Thankful Thurs ~ An 'awesome' party

So today my 4yr said he wanted to do something 'fun' and make something for Papa......"Like what?" I asked. "How about a cake!"...."OK!" I replied. Believe it or not I had some cake mix around and even had some icing!
So he picked the chocolate cake mix...of course.., "I think Papa would like that one best" he said LOL!!!

So we made the cake and both boys helped to decorate it. " We're going to have a party for Papa!" my 4yr said. I asked him what kind of a party because it wasn't Papa's birthday....."We're going to have a 'Papa is awesome party!" was his reply LOL!!!

I must admit I think I say awesome a lot and the kids have picked up on it! LOL!

So tonight we yelled "SURPRISE" when hubby walked in the door and put on party hats and we said why we think Papa is awesome while having second helpings of our chocolate cake :P

I love it! This kid just taught me you can have a party anytime just think of something awesome or someone awesome and lets PARTY!!!!! ....








......and yes this is him with his blankie wearing a party hat...blankie is like another person in our house and must be included in everything included the pictures! LOL!....GOD I love this kid!!! xoxoxox

















'Live in YOUR Awesome!'


*ive
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The VanAwesome scenic route

So this weekend was the RockstAR Adventure Race that hubby and I were doing as team VanAwesome!!! After shipping one kid and the dog off to my Moms and the other kid with his bike off to my Dads we packed up the van and headed out Sat morning. Now the fact that we got off track heading up to the race should have been a sign to us.....

We got up there with a lot of time to spare which was nice cause we didn't need to rush around and we could relax and look at our map and pick our route. Plus the 15k bike trek through the trails to start the race, they didn't have this year so that was awesome!!! We could pick what we wanted to do and when. I felt good, excited and confident about our plan.

So we started off in good form and headed out on the bike for a 10k trek and picking up check points along the way...the first one was a 100 point one and we felt that was a good way to start the day :)....we couldn't find one on the way back and I learned from last year that if it's taking too long and you are really unsure of where you are to just let it go.....so we moved on.

After that we hopped into the canoe...it was a little windy so the paddle was hard....now once we hit land that's when everything went south and I don't mean on the map! LOL!!! We were WAYYYYYY out there and even came across a big mud puddle and there was no foot prints around it. At that point I said to my hubby, "Ok no one else has been here, we need to go back" the good part is that shortly after turning back we ran into a team of 3 that was looking for a 70 point check point ( I didn't even know we were near it until the team pointed out on the map for me where we were!! LOL!!) So we stuck with them and in 5min we found the 70 point check point which helped us feel like our efforts weren't wasted at least!


OK so now for the million mile trek back to our canoe...the problem with getting lost way out there....you have to go back! We got back to our canoe with 30min left until finish time....however....and this is how this game sucks you in!....I looked at the map and say what looked like a check point close by us along the edge of the water and a path leading that way...."Should we try for it?" I asked Hubby, "Sure since there's a path" he said.....so we started running the path, which turned into a muddy trail through tall grass, which then turned into a low river and over rocks....which then turned into no trail and into bush and then I heard a splash and that's when hubby slipped on a rock and saved his face from hitting by offering up his right knee and right wrist (he's a bit stiff and sore today)....so at that point we decided that we were tired, still couldn't see the check point and running out of time. So we turned back and headed to the finish line and we were happy with that.

SO next year!!!..... Well we now know the lay of the land REALLY well!! LOL!! and we know as a team what our strengths are so we are set!.......it's funny every time I go out in this race I have an idea of what's going to happen and how I'm going to do. But once the race happens none of what I thought would happen, happens....it takes on a life of it's own and what I'm left with is a good story, war wounds to show off, awesome pictures and memories of a good time! :)








'Live in YOUR Awesome1'



*IVE
*OVE
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Making it a family affair :)

So following along with my goal this year of including my family more into the activities that I am doing....I asked my hubby to be my partner for the RockstAR 4hr Adventure Race this year. So we have been out 'training'....so what does that mean? We got my Mom to watch the kids one Sat afternoon while we went for a trail ride at Kelos and last weekend we took the boys in the canoe at Kelso so we could get use to being a team as we paddle. He OF COURSE was awesome :).......so I will be the power house in the front and he will be the power house in the back and steering us in the right direction :)....we then hit the beach at Kelso for lunch and swimming and sandcastle building....it was a great afternoon :-)

So the race is this weekend and I'm really looking forward to it. Last year I was crazy excited and pretty nervous cause I didn't know what was going to happen. But the stress this year is less cause I know what I'm doing now! LOL! PLUS a weekend away with no kids in the bush on a nice lake....as far as I'm concerned this is a vacation away for me and hubby! I would say it will be a romantic weekend but after a 4hr race there's no energy left over for any hubba-hubba! LOL ;)

Now with the weather being SO stink'n HOT this week we'll see how it ends up being on Sat. The nice thing is that Hubby and I are pretty chillaxed about the whole thing and don't plan on being hardcore, we are just going to have fun and be out there not to come in first. AND of course our team name is......VanAwesome! LOL!






'Live in YOUR Awesome!'

*ive
*ove
*augh
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Teaching him to TRI!

So the day finally came. My 4yrs first Triathlon!!!
We talked about it a lot so that he knew what was going to happen during the race and he was getting excited too. His 'training' went well and he even asked to have his training wheels off his bike at one point....so now he's zipping around like crazy :)

I did my best just to stay cool and calm on the race day because I find that too much hype tends to freak out the kiddo's. Plus the race itself was pretty over whelming with so many people there and the whole set-up was very professional, they went all out and I was very impressed.

So we started off in the pool and as soon as they said go he did this 'crazy fast' swimming that he does which only causes his face to go under water and he goes no where! LOL!....so I got nice and close to him for when he popped his face out of the water and he looked a little panicked so I said in a calm voice, " Hey buddy how about you just try kicking" so he did that instead and started moving. I LOVE the smile on his face as we are walking away from the pool and you can't see it very well in the video but he gave everyone a thumbs up.



During the transition at the bike he was saying that he was cold and didn't want to go on his bike wet. So I put the towel around him and said, " You get dry and warm while I change, once you get going on your bike you will feel better"....so we just took our time and changed and got ready for the bike.

We weren't there to race that day we were there for a Triathlon experience

The bike part he ROCKED!!! I had to sprint full out to keep up with him. He was zipping past older kids on his bike and once again that smile tells me he was loving it!! and brings tears to my eyes every time I look at the pic ( and as I type about it right now!)


We finished off with the run and getting his medal...it was over in 10min...I kind of wish that it lasted a bit longer because the experience for me too was fun.

This is JUST what my goal was when I started this journey. I wanted to be able to keep up with my boys and have them excited that Mommy's there.

I am over joyed that I'm not going to be a 'sideline Mom' instead of sitting on the sidelines telling my kids they can do it. I get to be right there beside them doing it with them....SO thankful......SO happy.......SO excited about our future :)


You can see the video here


"Live in YOUR Awesome!"

*ive
*ove
*augh
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