifted and talented program in school and have read more books than I have my whole life.
• Lauren completed her first triathlon.
• We laid 2,000 sq feet of hard word.
• Ryan finally got a set of real speakers.
• Tammy finally got a real rock and a real sewing machine.
• Ashley got her drivers permit.
• Lauren broke her head and her arm - at different times.
• Rosemary got to ride in an ambulance.
• The Osbornes got a family dog.
• I had foot surgery - THREE times.
• Ryan had dual hernia surgery, mouth surgery and broke his collar bone - all in the same year.
• All of my family lives in Colorado at the same time.
• We lost Aaron.
• I gained the title of 'Vice President'.
• I was nearly laid off from my job.
• I work from home full time
• Ryan and I both reconnected with our exes.
• We were in the biggest snow storm of the century.
• We went to the temple with 3 of my nephews.
• Ryan turned 40.

My favorite technology advances:

• HD/Flatscreen TVs
• Flat Screen computer monitors
• Wireless networks
• iPhone (I LOVE MY iPhone) & 3G network
• USAA deposit from home
• Ability to work from ANYWHERE
• Social networking via the internet.

What do I hope for from the next 10 years:

Ryan will ride the Leadville 100 and get a belt buckle.
Tammy will run the Boulder Boulder every year.
Tammy will complete a triathlon before her 41st birthday.

This is the painting that made me cry.

Busy Summer...

We have had a terrific summer.

We went camping at Turquoise Lake (over 10,ooo feet high). We took Grandma and Grandpa with us. We were so glad we had Grandma with us, she was prepared for anything and everything. She set up the coolest outdoor kitchen I've ever seen. Grandpa helped Burke to to catch his first fish! It rained a lot while we were there but we were prepared so it didn't slow us down at all. The best part of all was the Reagans suprising us for a day.






Over Labor Day weekend, we went to Utah to visit Ryan's family. We stayed at Reese & Rich's house. It was so nice. I felt like I was at a spa. Their basement is beautiful; it's inspiring Ryan and me to finish ours. On Saturday we had a BBQ at their house and his Nana, aunts, uncles and cousins came. Mom & Dad even flew out from Indiana. On Saturday morning just the 'Girls' (Reese, Mom, Ashley, Lauren & me) sneaked up to Midway to the Swiss Days festival. That was so much fun. Lots of fun things to look at and buy. Oh, almost forgot, Rich and Reese took us out on their jet ski. What a blast. Ryan totally dumped us on our first trip out. Thanks to Reese and Rich for the great weekend!




In the middle of September, Ryan and I got away, just the two of us, to Oregon. Our friends Patty & Dan tied the knot. The wedding was so beautiful. They were married in a Hazel Nut orchard. The colors we gorgeous. the weather was perfect and the bride was beautiful. I hope one of my girls get married in September so I can copy. While we were there, Ryan and I attempted to see as much of the Oregon coast as possible.


Now the kids are back in school and life goes back to normal ('Normal' being relative). Lauren and Rosemary have started in the gifted & talented program and Ashley has started high school - it will be a challenging year for them but they are doing awesome! Sage is loving grandmas house. She asks to go there every morning.

Chip of the old...

I found out today that I have souvenir from our ride to Bergen Peak - I chipped the hook of my Hamet bone in my left hand. Of course it's exactly where my hand needs to rest on my handle bars. It should stop hurting in a couple months. I don't even have a fun story to go with the injury. I had just lost my balance (probably due to lack of oxygen at the top of the mountain) and caught my self with my hand on a boulder. I had to ride all the way down the mountain with horrible pain - I thought I had broken my wrist. I just kept my hand firmly gripping the handlebar, not moving it all - it actually went numb so that it was tolerable. I couldn't shift because any hand movement would make the pain unbearable. I think Ryan and I, between the two of us, have seen all the specialists and Advanced Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.

I love life!

It's been a great week. Ryan and I have played like kids all week. We did a lot of biking, relaxed at the pool, ate ice cream, got a massage, even caught a 4 ft Rocky Mountain Bull snake (we lost it in my mom's backyard, oops).

I'm exhausted.

This was the most fun of all the days last week. Here's a picture of us about half way to the top of Bergen Peak. We thought we were almost to the summit, thinking this was a pretty easy ride, then a fellow biker came along with the bad news that we were only half way. It got really hard from there.


















