Let's Talk About May

OK, we are a little behind on the whole posting thing, but we have still been "getting out and playing," as our 2012 resolution requested.

In May, we mentioned that we were going to try out some mountain biking. Here's that post.

Well, we did go mountain biking once. We had a nice time, but here's what we learned:

1- It isn't really possible to take photos while riding, so we only captured photos of ourselves standing next to our bikes. LAME.

2- The 6 mile trail we took had quite a few rocky areas that were near impossible for us beginners to actually maneuver. Those rocks made the non-rocky area to be unbelievably amazing and enjoyable.

3- Oh, the trail was also a little hilly. We LOVED the downhills (who doesn't?!). But the uphill was a different story. Seriously, as we were pushing our bikes up hill, we kept saying to ourselves, what is the point of having this machine? It isn't helping!

4- We will drag our bikes out to the trails again sometime, but we much prefer hiking for one simple reason, you actually get to enjoy the views while still moving forward. On a bike, we dare not look away from the trail and all those darn rocks.

Plans for June were to go hiking. Seems fitting based on the above statement...huh?!

Plans for May!

For our 2012 monthly resolution plan, we are focusing on a different outdoor activity each month. So far, we have been skiing (Jan.), snowboarding and snowmobiling (Feb.), snow-shoeing (March), and running (April).

For May, we are pretty excited because we will be trying out something new (kind of like February when we went snowboarding and snowmobiling for the first time.)  

We will be mountain biking!  Well,  not serious, super-intense mountain biking with boulders the size of our bike wheels or hills steep enough for death.

 

We purchased bikes  last year, and we have LOVED them. We putter around town to get to work or run errands or go to dinner.  We only have one car, so our bikes have really come in handy. Laramie is such a small, bike-friendly, and relatively flat town so it is really enjoyable to bike here (as long as the wind isn't blowing too hard or it is too cold.)  But,we are ready to try out some trails.

The other day Eric actually tested his bike on a dirt road while Jill ran.  This doesn't count for true mountain biking, we know, but it was great for us to both get used to the higher altitude (about 1,000 ft higher than we are used to). 


We already have some trails picked out for some weekend and evening rides.  


We promise to take some photos and will strive to NOT fall off our bikes.

You Go Girl!

As previously mentioned, Jill has been volunteering for a unique running program. Here's an explanation from Jill.

The program is called She's A Runner Girl (also known as: SARG) It is for 3rd to 6th grade girls in Laramie. SARG is all about living a healthy lifestyle and fostering self-esteem and confidence through running. The girls each set a personal running goal and work towards that goal each week. The 7 week program concludes with a 5K race.

As I mentioned previously, running has been an integral part of my life and to be able to share my love of running with these girls has been awesome. I am working with the 5th graders and they are a fun bunch. It seems like they are getting a lot out of the running lessons and goal setting concepts.

I want to share a quick story with you about one of our girls and her goal. At the beginning of the program, she set the goal to collect 4 more sticks each week. We hold a long run each week, and run around the indoor track at the university, collecting a stick each time we complete a lap. Most weeks we add a few additional minutes to the long run. At first I thought this goal of collecting 4 more sticks each week wasn't realistic as some weeks, we don't increase the length of time for our long run.

But, golly, did this gal surprise me. It is so cool to watch her each week. She is obviously very focused on her goal and striving to continue running more and more each week. Unlike some of the other girls, she always runs by herself and is truly focusing on her pace. She has accomplished her goal every single week, even during the weeks when we ran for the same amount of time. I can't wait for her to complete the 5K in a few weeks to see how she does and to see that look of satisfaction on her face!

I am so glad I didn't have any business travel so I could participate in this volunteer program. Not only did I have a lot of fun, but it is just awesome to see the girls learn about their capabilities and the power of running. I can't wait until next year's program.

Anyone participate in any unique volunteer programs?

DONE!!! 100 Miles That Is.

There were a few times when we didn’t think it would happen.  But Jill did end up running 100 miles this month!!! As she set out to do.

An update on fishing?  Yeah, that didn’t happen.  It ended up being too chilly and Eric just didn’t get out there to reel in any big ones. Jill also didn't ask to go fishing in the less than ideal conditions.;)  Eric did however, make it on a run with Jill (more details below)


Here is the rest of the running report.  See the first part of the month here.

