New Bike- bitter sweet

Before leaving LA, I say BYE BYE to my bike. My first bike was special and we shared many special moments. Parting ways with it was hard but the quest for the replacement bike has produced mixed feelings.

I did not want nor did I have the means to invest as much as I did the first time around. Instead of going with a NEW BIKE, I opted for a USED bike option. Searching on craigslist was tiresome, even though I did set up a Notifinder search. Finally I came across this bike, and 2 hours later, it was in my car. It slightly reminds me of my first bike...but I don't want to keep comparing. This bike will do for now. Soon we'll find out just how well we mesh together =).

Some girls get fitted for dresses (wedding dresses like Manuela) while I get fitted for bikes... I'm a little odd I guess.

I'm signed up and getting ready for a summer of Triathloning after being out of the tri-racing circuit for a couple years. I'm excited and ready! First one will be on Father's Day =)

Best part of having a bike is that I got the first chance to BIKE WITH MY SON!! We went around the neighborhood and Nico got a kick out it! He kept yelling....MAMA bike, NICO bike...yayyyyy!!! He's recovering from Pneumonia, and getting him to drink his meds has been a mission---but this morning, his reward for taking the antibiotic was a loop around the block, which kinda worked.

As my buggarhead grows-up, I can't wait to keep sharing my love of the outdoors with him!

BYE BYE BIKE

Last weekend I sold my bike...

I guess Nico must have sensed my heart break because as the guy wheeled away my bike, Nico started crying. I'm gonna going to lie...letting go of my bike was hard....but then again, letting go always is. But when I look back at all the wonderful memories I'm happy that I got 7 years of great memories.

You see, my bike was my first (significant$$) purchase I ever made with my own money the summer after freshman year at UF(2005).

My bike was a part of me...it was special for the following reasons and SO MANY MORE:

• Bike has moved with me all around!
• While in college it traveled back and forth from Miami to Gainesville in the summers.
•  Then when I moved to Austin,TX...the bike also went. 
• And last year the bike moved with me here to LA.
• It gave me the freedom to get to know the back country roads that surround Gainesville and Austin as I would ride with friends 3,4 or more hours---and gave me the chance to get to know those friends even better, because all we could do on those rides was PEDAL and TALK =)
• It allowed me to say that I've ridden on the PACIFC and ATLANTIC coasts of this country...with a smile stamped on my face.
• It raced triathlons with me in Miami, and all around Florida. 
• It joined me on my first 100 miler ride from KEY LARGO to KEY West with college friends one spring break.
• It grew up with me and adjusted to my life changes:
• When I met Peter, he would borrow my bike...first sign to me that i like him, cause I let him borrow MY BIKE. 
• It joined me on one of the first REAL dates with him as we rode to Lake Walburg for the day. 
• At one point we proceeded to get matching bikes too.
• it helped me recover from injuries so that I could get back into running
• it TUGGED along the bike trailer, so that we could take our son out on rides and share with him my love of biking...and being out in the fresh air---which I think has worked because he LOVES his BIKE too!!

• But it wasn't all fun and games:

• I got my first stitches from my bike too...in Miami on the Brickell Bridge.
• bumps and bruises from adjusting to clipping in and out of my bike
• a crazy/random reck in Gainesville that landed me flat on my back steps from practice.
• and my latest reck here in LA a couple weeks ago...where I collided head on to another biker.

If it doesn't kill you---it makes you stronger...FOR SURE =) I know my parents for one are happy that I sold my bike..because of the last couple bullet points...but I will miss my bike...The great thing about memories, though, is that you will always have them to join you as you make new ones. I know i'll be in the market for another one soon as the summer triathlon season quickly approaches...but for now, I'm graftul for the 7 years of memories and experiences I got to share with my bike.

Cheers to A GREAT PURCHASE at Chain Reaction!!!

FUN FRIDAY

FUN FRIDAY started out with FRENCH TOAST

Then 5 dollar FUNDRAISING FRIDAY Music Class at Moo Moo Musica in Venice. We biked over there and had a great time running around and playing with NEW FRIENDS and our neighbors Madaline and Alexander. The activities were in various languages (english/spanish/portuguese/mandarin/french) and were very interactive, creative and fun! The best part is that the First Friday of every month classes are $5 as opposed to the usual $17/class cost, and the money goes to a local charity.

Here is the Link to the Pictures from this morning!

Then Nico and I went to the Farmer's Market to meet up with Kate, Jessica, and Jordyn. Here is a picture of Nico and Jordyn at the PERFECTLY SIZED TABLE for them!!

LA Happenings with Leilani, Baby Friends, and more

Just a couple days into being home and we've already had lots going on here in these parts:
See all of Saturday and Sunday's pictures here:

Saturday

Saturday morning we gave daddy a break and we(Nico and I) went for a nice 10 mile run together. My 1/2 Marathon in San Diego, is creepy up on me! Nico behaved like a champ. He was looking around and babbling away as we ran around the Marina's fingers by ourselves enjoying a beautiful, sunny, southern California morning with nice cool breezes every now and then. After our run we came home to get ready for Tia Leilani ARRIVAL! (She will be here for a week!!!)

From 1105 Back in LA

We got the cruisers ready and biked to the Beach. While we waited for Chris and Leilani to get to the sand, Peter and I played some ABC Volleyball.

From 1105 Back in LA

For those of you who don't know what that is, It's a game where you have to bump the ball back and forth saying the next letter in the alphabet (in order, without skipping letters) until it drops. Whoever drops it, looses. Peter apparently needs to hit up some of Nico's classes when he starts learning the alphabet since he was skipping all over the place...BUT we had a great time! I for one can say it's the most fun I've had on the beach with Peter since we moved here. Nico was playing in the sand right next to us, doing his thing!

