Slices of Life - February 2017

FROZEN FOG
FEBRUARY 1, 2017

I will usually run outside with my group in any weather except if it is dangerous for me to drive to the location where we are meeting.  This morning was one of those days where it was better to not drive very far.  The frozen fog was crazy and I was glad it only took me 5 min to get to the club to run on the treadmill.  Instead of doing a 30 min tempo on the treadmill I opted to run 4x5 min tempo intervals with a 2:30 recovery job in between.  I don't enjoy running on the treadmill but was grateful I could at least run on a morning like today.  

PIANO TIME WITH MADELINE
FEBRUARY 4, 2017

Madeline loves music so it is no surprise that she loves to sit on Mike's lap while he plays the piano.  Today she actually took interest in pressing on the keys herself.  It was so fun to watch her excitement.  

EARLY MORNING TRACK WORKOUT
FEBRUARY 7, 2017

It is an internal struggle sometimes to get up so early and head out on a run.  Most mornings I am up at 5am feeding Madeline but the temptation to get back in bed after she is done eating is almost more than I can bare.  I am always so happy running with my group and I am usually more productive throughout the day when I exercise early in the morning.  This morning we were doing descending 400's on the track.  They were essentially mile repeats with each 400 getting progressively faster.  After my last set I jogged around the track and noticed the beautiful sunrise.  I just had to stop and take a picture.  

 A PACKAGE FROM THE MURATA FAMILY
FEBRUARY 8, 2017

It is so much fun that the Murata family continues to exchange a yearly package with us. We usually send ours right before Christmas and then receive one from them in January.  This year in addition to their fun array of Japanese snacks they sent Madeline the most adorable, and very Japanese, cream sweater cape.  I can't wait until she is a little bigger to fit into it.  The kids loved the super ramune hard candies and the unique apple
​hi-chews this year.  

NEW THAI CURRY RECIPE
FEBRUARY 8, 2017

I LOVE that Mike is so good at cooking.  I especially love it when he has found a new recipe to try.  Tonight's dinner was a green based curry to go along with fresh shrimp.  It was absolutely delicious.  Every one of the kids ate and loved this meal.  This one will definitely be going in our recipe book.

SWIMMING IN FEBRUARY
FEBRUARY 10, 2017

It seems like every February we get a few random WARM days.  Today topped the charts as the warmest day in February ever in Colorado Springs.  The high today ended up being around 78F. Mike and the girls took advantage of the warm weather and went to Flying Horse to swim in the pool.  

WINTER SERIES RACE #3
FEBRUARY 11, 2017

Peter and I ran the third race in the Winter Series today.  This race was 5 miles along the Santa Fe/Greenway Trail starting down near the El Pomar Sports Complex.  The weather couldn't have been more beautiful.  If anything we were a little too warm on our run.  Both of us did well enough and were happy to check yet another race off our list.  

HS SWIM PRE-SEASON
FEBRUARY 22, 2017

Andrew's pre-season practices for the High School swim team started this week.  He was relieved to be in decent shape from swimming on the Altitude club team since September.  More than anything I think he liked being back with the boys on the team.  They really bonded last year and that is something I think he missed.  

SEEING MADELINE BEFORE SCHOOL
FEBRUARY 23, 2017

Every morning Peter is so excited to see Madeline but she is usually still sleeping by the time he has to leave for the bus stop.  This morning he heard her and asked if he could go and see her before he had to leave.  Knowing that he was cutting it close to make the bus I told him to hurry and say a quick hello.  It was so cute to see that he would risk missing the bus just to say hi to Madeline.  He really loves his baby sister.