April17th- 2.7 mile trot to and from the volunteer program (more information to come about this, we promise!!)

April 19th- Dirt road 4.8 loop with Bolo.

April 21st- Was planning on a longer run, but the wind sucked out all energy. Ended up just doing 5.5 miles.

April 23rd- Ran fast to get home in time for dinner and trash tv.  This was a 3.1 mile trot at 7:44 mile pace.

April 23rd- Did a super slow 2.4 mile, evening trot with Zepp in 24 minutes

April 24th- Ran to and from the volunteer program (2.6 miles) and also ran at least a mile on the track during the volunteer program.

April 24th- The weather was surprisingly warm in the evening.  Everyone went on this 3.4 mile trot (Jill, Eric, Bolo, and Zeppelin!!) Jill appreciated all of the company and Eric felt pretty good.

April 26th- I went up to the hills at Tie City and ran 7 miles with a new running friend and her two dogs.  It was awesome to get out on the trails.

April 28th- Jackalope 5K Race. It was unbelievably windy with close to freezing air temperatures. So this was not a pleasant run and I forgot gloves.  But it always feels great to get out and race. Ended up being the second female runner with a time of 23:31.  The best thing was this awesome prize. A bobble-head jackalope!!!!

April 28th- A late afternoon 3.2 mile trot to stretch out the legs after the morning race.

April 29th - 5.3 mile run with Bolo.  AKA a sniff and peeing fest (clarification- only for Bolo)  

April 30th- Finished it off strong with a 5 mile run on the flat part of Happy Jack (a network of various trails.)  AND...ran up this hill. We think the top of the hill is about 8,500 ft! OUCH!

In total, Jill ran 101.6 miles in the month of April. SCORE!  She totally did NOT blow the goal out of the water, but she is very proud to have accomplished this goal.


You can see all of the tracking on her Daily Mile profile here.


What I learned from this month is that instead of riding my bike to volunteer, running works just fine.
Two runs in a day doesn't kill me.
Sometimes you just have to fit in running when you can, like running to dinner or running in the evening. 

I am glad I set this goal for April, but I think I have lost my mind a little. Aside from the Vail Spring Run Off 10K I had previously signed up for, just a few days ago I also signed up for a 25K Pilot Hill Run. Yeah, it's a 15 mile race up and down a "hill."  


And the kicker?!  I also signed up for a 6 hour trail run. The description from the website is great: 
"The course is comprised of 5.8 mile loops run in alternate directions. Each loop has access to the lower basecamp, which will have a campfire going and serve hot food all night, and the upper fully-stocked aid station. With over 700′ of elevation gain per loop and an 8800′ high point, this is a challenging course. Beautiful starry nights, wild flowers, beaver ponds, rugged forest – Wyoming!"


Half of the description is awesome (camp fire, hot food, alternate directions, starry night, stocked aid station) and apparently allowed me to ignore the rest (700 elevation gain and a high point of 8800 and rugged...).  If nothing, I am always up for a challenge.


Well, it looks like May will involve a few more miles. ;)

Running Lessons

We usually write in third person, but sometimes it just makes more sense for some “I’s and me’s” to be present. Since this is truly a blog run by both of us, we only think it is fair to let you know that this post was written by Jill.

As mentioned in this post, I have been running for over 20 years. It all started in first grade with the yearly Turkey Trot hosted by the physical fitness department. With my long legs and un-denying stubborn personality, it shouldn’t have been a surprise that I adored running. It also probably didn't hurt that I won that first Turkey Trot...

Read this post to learn more about my years of running in middle school, high school, college, and beyond.

During all of these years of running, I have learned quite a few things about myself and life thanks to pounding out miles. For anyone who is thinking of strapping on some running shoes or encouraging a child to become more active, I highly recommend running. It is such a great, lifelong habit. One of the items on my "do before you die" list is to learn how to tap dance at 50. I am also hoping to still be able to run 3 miles in 35 minutes at age 70.

