Making adjustments

     SOOOOO... Today was the La Jolla Half Marathon  that I registered for.  I was super excited because it's BEAUTIFUL there... and it's one of the top 10 half marathon races... I am certain it's mostly for the beauty of it.  It's also know for it's HUGE hill at Torrey Pines. I was very excited to do this half and have a weekend in California.  Saturday was Steve's birthday, and celebrating in La Jolla, California was the plan.











                  Sometimes life God has a different plan. As a lot of you know, Steve has been working in Wisconsin the past few months. I am so proud of the sacrifices he makes daily for the benefit of our family. All 4 of us make sacrifices, but he is away from his bed, his home & his family. This weekend was one of those tough weekends. Not only did we have to skip the La Jolla Half Marathon, but Saturday was also Steve's birthday. We brought the birthday to him and La Jolla race to us.  We have kinda started a tradition with specialty cakes in our family. The girls & I found a bakery in Algoma to create & deliver a cake to Steve. :) We think they did a great job. Yes?

Cake from North Water Bakery 



My birthday Bun.



     IN order to get credit for RUN FOR THE BLING OF IT  ( 12 races in 12 months--read this blog) I needed to create a race in lieu of the La Jolla Half/5K and blog about it.  So, I creaked the Horsley La Jolla 5k. :) 

my registry confirmation

     We have been doing Turbo like CRAZY & Madisyn has really been really pumped about working out & has caught the "fire" . I am so proud of both of my girls for taking an interest in working out. Yesterday, Madisyn said " Mom, I think I wanna run with you tomorrow."  WHAAAT? Usually she thinks I am insane in the membrane for anything running. OF course I almost ruined it with my excitement. No worries I contained myself before embarrassing my 13 year old. So we set out to do 3 miles. La Jolla was either a half or a 5k. Makynzie would ride her bike. I told Madi I would run at her pace. We were holding about a 13 min/mile pace  ( Impressive for a very 1st run don't you think??) She held on a whole lot longer than I expected. After a little over  a mile of non stop running, she began to walk. I ran back and forth to her.Kynzie was riding up and down with us. Madi wanted to rock out on her ipod & I was feling the run. so we decided to part ways for a bit. I ran , she walked and Kynzie biked between us. I ran the remainder of the 5k. Madi ran/walked and finished. I am so proud of her. She didn't hate it!!! That's the only thing that matters in the beginning. I HOPE she falls in love with running, but if not, I don't care. I just want them to be happy being active no matter what we do. We find ways to make everything work for our family. We may not do everything like the "normal" family does, but we do us . The Horsley way. The only way for us.

After a 5K walk/run/ bike

After Madis's first unofficial 5K... See the runners glow??

     Being positive in everything you do is sooo contagious. Doing good things for your health, family & body make people want the same. We all want to be happy and feel great. I've asked myself many times, "Why do I do this?"  The above pictures ( I have no clue why they are fuzzy on here )  are exactly why. Do what you do. Make it yours. And never apologize for being happy. This life was a gift to you & it's your job to be thankful, embrace & enjoy it.  <3 <3 <3

~ROCKIN the week family style~

     It's Sunday already !!! What a week. I hope I don't wake up and it never happened. Its been eventFULL all week. Steve came in town for a visit Monday. It's always great to spend time with him &it makes me  really appreciate what I  don't have every day... I am very very grateful for what he is willing to do for us.   Now on to the fun stuff!!!




Dinner Monday

     Steve was jet lagged, has been on Wisconsin time & works nights... so he was DONE after dinner. Poor Guy he tried to stay awake as long as he could. Way longer than I ever would have I NEED sleep! He lounged on the couch while we did Turbo Jam.

     Wednesday he wanted to see where I ran my half marathon & I wanted to get a running workout in. We pulled into Lake Mead.. Walked the trail to get to the 6 tunnels trail. Obviously we were not going to do the 13 miles, but I gave him a tour of what we did. It was emotional for me to go back. I'm SOOOOOO glad I did. We ran the first mile. I tried to show Steve how to find your comfortable pace, cuz I know what I'm doing I had the Garmin. We ran along Lake Mead we were in awe of the panoramic beauty of where we LIVE. We were counting our blessings together for sure. Steve wanted to walk and enjoy the view... so I decided I would try some Fartlek. I can't lie having a 6:30 pace where I struggled sooo badly during the half. KARMA, GU,  KARMA. We continued for a while I sprinted then jogged back to him. We would walk, chat and repeat. We finished the day with a biggggg hill that we tackled very well TOGETHER. Probably my favorite run ever. <3

a view of a tunnel.

     Thursday We partied like ROCKSTARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I could NOT wait for Madi to get home from school!! AT ALLLLLL!

  Everything was ROCK AND ROLL. We all like music so it was fun for all of us, especially Madi. It's soooo hard to please a 13 year old. You can't do 'kid" things , but a lot of teenage things are not meant for a 13 year old. I was nervous it would be lack luster in her eyes.. I think happy tears = passing grade for Mom & Dad.



Surprise #1 what she saw coming up the stairs. Thank goodness for lessons!

Surprise #2 & 3... Rockstar custom cake & dinner at Hard Rock. She pick all the songs & "Toad" treated he like a total rockstar. <3

Saturday was a day at the strip! Madi & a few friends went to Adventuredome. Steve, Makynzie & I walked across the USA a small section of the strip. I sought out stumbled upon Juicy Couture. :) I was a lot of fun & a LOT of walking.

Sunday we finally got a day we had NOTHING planned. We talked all week about going to Red Rock Canyon for some hiking.It has always been one of our favorite places to go spend the day together.  So we grabbed Cooper & headed out. On our way there we planned the rest of the day. It included riding the new bikes and talks of swimming. I suggested we do our own family triathlon. Everyone was eager willing to play along. We hiked, rode our bikes & swam. Worked for us!!! :) Swimming= hardest workout EVER.

  

3 mile hike





3 mile bike ride



and swam 3 laps. I have NO idea how far this was... but It was a BEAST!

     We knew this week would fly by, and it did. :(  We enjoyed being together as usual. I hate to see it end. Being apart makes me appreciate the time we do get together. I am so happy that we shared some new things TOGETHER. We can't always be together, but when we are we can & do make the most of it.  I am so proud of Steve for everything he does. I am so proud of us for making it through another time apart & I am especially proud of us completing our 1st triathlon together!!!