On the road again

     After writing yesterdays blog, I started to worry that maybe I was being to "poor me."  I went back today and re-read it and think maybe it was a bit "poor me" but not as bad as I thought.  With this in mind though last night, after another PT session with the doc, I was feeling pretty good.  The little one and I decided it was a good night to test the bike out again.  I wasn't sure if my foot would support the strain of that much pushing, but I am happy to announce that it did just fine.  In fact, I think it actually HELPED as I was able to move my toe around a lot more by bed time.
     We plan to go out again tonight.  This is very exciting because my youngest isn't always sold on the idea of sitting in the trailer and hitting the pavement...but with the promise that maybe big sis would want to come too, came a resounding "YES WE GO TOMORROW!"  Her excitement only makes mine even more.  It felt good to be outside in the sun with the wind in my hair doing something good for me.  My daughter is in the questioning phase right now..."why we do this, what is exercise, what means healthy..." these are such simple questions, but at the same time they are so complex.  hearing her ask me "why we need to exercise?" made me really stop and think about how I was going to answer.  I want to always be as honest as possible with my children and I want them to understand how important healthy lifestyle habits are...how our bodies NEED certain foods and exercise.  This was not only a bike ride that was good for my body, but good for my soul and my family.  I look forward to more evenings like these where we discuss important things and get down to the very basics of why they are important. 
    

Biking to no where and every where all at once

     My 10 year old LOVES to ride her bike when the weather is nice.  I remember feeling the same way.  There is something amazing about the wind in your hair and the freedom of just peddling away from the world.  I had forgotten that feeling until she came to me last year with a pleading voice asking me to ride with her.  I was excited that she wanted to have some mother-daughter time, but also stumped as my bike had been stolen (years earlier) from my MIL's garage never to be replaced.  Well, with her pleads and my wonderful husband's joy in making the girls in his life happy, I was treated to a gorgeous new bike for Mother's Day!  As an added treat (to myself), I bought a trailer for my bike to pull my sweet little 2 year old around in as well.  It quickly became a nightly venture, and was an amazing (not to mention healthy) way to spend some QT with my 2 favorite gals.
     Just as we were building up to be ready to take over the park, we traded in our truck and hot a lovely new SUV (of course for mom here), so the idea of packing up 2 bikes and a trailer got sidelined to the neighborhood route.  This initial problem will be resolved by either Easter or Momma's Day this year as I have already put in my request for a bike rack for my car.  Have no fear girls...Momma will get is to those bike trails if it's the last thing I do!
     My 10 year old plays soccer on 2 teams and rides horses once a week...to say she is fiercly in shape is an understatement...so as part of my new found workout routine (yes people I am saying routine as it is going to remain a constant) I have incorporated biking into the mix.  I still love my running, but have to remember that it has been a while, and I'm not as young as a I used to be so the soreness factor has to be accepted.  While I was allowing my calves to rest and recoup today, I indulged my thighs and butt in a nice 8 mile bike ride at the gym.  I had my workout buddy with me and while going no where....I could see the possibilities of being able to keep up with my kiddo!

                                                      (we will look something like this)