The calendar wouldn't agree with me, but the signs of spring are all around us. My daffodils are in full bloom, birds are singing, and the grass is greening up. We just celebrated Conrad's third birthday and, later that same day, Jeremiah headed out for the season's first big travel adventure - to Genoa, Italy for the big Cannondale Factory Team media camp.

We all sat still (almost) long enough to get this family photo!

I'm in the middle of some important organizational work for the 2012 edition of the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo. In March, we're going to have a new web-based fundraising program to launch - and this means that the charitable mission will have a greater reach and hopefully an even greater impact on the community.

The event's website is also due for a good round of updates in March - with many new sponsors and supporters coming on board, and lots of big news and announcements to be made.

It's also that time when I start to think about the spring garden tasks and the vegetable garden we'll soon be tending. Last year our favorite (and unexpectedly so) garden greens were three varieties of kale. It was the first time we'd included kale in our garden, and now I'm already considering devoting an entire bed to the stuff!

Lately I've been doing some running (though you might recognize it better as jogging) as an efficient way to stay in shape. I love running, but it's been a long time since I've been able to run without developing symptoms in my right leg/knee that prevented me from having to rest more than run. Until now - and I have no clear reason why. Last fall a few of my friends and I ran (well, mostly jogged/walked while pushing strollers) in the DR100. We had a great time, and I remembered how much I loved to move on my own two feet for a change. After that, I kept running a few times a week - slacked off between Thanksgiving and Christmas - but picked it back up in time for a fun First Night 5K run with another good friend. The very next week I found myself searching online for another event to look forward to. Now, I'm registered and ready for the Shamrock 5K - a trail run in our neighborhood park. I even ordered some "real" running shorts to reward myself and my commitment. And even though it might be a bit of a stretch, I'm teetering on the brink of clicking "Click Here to Pay and Complete Registration" for a half-marathon that will take place in May. The form is just waiting on my computer desktop. My approach is going to be simple: I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. Just keep going slow and steady, having fun all the while.

This is sure to be another exciting year, with ups and downs like all of them.

Thanks for finding your way back to my 'blog.

- Erin

Trying to provide a place for Conrad to anchor his fun in our backyard - he's been known to wander - I dreamed up this teepee.

Wow, I typed more than I thought I would/could. Since I'm still at it, I'll shamelessly plug the event that has been taking up a LOT of my time lately...

Check it out, thanks to this special event I'm learning how to use photoshop, dreamweaver and all other kinds of tools and social media!

www.AlpineLoopGranFondo.com

Not bad for this negligent blogger!

Thanks for checking in,

Erin

Since my last post, Jeremiah's early season has started to take shape. He has training camps, training races, rest weeks and the season's first big races on the schedule. Our soon-to-be two-year-old already has the prospect of a ten-week calendar commitment: Musikgarten. There's the excitement of my mom's new investment; a cute little house one block away where my brother will soon be our neighbor. I have best friends with upcoming weddings planned and jet-set 30th birthday extravaganzas.

I was getting overwhelmed as events were starting to vie for calendar space. I needed an organized view of what's to come.

A few months ago - years actually, it's all a blur - I jumped on the bandwagon and bought an iPhone. Yesterday I sync'd it to my computer for the first time. It was amazing; seeing all the events and reminders I'd added to my pint-sized calendar spread out in their full interrelated web on my laptop screen. (It was also remarkable to see how many of the events revolve around my pint-sized little boy and his developing little social scene.)

(Our little trouble maker in the blue coat)

After a few minutes, I felt like I really had a good grasp on all the plans that had been swirling around. Maybe I'll be less likely to over-commit now that I can see just how much I have going on. But, for me, the most profound aspect of all the days' chores, the weekly routines, and the season's plans is that for now my calendar - my life - is completely centered around the people and activities I love.

Words can't convey how fortunate I feel and how grateful I am to be doing what I am these days. With health and happiness, I'm not asking for more.

Erin

Thanks for visiting my blog, it's been a while so I should kick things off with some polite chit chat.

How've I been and what's new? Well, life's as good as I could imagine it. I'm very fortunate to have so much time with our little guy. He'll soon have his second birthday, and he already has quite the social scene. We spend our mornings having fun and playing at home or going to story time at the library, toddler play time at the community center, play dates and playgrounds. We've discovered our local children's museum is quiet the place! I'd put off going until this winter when I knew we'd need some indoor options. We even know all the best "kids' corners" around town - at places like the indoor farmers market, the paint store, furniture store and orthodontist. (Can you tell where mommy runs errands?) After a nap - and some of my most productive adult hours of the day, we'll hit the town to run errands or hit the park to make good use of extra energy. I really miss the warmer weather when we were outside all day. But this too shall pass, and I'll complain about the heat in no time!

Even with toddler in tow, I've still been able to join Jeremiah on the road for some races. A nasty cold kept us away from the TransSylvania Epic, but we did get to help at the Pisgah Mountain Bike Stage Race. I drove the truck to and from the aid stations, and in the evenings cooked some big race dinners. We made it to the Firecracker 50, which was also Marathon Nationals, where I got to see what aid stations and the pits look like at elevation - it's pretty much all the same! It made for a fun adventure.

With a few big events nearby, sometimes the racing scene comes to us; this year's Hoo Ha at Massanutten was part of the Triple Crown race series. It was a real treat to have so many of our race-scene friends in our hometown for a change. Colt from CyclingDirt stayed with us, Trail Watch Dave visited (Conrad is his favorite Bishop) and many of the racers stopped by for dinner and drinks throughout the long weekend of events.

Late in the season we always make a big day out of the SM100. This year it was a reunion of sorts, with Allison Eatough and Tracy Posner and I each bringing our little ones for a day of playing outdoors in the National Forest.

Conrad has proven to be a big race fan! He loves cheering and watching the riders go by. Seriously, if he knows your name, he will cheer his little heart out for you. So make sure he knows what jersey you're wearing and what color your frame is - and you will have a fan all day!

One of the best weekends of the year was the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition mountain bike festival. We camped out in the woods, enjoyed group rides and big buffet dinners, camp fires and "bear hunting" - we hid one of Conrad's stuffed bears in the woods for him to find! The weekend was also our fifth wedding anniversary, so we snuck a bottle of our favorite champagne in our camping cooler for a special toast.

Before we knew it, winter set in, the holidays were here - and gone - and now I'm (mentally) moving on to spring. I'm in the process of moving our vegetable garden to a sunnier spot. It's former location was being shaded by the branches of nearby maple tree. I can't complain about the shade; If I could have one backyard wish, it would be that our neighbors all planted more trees. Please, please, please! Anyhow, I'm attempting to plan our veggie planting ahead of time - not just jump on the wagon when I see plants at the greenhouse. In addition to moving the garden, I've uprooted our compost pile. Due to the combination of adding to much material and then neglecting to turn it, literally it was growing roots... and tomatoes... and pumpkins. A new composter is on the way. I'm going to put it near the house so Jeremiah's coffee grinds and banana peels will have a final resting place other than my house plants' pots.

I'm also looking forward to seeing how the 2011 race schedule falls into place so I can better imagine the excitement of the year ahead. Right now, the season still holds the anticipation of an unopened Christmas present. I know it's going to be good, but I'll have to wait and see.

Happy New Year!

Erin