an addition to our family

The people who lived in our house before us left us a chicken coop! When we first moved in July, Caleb mentioned that we should get rid of it because it is technically against our "neighborhood rules." Well, normally I am a huge loser-rule-follower, but in this case I felt no guilt about the possibility of keeping chickens in our backyard. Most of our neighborhood is unpaved. On those unpaved roads, people often throw old mattresses, their year's-worth of garbage, and pretty much anything you can - or cannot - imagine. Also, whenever I walk Lulu, there are beer cans & bottles thrown everywhere. (I know, I should start a clean-up day once a month...maybe in my future.)
Anyway, all of that to say, regardless of the "neighborhood rules," we are happy to announce the eleven new members of our family (none of whom have names...yet)!


Last night we had a play date for them in the backyard....

I thought we were having fun, until....

They did not love playtime. All these little birds want to do is constantly eat.

Somebody must be hitting puberty! Look at that cute little first feather.

That is all for now. I think it will be fun to watch these little things grow...and eventually have eggs!

take advantage of a long weekend

The Ryan’s Christmas was quite successful! Normally during the week, we have to make sure we are working out at least every other evening together. On the weekends, we have to make sure to get a ride in on Saturday morning and usually a run on Sunday night. It was nice this past weekend because rather than feeling like we had to fit so many miles into a small window of time, we were able to be lazy, sleep in, and workout when we felt like it.

On Friday, we had to go into Austin for some errands, so we also made our way over to Barton Springs Pool, where it was 44 degrees outside. Saying that Caleb was annoyed with me is an understatement. It was cold, but it did feel good to get out for a little swim and kick off our long weekend. Caleb did not hate me by the time we were done.

On Saturday, I cannot even pretend that we made some cool Ryan Christmas Eve Tradition. It was raining all day, and I literally did laundry from 11:30 am until 7:00 pm. (I am not lying. This is actually possible. Caleb says that we have to get rid of clothes because apparently we have too many.) After 30 minutes of ironing, I realized that our only two channels were not going to provide me with good holiday movies, so I ran out to rent Holiday Inn, Miracle on 34^th Street, and Home Alone.

Caleb got our last bike rack hung that afternoon, and our garage is starting to look awesome!

I guess you can say that Christmas Eve did turn out to be a decently festive day! Caleb and I went to a nice dinner on Main Street and somehow stayed awake for the midnight service at church.

Our Christmas morning may make you gag. Caleb and I did stockings in bed (partly because we refuse to turn on the heat, and it has been in the 30s over night). It was 8:00 am, I found beef jerky and a giant bag of gummies from Dylan’s Candy Bar in my stocking, and you better believe I ate them...right there, in bed. Once we made it out to our living room, we opened a few gifts, turned on Home Alone again, and I fell back asleep for two hours. We did enjoy our lox with bagels and grapefruit with cherries as our festive holiday brunch, and we took little Lu for a hike that afternoon. Late that afternoon, we went for our 22-mile bike loop. When we got home, we made dinner and rented Die Hard. I cannot deny that I really like Die Hard (/it might be my new favorite movie), but in my defense, I would not choose the blood, violence and awful language. The plot just had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! I loved it! I do not understand why girls are not supposed to like it.

The day after Christmas, our bike ride was so much fun! We rode around Bastrop, traveled southeast, and went along the most Texas-y road I have ever seen. 

We just thought this bridge was pretty.

So Texas-y, don't you think?

In some of the fields, there were cows and horses galore, and it was even more Texas-like.

The grass is finally turning green here!

I guess that happens in the winter in Texas...?

We rode into Smithville, stopped for some Subway, and finished our loop through the State Parks. Buescher and Bastrop State Parks are both open, but the park road that connects the two is still partly closed. Here's why...

the damage spans for 34,000 acres

Caleb took a video, but I cannot seem to get it to work! I will try Facebook...

We finished the 46-mile loop by riding on the highway by cars going 80-mph - ahhh!! We went for a 2.5-mile run with Lu, and from there, I had to rent Die Hard 2 before we brought the long Christmas weekend to a close.