I've also included a picture of the trail. Yes, we biked over a lot of rocks. I felt like I was in a rock tumbler. Coming down was the most fun.

To live or not to live...

To live or not to live - if that's the question, what's the answer? My dad has always been coined as a 'workaholic'. When I was growing up, he was an airline pilot who would be gone for weeks at a time. When he was home he didn't rest much. We lived on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains in Montrose, Colorado. A few of of the things I remember about my dad during my childhood include remodeling our century old home. I remember him stripping the wallpaper off the walls of my bedroom, pulling out old carpet, building an addition to the big red barn. He dug a lot of fence post holes, took care of our farm animals which included chasing llamas all over Spring Creek Mesa - good thing he was also a marathon runner! He loves hunting, especially on horse back. I've always thought of my dad as a true western Cowboy. He is crazy enough to eat off the same plate with a rattlesnake. That's what makes him so much fun.

My dad is 71 years old now but you wouldn't know it. I think age is 99% attitude (he has a lot of attitude). It's how old you feel that counts. We got him a Schwinn single speed bike for Father's day last month. He's been riding that bike all over the neighborhood. When I see him standing up on his pedals, pumping up the hills, I have a glimpse of the boy that was delivering newspapers 60 years ago. My dad hasn't changed much - just a little more cynical. He's always been determined to 'do', to keep going and to not give up. My dad was having chest pains while he was working last Thursday. Being the determined man that he is, he finished his job before taking himself to the hospital in Frisco. He then was rushed, via ambulance, down the mountain to Porter Hospital where he underwent his third heart procedure in 12 years. Within minutes of being in in Recovery, he was back on his cell phone taking care of work, orchestrating everything that needed to be done, making sure that he didn't let anyone down. Did I mention that this all took place on Independence Day. Ryan says he was celebrating his independence from Socialized Medicine.

So, back to my original question,'To live, or not to live' - My dad has chosen to live every day of his life. I heard him telling the nurse that it's quality of life not quantity that matters most to him. He wants to enjoy everyday because you never know when you'll run out of days. We might not all define 'The Good Life' the same way but I think we would all agree that we want it. Thank God I still have more days to share with my dad. I love my dad!

Brrrrr

Been very busy with the end of school happenings. Threw a Montenegrin style graduation party for Ana last week then drove to Montrose for Chelsea's Irish style graduation party this week. This picture was taken on Saturday during our drive over to Montrose, take notice of the girls' attire - Brrrr.

The Mother's Day that was an Eleven...

The perfect Mother's Day, thanks to the best husband and kids any mother could wish for...Homemade banana & blackberry pancakes in bed. Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. Everyone ready in time to walk to church together. Ryan gave the opening prayer. Lauren and Burke sang I Often Go Walking, with the other primary children, in Sacrament meeting. My favorite hymn, Families can be Together Forever, was the closing song (didn't even cry). Dinner was my all time favorite meal - Swordfish with black beans and rice - Done to perfection on the grill - yummmm. Hot out of the oven brownies and milk for dessert. Long family bike ride with pit stop at the park (72 degrees, blue sky, no wind). Refreshing, homemade banana and blackberry smoothies.

I'm not sure I deserve any of this but I enjoyed every minute of it. Life is great, I wouldn't change a thing! I LOVE MY FAMILY

My Mother

My mother, the cook,

My mother, the seamstress,

My mother, the artist,

My mother, the designer,

My mother, the hiker,

My mother, the jeweler,

My mother, the photographer,

My mother, the decorator,

My mother, the explorer,

My mother, the silversmith,

My mother, the home maker,

My mother, the gardener,

My mother, the gamer,

My mother, the supporter,

My mother, the camper,

My mother, the entertainer,

My mother, the caregiver,

My mother, walnut enthusiast,

My mother, the painter,

My mother, the gift giver,

My mother, gift receiver,

My mother, the teacher,

My mother, the peace maker,

My mother, the biker,

My mother, the butcher,

My mother, the baker,

Yes, even the candle maker.

My mother, my friend...

My mom can do anything and she does! I want to be just like her when I grow up.

Ryan 'hearts' Tammy...

