Cabin Fever

We finally have it! The cabin is complete enough to use and although we have also been working to put on the finishing touches, it is nothing short of fabulous! We were able to spend the Fourth of July weekend there with our cabin partners and had an amazing time watching fireworks by the water and roasting marshmallows.

The following week we were able to join EJ's entire family for some boating, swimming, water skiing, biking and just plain old relaxation. I also became baker of rhubarb extraordinaire during the week which I must say worked out well for all. I made rhubarb crisp, cake, pie, bars, and if there was anything else, I've forgotten by now. This was all due to the massively overgrown rhubarb plant in my backyard that would have certainly gone to seed by the time we returned from the cabin. I didn't hear any complaints about all the baking.

Enjoy some pictures of our new addition (both the cabin and our niece!) and for those of you out of state, maybe it will be another temptation to come for a visit.

RATPOD

Okay, okay I know it's been a while, sorry about that. I guess after the marathon I preoccupied myself with finishing up the school year and settling into summer vacation mode. In lieu of boring you with the details of our last month (conference in Bozeman, skateboard and violin camp, housing and cabin projects, and playdates) I'll just start with current events.

Last weekend's event is one we look forward to every summer. It is called the RATPOD. I know this sounds like something involving rodents but it's not. RATPOD stands for Ride Around the Pioneers in One Day and is a benefit bike ride for Camp Mak a Dream a medical camp for children and adolescents fighting or surviving cancer. The ride starts and ends in Dillon, Montana covering 130 miles around the Pioneer Mountains. This was EJ's third RATPOD and although I would love to ride it (and will someday) I think I'll chalk up the marathon as my big spring event. Now, when I say this is a ride, I do mean RIDE not RACE. Here's the difference between ride and race. RACE: you work your butt off, take quick breaks (some possibly while still on your bike...if you know what I mean) and survive and refuel on goo and bar food. This was accomplished by EJ in the fall while racing in the LOTOJA (don't you love these acronyms?) RIDE: now in EJ's case, he still works his butt off while he's riding however...there is the breakfast stop with breakfast burritos, the lunch stop with live music, and the pie and ice cream stop before bringing it into the finish. I don't know how well this works for the gut, especially since advise given to me during marathon training was not to ingest anything during the race that I didn't train with but it seems to work. Again, it's a ride, no worries if your breaks require some digestion time (and appropriate relief time).

So, now that we have all that cleared up, I can tell you that we had a perfect weekend! We were lucky to be joined by Farfar and EJ2 (also know as EJ's bro) and the weather was amazing (as opposed to hail and a flat tire the first ride and cross winds the second).

Our weekend always starts with a spaghetti feed at the Elks Lodge which was accompanied by a favorite local band to set the mood. Ride day the boys and I usually attempt a fun outing like digging for crystals, exploring a fairly remote hot spring or roaming the nearby ghost town. This year we got to be part of ride day action as we shuttled Farfar so he could ride approximately 50 miles of the course...way to go Farfar! It was fun to see all the riders and cheer for friends (although I got some strange looks at my cheering attempts...again, the possible difference between race and ride). On Saturday night there is a great dinner on campus with free beer and a band. As we have participated in this event and lived in MT for a while now, it is a great time to hang out with friends and hear about our friend's rides (at which point I become a little jealous, especially when questioned about how my ride went...it didn't'). To finish off the weekend EJ and his posse head to the Big Hole for a little fishing action. I, in the meantime, hang at the pool with boys at the KOA...it is the one time during the year I can confess to "laying out." They have a blast and Roo has enjoyed the company of a new friend from Seattle two years in a row (they have also found the joy of KOA camping during the RATPOD...cheap and showers). Oh, and did I mention the Patagonia Outlet? Oh yeah, that's really why I go at all.

