MIKE ON A BIKE!!!

We finally got a little snow!

2012-01-22T16:30:00.001-08:00

Here's a pick of Avery and Meilee getting ready to descend down the local sledding hill for the first run of the day. We loaded the family wagon and were on the road by 945am. We hit the hill armed with saucers, snow boards, skis, tabagon and the speedy single person sleds.

The girls had a blast on the hill. Avery mastered the skis and Meilee beat everyone out on the saucer.

They had everyone talking about how well they were doing on the snow boards and we watched as Avery set a new record on total distance traveled on the snow boards! We had a great family day and am planning a trip to Ruby for a hike through the woods next weekend.

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So far so good!

2012-01-12T18:09:00.000-08:00

The weather has been less then snow board worthy but its been unusually warm for this time of the year and because of that, we have had 2 great walks through the woods 2 wks in a row! I've just about got my bike ready for winter/crappy weather riding and am planning on hitting the trails as soon as the weather will stay cold enough to keep the soft wet soil frozen. My next 16wks has begun and thus far I think I can handle it ok. Kim isn't really doing much better, but I think she tricks herself into believing there's nothing wrong, long enough to go outside with us for a little family adventure. I think she thinks she is even fooling us into believing shes ok,(NOT). The girls are rolling right through the school year with unbelievably great attitudes and doing real well. Meilee has made "SOARING EAGLE" or top of her class for a month, twice now and Avery has been asked by her teacher if she would help in the class room as a tutor. Everything is working out right now, (I wont say that too loud)...

2012...

2012-01-06T21:34:00.000-08:00

A little house cleaning, a fresh new header, and a new attitude...
Im tackling going back to school for my Nursing license while working full time, getting back into biking at a race level & trying to always balance my time for me and make the scale stay balanced for Kim and the girls.
Avery is coming out in 2012 wanting to be the best in her class for a repeat performance of 2011.
Meilee is going trail riding full time this year and following in big sisters foot steps.
Kim and I are going to working very hard at strengthening our bond as a couple and as best friends.

2012 has a lot of promise... Please be good to me!

Photographs are what she does...

2012-01-05T20:39:00.001-08:00

Kim has the talent and eye to do amazing things with her photography! Let her shoot some photos for your next family get together or just some family photos for the mantle, you wont regret it...

Call and ask for Kim, 586.863.2830.

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Theres a new team on the block!

2011-12-19T13:07:00.001-08:00

Theres a new kid on the block...
Do you or your kids need to get off of the couch and do something active?
Check out our BLOG and keep it in your favorites as we are going to continue to grow and things will change!

Check it out, Bikes, Blades & Boards

Fall of 2011

2011-11-27T01:55:00.001-08:00

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Avery raced the last few mountain bike races of the year, and finished in first for the 10 and under class. The girls started school with smiles and new cloths. We headed into fall with excitement and high hopes with lots of thing to do. We got the girls dressed up then off we went o one of our favorite Fall activities. We went Trick or Treating at the Huckle Berry rail road and had a blast! Avery and I were up to a 3hr ride once a week and 30times up the drive way at Ruby Campground on another day a week. She finished with a smile each ride we did and learned how important it is to have a balance in our lives so we have a way to get rid of our extra energy. Halloween came and Avery dressed as a cowgirl and Meilee was a skunk! We had a great time out walking around our neighborhood, then we came back and Kim and I watched the girls sift through all of their newly acquired treasures. We packed up and spent a couple nights in Traverse City for the Iceman. Avery road 18 of the 28miles the race was and I pulled her from the race because she was beginning to push herself through her own threshold. I told her before we raced that this could happen. She cried for a few minutes and told Kim and I that she would be back next year. She was amazing how well she handled herself on her bike! Amazing, simply amazing. The next day after the Iceman we packed up and headed further North, into the U.P. The weather was amazing , for early November in the U.P. Then a few weeks latter we loaded the family wagon and went down to the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade. While we were there we saw the group from the Turkey Trot run out and back through the parade route. Avery told me she wants to run in it next year! GREAT, now I have to figure out how to make my knees good enough to run it with her.

We are now less then a month away from Christmas, so let the shopping begin!!! I love to take the family and go see the lights folks put up on their homes, they all love it as well...

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8 LONG WEEKS OF PREPARING.

2011-10-15T21:13:00.001-07:00

Avery and I have learned a lot from each other. She has learned about the importance of being intune with what her body as well as being able to multi task. I have learned a stronger understanding of how special she is and how lucky I am for having a daughter as amazing as she is! No cramping, fatigue, overly sore legs, or talk of "when I finish the race".
Just a much stronger sense of her self. She has learned her multiplication tables and the correct spelling of any and all states!!!

I have been very careful as to NOT let Avery think about or evan think about, the finish of the race. We just want her to enjoy the race and continue to grow as a young athlete.

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Meilee's first 20 mile ride!

