Latest adventures

First, I apologize for the image quality lately... the last batch were all washed out... and these too don't seem as bright - I think as I upload them they're losing ...information. Oh well. Use your imagination.

The easiest way I could try to update you would be by saying... we are trying to make a gallon of orange juice out of 3 oranges. ........ Fortunately we have plenty of help along the sidelines donating fruits and if we're lucky we'll come up with the Simply Orange Mango juice...

have you tried that stuff? Its pretty awesome.

Jared has been doing his best to get back into TKD

He even participated in a demonstration the group did for Destination Iowa State (some big orientation sort of thing that freshman go to).

Even though he has taken a bunch of time off for Benjamin (and me) he still looked quite good out there.

While keeping up with tkd, Jared has also been trying to build up a fixed gear bicycle.

(original frame)

We got the frame for free from some guy... and now are conquering the task of stripping the paint.

Jared wants it green and orange in color, of course. The other secrets of the build you will just have to wait and see. All I can say is........ it will undoubtedly be Jared's ride.

On top of that, Jared has been training for the MS ride that we did last weekend!!

Thanks thanks thanks for those of you who donated... for those of you who didn't........ one last plug of its not too late!!

This was the first year that Paul had finished - you should read his touching story about it here.

For Jared and Brooke... they were first timers. Each of them had hardly ridden a bike for more than the summer. Brooke trained her ASS off and... well you can read her thoughts on it here.

For me personally... The fact that it is two days of beautiful riding, great company/support, and of course a good cause is just the tip of the iceberg. It is a personal test - not to do it faster every year, but to invite others to join, (i.e. ....jared and brooke, and last year I joined a team to do it) and to remind myself that the things I can accomplish physically are truly a privilege... and not a privilege to be taken for granted. The first century ride I ever rode (seems like forever ago!! oooh TOMRV ---brooke doesn't know, but she's riding this next year...) was eye-opening in terms of what the human body can do... the only thing more revealing of this is probably... uuuuh BIRTHING A CHILD! but I digress...It was awesome. Being out there on my bike for that many hours, knowing Benjamin was being well taken care of (thank you so so so much mom/dad!), getting to talk about nothing except corn, clouds/sunshine and bicycles, riding with a perfect 70degree temperature... oh oh! and a free massage at the finish line to top it off???? It was certainly the most stress relieving thing I've experienced in Months!