Ride On

Roo finally did it. He decided to figure out how to ride his bike. On Friday evening, he hauled out his little bike and very firmly said, "Don't help me!" He worked and worked with Far Far at his side brandishing a camcorder. Being the pessimist I can be at times, Gramma and I went for a walk (not at all confident that he would really do it) while EJ and G-man went for their own ride. Upon return to the house, we found a Roo riding his bike. He is so proud of himself that he has been riding non-stop since. As an added incentive, EJ told Roo a while ago that he would buy him a new helmet once he could ride his bike. So off he goes, with his new cool helmet wondering if now he can ride his bike to school himself.

On another riding note, EJ had a bike race this weekend. I had planned to go and cheer him on but standing in the rain to watch 30 seconds of riding wasn't what I considered the best of plans for my Saturday. In hindsight, I should have. My guy rocked! He is racing with a local team this year and competed in the Tour of the Bitteroot's road race placing first for his category! Next time, maybe I'll show up and give him a smooch at the finish line.

Got Boys x8?

We took our first camping trip of the year this weekend. With temps in the high 80's we couldn't resist. We had an invite from some soccer/baseball friends and decided it must be done. Here's the scene...we arrive to a camp swarming with 6 boys all aged 6-9 and brandishing sticks. We arrive and add two more boys to the scene so now there are 8 boys and two more sticks (BTW, this does not include the dads who could at times very well be counted in this scenario). They managed to create some kind of game involving a stash of weapons on the hillside and using them to "attack" anyone who was not on their team. Now, I may not have this game correctly documented, but you get the point...a bunch of boys with sticks as weapons. What else could we expect? To add to the fetish with weapons, my two boys got their first attempt at shooting a BB gun at beer cans on this trip. Are we in Montana or what? I'm waiting for the conversations about Christmas presents to come up now. The term "You'll shoot your eye out" may be a frequent one in the coming months. Needless to say, the females on this trip (never more than 3 of us mom's at a time) spent much of the time laughing at the boyness, the lack of nutritional content on the food labels, and comparing notes about where our boys have chosen to relieve themselves. Oh, and the girls also got a stellar mountain bike ride in. As for photos, the boys also enjoyed long boarding and biking. Here's G-man's first long board casualty along with Roo deciding how exactly to cross the creek (EJ carried him). I may be able to get a BB gun photo from a friend. If I can, I'll enlighten you all with some true Montana camping images.

Road Rash!

Creek Crossing 101

WOW! What a Weekend!

We had a glorious weekend! It was our first real spring weather and it was amazing to be outside in the warm sunshine (I apologize to the Minnesotans...I do feel your longing). On the agenda for the weekend included the following...2 runs, a bike race and a soccer game. Otherwise, it was pure fun and freedom! Flat Stanley

We were lucky to receive a visit from Flat Stanley this weekend. He came all the way from Minnesota and we enjoyed showing him around our neighborhood and teaching him about Montana. A highlight was a hike on Saturday night in the foothills behind our house where we saw our first buttercups of the season! Here's a great shot of our neighborhood with a view into the valley. Stanley will be traveling back to Minnesota soon and hopefully has great things to say about his visit.

Thoughts of Food
The marathon MADness continues. On Sunday my three girlfriends and I reached a near climax in our marathon training. The 18 miler. We have been running together for about four years now and our favorite part of the run is breakfast and coffee afterward. It took us a long time to find the perfect spot but now that we found it, it is just that...perfect. On this particular Sunday, my running friend and her husband met us all at this little joint and he kindly drove the four of us 18 miles away from the smell of frying potatoes. No biggie...just run all the way back with thoughts of food to pull you along. We made it, and the rewards were delicious!



Spring Soccer is Here

Roo finally had his first soccer game as well as his first time in any real organized sport. He has patiently been waiting since his first soccer practice (or two years of G-man's playing) to have his first game. It all started after practice on Tuesday night. He carefully placed his uniform on the floor as he would wear it and declared that he was leaving it there so it would be ready for the game. Well, the game finally came, he put on his uniform and had a blast insisting that they would win because this one guy on his team is soooo good. They played great, he had fun and as he declared on Tuesday before his practice, "Mom, this isn't about G-man is it." No sweetie, this time, it's about you.