In no particular order, here is what I have learned thanks to putting one foot in front of the other:


I have a lot of random, crazy thoughts going on in my head.
When you are running for a couple of hours on an empty trail or road without any music or anyone else for that matter, you start to really connect with yourself, your thoughts, and the sights around you. During my runs I hold millions of conversations with myself (thankfully, not out loud. I'm not THAT crazy). I ponder tough questions, I run through my to-do list, I scream about ugly situations, I tell myself jokes, I think about what the future will hold, I remember, I forgive, I forget, I throw all of my thoughts and emotions out there and just let the trail pick them up. It has been said before, but I truly believe it is true, that running really is the best therapy!! I am forever grateful for my outlet of running...and so it Eric.

Being independent is so powerful.

I don't need anyone else to go with me to the bathroom. Sorry ladies, I have never understood that one!

I know how to get myself out the door and run by myself for quite a few minutes or even hours. Running doesn't require a team, it is all on you, babe!

I am very comfortable with hanging out alone with my own thoughts and the world around me; even when that world around me is a little sketchy and even potentially dangerous. I have learned how to ignore the stares and honks and in general annoying people while still keeping my guard up and being prepared to "take action" if need be.

I have learned that I really don't have to rely on anyone else, I am strong minded and willed. I think independence helps to create confidence as well as self-determination. These are two additional traits I also attribute to my running. They have been extremely valuable in my life, in particular in my professional life.

Self-confidence- In my current position I have found myself in sketchy taxi cabs, on planes to countries located halfway around the world, giving presentations to a room of over 100 individuals with only 3 other women, and even at a dinner with 60 men and zero other women (in Qatar, no less). In all of these situations I have been fine. No, I wasn't completely comfortable or truly happy, but I held my head high and continued on. Isn't that after-all the definition of self-confidence?

Self-Determination- closely related to self-discipline in my book. It's really easy to stop running when you don't have to chase after a ball to pass to your teammate. Absolutely no one cares if I don't run. (Trust me, I have a ton of cheerleaders, Eric and my parents and brother being the biggest ones, but there isn't much they can do to force me to run (unless they somehow figure out a way to get a wo-man eating lion to chase after me)). But in my opinion it is this self-determination that makes running even more rewarding. Again, it's all on you.

Self-discipline has been amazing for my working life, especially right now, because I work from home. I have zero co-workers "checking-in" on me. In the end I am my own boss but thanks to the self-determination that I have developed via long miles on the road, I "get to it" and get my work done.


I love myself, just as I am.

It's true, I'm no super model (SURPRISE!). My body is not made for the front-cover of magazines (at least per the definition of our society). But, I know my legs are powerful, my lungs are clean, and I can run farther than the large majority of the population. I know I am doing something good for my health. I know I am strong. With this love comes self-respect. Self-respect means I give a crap and my actions show it. Sure, I sometimes eat too much and I have sometimes had one too many drinky-drinks, but this is by no means is a common occurrence because I understand cause and effect and I don't like the consequences. I have never touched a cigarette or any drugs. I like my lungs the way they are and my brain in tact. To me, this self-love and self-respect is invaluable.

I can read a map.

When I started running we didn't have fancy google maps or garmins. I used to pull out a paper map and string and map out my runs. Now I use gpedometer because I love looking on a map and seeing other running loop options.

I know how to set goals. (reasonable goals)

Something I love about running is that it is a great way for everyone to learn about setting goals. And I think running has taught me to set reasonable goals, mainly because of all the stuff that goes on in between setting the goal and reaching it. I never set a goal (running or otherwise) that doesn't involve a clear plan of how I will be able to achieve said goal. I have been known to edit a goal after thinking about the plan to achieve the goal. Learning how to set reasonable goals helps you achieve more goals.


I understand what it means to set priorities

Running is a selfish sport, there isn’t a team, it can take many hours away from family and friends and other activities.

But what I have learned is that I am a better person and more prepared to handle the rest of life thanks to running.

What this means is that sometimes I choose to spend my time going for a run instead of mopping the kitchen floor. Somedays I choose to go for a run instead of sitting in front of the tv. Sometimes I choose to go for a run instead of fixing an amazing meal. But thanks to the decision to go on those runs I am a more pleasant person to be around and overall better prepared to take on life.

Well there you have it.

I am forever grateful for my running experiences. I am so thankful that I was introduced to running in elementary school and have kept at it all of these years.

If you are a runner, what has running taught you?

SMRT IDEA: Wedding Edition- Get Your Groove On!

