Monday, February 22, 2010

Baby It's Cold Outside

This winter has been odd.

The snow has been sparse, the temperatures will go from -11 to 46 in the same week, and then there's the baby factor.
All of this has altered our usually predictable winter season habits. We haven't been snowmobiling and skiing as much as we are used to. But it's okay, we find ways to still enjoy the outdoors and mountains.

Enter SNOWSHOEING. Boo. Yes I said boo. Yes I did it, and yes I will continue to do it. But hear me out on this. We own snowmobiles - why on earth would I want to WALK through DEEP snow to get to the top of a mountain that I could ride to in 3 minutes on my snowmobile...? Let me remind you that watching me walk with snowshoes is like watching a really awkward pregnant chick walk on the Hawaii beach in flippers. (Oh wait, that was me last May.) Still, in a pinch snowshoeing will suffice to get us out of the house and into the beautiful trails that surround us. So I give in.

Isla LOVES being outside. Here she is all bundled up ready to go in her backpack.

This is my best friend Ashley and her boyfriend Casey. Casey is unusually large. And by large I mean TALL. And he broke his walking poles.
This pic does NOT do the hike justice. It was SOOOO steep. And Aaron did the whole thing carrying Isla on his back. He only fell over once - on the way down. Isla thought that was pretty funny.
This is overlooking the Heber Valley. Pay no attention to Isla sitting at a 45 degree angle.
Told you I was uncoordinated. At least I am smiling.

Other outdoor adventures occupying our time include JIBFEST. This is where all our friends come up - we snowmobile them in to an undisclosed mountainous location - build stuff in the woods - and jib. For all the population out there that don't speak this language (myself included) this means haul in rails that Aaron spent all summer making, lumber to build quarter pipes, tools, hatchets, jumps, I don't really know where all this is going. Basically these guys are like little boys in a candy shop. Add lighting a tree on fire and burning up some hot dogs and you have yourself jibfest.











Then there are the Midway Ice Castles. Don't get your tiaras out just yet folks. I was sadly disappointed to learn that these so-called advertised "ice castles" were not like, um, castles. They were just really pretty ice sculpture things. Still fun to check out and take some pics with friends nonetheless. I just have to save my Cinderella costume for another day I suppose.

Starting the ice castle stroll.
My two best friends Ashley and Whit.

This one is really blurry of me doing the Lion King presenting Simba pose - but I thought it was a really pretty view of the ice not-castle.
The ice tunnel. Isla is a very tactile learner. Oops.

All-in-alll we are alive. We have been busy working and playing. We are hoping for a big late winter! Please give us more snow!

7 comments:

Alexis Treese said...

Oh. My. Gosh. Eskimo Isla! That is so awesome. You two always amaze me... I just cant hack it. Seriously I bet you Isla's been on more hardcore adventures than me. I consider a trip to the store a great success for me and G. Who, by the way is almost 1 and I am freaking out for reasons I cant figure out. Weird. We need to get together so bad. If I dont see Isla soon- I might die. It's that serious.

Kristin said...

I love, love LOVE the picture of Isla all bundled up! Those are so fun pictures! We definitely need to lunch soon!! Lets plan it soon!! :)

Lindsey S. said...

What an amazing adventure! James and I would never, we are such chickens when it comes to the cold!

P.S. I don't know what I'm smoking, this no sugar thing is so dang hard. I remember the first time I did p90x I thought I was all amazing and had the same thing happen. I woke up and seriously couldn't move. I'm really not looking forward to getting back into it. ahhhh

Whitney R said...

Hi Lindzi! You guys look like tons of fun! How fun to go snow shoeing and how brave to take Isla! (love the name by the way) I love Ali (I hope she is reading this....) She is so awesome, I miss her.

I scrolled down and looked at some of your pictures and I LOVE Isla's blessing dress and your family pictures. And I think you are very pretty (now do I sound like a weirdie?) and I love your hair. I'm chopping my in a few weeks and I'm cutting it short! Hopefully I'll have enough to give to locks of love. I can't decide what to do with my bangs.... but I like yours. :)

Ok.. to the running. That is awesome that you are running! It takes a while to get conditioned enough that you enjoy it. It's so weird because my legs get so tired, but my lungs are good to keep going. It's annoying. As for something to train for, maybe do a 10K (6 miles) or a half marathon! Like me! I'm fully prepared to walk quite a bit of it. Running 3 miles in 30 minutes is awesome. I've been building my endurance by trying to run as long as I can when I start. When you start to get tired either walk - but keep up the speed- or jog much slower till you get your breath back and feel good. Then run again for 3-5 minutes or however long you can go.

That's what I've been doing and I think I'm going to do 4 1/2 or 5 miles tomorrow. Even if I walk the last half mile I still consider it part of my run.

As for your milk production. The pills I'm taking are called "Fen-Gre" by Standard Process and I got them from my Chiropractor. At first I took 4 with each meal for about a week then went down to 3. But now that I'm struggling I'm taking 6 with each meal and drinking this herbal tea called "Mothers Milk" that I got at a Natures Nook store. I drink that 2 to three times a day. And I've started pumping two hours after I feed her for her first two feedings. I've only been doing this for 2 days and can already tell a huge difference. Fen Gre is expensive.. uhg. But it works so I fork out the 28 bucks for each bottle. And taking 18 pills a day sure adds up.

Anyway, pretty sure my comment beats yours in length :) Let me know how you do with the running! Oh, and your in Heber, right? I've been there a few times and it is beautiful.

Whitney R said...

Ok.. I just re read my comment and I don't know if I make any sense. I guess what I meant by run as long as you can when you start is run 10 minutes, or 15 or 20.. however long. Then walk for as long as you need to feel rested enough to start running again. Then run as long as you can, 5 or 10 minutes, however long. Then walk again... do that process till you hit the mileage you want.

I hope that makes more sense.... :)

Lindsey S. said...

I love you for your comment, no matter how long it is. Thank you for the info! My friend gets the Taste of Home and she loves it but I have never subscribed because I knew most of the stuff would be pretty fatty/sugary foods and we already have a ton of meals that are fatty enough that we like. I need some more healthy ones to make now. I've never heard of this Healthy Cooking Magazine but it is totally something I need. We aren't terrible eaters but we definitely have our favorite things too like pork chops and those orange rolls, which by the way I love that you have had them twice already! That is awesome! Anyway, My point is I want us to get into some better habits so our kids will have good habits too but it needs to taste good or James will know. You are a total life saver! Thank you thank you for your comment! $10 is cheap, I'm going online right now to subscribe! You are awesome! Like how long this comment is?..... hahahaha Thanks again girl!

When I get some new healthy recipes we can have you guys over again! :)

Heather said...

that is freaking crazy!! wow!!! i can't believe you guys! that is some SERIOUS coldness... all i have to say is WOW!