Sipapu!

Sipapu is my favorite weekend of the year. I absolutely love heading up to the mountains to breath in the fresh air and run up the ski hill.  This year, I invited my parents to join us at 9,000 feet above sea level.  We had a blast.  Nolen and I ran our guts out and Edward played with all the kids while my parents help cook all the food for the high altitude training camp.  

I ran my fastest times up the mountain this year!!  It was incredible to be one of the first people up at the top of the mountain.  For the third year, I didn't walk a single step.  It was tough but such a huge accomplishment.  

 

Hinkle Family Fun Center

 Well, since the state fair was a bust, we told the boys they could go to Hinkle Family Fun Center to ride all the rides and play the games with their friends.  At the last moment, Nolen's friend Dylan, backed out and so it was just Edward, Nolen, and Titus.  We still had a blast. 

This last week, we helped my dad pick apples at his house.  The boys had fun trying to find any apples that didn't have worms inside them.  Nolen cooked pasta for his home school project and Edward and I had fun mountain biking with his club.  Edward even convinced his friend Kyle to join him on the team. 

September in a nutshell

 Well September is flying by.  I literally can not keep up. I have been trying to get the house in order and finish unpacking all while coaching cross country and teaching piano.  It has been a very full month.  October looks to be the same.  This is why I love this time of year.  We have so much to do and no time to cry about our problems, but I also have small break downs because I am stretched beyond my capacity sometimes.  Finding balance in life can be so difficult. 

Nolen wanted to go back to horse riding lessons! I am so glad!  He is much more confident when he is on a horse. 

Edward and I have been mountain biking together every Thursday.  It has been such a challenge for me.  I am trying to get my confidence up and I am learning so much.  I can only imagine how this is helping Edward with his confidence. 

Nolen celebrated his friends birthday by heading up to Santa Fe and watching the Zozobra burn.  He had a blast!! They got to stay up late and eat all the candy they wanted. 

We are deep into cross country season and I am trying to capture as many moments as I can while Nolen is working hard at running faster. 

Nolen is stretching every night so that his muscles will not hurt so much after every run.  He has also joined the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Orchestra this year.  So far, he loves it. 

Edward went to his first mountain bike race with my parents in Flagstaff, Arizona.  He got to spend the weekend with his cousin and he actually enjoyed the race. 

I took the boys to the state fair this year.  It wasn't fun.  I had forgotten to check when the rides open, so we didn't get to ride any rides.  What a bummer. 

As much as Edward complains, he is getting much better at playing the piano.  It is a treat to hear him play every single day. 

We had our first race of the season.  It was tough!  The John Roberts Dam race is always a tough race for the kids.  It is generally longer than their other races and it is through sand and has some hard hills to conquer.  Nolen ran his heart out and beat some of his faster team mates!!