It’s time to continue the wedding themed SMRT IDEA series.  


This go round, we are going to share what went down on our dance floor.

For our first dance, we were originally planning an epic, completely-choreographed routine to a large collection of our favorite dance-able songs.  But we simply ran out of time.  We still choreographed out a routine, complete with a “hook and fish” move, some fake swing dance moves, and even a nice dip.

We danced to Let Your Love Flow by the Bellamy Brothers.

We purposely did our first dance immediately after we were arrived and were introduced on site at the reception.  We wanted our guests to be certain they could get their groove on as soon as possible.  We decided to have this schedule because this has been a scene in our wedding experience:

-  We arrive to the lovely decorated reception location.

- We enjoy some yummy drinks and appetizers (oh, why hello bacon wrapped scallops).

-  We find our reception table and pick the best seats.  We continue to enjoy said food and drink while listening to the music.

-  We hear a song we LOVE and continuously fight the urge to get up and start grooving.  We don’t want to be “those guests.” But trust us, it takes all of our will power.

We didn’t want any of our guests to experience this scene.  Once we arrived, if they heard a song they loved, they could get on the dance floor and move since we had “officially opened” the dance floor as soon as we arrived.

Aside from our first dance, we also had the father-daughter dance, mother-son dance, and dollar dance.  For the first dance, Jill and her dad did a little bit of an interpretative dance to “My Girl.”  It was a great fit for them, as they didn't want to cry their faces off in front of a bunch of people.  This dance was a perfect way for them to have a good time and make a great lasting memory.

Eric danced “Forever Young” with his Mom.
  

She wasn't thrilled with dancing in front of everyone, so once they had their moment to shine, everyone else in the family (aka Eric’s dad and sister and Jill’s parents and brother) entered the dance floor and switched around to dance with each other while the song finished up.  It was a great way to keep everyone happy and made for some nice photos.

For our Dollar Dance, we had it introduced by one of our friends as the Dime Dance.  Here’s the story, back in high school, Eric and one of his friends (the one who introduced the Dime Dance, more about how our friends were the DJs, here) read an article about a guy who had collected one million pennies.  Eric decided he was going to attempt to collect dimes and his friend decided he would collect nickels.  Anyone who has been around Eric and watched him pay for something with cash knows he gets pretty excited when it appears as though the change will return a dime or two.   Anyhow, some people knew about Eric’s love for dimes and gave him a few dimes.  We of course were also gifted with dolla-dolla bills.  It was a fun song (we played “If I Had A Million Dollars.”) where we were able to dance with a lot of guests.

In terms of the music we played, we had held a brief discussion with the DJ of songs we loved and specifically requested a list of songs we wanted him to play, but we also agreed that people could make requests and asked him to play some of his best recommendations based on the flow of music and interest from our guests.  


The only main request we made was for the Electric Slide to be played.
  

It was actually played twice in honor of Jill’s dad.  It’s kind of his favorite wedding song and this one time we were at a wedding where the Electric Slide was placed on the “Do Not Play List.”  Jill’s dad was very bummed by this news and decided he was just going to do the Electric Slide to whatever song was playing at the time.  The most amazing part?.... over half of the dance floor started to do the dance moves with him.  Yes, that is right, the music sounded nothing like the Electric Slide...at all. It was quite something to witness.  Needless to say, Jill’s dad and everyone else had a great time doing the Electric Slide.  Really what is a wedding and all its cheesiness without the Electric Slide.  Haha.

We really enjoyed the dance aspect of our wedding.  Our recommendation- do whatever fits your personality.  For us, dancing was a must.  We are those crazy people moving and grooving awkwardly at every wedding, so it was only fitting for us to have a lot of wedding.   But we have also been to weddings where there was very little dancing to weddings that were pretty much all line dancing (like country line dancing).  We have had a wonderful time at all the weddings we have attended because the bride and groom were having a great time.  We think your guests will also have a great time, not matter what you decide to have happen on your dance floor.  They are afterall your friends and family.

Anyone else a fan of the Electric Slide?  Or was there another song that was played more than once at your reception?

Time for an Update - Running 100 Miles in April

Sunday was the 15th, therefore marking the halfway point for Jill’s goal this month to run 100 miles.

Wanna know where she stands?

