The Moonlight Run

Last Saturday my siblings and I ran the Moonlight Run. It's a race that has been 'running' for 21 years in Lethbridge. There were 2300 people out. It's a great race that brings out everyone. Below is me with Sam and my older brother Bryan to my left and my younger brother Eric to his left. This was pre-race.
Bryan and Eric finishing 65th and 66th.
Post Race L-R-Younger sister Heather, Brother-in-law Lowyn, Younger Brother Eric, Older Brother Bryan, Sam and Me. We had a GREAT time and it was SO cool to do it with my siblings. It was AWESEOME. As I got to the finish I could here my siblings cheering for me. It was GREAT. Nali was waiting for me at the finish line as well with Sam and my sister-in-law Jamie and my niece Hailey and Nephew Chase. I wanted to finish in under 56 minutes but didn't get that...there's a killer hill at the end. I did make my goal of finishing in the top half of my age group so that was good. Really it was an aweseome night and I look forward to doing it again with everyone next year!
Bryan 6 km-30:06 7/54
Eric 6 Km-30:14 17/42
Heather 6 km-No time...didn't wear their chip right
Lowyn 6 km-No time as well
Sam-10km-53:12 18/35
Renee-10km-57:51 20/47

Post Race Richards Family Picture.
Me and My girls.

I know I know...I DO have the cutest girls!

Ski Trip Up the Big Mountain

So we decided that we needed to take Nali skiing again to make sure that she doesn't lose it. We took one run down the bunny hill to warm up then it was off to the triple chair. It was cool that we could all be on the same lift. This mountain has a few green runs but is a lot longer than her previous bunny hill runs.
Going up the triple chair!
A little wipeout! But Dad was close by! Almost everytime she falls she starts playing with the snow...it gets a little annoying.
Getting ready to drop in!
Warming up with a little poutine in the lodge.

Twilight...New Moon...Eclipse...

So today I finished Eclipse. I have enjoyed the books. I think Edward is a little controlling. And for the record I need to say that I've been a fan of Jacob since midway through book 2. My feelings have only intesified regarding this. Also I think Bella is one of the stupidest girls on the planet. That's it oh yes...and August will be a good month!

Family Day Long Weekend!

So for the long weekend we rented a cabin at Castle Mountain with some friends. We were up there for 4 days! We had a great time. I hadn't been snowboarding in 2 years since I was pregnant with Ella last year. So it was GREAT to go out again.

We decided that this would be the weekend that Nali learns how to ski. She was pretty excited about it all. She took to it pretty well. It was really neat to see her progress. She's pretty strong willed, determined and daring which all help the learning curve out. The first day I had Ella in the Kelty and just kicked it at the bottom of the hill. Then monday I went with Nali as well as Tuesday. Being so little she didn't last much more than an hour so we'd do an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. The first few days she would only do 4 runs in the that time. The last morning it clicked and she did 12 runs in an hour. She learned how to get on and off the chair and by the end could do it without them slowing it down. By then end too she didn't need mom anymore. I'd get strapped in and have to catch up with her. For sure it was probably one of the highlights of our little family.

After Nali's first lesson on the Barney Tow she told Sam she wanted to go up the chair lift. So he took her up. It's really a neat experience to do something you love with those you love. Riding up the chair with Nali is great. It's time just to talk with no distractions.

I think that the biggest thing I learned is that the myth that you can't do what you could do after you have kids is so not true...Kids make you slow down, you don't miss anything though every experience is so much richer. Kids enhance life...I had more fun watching my daughter learn to ski with Ella on my back then any day I've had on the hill...It was just awesome!