Dana Burland

 ...and the last one of the season! This is indoor triathlon 3 of 3 of the monthly races my local YMCA puts in the winter. It's an excellent kick-start to the Sprint triathlon training I'll start soon. My goal at this race was similar to others this year--race strong and steady, but not so fast I injure myself. About a week ago I was suffering from some gnarly hip/butt pain from over use and lack of stretching. I'd been taking time off, slowly rehabbing and strengthening. I didn't want this casual indoor race to back track that work. And, success!  I swam strong, feeling good in the water for 18 lengths. I biked 6 miles in just over 20 minutes, my typical slow/steady leg. I felt comfortable and in control during the 2 mile run. The hightlight, as always, was having my boys there to time me and watch me do it all. They were so supportive, and I love that they get to see Mom do tough stuff.  In 2 weeks I'll start an 8 week training plan for the early summer Sprint tri...

You're 6. It's breakfast time. And have InstantPot steel cut oatmeal in the fridge.  This is how you take your oatmeal: 1 BIG scoop of steel cut oats in the bottom of a bowl. Add a small splash of milk. Microwave for 20 seconds. Food should never be too hot. When it's done, push the oats down with the back of a spoon to make sure there are no clumps. This is important. There must be NO clumps.  Sprinkle a little cinnamon on top, and brown sugar, too. Make sure the brown sugar gets spread everywhere, but not too much brown sugar, or it's too sweet. When that's done, take out a box of cereal.  This is typically Multi Grain Cheerios (in the purple box) but today you surprised me and asked for Honey Bunches of Oats instead. Pour some cereal on top. Yes cereal, on top of the slightly-warm oatmeal. Enough to fully cover the oatmeal.  Then milk. Yes, again.  As much milk as you'd normally have in a bowl of cereal.  Except this isn't a normal bowl of cereal, it'...

There's no actual moment when kids go from little to big. No particular birthday or event. Instead it's like the weather, where kids can seem as small as the sun barely showing in the sky on a cloudy day, or so big and bold it's like a bluebird day. More often than not, it's partly sunny--they're little-ish big or big-ish little. Sometimes though, it's undeniable.  Boy, was that true this past weekend. We were up north to ski. Friday's weather was AWFUL. Cold and snowing. Bad visibility on the slopes and ungroomed trails. I didn't both taking A out to maneuver him around the bunny hills, he would have been miserable. Instead we slid Hot Wheels cars down the ramp behind the stairs of my great aunt's challet. He fell into a deep nap before dinner. Little.  But Saturday was true bluebird day in more ways than one. The sky was clear, it was beautiful, warm, and sunny. And my boys were big. C stayed out skiing THE ENTIRE DAY. Five-ish hours, I think. Beyo...