Visted the family! Forgot to use the camera much

So, we just got back from a vacation with my family.  We went up and visited everyone and had some great food, I always love eating with the family.  The kids had a lot of fun and they were very active.  It's funny to watch, because when it's time to go, I'm not sure who tired out who more, the kids or the grandparents.

Unfortunately we forgot to use our camera much, so only 1 picture today.  The kids loved to play in the Jacuzzi and here they are doing just that!

On Sunday, we went out to New Melones and went wake boarding.  Nicky and I had never done it before, but it was a total blast.  She got up on her 2nd attempt, and I got up on my 4th or 5th attempt.  We rode around for a while, and it was a lot like snow boarding once you get up.  I took a wicked face plant and gave myself a headache that lasted 2 days!

Today we're sore over our entire bodies!  So much fun, we'd do it again, but man are we sore!

Kinda Slow

Baby bonding started today, so I have 2 weeks off to hang out with the family, go places, do things etc.  So quick update:

We're up to 24/30 minutes running, which means we're running about 1.25 miles at a time, twice a night.  We started a new budget thing, we're doing really well with saving money.  And we've been using a calendar to plan our activities in.

It's a weird thing, using a calendar.  Normally on a vacation, we'd not do anything, end up not planning anything and sit around the house.  Now we have these cool things to look forward to.  I hate to admit it, but I really like to have a general idea of what's coming up.  Same thing with our meal plan.  We make a plan at the beginning of every week.  Means we throw away a lot less food and save money.

Here's to planning.. I guess?

We did it!

Well we finally did it!  We completed our first race!  Results are here.  Our goal was to finish in the top half and we finished 22/23 out of 54.  Great fun and I think Nicky and I are both hooked!  Trail running was a lot harder than the course we've been training on, but even still we kept up a good pace.  Funny thing about running a race, there's not a lot to take pictures of.

Our next challenge is to find a 10k run in March or so.  We want to do a charity type run if possible.  Having a goal to work toward and train for was really nice, and it helped motivate us on nights when we were feeling unmotivated.

It's also a little hard to find ways to train for a race with young kids.  Then again, the challenge is what makes it worth it.. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.

Race Day is almost here!

I'm getting excited for our 5k this weekend.  I was checking out the Altitude chart.. from the .7 mile mark to the 1.2 mile mark, theres a rise of 125 feet.  This works out to (I think) almost a 5% grade.  That may not sound like much, but we've been training on a mostly flat course.. so this is definitely going to be a good challenge.

One of the cool things about training for this 5k has been seeing the progress Nicky and I have made with our running strength.  When we started out, running 2 minutes at a time, with 8 minutes rest was a decent workout.  We're up to 8 minute runs with a 1 minute rest.  Within 6 weeks we will be running a solid 30 minutes.  I'm anxious to complete my first 30 minute run, and we're planning to run in the Wharf to Wharf next year.

Also, I was looking into some local hikes to follow up our previous 2 adventures and I think we're going to go for the Old Salmon Falls Loop.  I'll let you know how that goes, but it looks like it will be a neat hike to take Taylor and AJ on.

Hiking Gear

So, the other day, I was at work and Nicky sent me a text saying "I got a cool new surprise".  Curious, I asked her to tell me what it was, but she was very good at not giving away the secret.  As I drove home, I was a little excited to figure out what it was, and a little afraid at the same time.  When I got home, she showed me what she had gotten.  It was a hiking backpack for carrying kids around in.  It looked like this:

Well, we needed to go try it out, so we went down to the Bay Area and met up with our recent parent friends Steve and Si.  They live in Menlo park, and they have a young baby named Ben.  He's really cute and has spiky hair.  Our kids play together and it's hilarious to watch.

Well, we went on our hike... and I wish these pictures did it justice.  This hiking backpack is meant for day long treks with kids on your back, and Nicky and I aren't those kind of hikers.  So it was a little bit of overkill, not to mention pure comedy to watch.

Good times!

Networking

Kids make the best ice breakers!  It's like being part of a secret club, but without the handshake.  You can talk to any parent and you instantly have a thousand things in common with them.  Don't you hate when your kids wet the bed? Don't you love it when they start to get potty trained? I'm soooo frustrated when she hits her brother...  The list goes on and on.

Recently, I've started swapping stories with one of my co-workers, and he's given me some great ideas.  They are very active with their kids and it's given me some motivation to do the same.  And now, one of our friends has had a baby (well, about 6 months ago), and we're using the kids as an excuse to do some things together.  Nicky has even met some mom-friends that have kids the same age as ours.

Now, to set up some play-dates!

Also... Taylor recently got her first hair cut :)

Before:

After:

Visited Meme and Pops for Labor Day

We went up to Nicky's parent's house for the weekend.  Good fun.  On Saturday we had a good time swimming in the pool.  It's really a huge difference in how well Taylor can swim now compared to the beginning of summer.  She's super comfortable in the water, and starting to be a lot of fun in a pool.  We also made s'mores by the outdoor fire pit, ran our circuit, and went to church to hear Meme read.  It's kinda late so I'll get to the point.

Here's the pics!

Casual or Hardcore?

So when I play WoW, I play with a regular group of people called a Guild.  I've managed to find a great guild, with lots of people kinda like me, have young kids, or other obligations during the day.  We only raid 2 nights a week, and it's after the kids are in bed.

Lately, we've been having some issues defining ourselves.  There used to be a time when I could devote hours every day to a game, and I was easily 'hardcore'.  Most of the guild feels this way.  Lately though, it's harder and harder to play for long stretches.. and I guess it's just sortof weird to accept 'casual' status.  As though it's admitting defeat or something.

In a way, getting older is like that.  It's weird to admit I'm actually 30, as though that were admitting defeat.  At the same time, the things I liked when I was younger aren't as interesting to me now.  I don't like staying up past midnight watching TV all night anymore, I'd prefer getting up rested at 6 or 7 am and enjoying the cool morning air.

I guess I'm getting Casual in life too... and I think it's a good thing.

Optimism

One of the coolest things I've noticed about losing weight and regular exercise is the effect it has had on my mood.  I used to be irritated at myself all the time for not doing anything about being overweight.  I used to be irritated about getting winded running up a flight of stairs.

Now, most days, I get home from work and we do some kind of physical activity.  Running, riding, swimming... it's great!  I also found a great trick: Anytime Nicky and I are arguing, we agree to set aside the argument for a workout.  It's amazing how a little physical exertion takes the fire out of a fight.

And it works other places too.  Happier while playing games, happier at work, happier to be home.  Even feel happier while blogging!

How to do a double-take, baby style

So AJ has started doing the funniest thing.  He's trying to do a double take, but he isn't quite coordinated to pull it off.  The result is hilarious!