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.