Ice Skating is Cold

 Took the kids ice skating yesterday in Webster.  Hanna took to it pretty well, as she already does roller skating. 

Tyson was helping Eli.  Tyson is ok on his skates, but Eli....let's just say he didn't do very well until Deanna got skates and went onto the ice with him.  I wasn't able to get photos of that.  I stayed in the warm common area.  Skating is not my first sport.  Or second.  Or.....well, you get the picture.

Eli took us to see the Lego Movie

 I have never seen Eli so excited to see a movie.  This Lego Movie thing was driving him crazy.  So he paid for he and I to see the flick with his own money.  Thanks Dude!  Before it started, I got a photo of him posing with his Lego buddies.

And today he spent a while building another one of his crazy ships.  This one was extra special in commemoration of the movie.

Winter Training for Everyone

Both boys got their chance at real trainer riding this morning.  For Eli, it was his first ride on a trainer, ever.  For Tyson, it was hit first on his own bike...and for more than 30 seconds.  Something has to give with this weather, or we'll all be in the basement fighting over the trainer.

My First Pedal Hard Training Center Session

I finally got into the Pedal Hard Training Center for a session yesterday.  It has been hard to walk past their enclosure day after day and watch riders get their sweat on while I've been injured.  It opened 24 hours before I broke my leg at the state cyclocross championship on December 8, so it has been timed perfectly to frustrate me.

Yesterday I did a pretty routine workout (I overdid it, of course) and now I have a 20 minute power test scheduled for next week.  It's going to be a bit humbling, but one has to know where one is before one can get where one wants to be.

I love creepy photos

 Hanna and I share a love of creepy movies, creepy photos, and generally anything creepy.  So, as we left the Chocolate bar tonight, we were enthralled with the small alley ways between the buildings in Lafayette Square.  The one with Hanna is very creepy, don't you think?

We did one with Eli, too, but he didn't want to stand there long enough for me to get a good photo.  Still pretty cool, eh?

They grow up so fast

Although he has yet to crest 8 years old, young Eli is eager to start shaving.  I helped him out tonight with his shaving cream, and he did the rest.  (That's a simulated razor for all of you who would call me a terrible father!)

I'm ready to Ride!

My broken leg is on the mend and I'm dying to get out on the 27.5.  I had very little saddle time before getting laid up.  The weather is making things difficult, too.  The last thing I want to do is fall again on ice.  I have to be satisfied with the trainer for now.

Skate Park with Hanna and Eli

 We started off at the little skate park in Webster.  Eli has this one wired.

 Hanna got a new skate board for Christmas, and is getting the hang of it.

 Making progress.

 From there, we went down to Silvan Springs, which has an honest concrete skate park with some very challenging features.  Check out the guy behind Eli getting a little rad.

 It really is a cool skate park.  Eli eventually did go up and down some of the bowls, although he biffed it several times at low speeds.

Photo Evidence of Christmas

 Eli, reading the note that Santa left for him Christmas morning.

 Eli, digging in at Grandma's.  Max appears to be meditating.

 Hanna, hiding behind the couch with her pile of goods.

 Hanna getting deep into presents.

Tyson is very happy about his Under Armor hoodie.

Rex finds Hanna a curiosity

Whenever Hanna comes to visit, Rex will not leave her alone for quite some time.  On Friday, he would find any way he could to be on top of her.  He is sneaky at first, just slowly moving forward until he's touching her in some way, then crawls all over.  He's every bit of 60 pounds, too.  Just a big, loveable sack of potatoes shaped like a dog.

Photobombs by Hanna

Don't leave your phone unattended around Hanna.  It was a cute photobomb, though.

Car Watching: Aston Martin

Ah, Chesterfield.  How you do entice me with your excellent assortment of automotive taste.

Broken stuff

 (photo by Mike Dawson)

This was how I started Sunday at the Missouri State Championship Cyclocross race.

And this was how I ended it.

I fell soon after the photo was taken.  Not hard at all.  Just twisted my ankle 90 degrees to my leg on the way down.  Felt (and heard!) it pop.  Had some very kind people escort me to my car, drove myself to Urgent Care, and x-rays confirmed that my fibula was broken.

It hurts.  But it will only be 3 weeks before I can put weight on it.  That's New Years Day for those that are counting.  After that, it's a new assault on mountain bike racing.  It's time to do what I have to do.

Queeny Park Bubba Cross Race

Thanks to Ryan Barr for the fantastic photo!

After last weeks horrendous race in Chesterfield, I was hoping to redeem myself in Queeny Park today.  Queeny usually presents a pretty fun course, and today the Big Shark boys did not disappoint.  It was super fun!  Still, I only finished in 8th place, but it truly was my best and for that I have to be satisfied. 

Next weekend is the State Championship race, and it's being held at my second favorite venue:  St. Vincents.  One big problem:  weather.  It's supposed to take a turn for the worse.  Oh well.  My best is all I got!!

Onward and upward.

Mount Pleasant Bubba Cross

Thanks Cindi Inman for a great photo!

In an event that may never repeat itself, I raced two cross races this weekend.  After finishing yesterday's race at Concordia Seminary, I was spent.  I had decided not to race today at Mount Pleasant Winery in Augusta. 

But, the huge all-day rains never materialized and it was 70 degrees this morning at 9am.  Even the fatigue in my legs couldn't hold back the desire to hit this race for the 5th year in a row.

40mph gusts of wind notwithstanding, I am certainly glad I went.  After 8 (or was it 9?) laps of the hardest Mount Pleasant course ever (and that's saying something, because it's NEVER an easy course), I had conjured a 5th place.  That's my best finish there.  Yay, me.  I would say the cheers of the crowd helped quite a bit, although my home-based cheering squad did not come today which is always a bummer.

Now that I have consumed everything in sight for the last 5 hours, I think I might be OK.  Now I know why I don't race two days back to back.