This week, I hope you will feel inspired to take advantage of your long weekend coming up! Get caught up with sleep and get outside and play - whenever you feel like it! Even if you have plans for this coming weekend already, try to make time for yourself - you should have a day off on Monday!

Caleb and I are getting super excited because we have our favorite adventure friends, The Groothuises, coming to visit this weekend!! I am hoping to have some fun little Texas Adventures to inspire you next week.

playing outside

Well, I am job-less in Small Town, Texas, it is finally starting to cool off enough to do some fun workouts outside for the 2012 Half Ironman,  so I figure why not blog about it? I am super excited about the race this year! I have had a few people ask me if we will do a full Ironman soon. The answer is No – not soon, at least. I want to perfect the Half! Last year, my goal was to finish and feel good – Check! Now, although I claim “not to be competitive,” I admit that is not true at all. I would say that I am not competitive with others. I am competitive with myself. I know I can push myself and get a better time in the Half Ironman, so this year my goal is a specific time. Let’s hope I can check that one off my list, too!

Caleb and I have gotten a slow start to our training. Throughout the painfully hot summer and fall, we stayed somewhat active – mostly doing boring workouts at the gym. Caleb did race cross one weekend. I have been taking one dance class a week, and I have set up our Pilates studio in our third bedroom. It has only been in the past month that we have started having more intentional workouts. Hopefully some of these things will inspire you to get out and do something fun and active!

Our Pilates Room

I still need to paint it brown & have some things framed for the wall - maybe one day when I have a job & can afford it!

While my mom was here, just a week ago, we went into Austin. We walked along Barton Creek and saw some people swimming in the Barton Springs Pool, a spring-fed pool that is amazing! I felt so inspired because I had not been swimming since the race last April. Caleb and I decided that no matter what, we would travel to Austin last week after my mom left and go for a swim. My mom left on Wednesday, and we were committed to our swim. On Thursday, regardless of 50 degree weather and non-stop rain when Caleb got home at 6:00, we put on our swimsuits and drove into Austin. No one else was at the pool (except a boy in a sweatshirt taking a picture – who we later inspired to get in – in his underwear), and there were giant signs reading “SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK.” Caleb was hesitant, and as usual, thought I was a crazy lunatic. I said I was going to do it, so I was not backing out. I went straight in the water. Caleb followed hesitantly. Initially cold, yes, but it was SO FUN! The pool is “lit,” but I can’t say I did not run into the wall while I was swimming laps – so not lit too well. You really cannot see anything with goggles on, and you swim through grass and have no idea what is below! It is really cool (maybe a little creepy, too). Come visit us, and we will go swimming!

On Saturday of this past weekend, we hosted a little Christmas Open House. We were not active at all that day, so on Sunday we had to get outside! On one of our bike rides around Bastrop, we had ridden past Lake Bastrop Park (owned by LCRA, one of the power companies here), but we had never gone exploring. We decided Sunday was the perfect time to go see this giant park that is literally only 5 minutes from our house. (So yes, two minutes from our house is Bastrop State Park, and 3 minutes from there is Lake Bastrop Park – both significant parks. I would say we ended up in the right place in Texas.) We did a 6.5-mile run around the park. I, of course, took the camera, so here are some photos – maybe to inspire you to visit us or go run-ploring (exploring via run)!

Post-Run

where I want to have my 25^th Birthday Celebration this year

I am off to do some Pilates, apply for some more jobs, and try to get our Christmas cards out!! Yes, I am WAY late.

We have a special week of workouts planned for our long Christmas Weekend, so stay tuned!

Love,

Crazy Molly Blane

we did it!

We finished our race! Now on to the next one….

this is what Caleb put in my Easter basket, which can only mean one thing...

another triathlon soon-to-come!

I have not written on here in a long time! Life has been a little busy in Texas for the past couple months, so I will try to summarize as best I can…

Since February, we have been working, had guests here to visit, visited Austin, gone to the Houston Rodeo, livestock show, and carnival, trained a lot, eaten a lot, completed our Half Ironman (!!), visited Knoxville for 24 hours to see our little niece, Marion, and planned our summer vacation...and honeymoon!!