2011-06-28T18:09:00.001-07:00

As I was getting the families bikes out and ready for the ride I couldn't help but wonder if Meilee had it in her to go the whole 20 miles. Kim had them dressed real cute and the weather was perfect for a family adventure! Off we went with Kim worrying about what route to take because of the road riding with lots of traffic or sidewalk riding with even more foot traffic. Sidewalks it was! We rode for about 10 minutes of sidewalk riding when I was yelling back reminding the girls to stay to the right and watch for people walking, when I turned around, this women looking right at me and hearing the whole conversation decided to walk directly into the girls path and not move. STUPID PEOPLE! I quickly told the girls to get into the road with me, (knowing that we ride this way all of the time and they listen real good) and off we went until we hit the black top path headed down towards Marine City. We made a brief pit stop to ride up then down the sledding hill at East China park, then back into the path out of the park. Once down in Marine City we took a break in the park along the river front then regrouped and started the ride back home. The head wind was tuff but Meilee road for about 5 miles along the shoulder back and managed to stay steady. Once we made it back to the East China park we stopped for a hydration break. We made it back into down and up the really long tall hill, (that Meilee just cruised right up) and the short distance home from there. She was all smiles as we pulled into the driveway and just stood there with a look of accomplishment!
Way to go Meilee, you did great!!!

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Another ride completed!

2011-06-22T17:46:00.001-07:00

So Kim and I packed up last night so we could get an early start today. We weren't sure if we were wasting our time and money by driving 75miles, (one way) to Island Lake for a mountain bike ride with the four of us. The storms that started last night might hit us while in the ride or even as we unpack for the ride, then what? Well we got there, unpacked, and began our ride. Meilee was going out for her second mountain bike ride of the year. She lead our trip into the woods. The trail was in surprisingly good shape and Meilee was already looking better then last time we went out to Novi. Avery was ready to take off and Kim was excited to see how he girls would ride and handle themselves as they were challenged. I was curious to see how Meilee would do as her first ride out at Novi was a whole ton of new things thrown at her to learn and try to remember. The ride at Novi was also a ten mile ride that we did to see what Meilees threshold would be. Todays ride was 14miles long! Meilee used her brakes very well, she didn't quit till she was done, and she kept her smile and wit throughout the whole ride today. She did get overwhelmed on the top of a down hill and melted down, until I could show her how and that her brakes would stop her... After that she rode strong and steady through the trail until she came across a Gardner snake, ( she ran it over and screamed) then Kim was right behind her and had no choice but to run it over as it hissed at them. (Kim screamed so loud!) I had to stop Meilee and get her to calm down and stop crying. Her little heart was racing as she slowly calmed down and refocused on the rest of her ride. After about 8miles Kim and Avery took off and rode together, I think Avery really gets enjoyment out of riding with her mom. Avey has a race at Ontiac Lake next Sunday and needed a race pace ride to help her stay on her game. Kim made Avery chase her for the last five miles! Kim hasn't rode with Avery since last year when they were racing together. I was so impressed with Meilees strength and stamina. We got done with the ride and were packed up just as the rain started! What a great day of riding, I wish we lived closer to some trails and could go out and ride 3 times a wk.

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Finally.

2011-05-24T07:24:00.001-07:00

Finally! The weather is nice and Im off for the day. We went and got an icream from the little icecream shop in town then walked down to the water and did a little sight seeing. We had the pleasure of watching a freighter float by. The sun was warm andthe girls were entertaining ;-)

Life is good.

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My girls are ready!

2011-05-17T18:59:00.001-07:00

My girls are ready! Meilee, (the 5y/o) is riding Avery's old 20" - starter mtb like she has been on it for two yrs and that is crazy to me because she was barely riding her bmx bike last fall!
Avery is now on her harass 24" mounain bike now with, get this, clipless pedals! They are both advancing well with our weekly ridding and I think they are both ready at their levels for a family ride through re trails out in Novi & Island Lake over the next few weeks.
Avery has her next MTB race at Fort Custar, down in Battle Creek...
Ill warm up the helmet cam for our first family mountain bike ride...

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A great ride through the "D"

2011-05-16T05:19:00.001-07:00

I packed up the family and away we went.
Once downtown, we unpacked our rides and were off! This is our 1st Critical Mass ride of 2011. If you have a bike and are able to maintain an average speed of 10mph, then this ride is for you! There is atleast 500riders at most of these rides. These rides are the last Friday of every month. We meet up on Warren just west of he Lodge freeway. These rides are about 13 - 15miles long and are a very social kinda ride. Avery had her new bike and made through another ride down here. The ride was little unorganized this time around, I also noticed that some of the usual riders who really help add to the enjoyment of the ride were not there this time. Usually the ride is very organized, safe, and at speeds for all to participate and enjoy...

I hope you guys make one of these this year!

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They are both on mountain bikes now!

2011-05-01T11:56:00.001-07:00

Avery moved up to a real mountain bike and has left Meilee a chance to step up into a entry level mountain bike.
Its such a great feeling to stand here and watch them both play follow the leader!

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2011-03-16T22:51:00.001-07:00

No money for the gym?!

2011-03-16T02:33:00.001-07:00

My coworker showed me this video and I wanted to share it with everyone.
THESE GUYS ARE AMAZINGLY STRONG!