BORN IN THE MOUNTAINS

There are few things I love more than taking the children up to the mountains to cheer on their dad as he pushes his body to the highest limit. It might seem to some a little pathetic that I sacrifice my own Saturday's to support Kday, but truth be told - it's an excuse to get up in the mountains and relish in the fresh air. It pains me a little to watch the kids get dirty and I have to repeat to myself, "It's OK let them have fun, It's Ok, It's OK, It's OK." Over and over and over, I seriously can't even carry on conversations attentively sometimes because I'm so focused on my mindful chanting. Ridiculous, I know. We cycle through about 100 baby wipes per Saturday as I scurry around and clean the children between rounds of dirtiness. You really should be proud, last weekend I didn't even change Layla's outfit when it got dirty, I just let it reflect the exciting day she had in the mountains. 

"Daddy has a monster truck!" said Layla, while munching on a cookie in the TEAM KUHL Unimog.

The part I love most about Kday's racing lifestyle is that my children have been introduced to our favorite mountains in Utah from the day they were born. Layla is more comfortable sitting in the chariot at the race, baking in the sun, counting racers passing by, and ringing the cowbell as she hollers for her daddy - than playing in her own back yard. Yesterday Kday and I watched as our first child raced her bike for the first time. It was one of my favorite Mama Moments ever. To my surprise, she went for it like a champion and she showed no fear. She braved the bumps in the road, and charged up the hills just like her dad. 

And she got a winner embrace with her dad after she took 2nd place.  (Would have taken first if the other little girls family wouldn't have given me the stink eye for telling Layla to make a pass before the finish line. I had to restrain my competitive tendencies.) Watching Kday kneel next to his daughter and cry with joy as she showed off her first race ribbon, was another Mama Moment. The whole day reminded me that there are rewards for us mothers that put in so much time and effort into the daily grind. 

 I should also mention that Kday finished off the 100K race with 11,000 feet of climbing in just over 5 hours and secured a spot in the top 10 Pro's. He was discouraged with this result as he had higher expectations of himself, but we would have still been at the finish line cheering if he had been the rider that took over 9 hours to finish dead last.

This bike race thing is our family lifestyle and I feel like the mountains speak to me and provide me with clarity. Yesterday the mountains told me to find gratitude in the beautiful triple threat that sat before me and clapped as their daddy climbed on stage and accepted his award. I hope my children will find the same joy in the mountains and kday and I have.