It was written on the bathroom mirror with soap. Ahh, how sweet. Wait, this is Ryan we are talking about. You have to expect the unexpected from him (haven't you seen his blog?) This seemingly romantic gesture was no exception. The heart in 'Ryan - hearts - Tammy' was drawn anatomically correct. I'm not sure how to take this? I thought about returning the sentiment with a 'Tammy - lungs - Ryan' or a 'Tammy - livers - Ryan' but I wasn't sure how to draw either one of them and I didn't want him to mistake them for something that might send the 'wrong' message. I just politely smiled and told him how sweet he is then quickly hurried down the stairs to find some housework that needed to be done. I wouldn't trade him for anything.

Happy Birthday Mom

We celebrated my mother's 70Th birthday this past weekend. We (my dad, and all her posterity) gave her exactly what she wanted. Are you ready for this? She wanted a bicycle! The look on her face was priceless. She was as giddy as a school girl. She was so excited to hop on it she didn't bother putting on her shoes. The other ladies on the street came out to see her new ride - now they all want one too. The next day she surprised me when she rode to my house to pay us a visit. Of course, Sage and I saddled up and joined her for a ride around the block. Mom learned a couple of important lessons that day...

1) What goes down the hill must also go back up.

2) Tell your husband where you are going and how long you will be gone (or take your cell phone with you).

I love them, I really love them...

I couldn't have missed the kaleidoscope of tulips as I was pulling into the rec center's parking lot to pick up Ana. Of course I had to stop and take a picture. Click on the picture, the colors are amazing!

there she blows...

Sage surprised us with a pizza and watermelon volcano just before bedtime last night. Now all but Burke have had the pleasure of hosting the flu this week. He might be safe as he has been buried in his book all week minding his own business. Oh, the joys of parenthood...

tulips or not tulips...

my tulips...
captured beautifully by Ryan today (after it stopped snowing).

I love Colorado. The sun was out this morning - long enough for me to do another jaunt up the hill in my tennies. Then, as Ryan was picking up his other love (his bike) it started snowing. Yes, I know it's almost May but this is Colorado. You can't rule out snow until after Mother's Day weekend. After he and Lauren had already given up their bike ride to other Saturday adventures the sun came out again. That's when he was able to capture this lovely picture of my tulips. Thank you Ryan!

fall seven times, get back up eight...

Let's just say that taking up running again (after a three year break to have a baby and three ankle surgeries) is not as much fun as it sounds. It better be worth it. I picked the steepest hill by our house and proceeded to run up it at a pace I thought was fair. Hmm, it only lasted for one minute then I was back to walking. I alternated the running and walking in one minute intervals until I reached the top. Not an easy feat (even on my bike). Biking is the whole reason behind my madness. I live for biking, so why do I run? I want to be able to ride my bike up hills without getting winded - OK honestly, I just want to be able to make it up the hills winded or not. Ryan, my motivator and example, makes mountains look so easy. Ryan and I have a favorite single track trail near our house. He's always the considerate and motivating husband who allows me to set the pace so that we can enjoy the ride together - he loves me, he really loves me. However, the last time we went together I set him free to go at his own pace so he could get a good work out (I really just didn't want the pressure of him behind me but don't tell him that). Holy Cow - he not only left me in the dust he lapped me 2 times! The approach to the top of the mesa (where all the fun is) is a steady 3 mile climb with a horrible gut busting stretch right before the top that is impossible to ride - I would guess that only 1 percent of the riders can actually ride up the hill of death - Ryan is one of them! By the time I reached the top, pushing my bike, Ryan had already completed the 2 mile loop at the top so he rode the loop again, with me. Once we completed the loop together we decided to do it one more time before descending back down the hill of death to our car. Ryan jumped on his bike, patted me on my bum and took off in front of me yelling back to me - I'll catch you! I was puzzled... I yelled back to him 'but you're in front of me' and he said 'I know'. Then I realized what he was up to. He was going to try to lap me and catch up to me from behind. Great, here we go. I made it around the loop and down the hill of death and was about 50 feet from the car, the whole time wondering where he was, then I felt a tap on my shoulder and heard his deep voice 'caught you'. He did it, he lapped me! He did twice as many miles as me that day. That's why I run!

why did the cookie go to the doctor...

If I were a cookie I would be in small pieces stuck in between the cushions of the couch.