Sawtooth Relay 2013

For the past 10 plus years my work has run at least one team in the Sawtooth Relay. Our team is traditionally named "Holland & Hart Attack" (I work for Holland & Hart), we are clever bunch, aren't we?  The Sawtooth Relay is a 60 mile relay race in some of Idaho's most scenic terrain.  Racers run the 60 miles from Stanley to Ketchum/Sun Valley, Idaho.  Some run like the wind, others nearly die like me, and all have a great time.  With work being beyond busy this summer, I had about zero time to train so I ran legs 4 and 10 consisting of of 4.4 and 6.1 miles with no training.  I jogged very very slowly, but I didn't quit.   As a result, I am not kidding when I say I nearly died.  It was awesome though and I was just proud that I didn't back out.

The team also traditionally wears shirts with the firm's logo changed into a map of the course. I told you that we were a clever bunch.  

Starting a race with a beautiful sunrise over the Sawtooth Mountains is not half bad. 

He was a good husband to me when I needed his support. You can see why people confuse us at work, I wish I could take credit for looking this good.  Cheryl had her best times ever and rocked it. Laurie ran with chronic bronchitis and killed her legs.  What a powerhouse. In addition to my 5 coworkers, we dragged Chris into the race.  We needed someone to run Galena Summit. If you tell anyone you are running the Sawtooth Relay, they have one question and one question alone, "you are not running Galena are you?"  Galena is a mountain, literally.  Chris ran up a mountain with a 1,331 vertical feet climb in a total of 5.35 miles.  I cannot tell you how proud I was of him.  He can now put a gold star next to his name and say that he has run Galena when all those people ask "who did Galena?"   Here is my man doing his thing. Looking handsome refueling. I cannot resist putting a photo in of what I thought was the best costumed team.  Meet, team "Man Candy."  For all you single guys looking to go out on Halloween this year, I highly suggest you be Man Candy.  The girls will not leave you alone. Ted was our team lead and pulled a personal best!   Those who finish early, celebrate early while the rest of us dread our next leg! I think I will choose to finish early next time. Our Summer intern ran like a champ, what a good sport!  Looking a little disheveled, but the mountains make us look good.   The end.

We had so much fun in Sun Valley before and after the race.  Thanks to Kim (thank you!), we were Grady free for the weekend for the first time ever.  We had a nice dinner out alone and a nice dinner in with our team.  It was an awesome weekend away.  I loved our little team and had so much fun with them. Aside from the pure physical torture, it was a great weekend!  I think we will do it again sometime so if you are ever interested, let me know!

NC Part 2: Cousin Time

I was so excited to introduce Grady to Tyler and Owen.  We were determined to make it happen before Grady's first birthday.  After 16 hours of travel with a squirmy, active, and sometimes very loud child, we arrived on the doorstep of the Ericksons.  Cute little Tyler and Owen did not disappoint in their love for Grady, who they referred to as either "Grady boy" or "baby Grady" and never just plain old Grady. 

Grady chased the boys all over the house trying to keep up, which may be the reason he took his first steps.  It was just so awesome to have the three of these boys together.  I spent the whole weekend trying to get a picture of the boys smiling.  After probably 50 attempts and some seriously funny outtakes we got the picture above.  It is not perfect, but I will always remember this special weekend with our boys together.  

Owen wanted to hold Grady, but quickly found out that Grady is not really the holding type.

We spent a lot of time playing outside and watching Tyler learn to jump on his Pogo stick, which was an early birthday present from us.  I didn't get a picture of either him or me, but this mamma still has the skills.  It may be the only "athletic" activity that I am better than Chris at.

I can only hope that Grady loves me as much as this boy loves his mom.

We spent an afternoon at the go-cart track and getting some delicious frozen treats at the Fuzzy Peach.

 Owen was finally tall enough to ride in the go-cart!  It is a go!

Grady and Erin looked on as the rest of us tore it up on the track :) 

 We spent another afternoon at Fort Macon, a confederate Civil War post.  It was pretty amazing to see how well preserved this place was. It is surrounded by water on three sides and was beautiful.  The boys had fun exploring and Owen had fun doing cannonballs all across the grounds.  Think "cannonball" like jumping into a pool but instead just jumping up and dropping to the ground in a heap.  He is a little character.

I love my sister so much!

Strong boys. . .

Like real North Carolinans, we stopped for an impromptu lunch on the beach just across from Fort Macon.  Rough life.

The rest of the time was spent hanging out and eating Erin's delicious cooking.  I am sure that Erin's cooking makes Chris think that he married the wrong sister. 

The boys might take after their mom.  They helped prep the most delicious, fresh shrimp that I have ever eaten with backwards, self-dressed pants and all.

Grady may have a new favorite. Uncle Andy could always get a smile. 

 These boys together in the tub was about the cutest thing I have seen.   

Some of the outtakes.

We were so lucky to be able to spend such an amazing weekend with the Erickson clan. Thank you for sharing your wonderful coastal life with us. Now if I can just figure out how to move the state of North Carolina to the West Coast.   

NC Part 1: Life's a Beach!

My sister is my favorite person in the world.  Although she lives across the country, we still talk a few times a week mainly on my drive into work, but it is pretty rare that we see each other these days. This is why a weekend in North Carolina with the Ericksons was so special.  They are not easy to get to, but they are worth the travel!  Besides them being awesome, just look at where they live!  I am desperate for them to come back to Boise some day (please!), but I can see why they love North Carolina so much.  Here is installment #1 of our trip,  too many good beach pics to choose from.  Erin and Andy live near the outer banks and have a great boat which allowed us to go out and pick an isolated beach to have almost all to ourselves.

Grady boy got his first boat ride and seemed to love it.  Upon arrival, he kept reaching down towards the water.  I wasn't really ready for him to get wet and worried he'd be cold because the water was not warm, but he wouldn't let up.  So I let him down and Grady confirmed, he is still a water boy. The water is shallow where we were so he could crawl around in it.  Let me tell you, he would have crawled out to sea if he could.  This kid loves the water!

Erin's boy are THE most adorable beach boys.  They are true North Carolina boys and love to fish and crab and play at the beach. 

Fishing is definitely on top of Owen's favorite activities list.   He looks like he is meant to fish if you ask me.  I think Chris had a little soft spot for him because of this.

As a result of this fishing, the boys (and the men) caught some bait fish to use in the crab cages.  Grady was obsessed with the fish and only wanted to stand over the bucket and grab the fish.  Tyler was sweet and would hold the bucket so that Grady wouldn't tip it over and would grab fish to show Grady.  I looked away for a bit and came back to Grady trying to put it in his mouth!  A live fish in his mouth, I should have known better. 

The crab pots paid off and we caught a few little guys.  So fun!

 I love my boys. 

 The only time that I could even attempt to get all three boys in a picture was at lunch.    Picnics at the beach are the good stuff of life.

Somebody found a friend with strawberries. 

Our walker boy loved tromping around on the sands.  

He even surprised us while we were in North Carolina by taking his first few steps!   It was really sweet because his first steps were to go see Aunt Erin.  He loves her just as much as I do.  Slow down Grady, you are growing up way too fast!

And a great beach day results in a passed out Grady on the way home.  He slept the whole boat ride home.

Thank you for sharing your treasured piece of the coast with us.  We built memories that I will never forget!