PART ONE: Warrior Dash Race Weekend to Never Forget with our 970 Muscle Fitness Team

This is PART 1 of a 2 part series.  Click here for PART 2

A couple years ago, I was cozied up in the corner of my couch one late night.  I was reading a blog friend's page when I saw her post about the Warrior Dash!  At that time, I had NEVER heard of anything so ridiculous yet exciting and I was instantly captivated with this idea.  She wrote about mud crawling and fire leaping and I was like..."whaaa??"  Then I was like..."wow!"  And after a couple of deep thinking seconds, I was like..."I want to do this!".  In much excitement, I immediately jumped up from the couch and demanded Chris' full attention.  "Babe, this is unreal.  I must do this."  I pushed him in front of my computer screen and made him watch the video promo.  He didn't share my enthusiasm.  His cool response was, "I wouldn't want to do it, but knock yourself out."  Or something along those lines.

But life is sorta funny sometimes and the VERY next year, he ended up racing the Tough Mudder which is a trillion times harder than the Warrior Dash and I stayed on the sidelines and snapped lots of muddy pictures.

He is tougher than I am, 
the end.

Although the Tough Mudder was too intimidating for me, I still carried a secret desire to race the Warrior Dash.  The Tough Mudder is over 13 miles and the obstacles look insane in comparison to the Warrior Dash.  The WD is just over 3 miles, with less intense obstacles.  I could do that.  And I could do mud.

photo via

When the opportunity came up for our local fitness team, 970 Muscle,  to all race a Warrior Dash together, I jumped on it.   Our race was in the most beautiful place in this whole little-big world: Colorado, Copper Mountain Ski Resort.

I knew the second I signed up for this race, that I wanted my three boys to come along, I wanted my favorite supporters there as team, our family 5 team.

We made the pretty mountain drive up with our family and a couple of our dear teammates.  Our spirits were high and our hearts happy.

Within a couple short hours, we made it to our destination!
Breathe in, breathe out.  Life is absolutely beautiful.

The big boss of our 970 Muscle fitness team, our trainer and friend, Derek, planned the BEST weekend for the entire team.  Thank you Derek!

 He discovered a giant and gorgeous cabin mansion place for the entire team to stay in for the weekend. 

photo credit: Jonathan Hobbs

When we arrived, we ran around with excitement, exploring all the rooms!  Each room and bathroom were completely different.  We found our lil weekend home at the very top story of the cabin, with french doors that opened wide to the roof deck and panoramic views of the mighty mountains.  

 

We all hung out with guitars and games while waiting for the entire team to arrive.

Titus' poker hand 

photo courtesy of Jonathan Hobbs

Some of our girls

We did some crazy foolish things on our mountain too.  Hey kids, sit on these longboards and we'll let go and watch you roll at high speeds down this windy mountain road.  K? K.

No worries.  The adults tested it out first.

Chris and Merridy being so crazy.

Whatever you do,

don't do this.

We grabbed the sunshine and the high air while on some

 gorgeous mountain walks.

My main sqeeze is so darn hot.

On one walk, Titus found bright wildflowers and gathered a cluster for our mountain kitchen.

Always make things beautiful, wherever you go.

Our team worked together to plan a weekend menu 

for us to enjoy our breakfast, lunches, and dinners at the cabin!

One day I'm doing what I do, 

being a little housewife in the kitchen 

and the next day I'm a warrior in the mud.

We enjoyed delicious buffet lines throughout the weekend:

Pre race pasta feast!

Good food, with good company in a good place. 

Pull ups on the beams after dinner is typical for this team!

We're cool like that.

 We also do calm and peace.

Keeping it all in balance as our trainer likes to encourage. ;)

On race day, my parents drove up to join in and watch!  

Thank you Mom and Dad!

Mom playing cards with her viking grandsons. 

Time to check in!

Down at the heart of the race, people buzz all around, energy high, with my favorite people!

Viking Mama and her tough warrior

All of our mountain R & R wrapped up as we prepared for our race!

Waivers are signed, 

numbers are on, 

and we are ready to race!

Most of our team! 

We are all fresh and pretty 

ready to walk down to the start line and kick some mud.

Tomorrow I will be sharing the actual race details with some epic (yes I used the word epic) pictures!  So check back loves!

This vacation was a braided combination 

of all things beautiful:

connection

friendship

support

goals

dreams

perseverance

gathering around good food

breathing in God's glorious earth

 fancy special place to sleep

laughter

and true spirit

This was one of the BEST weekends/memories/moments I've had! 

I am feeling so grateful for LIFE EXPERIENCES. 

We spent this weekend in the most beautiful mountains, 

in a gorgeous cabin, 

surrounded with GOOD people, 

accomplishing great things! 

Sooo many highlighted life moments pressed into just one weekend!

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This post is linked to: Under the Table & Dreamin, Nifty Thrifty,  Made by You Monday, Met Monday, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, HOMEWORK: Be Inspired, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, Works for Me Wednesday, Snap Creativity, Organize and Decorate Everything, Transformation Thursday, Tablescape Thursday, Strut Your Stuff, 36th Ave, Foodie Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up, Six Sisters Saturday 

Another Year of Schooldays and Back to School Breakfast Cookies

Another end to the final hours of a sunkissed summer, another beginning to another end of August, another fresh, tidy, organized, school year "with no mistakes in it yet".  

