Weekend fun

Had lot's of opportunities this weekend. XC skiing in CR, Gravel century in DSM on Saturday, Gravel century in CR on Sunday. I opted for neither and hit the road myself on Saturday on one of my trusty steeds. The one with spiked snow tires on it

All in all I only rode about 25 miles, but I was hammering the whole way. Rode some city streets on a hilly route I have picked out. Then I got to the River trail, popped in the iPod earbuds and headed towards downtown.

When I got back towards Marion I stopped in to a local pub for some grub and a stout. Too bad the service was the only thing worse than the food at the place I stopped. The Guinness tasted great though. That's when I noticed my ass was soaked and my bike had some major ice buildup on it. Thankful again for the singlespeed drivetrain. The gunk I cleaned out of that bike today would've jacked up a derauilleur for sure.

Went to bed early on Saturday and spent all day with the kids on Sunday. Got a couple of nice pics with my riding shades.

Getting both of them to sit still long enough to snap those photos was nothing short of a miracle. We went for a wagon ride today too that they both sat still for. Rode on the sled in the yard, went to Home Depot, the mall, and ate dinner at a brew pub.

After baths and bedtime, I went out to the garage and cleaned up the bike pictured above. I had the heater blowing and the brew flowing. Nothing finer than a finely tuned drivetrain on a bike you love. A good day indeed.

One child

Okay so here's how I see it. If you have only one child, but you wanted to have more but are unable to for whatever medical reason, you are cool with me. But, if you have only one child and aren't having more because of how much work one child is, you my friend are a wussy.

Happy Valentine's Day

Wanted to take a couple of pics with Mara and Ellen's Valentine's gift. A big stuffed gorilla from HyVee drugstore.

We've all been sick all week. Mara started it off on Thursday night last week by hurling all over the house and all over me. She went to the clinic on Friday with a 104 degree fever. I was sick all weekend and still am. Ellen and I spent most of Monday night in the ER with her coming down with croup (sp?). Both of the girls back to the clinic yesterday for follow ups, both now on antibiotics. Everyone seemed to be getting better, but now Stacey has it. Can't believe it. Anyway, first pic is of Mara. She didn't cooperate with the gorilla, but didn't mind posing in her purple jammies:

Now, this one of Ellen is nothing short of priceless.

Bicycle Blues and BBQ

The 2008 event is July 11-13. Dad did the 14 miler with me last year. You up for the 60 miler this year Dad?

Sick Child

Mara was really sick yesterday. Temp of 104 at one point. We took her to the Pediatric clinic. It takes two of us to control her in these situations. Tested negative for strep and influenza. No real good answers, but things took a turn for the better later on. Feeling better today, but now I'm sick.

Stacey is at Target right now. My butt is puckering up. We should own stock in Target. She's going to Lowe's after that to get some stuff for our bathroom remodel that my friend Roy and I are going to start next weekend. Fun, fun.

More snow

This is bullshit. I'm sick of it. Another 12" of snow expected by 6am tomorrow. It's not that I hate snowblowing the driveway. I do, but that's not what pisses me off. It's what's going to happen in the spring. MTB trails won't be dry for a long time if this keeps up.

I rode to work today. Snowing like hell when I went home. People thought I was nuts. But what wasn't so nuts is that I wizzed through traffic on the way home. Made it in wayyyy less time than I would have in my truck and got a good work out in to boot. I cut out a little early. Put the iPod on and hammered. Flowed with traffic until it backed up at lights. Then I hopped up on the sidewalks and kept on trucking.

Dancin'

I promised last week that I'd update on the kids, and never did. Not a whole lot of news there. Mara keeps learning new words and ways to frustrate her Mommy. Both of the girls dance a lot in their rooms and in the basement. The Dora theme song instantly gets them both going.



Last weekend we took advantage of the mild weather and got outside. Ellen got a sled ride in the yard. Mara wasn't down with the sled ride until she saw Ellen on it. Then she couldn't get enough of it.



The girls were at home alone with Mommy on Friday night while I headed to DSM for the BRR ride in Perry IA.



Uncle Brian and Aunt Jen came to the rescue on Saturday with a visit to Marion.

Superbowl party tonight at some friends' house. Promises to be a good time.