I am still working at the eye center, and my hours are finally becoming a little more consistent throughout the weeks. It is the perfect place to work for now!

Caleb still loves his job. He usually travels most weeks, but last week he was in town! It was wonderful!

Here are some pictures to help summarize the past 2 months in Texas:

Caleb, Molly, Laura & Colby - Caleb and I drove up to Austin to visit my cousin, Laura, and meet Colby!

Karen came to visit in March - Houston Rodeo Carnival

I picked out the cow I would like - Houston Rodeo Livestock Show

after the Rodeo & Tim McGraw concert

training - Caleb and Molly swimming at 288 Lake

                    Caleb's dad stopped for a quick visit while he was on a business trip

morning of the Lonestar Half Ironman (the bay where we swam in the background)

and finished!

Caleb - 5:43    Molly - 6:34

(my mom came to visit this weekend, too!)

if you want to see the official race videos or photos, go to http://asiorders.com/view_event.asp?EVENTID=75592 & type in our last name. you can hear them announce me as "the lovely molly ryan" :) i like it!

 

Aunt Momo & Uncle Caleb got to visit Knoxville for 24 hours just to see Little Marion!!

worn out on Easter after the Easter Bunny came to see us all - Lulu got heartworm meds, Caleb got a leatherman multi-tool, and I got my "Competition Coupon"

More Fun in the Life of the Ryans:

• Caleb just ordered a new cross bike for next fall!
• I am having some really fun pillows made right now, we are working on restaining our kitchen table, and our apartment is becoming more like home every day! Hope to have some pictures to share soon.
• We finally got two trips planned for 2011! We are going backpacking around the Southwest in July - Vegas to Havasupai Indian Reservation, Grand Canyon, and Zion. Then, we are taking our Honeymoon/One Year Anniversary Trip in October - San Francisco, Yosemite, and Wine Country. I am really excited!!

my sister, Casey, and I took the same trip backpacking about 6 years ago - look at how beautiful!

• I have only taken one ballet class since living in Houston, but I am taking class this coming Saturday!
• My parents will be out to visit in a week and a half!
• Now we just need to get that triathlon on the calendar....

• Oh, and I just got 200 bags of different kinds of tea in the mail. Come visit, and we will drink tea!

all about some food

I woke up this morning at 5:00 and could not sleep because I was so hungry. I had my first breakfast, Cracklin’ Oat Bran (yum!), and now I am just waiting for Caleb to wake up for us to have another breakfast!

I decided I would write about the recipe I tried last night because it was so good! You have to try this.

One of my goals this year is to cook with more herbs. We have a little rosemary tree (it was our Christmas tree this year), so when I got a Williams-Sonoma e-mail about Rosemary Apple Turnovers with Honey, I was all about it!

I am usually not very festive when it comes to celebrating Valentine’s Day, but I decided it was a good excuse to just make this weekend fun and special. To kick off our Valentine’s weekend, I made a spinach salad with beets (since they are super bright pink!). Unfortunately, Caleb does not like beets, so I ate them all. I also made the apple turnovers for dessert. I made sixteen little turnovers, and of course, we ate them all!

serving Caleb my new recipe...I started us off with two each. Ha!

This morning, for our “official” breakfast, we are having pancakes, sausage and grapefruit. I am really excited! Then we are going for a bike ride, so I can keep trying to figure out how to ride my new bicycle. I am going to take the fruit I have been drying in Caleb’s new dehydrator from Brother Paul.

I am drying bananas and mangoes...I will have more pictures once they are dried.

There will be more to come on this O!-so-fun weekend!

Rosemary Apple Turnovers with Honey: http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/dessert/rosemary-apple-turnovers-with-honey-138971?utm_source=Kitchn+Weekly+Email&utm_campaign=91a39439eb-Kitchn_Email&utm_medium=email

Roasted Beets: Oven 400 degrees, beets washed/dried, put in aluminum foil, drizzled with olive oil, cook for about an hour or hour and a half (until tender), skin peels off very easily, slice, salt and pepper and enjoy!