weekend with the fam in the mountains

So we spent last weekend in the Mountains of NC near Lake Lure with the family.  We stayed on the north tip of the lake on a smaller lake and enjoyed the amenities of the “resort:” a pool, beach front to lake lure and wish we had been able to play the putt putt course.

It was a great time hanging out at local restaurants, playing games in the evening, chatting on the screened in back porch, enjoying the dock and watching Avi chase bugs and fish and sticks and just mindlessly romp in the water. We even had the chance on Sunday of going to a river near by and “rock jumping.” Basically the river (its not more than 20 feet across and you can probably still touch at the deepest parts) has large rocks all in and around and through it. So we explored and climbed and slide down a few “rapids” areas and came out unharmed! It was so much fun for sure.

The trip was to celebrate my Mom’s birthday as well as my cousin Jesse’s and just to spend quality family time together. Here are some pictures from the weekend. Enjoy!

 

top row from left to right: my mom, papa, mike, jesse (and phil was working at the red roofed hotel behind)

front row: sandy, me, oma, and kristen

 

 

 

this is the view from Sandy/Phil and Oma/Papa’s new properties up over Lake Lure. On a clear day (not picture b/c its off to the left more) you can see Chimney Rock!

 

 

the family =)

 

 

and the cake is below!

 

Bunnies are friends, not food (or are they?)

(reference to Finding Nemo)

So I guess all that the little innocent Avi needed was a little encouragement. Here’s what happened.

 

Mike let Avi out in the back yard to her last business trip of the night last week. Mike saw some beady eyes in the yard (a teenaged bunny as described to me). The bunny saw Avi and Mike and began a slow hop to safety but then stopped and changed directions. Mike whispered three simple words, “go get it” and Avi sprung into action! She snatched up that bunny and tossed it into the air as if it was her Tigger toy and began playing with it. Mike thought, “Katie’s going to kill me.” Mike then told Avi to leave it and after a nice pee in the yard, she came inside. The bunny did not survive the incident.

 

Mike then confessed to me about the event and with a heavy heart… I told him he must burry the bunny in the morning. The next morning when he went out to perform the ceremony, he noticed that the dead bunny did not suffer any from Avi’s gentle playing.

 

So is it a good or bad thing that she snatched the bunny? I guess she did save my veggie patch from its eating habits (even though I have veggies coming out of my eyeballs).

 

**sorry the blogging is behind! I will do my best to post from this weekend’s trip to the mountains soon!**

swim…bike…AND…run!!

Just wanted to share a few stories from our first triathlon this past weekend.

I was a nervous wreck the night before and the morning of the race. And Mike was totally fine. Now when we got to the race and started to set up, my nerves totally quit and I was ready to go. Mike was the opposite and that’s when he started to get nervous.

So here’s how it goes… First you set up your transition area with all the gear you will need for switching between the Swim and Bike and the Bike and Run. Then all the racers get lined up in swim time order. So basically you swim with people about your same speed. We all jump in the pool 3 seconds apart so it allows for space between each person and not TOO much swimming on top of each other. I was further back in line than Mike who’s swim time put him around top 10 of the racers! It was neat being able to see him finish his swim before I got in the pool.

So I got in the water and was pleased to note that I did not get passed in the water nor did I pass which means I had placed myself well within my time. After finishing 8 lengths of the pool, I got out of the and ran down barefoot to the transition area where I began preparing for the bike. I put on my bike shoes, helmet, got some water and set out to start the 6.5mile bike.

The bike was successful and I had to make sure not to push myself too crazy hard so that I had energy left for the run! It was a great ride and although I got passed some, I knew that I was making good time from where I thought I would be in practice. (I had a stop watch on and was able to pace myself that way!) The “dismount” from the bike is always tricky esp. with clip in shoes… see previous bike story =)

I then headed into the transition area one more time to switch from the bike to the run. Let me tell you that when you first get off the bike and switch to running… you look like a baby giraffe trying to walk for the first time. Your legs just don’t work right. I was pretty tired heading into the run and of course the first stretch is uphill. I told myself just to keep running. Then..you know on TV if you’ve ever watched a race you see them get water while running and stuff… well its not as easy to drink and run at the same time. Mike and I both about choked on our water!! I definitely was sputtering!

Well I was still pacing myself well and was hoping to finish the race under 1 hour. I finished off strong and almost at a dead sprint and was pleased to discover my time was 53:53!!! I was so excited to not only beat my goal but by quite a bit! I also finished 3rd in my age group out of six racers and Mike finished 7 out of 12 in his age group with a time of 47:08! I won a mug for my 3rd place finish.

Here are some pictures!

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We’re planning to do our next on on August 7! Can’t wait. Its going to be a 200m swim, 9mi Bike, 3.1 mi run… a little longer than the last one but we’re pumped!