Ok, well first let’s mention that it was said, “She is hopefuly she will be able to blow the 100 mile goal out of the water.”

Please begin your belly-laughter, now move onto silent laughter...

Here’s the truth, running 3.3 miles everyday is pretty tiring.  Jill has decided that she will most definitely complete 100 miles in April.  But “blowing the goal out of the water”?  Nope, that will not be happening.

Anyhow, at the halfway point Jill had completed 49.3 miles.  Go figure, .7 of a mile away from 50 miles.  

Here is a run down on her runs so far this month (including yesterday’s run, but not today’s run):

April 16th – A 3.3 mile run to meet Eric for dinner.  This run took 26:30 and included the lovely hospital hill (which is actually two hills).

April 15th – A 3 mile run with Zepp.  It was pretty chilly and windy and for half of the run it was snowing.  Yes, it is April...

April 14th – A 10 mile run that took an hour and 31 minutes.  The weather was pretty nice but Jill’s right foot "up-ed the blister" count to 6, thanks to this run.  Her left foot? Well, it is blister-free and really rather happy.

April 12th – A 3.3 mile run with Bolo (this run involved a stop at the post office, so Bolo rocked his backpack and participated in what we call Doggie Express).

April 12th – Also ran .7 of a mile to pick up her bike from the bike shop.

April 10th – A total of 5.5 miles that took about 48 minutes.  We say, a “total” because Jill ran to a volunteer program and then once that was done she took the long way home.  More information about that volunteer program on another day, as it is related to running!!!!

April 8th – An Easter run!  4.3 miles at 35 minutes which was done right before round two of Easter food coma.  Run to eat.  Eat to run. And repeat!

April 7th – A nice and long 7.2 mile run that took an hour and 8 minutes.  It was pretty windy (welcome to WY) but sunny.

April 5th  - 6 mile trot to Asphalt Road, which happens to be a dirt road.  Yes, Jill cracks-up inside every time she turns onto this road.

April 3rd - A 2.1 mile run that was done before one of Jill’s late night conference calls.  C’est la vie when you support the global sales field.

April 2nd  - A 2.9 mile run in pretty crappy weather.  But Jill never claims to be a fair weather runner (only a fair weather skier).  After all, there no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.

April 1st – Start of this challenge with a 4.3 mile run in awesome weather (aka shorts and a tank top after 5:00 pm!)

As mentioned previously, Jill is tracking her miles in DailyMile. Here’s a nice little screenshot of last week’s runs.

For anyone who is looking for a way to track their miles (be it running, biking, walking, or swimming) Jill highly recommends this tool.  It is also great for tracking overall fitness. Jill is also tracking her stretching, ab and arm workouts in this program.  Yes, you read that correctly, her stretching....Jill is notorious for not stretching and let's just say that the day after her 10 mile run she felt like an old lady. Eric sat her down and basically said, "Jill you are not getting any younger.  You have probably reached the point where you need to stretch for all runs, not just races."  Ok, that was maybe exaggerated, but Jill has now begun stretching and feels like a spring chicken. Haha- nope, not quite yet, but she can feel her flexibility coming back.

The best thing about DailyMile is that there is a phone app so Jill can easily enter her runs into the program via her phone.  It is also a great tool because she has connected with some fellow runners and heard about some different running routes around Laramie.  

The program also tracks some fun "lifetime" information: 

For example, Jill has burned over 110 donuts and made it 0.01 times around the world.  That is by far the BEST data!  Hopefully, in her lifetime of running she will make it around the world.  If only she had been using this program for her entire running career, she probably has at least made it a quarter of the way around the world.  

Jill has had a love for running for over 20 years.  She was one of the few kids who was excited about the Turkey Trot in elementary school.  Jill remembers convincing the neighborhood kids to time her as she ran around the block.  And when everyone else was playing soccer, she would throw on running gear after middle school and run laps and hills with a bunch of boys.  She ran cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track during all of her high school years (Correction! She did not run indoor track her senior year. A decision she has labeled as one of her top 10 BEST decisions.  Instead of running inside during the winter she threw on an extra layer or two and headed outside by herself to learn about her absolute adoration for long distance and how fun it is to explore the world around you while on foot.) During her college years she continued to run at all hours of the day and completed 2 half marathons and a full marathon.  After college, work sometimes got in the way, but running continued to be a huge part of Jill's life.  For the last 20 years, Jill doubts there are many weeks that were completely run-free.  She has completed hundred of miles that will never make it into DailyMile.

