Gracie Rides Her Bike!

It's a big first...Grace conquers her bike without training wheels, and thus it's an occasion to add video to this entry!

And please note that the jet engine sounds are from airplanes flying overhead...not from Grace and her bike. =)

BWCA 2006

Sarah went on her first canoe trip this summer with Kent and I. We left July 27 and returned on July 30, and spent our entire time on Lake Saganaga due to the forest fire some miles to the south and west. Typically we would paddle from lake to lake, starting at Seagull Lake, but the fire remained enough of a threat that I did not want to canoe in its direction, so we headed away from it. Because we start on the eastern side of the BWCA to begin with, this didn't allow us to go eastward any farther without going into Canada. (which we still did, but only a few yards and very unofficially!)

A selection of photos from this year's trip can be viewed here.

Sarah's Second Triathlon

Yesterday Sarah was in her second Miracle Kids Triathlon, held each August in Chanhassen. The children who participate, aged 7-17, race for other children who have cancer and are unable to compete in such events. Sarah raced for a boy named Jesse and did well, finishing in 25 minutes (100 yard swim, 3 mile bike, 0.5 mile run).

Sarah also raised some money for the Miracles of Mitch Foundation, which was founded by a 10-year-old boy, Mitch Chepokas, who died of cancer in 2003. Shortly before that, however, he asked his parents to start this foundation for the benefit of other families with children who have cancer.

It is a very nice, well-staged, and awe-inspiring event. And I should also mention that last year's triathlon, Sarah's first, motivated me to run my first marathon this past June!

Fragments from a Weekend in Chicago

A few interesting details from our family trip to Chicago last weekend:

• Upon checking into our hotel, Sarah proudly announced, "I just figured something out, all by myself! Chicago's time zone is exactly ten minutes ahead of ours...look at the clock!"


• Yes, we finally broke down and visited American Girl Place and yes, it is just as exhausting as you might imagine!


• Millennium Park is fabulous...check out the Anish Kapoor and Jaume Plensa sculptures.


• Okay, okay...so it took us 6 years to visit Millennium Park! We're busy! =)