Another good day

We have had tons of quality family time the last couple of days! Cayle is loving his bike and his basketball hoop! Mainly just his basketball hoop!!! He has spent HOURS!!! shooting baskets the last 2 days. It was 4 degrees when we woke up this morning, and when we went to the park to play at about 2pm it was 40 degrees and sunny. It was really nice out. Cayle and I played at the park for about 15 minutes, then I put him back in the Chariot and ran another 4.5 miles. Beautiful afternoon. When we got home he shot some more baskets, ate dinner, shot some more baskets, and then went to bed. Before he went to sleep he made us promise him that he could shoot basketballs in the morning.... It's kinda crazy really... One more day of hanging out around the house before we head down to the Springs to celebrate Christmas with Natalie's family.

So Thankful!!!

So thankful for my family! My wonderful wife, superior son, and blissful baby (who we got to see on the ultrasound yesterday!)

Natalie had her ultrasound yesterday, and we found out that she really was pregnant! Despite her not feeling pregnant at all. She had been thinking for a couple weeks now how weird it was that she never felt the baby move. Well, we found out why. The baby is laying in the transverse plane... laying horizontal across her belly with the placenta facing her belly button. In which case the placenta absorbs all the movement and she feels nothing. We found out though on the ultrasound that the baby is moving bunches! The ultrasound tech let us know that the baby has everything he/she needs and looks to be healthy! So exciting to see, and Cayle actually seemed interested and kept saying, "mommy, baby, mommy, baby, daddy, mommy, baby..."

Got down to CO Springs yesterday to spend the holiday with Natalie's brother and his family. Spent the day hanging out and planning for the big day. Today Natalie spent the morning slaving away in the kitchen to prepare our awesome meal with the help of her little brother Ronald. It all turned out fantastic. Had all the staples plus some... green bean casserole, jello, turkey, stuffing, mashed and sweet potatoes, wine, gravy, cookies, and pie... apple and pumpkin! Spent a bit of time outside this afternoon, and laying on the couch and watching football and drifting in and out of sleep.... :-) Very filling and relaxing!

Cayle is loving it here! There are so many toys to play with! He really just loves the basketball hoop though! He has shot hundreds of baskets today... he just focuses in and doesn't stop... it's kinda freaky really how focused he is on making baskets... Reminds me of his uncle Bob with his ability to focus on one thing until he has it mastered. Definitely doesn't get that from me... Thinking Santa may have to bring him a basketball hoop...On the agenda for tomorrow: Just a little bit of shopping and not sure what else? Nothing crazy though that's for sure!

Motivation

Motivation: is the driving force by which humans achieve their goals. Motivation is said to be intrinsic or extrinsic.

It's such a tricky beast! Sometimes you have it, sometimes you don't. Most of the time during the bike racing season, I have it... big time.... sometimes though, I lose it... When the mountain bike racing season was over this year (Aug. 17th,) I decided I wanted to run a sub 6 mile at school with the kids. I was able to stay extremely motivated and knocked out that goal, then when dad asked if I wanted to bike race in Missouri in October, I was able to find the motivation again to train 3 weeks for that... But even keeping the motivation for that was tricky. After my major goal of the season, the mountain bike series, I always have some down time of laziness and low motivation. I had not really had that yet this year, since I started running hard about a week after the mountain bike series.

Now what brings this topic up? It is now November 4th and I haven't ran, or done anything physical other than riding my bike the 3 miles home from work since October 23rd... I haven't done anything except eat... lots!!! And struggling to find the motivation to get started with anything.

It's a good sign though, I have been getting antsy the last couple of days to get out and do something. Run or x-country ski or something. But that's at least the first step, feeling like I should get out and do something.

Until then, I am motivated to figure out a way to get my 7th grade basketball kids to start playing better. We have the talent, but lack good game time decision making skills.

NBA Playoffs

Not a Huge fan of the NBA by any means, but that was a pretty great comeback by the Dallas Mavericks tonight against the OKC Thunder. Down by 15 with less than 5 minutes left and came back to tie it in regulation, then to win in overtime! Dirk was amazing at the end of regulation. So, regardless of how much I dislike the NBA in the regular season, it seems like the defensive efforts step up a bit in the playoffs.