So there you have the update on Jill’s 100 Mile April Goal.  There are a few additional posts that will be coming later this month focused on running:

- One about what running has taught Jill 

- Another one called, “This One Time I Went Running.”  (Let’s just say Jill always seems to experience odd things on her runs.  Finding a lost child?  Stepping on a snake?  Yes, these things have happened.) She wants to share some of her crazy stories with you.

- An explanation of the volunteer program mentioned above that Jill is participating in during the coming weeks. 

Happy running to any of the runners out there!!!

PS- If you are wondering how Eric’s April focus of fishing has been going.  Well, if you saw above, it was snowing Sunday....so yeah, fishing really hasn’t been happening, but he is still hoping to get out and do some fishing in the coming weeks.

Opposites Attract

Haha. NOT.


We are far from an example of a couple that could be defined as opposites attract.  Yes, we of course have our fair share of differences, but when you get right down to it, we have a lot of similar likes and dislikes and some similar personality traits too.


We both adore being outside, that is afterall why we decided to hold our 2012 resolution. But sometimes, the way we choose to spend time outside is different.  


For April we will not be participating in the same monthly focus (well, at least not for the entire month- more of an explanation in a moment).  It is very likely that this will be the only month when we do not participate in the same activity.  In January, we mentioned some of the plans we had for 2012 and some of the outdoor activities that we hoped to participate in.  The list included:

-          Downhill skiing

-          Snowshoeing

-          Snowmobiling

-          Snowboarding

-          Snowkiting (seriously check out this link!!)

-          Cross Country Skiing

-          Rock climbing

-          Mountain biking

-          Backpacking

-          Camping

-          Fishing

-          Hunting (err maybe just target shooting)

-          Hiking

-          Running

-          Boating

-          Swimming

We have decided we would also like to try to do the following as well:

-          Jet Skiing

-          Well, we had mentioned boating, but more specifically, we would like to go canoeing, white water rafting, and kayaking.

-      Sky diving

-      Rollerblading

-      Water Skiing   

We aren't sure if we will be able to pull all of these off, but we are hoping we figured we would add them to the list as friendly reminders.


Now back to our plans for April.  This month Eric will be fishing and Jill will be running.  


Simply put Eric LOVES to fish and really isn't a huge fan of running (he doesn't mind running if he is chasing after a frisbee or lacrosse ball).

  


And Jill LOVES to run and really isn't a fan of fishing (she can't sit still long enough).

There are a couple of goals that will be going on this month:


1- Jill's running goal: Jill plans to run at least 100 miles this month.  That means at least 3.3 miles a day or 10 days of completing 10 miles each.  She is hopeful that she will be able to blow the 100 mile goal out of the water, but thought it was a decent goal as she is training for a 10K (6.2 miles) right now and she is focused more on increasing speed as opposed to distance.  Anyhow, she will post on the blog occasionally with updates, but you can also follow along oh her DailyMile profile, here.  (PS-anyone else who uses DailyMile and wants some followers, let Jill know).


2- Eric's fishing goal: Eric is on the hunt for "the fishing spot."  He is planning to test out a bunch of new fishing locations within town and around the area in search for the best place to fish.


3- Eric will go for a 3 mile run with Jill.


4- Jill will go fishing with Eric for a little over an hour.


So there you have it, our April activities and goals.

Anyone share a love for fishing or running....or a hatred for them?

It's April Fool's Day- Pull a Prank (well maybe next year)

Hey, it's April Fool's Day.  No, we didn't do anything or even really run across anything extra clever for April Fool's Day.  We did have some green eggs at church, though.  And Jill's Dad did invite us to lunch at Chick-fil-A today.  (If you don't get it, they aren't open on Sundays.  It is a LONG time running joke with Jill's family.  Somehow it is still funny.  Kinda like when Eric pretends he is walking up or down stairs while we are skyping with Jill's family.  It never gets old.  Laughter always seems to fill the room.  We are totally okay with that.  :)


Anyhow, we thought it would be a fitting time for us to share a fun little prank that you can store in the brain file.  Sorry this is a little late for April Fool's, but maybe you could start a new tradition and pull a fun little prank on someone on the last day of April.  It will likely throw them off even further.  