After we FINALLY made it to Z, we walked over to where Leilani, Chris, and all their friends were hanging out. Good times...and of course a mini Nico show, followed by more volleyball (for real this time)

From 1105 Back in LA

---good times, funny people, AWESOME AFTERNOON!!!

From 1105 Back in LA

Later that night, I was picked up for a Bar outing. THough I was EXHAUSTED, I said yes...cause when do I get the chance to go out with LEILANI?

From 1105 Back in LA

We went to this bar that had Karaoke. However, it wasn't the regular, BAD DRUNK SINGERS kinda karaoke. It was HOLLYWOOD--wanna-be-found-American-Idol style Karaoke. Everyone, actually, not everyone....

From 1105 Back in LA

ALMOST everyone was REALLY GOOD! Some even gave me goosebumps.

Sunday Morning we Bike to Brunch at Shanghi Reds....EXPENSIVE but AMAZING! Bottomless Mimosas!!! Waffles and Shrimp (lol, Christy{Chris's girlfriend--Leilani's brother's girlfriend} got overwelmed by the BUFFET selection and ended up getting a little confused. Leilani was great at SNEAKING some food out for me =).

From 1105 Back in LA

The chocolate covered strawberries were delectable! The company was awesome and we also got some GREAT FAMILY SHOTS!

From 1105 Back in LA

From 1105 Back in LA

From 1105 Back in LA

After a mini nap, we went to Aaron's 1st Birthday Party---SUPER FUN: BALLOONS everywhere, chinese food buffet, applesauce and juice for the kids, fortune cookies, A MAGICIAN, and lots of YO GABA GABA paraphernalia!

From 1105 Back in LA

From 1105 Back in LA

(Birthday boy, Aaron, is on the Bike)

And yesterday (Monday) after sending out thank yous that NICO helped write himself...

From 1104ThankU-Lels's visit-hamock

We put Nico in one of the many gifts that TITO and YESENIA gave him for Easter, a chair hammock from one of the island stops they made on their cruise a couple weeks ago.....

From 1104ThankU-Lels's visit-hamock

and HE LOVED IT! I'm not gonna lie, I was having a bit of a myocardial infarction (heart attack), seeing him up there on his new swing, but his laugh and smile made me set aside(just a little) my fears so that I too could enjoy the moment with him.

From 1104ThankU-Lels's visit-hamock

View slideshow here:

SIDE NOTE: You see, the thing is that as a mommy now, I feel that I have FINAL DESTINATION SYNDROME (FDS). I always vividly foresee these crazy scenarios taking place and as a result, I'm super annoying to be around with all my BECAREFULs and WATCH-OUTs and HOLD-UPs. My parents have a super SEVERE version of the syndrome while I think that I'm still in the early stages of development. I'm working or figuring out a way to mitigate the side effects of FDS--- but so far...only Nico's laugh helps temporarly ease my anxiety and reasurrance from Peter that he is being MINDFUL of the dangers that linger around every corner....lol. Perhaps laying off CSI and Crimial Minds as well will an important factor in my treatment.

ON another SIDE NOTE:

I'd like to announce that NICO is no longer JET-LAGGED from the trip ....How do we know? WELL we know because he (read: WE) didn't sleep well (or almost at all) on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday night. Saturday he slept a little better but got up super early (3 or 4 am). However, finally on Sunday night and last night he slept ALL NIGHT! This morning he even slept-in until 7:30am.We are very proud of him!!!

Weekend stuff

Awesome weekend with one little GLITCH.

Saturday we ran with LA Distance Club on Santa Monica. Nico behaved great on the run and the morning was BEAUTIFUL. The ocean smelled GREAT!!! To end the run off, we went for Crepes on the Promenade!!!

We organized and looked up bike trailers on craigslist the rest of the day until we found one!

Sunday we went to Mass at St. Mark's Church. We hadn't been to Mass since Nico's Baptism in Colombia--It's not a BIG church but they had a really cool baby cry area right next to the alter. We were really happy that with the church, and it was pretty close to our place....BUT then, something happened. The thing that keeps a lot of people from going to church, the thing that makes Peter REALLY NOT LIKE going to mass, the thing that REALLY BOTHERS ME. After the homily, the head pastor of the church came out from no where and started giving his own little homily. At first I was like, aww how nice, he's talking about how we are all a Family and we are all here for each other...but as he kept going, I started suspecting that he was up to something. And thats when he dropped the M-bomb. He asked to MONEY in the MIDDLE OF MASS!!! For about 15 minutes (did I mention-in the middle of mass), he asked people to not be indifferent and just give $1, he asked for people to have their donation be a reflection of WHO THEY ARE-what does that even mean? He asked people to not just give a dollar. He asked for the equivalent of a gallon of gas ($3 minimum per person). He said that the church was our family and we had to give a percentage of what we have. However he was nice about it, he gave us until next week to "think about" how much we really can afford to give. At this point I almost wanted to walk out.

I'm pretty sure God, upstairs, wasn't too ecstatic that his MASS TIME was being used to GUILT people into GIVING MONEY. I'm pretty sure Jesus was all about GIVING, NOT TAKING!

I'm sorry if I seem angry with all the CAPS and exclamation marks, but REALLY CHURCH, is there a need to do it in the MIDDLE of mass. Because it's not like this Pastor guy didn't ask for MONEY at the end of mass. At the end there was another GUILT TRIP for all the parishioners

Fortunately we went on a long Bike ride with Nico in his new TRAILER and had a great time. I was able to put the MORNING behind me. We had lunch on the Promenade with Charlie, who joined us on the ride. We made a couple stops but ended up riding 15 miles, Not bad for Nico's first day out RIGHT! What a champ!