 Rise and shine!  It's family breakfast time!  In a sudden quick moment, the lazy, slow, over-slept mornings of summer are over.  We are back to schedule, order, and routine.  Changes give life boost.  It's OKAY, I'll trade my lazy summer for order.  Our family is ready for this! ;)

To kick off our first school morning, I made hashbrown ham egg casserole in the crockpot.
A bag of frozen hashbrowns, salt and pepper, 6 eggs beaten, 1/2 cup half and half, 1/2 cup milk, pinch of dry mustard, 1 cup diced ham or sausage, 2 cups shredded cheese.  Cover and cook on low 6 hours or overnight.

Last year I shared Muffins in the Morning: a quick collection of school breakfasts.  This year I made BACK TO SCHOOL BREAKFAST COOKIES!  These cookies are packed full of nutrients with a pinch of sweet goodness too of course... 

Recipe here.

Ingredients include all things breakfast: cinnamon, whole wheat pastry flour, bran flakes, oatmeal, and jumbo raisins!

Hot cereal AND cold cereal in your cookies...

These hearty cookies, dense with nutrients are perfect for back to school...

I individually wrapped the extras and put them in the freezer for quick grab n go meals. 

Our family was extra excited over our hot meal of crockpot Hashbrown Ham Egg Casserole and Breakfast cookies.  I think it beat all the boring cold cereal summer mornings.

We continued our newish giant pencil tradition this year, adding the kids' grade and recording how tall they are on each pencil.  To see details of this Back to School Pencil Tradition, see here! 

A little school tip I do is keeping a school supply bin on the storage shelf.   We run through so many consumable school supplies throughout the year, so I stock up and keep them at the house.  The kids can easily take what they need from the bin throughout the school year.  

Another celebration of the brand new: new shoes, new pencils, new haircuts, new minds ready to learn new things. 

 After the rush of eating breakfast and packing up backpacks, the kids get ready to BEGIN their first day!

Since the morning was cozy and rainy, we stopped at Starbucks on the way to school to grab hot chocolates for lil teacher gifts.

 And then, just like that, the quick buzz of the morning is over and once again, school is in session.

Okay, go ahead...get gone.  I'll stop clicking pictures, I'll stop smiling at you as if it was the first time I've ever seen you.  I'll let your fingers go of the tight hand squeezes from me to you.


So go.  Step away with new shoes tied and backpacks full of newly sharpened pencils and fresh white paper.  Use the anticipation within you to fuel your own individual fire that kindles beneath your skin.  Decide who you are and what you want to accomplish, realize the blessing that education is, dig deep into both your heart and your brain, discovering the secrets of your passions and letting them loose.  Release any fear and accept all opportunities to grow.  You are you and you are who you are supposed to be.  Capture full advantage of the everyday gifts of learning, celebrate these schooldays.

For more BACK TO SCHOOL posts see:

Sweetly Sharpened and Back to School (with pencil cookies)

PB and J Comfort Cupcakes and eco-friendly lunch box ideas

Be safe, learn lots, have fun BACK TO SCHOOL wishes

Polka Dots and Crayons: a school corner

Hurry Up and Grow Up 

Apple Disc Power snacks

Apple Basket Teacher Gifts and Giant Sized Document Pencils

Muffins in the Morning: Quick breakfast collection

Made to order School Sandwich lunch sacks and other ideas



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This post is linked to: Under the Table & Dreamin, Nifty Thrifty,  Made by You Monday, Met Monday, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, HOMEWORK: Be Inspired, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, Works for Me Wednesday, Snap Creativity, Organize and Decorate Everything, Transformation Thursday, Tablescape Thursday, Strut Your Stuff, 36th Ave, Foodie Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up, Six Sisters Saturday 

A Sunkissed Summer: lessons by the sun's light

The force of the sun shot rays of hazed light to our lives throughout this summer season 2013.  

We delighted in our experiences and dwelled on our blessings.  

Although this summer was personally more difficult for me than past summers 

as I fought ongoing personal struggles and health battles, 

I was able to collect some wisps of bright sun, 

capturing those bright rays on camera, 

and saving them to my heart. 

 

Sunkissed on the beach, 

feeling grateful for second chances to renew who we are, 

inside and out.

Sunkissed on mountain vacations, 

seeing all of our little loves experience life together...

Sunkissed while going on a family run, 

all 5 of us, in the pouring rain, 

soaked from head to toe, 

running on lavender roads, 

soaked from the stormy sunset. 

Sunkissed while going for it 

and trying new things!

Sunkissed with my main squeeze,

knowing I am loved more than I could imagine,

and knowing we have us.

 Sunkissed  enjoying classic moments together 

under the western skies.

Sunkissed while rising early,

 celebrating our bodies with exercise...

Sunkissed in moments of peace, 

hearing only the soft splashes of waves, 

silently watching the light sink from the day.

 Sunkissed while beating our hearts to adventure and excitement!

Indeed.  
It was a sunkissed summer. 
A lovely sunkissed summer.

My lesson for this summer season is that joy is always there, 
the sun shines its powerful light into each of our personal lives,
darkening the sight of the bad, and putting a fierce glow on the good.


Even if it wasn't the *best* year, the best day, or the best summer,
when you collect your blessings,
you'll be wowed at how beautiful a second best really is.

And then...

This summer made me re-examine my spirit and realize that
even if it's not the best, it shouldn't be discarded.
Second best things are beautiful in their own way, 
and we are blessed far more than any of us deserve.

I see this now. 

Most photos in this post are via my instagram @mooreminutes

I already post my annual end of summer posts Part 1 and Part 2

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This post is linked to: Under the Table & Dreamin, Nifty Thrifty,  Made by You Monday, Met Monday, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, HOMEWORK: Be Inspired, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, Works for Me Wednesday, Snap Creativity, Organize and Decorate Everything, Transformation Thursday, Tablescape Thursday, Strut Your Stuff, 36th Ave, Foodie Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up, Six Sisters Saturday