This prank is a little time consuming but it is super cheap and very entertaining (at least for the folks pulling the prank).


So here's how this prank occurred in our house:


Last year, when Jill returned from one of her business trips she entered an office that looked like this:

Yes, that's right, Eric had wrapped pretty much everything in dollar store aluminum foil.

Everything, meaning each individual pen was wrapped.  He stopped wrapping the posters and papers on the wall, as he was afraid to tear them (what a thoughtful guy!).


Jill thought this prank was funny, but only after she explained to Eric that she was not removing a single piece of foil.


It's true that her trophy is still wrapped in foil and sits in our house as a friendly reminder that Eric is awesome.


Jill is really just thankful that he didn't decide to do a jello prank...although it sounds awesome, what a mess that would be!!!


Anyone have any good prank stories or ideas?  Any good April Fool's Day happenings?  Someone please tell us you had something really funny happen!

Snowshoeing Under a Full Moon and This Thing Called Skiing

Remember when the moon was really huge and beautiful a few weeks ago?


Yeah, we are having a hard time remembering that time too, it was quite a while ago now.  A couple of organizations in town were hosting different evening events to take advantage of the bright night light.


Similar to last year, we headed up to Snowy Range to (no, not ski, although that would have been awesome!!!!) snowshoe under the full moon on a trail that was lit by glow sticks.


Like any good event, it started with food.  We enjoyed a potluck with fellow snow-shoers and then headed out on the trail with the dogs.


The weather was really mild that night.  It has actually been really mild the last few weeks.  Jill has been going for runs in shorts and tank tops and Eric has been fishing!  But...we fear the weather might be bringing us back to the reality of Laramie springs, as tomorrow the high will only be 44 and a low of 21.  Oh and there is also a chance of some type of precipitation (yes, like that white fluffy stuff...).  Anyhow, we (along with the dogs) enjoyed the mild weather and enjoyable hike with some friends.

Snowshoeing at night is really lovely.  It was very quiet in the mountains, the wind was pretty much non existent, and it was fun to get out and move at night while getting glimpses of the moon.


If you recall, our "get out and go" plan for March was to snowshoe.  We got out and snowshoed twice (the other time was mentioned here).  But we kind of got distracted by skiing.  We ended up skiing 3 times (twice at Steamboat and once at Snowy Range).  We are making these monthly plans, just as a focus.  If awesome weather and the opportunity arises for us to do some other activity, we don't want to be forced to only do one activity.  The overall goal is just to be outside and be active.  So far this year, we think we have accomplished that fairly well.  Since we did some skiing in March, we thought we would share some photos with you of our sights:

Sunny Steamboat Ski Day: 

 

Snowy Range.  Our friendly, local ski resort.

This was also a really sunny day, it just became overcast in the evening.  Of course we didn't take a photo until the last run of the day.  Go figure.

 Steamboat again (this time for Eric's Birthday!!!!)

Jill is demonstrating her new skiing form.  Yeah....we saw a lady seriously doing this down a slope.  It entertained us for our entire lunch break.  The worst part....someone was teaching her.  We hope she gets back on the slopes again in the future with a little more loosened up and comfortable form.

Aside from slush-skiing (it was sooooo warm).  We also headed to the hot springs in town.  The weather was as awesome as it appeared.  (We literally stood outside in our bathing suits while putting on cold sunscreen and not a single goosebump (or goosepimple for the you Brits).)  But the pools were just awesome and so relaxing.  We can't image how great the hot water must feel when it is colder outside.  We just aren't so sure about the experience one would encounter, while exiting the pool in the cold and wind...

There was a climbing wall in the deep water area where you could climb up the rocks and then splash into the water.  It was very fun.  We highly recommend the hot springs if you are in Steamboat Springs and have some time. (Of course we first recommend that you hit the slopes, but we figured that was a no-brainer).

Oh and of course since it was Eric's birthday we had a pizza picnic.  YUM!

PS- Sorry for the somewhat horrible quality of these images.  We don't lug around a camera when we are out and about, but rather just use our cell phone cameras.  Any suggestions for a great quality small camera?