Angry Bird Bithday Party

Wow, I have been a bad blogger. Well a lot has happened and been going in Pigeon household. Let me start off with wishing my nephew Lil Man a Happy Birthday!!!! His birthday was October 14, so I am a little late getting to this post. Sorry Lil Man.

Anyways onto his birthday party!!!! He has been obsessed with Angry Birds, and this is all he has been talking about. Angry birds this and Angry birds that. When my store set Halloween back in September his mom (my sister) went into the store to pick some things up. And he of course had to look at the Halloween costumes. When he saw the Angry Birds costume he just had to have it. The conversation went something like this:

Lil Man: "Mom, can I get the Angry Birds Costume?"
K: "Not today."
LM: "But mom I really, really, really want it."
K: "We are not getting it today."
LM: "But, mom what if they sell out?"
K: I think by this point it was a no win situation, "OK. let's get"

Lil Man squeals for joy!!!!!!!!

Now that Lil Man had his costume he was all set for Halloween, now onto his Birthday Party.

The bounce house!

With his obsession he of course had a Angry Birds Birthday Party with a bounce house his favorite. He had an angry birds birthday cake, angry birds candy which he called angry birds poop, angry birds tattoos. If you can imagine it he had it.

Enjoying the bounce house with his cousin Quinn

 

The Angry Birds Shooting Range

 

Quinn taking his turn at the shooting range

 

Special Moment with Uncle Brent

 

Kaylee had a blast hanging out with everyone!

 

I don't think she is having any fun, do you?

 

Angry Bird Birthday Cake

 

Quinn having fun in the dump site

 

Happy Birthday Lil Man!

 

Wow, I can't believe you are 5 years old now. Where has the time gone? I enjoy our special Meme time when you come over and we play like little kids. I love your smile and enthusiasm and I love how when I pick you up from preschool you are so excited that that is all you talk about with your teachers. I have loved watching you grow up and I can't wait to see what this year has in store for us. I am sure more grand adventures, more Meme time and Traildog time. You will always be a special part of my life and know that I will always be there for you no matter what.

 

Happy Birthday Bradyn!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

The Small Things in Life

Yesterday I hit the trails for the first time in a few weeks and let me tell you how amazing running on the trails was. It was awesome. It was just what I needed. I headed up to Auburn and decided to run to Cool, only I turned around at the 5 mile marker. This was a good thing because my legs were feeling the pounding of the descents and the climbs. I think I need to start my hill workouts again. But that is beside the point. The point being is I was out on the trail enjoying something I love, enjoying the moment and all it had to offer me at the time. What a feeling.

I miss the trails. My back has been feeling a lot better, it's still not 100% but it is good enough to hit the trails. Yesterday's run may not have been very far but it was a stepping stone for what is to come. I mean any day on the trails is a good day in my book regardless of how the run went. I am just the lucky one to be able to run the trails anytime I want.

I do miss my weekly runs with Trailmomma and I am sure we will need to plan a run together. HINT>>>HINT>>>>HINT>>>>

Right now I am just enjoying maintaining the base miles, not following any sort of training program and running how my body feels. When the Fleet Feet Ultra Training program starts up in December though I want to go into it fit, but not over trained. Which will be a fine balance, as this is a very busy time for me at work and running will most definitely help keep me sane.

Things on the home front are really great, I am enjoying my new place and Traildog loves it. He is much more happier as am I.

Here is to enjoying those small moments in life and loving life for all it's worth! The small things in life is what will make those moments that much more special.

Four Grills Later

This past month I have been really wanting to BBQ on a real grill. When I lived in Folsom, grills were not allowed at my apartment complex so BBQ'ing was impossible. I really enjoying cooking outdoors and best of all there is hardly any clean up as I cook everything on the grill. From the meat to the vegetables and if we have potatoes potatoes. Did I mention how much I enjoying BBQ'ing???

Anyways, I had been waiting all summer for the grills to go on clearance. I waited and they went 30% but I knew I could wait a bit on longer. They didn't go 50% and I was starting to sweat a bit as there were only 2 left on sales floor. I waited taking a chance hoping they wouldn't disappear. Then one day a Wednesday to be in fact they went 70% and that is when I made my move. 2 left, they were on floor for over an hour when it was time to buy it. Yes!!!! I had just bought a grill for $55, a four burner grill along with a side burner. SCORE!!!!!

Now all I had to do was get the grill home, you see I had walked to work. Luckily my friend said she would take me and my grill home, but we had to get it in her car. So we took it out of the box and I am pretty sure it was very funny to watch. Us trying to get the grill in the car. But eventually I think 30 minutes later we were on our way to my house. The next step was to build the grill, only I had not eaten all day and was really low on energy, my brain wasn't working and the instructions were not making sense. I left the grill and decided I would work on it later. Even though I really wanted to BBQ that night.

Friday came and the grill still wasn't put together but a good friend of mine Rachel offered to help me. She came over and went right to work, only the grill was damaged. Sadly we would not be enjoying some BBQ that evening as it was getting late. Rachel came back Saturday morning and helped me return it back to the store and we than went over to the rental house and picked up the grill that was left behind from the previous tenant. Ohh what fun this was, I was scared because the back yard was a bit overgrown and ended up screaming while high stepping my way to the patio. Ohh what a sight that was.

Once home we cleaned up the grill and hooked up the propane tank and we were in business. Only we weren't. The dang grill wouldn't lite, no matter what we tried. AGHAGHHHHHH.........
Finally I had had enough and we drove over to Lowe's and I bought a new 4 burner grill that was on sale that also had a side burner and was already built. Now we were in business.

So if you have been keeping track this is grill number 3, something that should have taken a few hours has now taken about 3 days. Crazy, but how awesome of Rachel to help me during all this. I mean I don't know what I would have done as she had the truck and that totally made it easier with all the grills we were moving.

We did finally get our BBQ, and have been enjoying the new grill sense, but remember this is four grills later. What we found out is that the first burning on the third grill does not lite up. Really, I mean really. This is crazy, how can this be?

We will be heading back to Lowe's and exchanging the grill with the busted burner and getting a new grill. Hopefully the fourth grill will be the charm. All of this trouble because I really wanted a grill. But being able to BBQ anytime is great.

Update

Have you ever had those moments in life where something is just missing, but you can't put your finger on it? There has been something missing in my life, but that missing piece is no more. It is amazing how life can capture you and bring in a feeling of fullness like no other. It is also amazing at how calm I am feeling and confident about all of this. It is one of the best feelings in the world for me right now.

With my new direction in life I also haven't forgotten about my running. I am actually injured right now. I have no idea how it happened, but I ended up straining/pulling (I don't really know) my back. It has been very painful with even the smallest amount of shifting or twisting causes me to cringe and or drop what ever I am holding or carrying. I have been somewhat good and taken a few extra rest days, but I have also been out running. Nothing crazy long just a six miler here and a 9 miler there which after running causes me to be on the floor almost in tears from the pain.

I finally broke down and called Lily and she worked her magic on me. I am feeling a lot better, but not 100%. I am able to run somewhat pain free but I am also still taking it easy. I have only logged 6 miles this week and that was on Thursday. Overall that run was pretty good and today (Saturday) I will plan on hitting street again for a few more test miles.

I have also decided to rejoin the Fleet Feet Ultra Training Group this coming up year. I wont be able to make it to all the long runs but the runs I can will be a lot better for me than training by myself. Plus I have a 100 miler planned for next season and I think being in the training group will increase my dedication and competitiveness to help bring me to the next level.

Lots of exciting things going in life, in running and at home. I can't wait to see what else comes my way as my eyes are wide open!