Time for a little R&R, now that I'm back from vacation...

From picket post mtn

I just returned from 5 days in AZ with Mike, Mara and Rohan! This seems to be an annual visit, with this being the 3rd year I've been out there. And, true to previous years, there was little sitting (YES!). With the Wisconsin winter getting the best of me by now this was just the kind of vacation I needed.

Day 1 - I'm here!!!

My first stop in AZ was a trail walk with Mike and then a 1 hr and 45 min deep tissue massage compliments of Mike and Mara and their friend Jeanette (thank you!). If you have not had this type of massage before you should try it, it's fabulous for releasing tension and lactic acid in your muscles. But this type of massage is not for the squeamish, there's some serious pain involved before you find the relief. Jeanette did an unbelievable job.

We capped off our evening with a chicken, pine nut pesto pizza on the grill and a long walk.

Miscellaneous photos from the whole trip


Day 2 - We started the morning off with a 5 mi trail run and a 75 min personal yoga session provided by Jeanette. The trail run is definitely up there as a highlight for this trip. I LOVE to run and this run was an experience I thoroughly enjoyed (see Day 3 photos of rck climbing for the trail run photos). Yoga was challenging, just as it should be, and I was grateful for that. I was proud of the poses I could do and earned the nickname 'Bird of Paradise' for a pose I nailed. Mara earned the name 'Firefly' and Mike earned the name....well, never mind : ) After the intense morning we soaked in the hot tub before we headed out for the afternoon.

Lunch was at the California Pizza Kitchen (I loved their simple but delicious Asparagus & Arugula Salad) and then we enjoyed an afternoon of shopping and play time in the park with Rohan. After grilling portobella mushrooms and sweet potatoes for dinner we relaxed with some wine and cheese and chatted the rest of the evening away.

Day 3 - Mike had to attend a seminar for work so Mara and I used that morning to hike Camelback Mountain. This is the second time I hiked this mountain up one side and down the other. I enjoyed it even more this time, despite the crazy wind and my seeing impaired-like ability to lead us (I suck at navigating!). After the hike Mara and I punished ourselves further with a great workout at the YMCA.



After picking up Mike downtown, we headed out to the Caldwell's to see them and their beautiful new daughter. We had some great food, fun conversation and I really enjoyed holding baby Mila, she's so tiny! I also got a puppy fix through smothering their Min-Pin, Stella.

That evening we hit the climbing gym. First off, Rohan is a little stud! He really has a grasp on the moves and loves being there. I second that, I loved being there too and really enjoyed climbing. This is a challenge I wish I could take on more routinly. Mike and Mara have advanced to expert level and I would love to challenge myself with the routes they take on.



Day 4 - We got up and out early and headed northeast towards a town called Superior to hike Picket Post Mountain. Mara wins the award for total super star by hiking 3/4 of the mountain with Rohan on her back! When we did turn around it was because there was no way she could traverse the final area with Rohan and the towering canyon was screwing with me mentally. I'm proud I made it as far as I did. I have a weird fear of heights that hits in these exact situations: towering, open, rock faces with steep drop offs that I have to climb. I've only succumbed to this fear twice before, both times it caused me to freeze up.

After the hike we earned our lunch from a dive sandwich place in Superior that we ate at a near bye train park to let Rohan run off his energy. Then it was time to hit the road and hit the hot tub before a nice good-bye dinner out at Bombay Spice : (



Day 5 - Dropped off at the Phoenix airport at 5:50 am for my flight, I landed in Green Bay at 2:30 pm. Jackson and Chris were waiting when I got off the plane. Having Jackson run to me and throw his arms around me was awesome. I missed his SO MUCH!!!

A GIGANTIC THANK YOU to the Syring's for thier hospitality, energy, chanallenges and good times. I never fail to need a day of rest when I return from a visit. You know my idea of a vacation!

For more of this awesome vacation see Mike and Mara's Blog!